Organisers of the Kent Cooks competition are calling for Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) to get involved with the contest to help children with special needs to take part.

The Family category requires an adult and pupil to cook together and the accompanying adult can be a parent, guardian, SENCO or FLO – giving more pupils the chance to enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The county’s official school cookery contest is open to all budding young chefs from six to 19 years of age. Former participants have enjoyed a boost in confidence and greater interest in cooking thanks to this unique experience.

Event organiser Maxine Tarquini from Kent Cooks said: “The exciting final takes place at a venue with state-of-the-art facilities and the competitive element lends a real thrill to the proceedings. It’s an experience the young people will never forget.”

The remaining competition categories are Primary School and Secondary School and the deadline for entries is November 7.

It’s easy for youngsters to enter; they simply prepare a tasty and healthy dish and upload a photograph of the finished meal along with recipe details using the entry form at www.kentcooks.co.uk.

The best young cooks will be invited to make their dish for a VIP judging panel at the competition final at East Kent College. SENCOs and FLOs who team up with a pupil for a Family category entry that makes it through to the final will need to cook alongside the pupil at the event.

The category winners and overall Kent Cooks champion will receive goody bags, framed certificates, and a share of £500.

For full details including how to enter, request free promotional leaflets, or view previous entrants’ recipes, visit www.kentcooks.co.uk.

Kent Cooks is supported by organisations including NFU Mutual, S.E. Medical, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Orbit, Benenden Hospital Trust, East Kent College, Best Western Abbots Barton Hotel, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Chequers Kitchen Cookery School, Licensing Consultancy Services, Suzanne Howe Communications, The Southern Co-operative, Whole School Meals, and Brakes.