Greenbank School in Northwich, is one of over 500 special schools to receive support through AEGON Schools Tennis from the Tennis Foundation and Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
The Tennis Foundation aims to promote tennis as an inclusive sport across a wide range of disabilities. The special schools programme has been designed to provide teachers with the tools to deliver tennis to children with additional learning and physical needs.
Greenbank School received a free copy of the ‘Special Schools Tennis Teacher Resource’, which provides guidance to empower teachers to deliver tennis effectively in Special Schools. The resource is focussed around a series of activity cards, but also provides information on adaptations, equipment and pathways for players who show potential playing tennis.
Greenbank School also registered to receive a free AEGON Schools Tennis Inclusive Equipment Pack, worth a retail value of £500. This pack includes a range of modified and adapted equipment, specifically designed for use within Special Schools.
Karen Maddocks, the Physical Education Co-ordinator at the School said: “The Special Schools Tennis Teacher Resource and modified AEGON Schools Tennis Equipment Pack is just what it says – special!
“It has enabled more of our students to achieve success in developing tennis skills and the variety of equipment has enabled sessions to be delivered to a wider range of pupils.”
Paul Williams, Schools Tennis Manager at the Tennis Foundation, added: “Many disabled young people have the ability to participate fully in tennis, with little or no adaptations. However, for some young people with more limited functional and physical abilities, our Special Schools Tennis Teacher Resource and AEGON Schools Tennis Inclusive Equipment Pack provide teachers with guidance, support and specifically designed equipment to ensure all young people enjoy their experience and can achieve.”
In March 2012, the Tennis Foundation launched a three-hour ‘Inclusive Tennis Teacher Training Course’ to complement their existing support which has been developed to give Special School teachers and those teaching disabled young people in mainstream education, the confidence and tools to deliver tennis to a class of children in a small space.
The Tennis Foundation are able to offer all Special Schools in Great Britain, one free copy of the dedicated resource and can also support a limited number with a free AEGON Schools Tennis Inclusive Equipment Pack.
For more information and an overview of the Tennis Foundation’s support for primary, special and secondary schools please visit www.schoolstennis.org .