School Club Links

School-club links is one of nine strands of the national PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy.

The main aim of the Club Links work-strand is to strengthen links between schools and local sports clubs and by doing so increase the number of children who are members of accredited sports clubs. 

The target is to increase the percentage of 5 to 16 year-olds from School Sport Partnership schools who are members of, or participate in governing body or otherwise accredited sports clubs from 14% in 2002 to 20% by 2006 and to 25% by 2008.

The programme is being delivered through the governing bodies of twenty-two sports:

The 2004/2005 PESSCL survey showed an average of 22% pf pupils in partnership schools participated in at least one sports club with links to their school. 

• View the national PESSCL survey.

In addition, 800 multi-skill clubs are being set up for primary school age children — 2 linked to each School Sport Partnership by 2006. 

These clubs will provide additional opportunities for children to develop fundamental physical skills and to act as a stepping-stone into club sport.

• View for more information about the PESSCL strategy.

School Club Links Guidance & Protocol:

Coventry Solihull & Warwickshire Sport has developed guidance to support schools and clubs linking up as part of the national PESSCL strategy within Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire. The guidance aims to outline who can help set up links and explain standards to look for in order to help ensure a high quality link. The guidance also covers issues such as accountability of the club and school with regards to sporting activities and the young people involved.

• View School-Club links guidance for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire.

National Protocol for safeguarding children in the PESSCL strategy.

This guidance has been developed by the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) in partnership with all of the major stakeholders in the NSS including the Department of Education, the Youth Sport Trust, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the major sports National Governing Bodies national and endorsed by Ministers in June 2006.

• Download the CPSU protocol.

It clarifies expectations regarding child protection reporting processes and information sharing between sports National Governing Bodies (NGB), sports clubs, schools and Education services within Local Authority (LA) Children’s social care (formerly Social Services) and specifically relates to sports clubs and schools which are linking to deliver sporting activities or to support the delivery of sporting activities within the National School Sport Strategy.

Concerns have been raised in relation to cases where concerns about poor practice or potential abuse have been communicated and managed in isolation through either NGB or Local Authority child protection procedures. In some cases disciplinary or statutory sanctions have been applied to individual coaches or volunteers but partner organisations (the school, NGB or County Sports Partnership) have not been informed or involved appropriately because of lack of clarity about safeguarding procedures and partnership working to protect children. As a result it has become apparent that individuals who may present a risk to children may have continued to work in other sports environments with young people when subject to suspension or investigation by another employing or deploying body. Clearly this presents unacceptable risks. The aim of this protocol is to provide absolute clarity for everyone working within the NSS strategy about reporting processes and safeguarding responsibilities.

The website also offers further information and guidance about safeguarding children in sport and within the national school sport strategy/PESSCL.

• Visit: www.thecpsu.org.uk

More information:

If you would like any more information about PE & School Club Links, please contact: