Recommended Guidance on Coaching in Schools

In accordance with the School’s Leadership Team, as a coach, you can support the delivery of PE, physical activity, or school sport that you are qualified for.

As such, it’s important to be clear about what the school expects your help with.

You might be asked to provide expertise to upskill teachers in areas of the curriculum that they are less confident or experienced with, or you might provide more options in school, or in extracurricular clubs.

During your induction or onboarding process with the school, it’s important that you receive a role description or ask for one if it hasn’t been provided. It should clearly outline your role and responsibilities identifying any limits of responsibility, report procedures, lines of management and communication, and any specialist expertise required. (For more on this, read our guide, Setting Yourself Up For Success: A Guide to Onboarding.)

This is also an ideal time to find out the school’s aims and how you can help achieve them. School action plans set out the school’s aims for the year, which often include targets for getting pupils more active.

School action plans for physical activity may include aims for:

• PE and Sport Premium.
• Enrichment programmes.
• Individual Education Plans and Education, Health and Care Plans for children with additional needs or special educational needs (SEN).

Schools are advised to show coaches and ask them to agree to and sign their policies and procedures, including codes of practice, equality, and health and safety policies.

If they don’t, it’s important to ask to see these and be aware of what you are agreeing to and signing up for before you begin coaching.

Below are several policies and procedures to consider or that you could ask to see:

• Staff Handbook.
• First Aid Policy.
• Confidentiality Policy.
• Uncollected Child Policy.
• Safe Physical Contact with Pupils Policy.
• Pupil Behaviour and Discipline Policy.
• Online Code of Conduct for Teachers Policy.
• Parent and Community Use of Social Media Policy.
• Photographic and Video Images Policy.
• Keeping Children Safe in Education.
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• Communication with Colleagues.
• Reporting and Passing on Concerns.
• Communication with Parents.

Not all children are confident about physical activity and sport. You’ll need to plan your sessions accordingly and be ready to adapt and modify to be inclusive of all.

It may be less obvious that not all teachers are confident about their own physical activity levels either, which may mean they are more reluctant to get involved in physical activity at school. Be sensitive to this if you think it applies and look for opportunities to encourage and involve them in your sessions where appropriate.

Ensure that you communicate regularly with teachers, parents, and other stakeholders and work collaboratively to ensure the best outcomes for children.

Tip: Speak to the Head of PE, director of sports, class teacher, PE Coordinator, SENCO, or teaching assistants to find out more about the children you’ll be coaching and what their individual needs might be.

Whether you’re delivering a PE lesson, running a before or after school club, or helping with a physical activity initiative, you are an adult entering the world of the pupils in an environment where they are primed for learning.

Assume that everything you say and do will have an impact on at least one child and make sure you have the impact that you would like to.

Ensure you:

• promote and encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles
• promote a variety of physical activities and sports
• conduct yourself appropriately, displaying high personal standards such as appropriate language, behaviour, and boundaries
• lead by example and display positive sportsmanship and commitment to physical activity and sport
• wear the appropriate coaching kit with safety considerations in mind
• follow up on any commitments you make.

When coaching in any environment, it’s important to maintain up-to-date knowledge to ensure you are confident and competent to perform your role.

UK Coaching recommends the following development as highly valuable for coaches working in schools:

• Safe Practice: in Physical Education, School Sport & Physical Activity.
• PE Confidence Series.
• 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Multi-Skills Development in Sport.
• 1st4sport Level 3 Certificate in Delivering Physical Activity and Sport within the School Environment.
• 1st4sport Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work.