All schools can give children access to tennis on a playground, in a school hall or on a court and it is at school that most children have their first experience of tennis. To further provide pupils with access to coaching and other tennis support and facilities, schools can build a link with a local club, this not only benefits the pupils but also the schools, clubs and coaches involved.
Schools that have built links with clubs have reported improved attitude, behaviour, achievement and confidence from the children and young people involved. School Club links enable schools to boost their profiles in the community and run clubs out of regular school hours to benefit pupils and their parents.
Linking with a school enables clubs to grow their membership base and increase their income. Schools can also provide clubs with younger volunteers to run competitions and other activities. Working with a school also enables clubs to increase their profile and reputation.
Coaching in schools enables coaches to grow their business. Schools coaches also get the opportunity to inspire kids and help them with their first steps to become the champions of the future. Encouraging their club to build a link with a school can help coaches play a key role in the growth of their club’s membership and give them more influence in the running of their club.
Selly Oak Special School in Birmingham formed a new club at the local indoor tennis centre, which now provides regular weekly after school sessions for pupils with a learning disability as well as the chance to compete against other special schools and at county and national level. This has inspired other schools to link with a club.
King Alfred’s Sports College in Oxfordshire runs a programme for 16 schools and over 700 children each year. Last year the local tennis club attracted 50 new junior members and the 16 schools have reported improved attitude, behaviour, achievement and confidence with the children and young people involved.
School Sport and Physical Activity Networks (SSPAN) are alliances of local agencies committed to working together as part of the County Sports Partnership to ensure co-ordinated delivery of sport and physical activity that prioritises and meets the needs of the local community and supports local & national Strategy.
The partnerships within Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland are:
Charnwood (North)Jess Robinson - School Sport Development Managerjrobinson@burleigh.leics.sch.uk 01509 554460 / 07929397624
Charnwood (South)Sally Wicken - School Sport Development Managerwallersally@hotmail.com0116 267 0808
Phil Lord - Assistant School Sport Development Managerphil.lord53@gmail.com0116 267 0808
Aaron Asawla - School Games Organiseraaronasawla@gmail.com0116 267 7107 / 07894 049 327
Hinckley & Bosworthto be appointed. c/o Chris Garnett - Director of PE & Community Sport chrisg8@boscol.leics.sch.uk01455 822841 ext.250
Leicester CityNicky Collett - School Sport Development Managerncollett@lancaster.leicester.sch.uk0116 274 5283 / 0777 616 2478
Sarah Lansdowne - School Sport Development Manager (Mon-Wed)sarahgoacher@yahoo.co.uk0116 249 1016 / 07790 347 271
Dan Hewins - School Sport Development Manager (Thu-Fri)danhewins.ch@gmail.com0116 249 1016 / 07881 851 943
Sandra Pugh - Disability School Sport Development Manager (4 days)pugh.sandra@googlemail.com0116 289 4224 / 0771 043 6419
John Duggan- Disability School Sport Development Manager (1 day)johnduggan48@hotmail.co.uk0116 289 4224 / 07718 391356
MeltonChris Hoult - School Sport Development Managerchoult@longfield.leics.sch.uk 01664 561234 ext 167
North West LeicestershireRachel Harrison - Director of Sport and Community Development (SSDM)rharrison@kinged.org.uk01530 838217 / 0785 405 3770
Dorothy Orr - School Sports Operations Manager (SGO)dorr@kinged.org.uk01530 516366
RutlandSSDM to be appointed. c/o Drew Hughes - Active Recreation Managerdhughes@rutland.gov.uk01572 720 932
Learning South Leicestershire School Sports Trust
Blaby & HarboroughRuth Mann - School Sport Development Managerrmann@countesthorpe.leics.sch.uk0116 278 2388 / 07879 613 614
Oadby & WigstonAnne Clarke - School Sport Development Manageranne-clarke@ntlworld.com0116 275 4575 / 07906 310 789
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Dan Maskell Tennis Centre Loughborough University Epinal Way Loughborough LE11 3TU 01509 226722 Leicestershire@LTA.org.uk