LTA welcomes Government changes to PE and school sport as 20,000 children pick up a racket at the Lexus Nottingham Open

The Lexus Nottingham Open School’s Tennis Festival builds on the LTA’s work to open up tennis to more children and young people across Britain, through LTA Youth – the LTA’s fun and engaging junior tennis programme designed for kids aged 4–18. It’s all about inspiring a love of sports and developing young athletes – whatever their age, gender, ability, disability or background – with skills for life.

LTA Youth Schools is a key strand of this programme – a nationwide initiative designed to bring tennis into the classroom. Developed with teachers and aligned with the national curriculum, the programme provides free training and resources to help schools deliver high-quality PE lessons and extracurricular tennis activities.

With a focus on fun, improving physical literacy, fundamental motor skills and movements at the primary level, and modified game formats and leadership developments at the secondary level, tennis becomes accessible and engaging for everyone - emphasising skills for tennis rather than tennis skills.

Each school that completes LTA Youth Schools training receives a £250 voucher from the LTA Tennis Foundation for tennis equipment or 10 hours of LTA accredited team coaching. Half of all schools in Britain have registered with the programme, and over 28,000 teachers have been trained to deliver tennis.

Since the beginning of the programme in 2020, LTA Youth Schools has benefitted over 1.2m children, but the LTA and others in the sport sector have been campaigning for the UK Government to make changes to PE and school sport that will see far more children get the opportunity to pick up a racket.

This week the UK Government announced proposals to reform PE and school sport in England including development of a national network of School Sport Partnerships between schools, local clubs and National Governing Bodies to identify and break down barriers to sport for children who are less active, primarily girls and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. This will be supported by a new Enrichment Framework to ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality extra-curricular activities and a focus on delivering two hours per week of physical education.  

Scott Lloyd, Chief Executive of the LTA said, "Our LTA Youth Schools programme has trained over 28,000 teachers and is in more than half of schools across Britain, but we know there is more to do to ensure every child has the opportunity to play tennis. 

“The LTA has been making the case for reform to PE and school sport for many years. We are therefore delighted with the UK Government’s proposals, including the introduction of School Sport Partnerships and a new Enrichment Framework.

“We look forward to working with the UK Government to play our part in ensuring more children get active, develop skills for sport and have the opportunity to compete."