Partnerships

Links with Paignton Community and Sports College (PCSC)

PCSC Partnership Manger: Tony Callcut
Director of Sport: Jason Trevarthen
Head: Jane English

The Sports College in Paignton is a shining example of how the funding can be used to provide first class facilities for the school and the community. In 2003 the college had just constructed the new sports hall. From the quality of the facility and the aims of the school coordinator, Tony Callcutt, it was obvious that this was a key opportunity for our Club to work with PCSC to promote and develop gymnastics in the area and secure the development of our Club.

The Sports College was approached in May 2003 and we were given the audit report of school sport provision and the Action Plan for Sports Development so that we could write a development plan for our Club that met the needs highlighted in the Audit Report.

The audit report highlighted the gap in the provision of gymnastic coaching in primary schools across the bay. The Action Plan recognised that teachers needed to have access to courses that developed their skills and knowledge in the coaching of gymnastics. The role of Sports Clubs is also highlighted acknowledging that the quality and availability of specialist coaches would enable the quality of teaching and coaching delivered to pupils to be improved.

At further meetings we discussed the Development Plan for the club which supported and complemented the action plan of the Sports College. We were keen to demonstrate how we could add value to the work of the Sports College. Future funding for PCSC relies upon increasing development of sport and delivering a range of initiatives and it was important to the Club and PCSC that gymnastics was developed as a key element for primary schools. Our Club suggested how we could provide coaching in schools to deliver the gymnastic elements of the National Curriculum. Furthermore, we would work with the British Gymnastics Regional Development Officer to offer teacher training.

We had received a request from the Sports College to run the gymnastic element of their summer Gifted and Talented camp, together with a request to write lesson plans for all primary school year groups that met the needs of the National Curriculum. The lesson plans took many hours to write which the club funded by paying for the coaches time itself. Our Club started coaching in schools in January 2004.

To ensure the coaching met the needs and expectations of the schools, the Head Coach arranged to visit each school prior to the first session. The aims of the visit were as follows:

• to undertake a risk assessment
• to assess the school gym facilities and establish which equipment would need to be brought from our gym club
• to establish personal contact between the school and our Club
• to review the lesson plan with the teacher
• to clarify the role of the coaches and that of the teachers

The classes run over a six week half term period during which the children are taught according to the requirements of the National Curriculum. At the end of the six weeks the children are assessed and given badges according to their level of achievement. The teachers are asked to complete feedback forms to assess how appropriate the classes have been in meeting the curriculum needs and whether the quality of coaching is of a suitable standard. The school class is then invited to our Club for a free coaching session where they will be able to work in our Club gym using our facilities with the coaches. At the end of the session, the Squad Gymnasts perform a gymnastic display to show children and parents what can be achieved by children of a similar age.

One recent development is to highlight potentially gifted children in these sessions. The aim is to ensure they are put on Gifted and Talented registers at their schools and to encourage them to attend club sessions to fulfil their potential.

The club has now delivered the Gymnastic element of the National Curriculum to 24 schools and over 1660 children, a result of which we are very proud. Of those taught in the schools, 100 have joined the club.

The Partnership with the Community College has continued to grow over the last few years and has seen the club:

• offer training for the PCSC gymnastics team
• provide judges for school competitions
• run a seminar at ERC for all Torbay schools
• run in-service training (inset) training for teachers at several schools
• run 'After-School' gym clubs
• run the Key Steps programme