Meadow Community Primary School in Wigston, Leicestershire was today presented with the 100,000th racket to be distributed through the AEGON Schools Tennis programme.
AEGON Schools Tennis is a programme organised by the Tennis Foundation and supported by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to help grow the game at all levels. It has had a hugely successful first year and has already offered many more primary school children the opportunity to get involved in the sport.
The programme has now provided more than 3,000 schools like Meadow Community with equipment bags free of charge including rackets, balls and nets – all the physical tools teachers needed to help deliver tennis lessons and drive participation within primary school pupils.
Paul Regan, Head of Education at the Tennis Foundation, commented:
“Enabling more children to pick up a racket is a key priority for British Tennis. AEGON Schools Tennis provides the resources necessary for teachers to deliver tennis at primary level and it’s fantastic to reach the 100,000 milestone.
The ongoing Schools Tennis Roadshow, shows PE teachers and staff working in the school sport infrastructure how tennis can be a great sport for children of all ages and abilities. It also showcases the extensive resources developed by the Tennis Foundation with the support of the LTA in the past year.
The presentation was made alongside the national Schools Tennis Road Show that is visiting 15 towns and cities across the country – including Leicester - during February and March. Having been part of this landmark achievement for the programme, pupils and teachers from Meadow Community will be treated to a day of tennis at a British Tennis Series event in the summer.
Meadow Community Primary School PE Subject Leader Chris Blackwell added:
“The AEGON Schools programme has provided our school with the resources to ensure that the lessons we can now run can address the key skills needed for pupils to take part in tennis and as a result, some of the gifted and talented pupils now participate in sessions at Abington High School whilst we also have plans for local coaches to come in and deliver fun sessions to all pupils.”
Blackwell added; “A day at a British Tennis Series event will be a school trip with a difference! I know the pupils are very excited about the opportunity to see some of the world’s most talented up and coming players in action and thanks to British Tennis for making it possible.”
British Tennis is now extending the AEGON Schools Tennis programme by rolling out a range of resources specific to secondary schools after a hugely successful first year in primary schools.
The new secondary resources, launched as part of the ongoing Schools Tennis Road Show 2010, include a specialist training DVD for teachers and lesson plans for traditional and adapted “mini tennis” sessions. These can help beginners progress rapidly. There are also cross-curricula resources that teachers can use to support learning in other subject areas.
Primary School Teacher Training Courses can be arranged locally through School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) and we would like to particularly thank Oadby & Wigston SSP for their support with this course.
For more information on Schools Tennis, visit the Tennis Foundation website.
The Schools Tennis Road Show was in Leicester today as it continues a tour of the country.
Find out more information on how to get involved.
Read the latest in a new series of blogs from the Schools Tennis Road Show team.
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