How to Link from Schools to Clubs
With the 5 hour offer for all children across primary and secondary schools in the partnership, the importance of school to club links has never been greater. Whereas the majority of schools are able to provide two hours minimum curriculum PE and 1-2 hours of OSHL (Out of School Hours Learning) physical activity, the remainder, i.e. community sport, is where children will consistently achieve the 5 hour offer.
School Sports Coordinators (SSCos) and Primary Link Teachers (PLTs) are aware of the importance of providing high quality school-club link information for their students. Schools across the partnership are creating high quality links with local sports clubs. For more information on what high quality school-club links should look like, please click here.
The School - Club Links Programme is a fundamental part of the Governments National School Sport Strategy. Its purpose is to strengthen the links between schools and local sports clubs and, in doing so, increase the number of children and young people who become members of accredited sports clubs.
This project has become a major area of sports development, from individual sports National Governing Bodies (NGBs), to Local Authority Sports Development departments and, of course, School Sports Partnerships (SSPs). Subsequently, one of the SSPs major remits has been working towards formalising high quality links between schools and clubs.
A recognised link between a school and local club has benefits for all parties. For schools, the benefits are that young people can enjoy a smooth and natural transition from school to club organised sport. As the initiative continues to grow, so do the opportunities for children, where it can aid in adopting healthier lifestyles, enjoying sport in a safe, fun, progressive environment and hopefully going on to achieve sporting success. By providing schools with coaches from within the club, children are welcomed into what could be an alien environment by a familiar face. Clubs can enjoy the obvious benefit of being able to highlight the gaps in provision within their clubs structure and work with local schools to provide pathways for the relevant age groups into their club. School-Club links can also offer sustainability, particularly to smaller clubs and the chance to share equipment and facilities. Opportunities are being created for children to participate in sport, out of school hours, where they may not have done so previously.
However, it is vitally important that these links are formalised and of high quality. Clubs that are to be included in any potential project must have either Clubmark or NGB accreditation. This should mean that any coaches working within schools have a recognised, up to date, NGB qualification (guidelines for schools are that all coaches should have a minimum Level 2 NGB qualification), Child Protection and AOTTs (Adults Other Than Teachers) certification and an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. They may also be required to take another CRB disclosure through the school.
The SSPs aim is to help to create sustainable sporting opportunities for children and the SSP sees the School-Club links project as an ideal chance to provide this. By asking schools and clubs to work together, the SSP feels that not only can we provide more opportunities, but provide opportunities that have a greater chance of being sustained for a longer period of time. I hope that your local club and/or school are committed to doing the same and working with the SSP to provide benefits for all parties.