Teachers from all over Essex attended the recent School Partnership Networking Evening to find out how the club can support their school.
At the recent Colchester United vs Leyton Orient fixture at the Jobserve Community Stadium, Colchester United Football in the Community’s Sport & Education Team welcomed Teachers from local Primary Schools, SEN Schools and key figures in local school sport to the game as guests for the School Partnership Networking Evening. Our guests were served dinner and refreshments, alongside their complimentary ticket to the game, coming together to discuss how Colchester United Football in the Community can support and enhance its curriculum and extra curriculum support of schools within our communities.
30 teachers from 16 schools were in attendance, with Head Teachers, School Sport Co-ordinators and Class Teachers providing a diverse focus group for the evening. Details were shared and discussed regarding the cross curriculum support programmes and projects available to schools within Physical Education, Numeracy, Literacy and PSHE/Wellbeing and how national programmes such as Premier League Primary Stars and EFL Trust Joy of Moving can enhance the targeted support of children and staff within schools.
Adam Frost, PE Co-ordinator & Class Teacher @ St Clare’s Primary School in Clacton-on-sea commented; “The evening gave us as school staff a great opportunity to network and discuss ways in which Colchester United Football in the Community’s Sport & Education team can support our schools. I was able to discuss with other teachers how the club has supported our school’s development within the Premier League Primary Stars Reading Stars programmes, enhancing targeted pupil’s reading skills, alongside delivering a Premier League Primary Stars Self – Development Stars project to children who are motivated by football and equally learn the fundamental skills taught through PSHE.”
Danny Hunt, Sport & Education Engagement Officer at Colchester United Football in the Community detailed; “This evening was very productive in meeting with our partner and new partner schools to find out more about them and how their local football club can support their staff and pupils within the national curriculum and extra curriculum activities. A key message from the evening was about creating opportunities, and our role as a local charity and with our expertise in education and school sport the networking available during the evening provided a positive outcome in bring us all together to find solutions to the challenges schools face at this current time.
The family of Michael, a participant of one of the club’s Premier League Primary Stars Maths Stars projects were invited to attend also. Michael a Year 5 pupil from Shalford Primary School in Braintree has been undertaking the Primary Stars maths programme at his school with Luke Drysdale our Premier league primary Stars Co-ordinator.
Michael’s Mum, Melissa shared “Thank you so much for the invite to the game. We all enjoyed ourselves even though it was wet and cold. The boys can't wait to see Luke again on Friday at school. We hope to come back soon and watch the football again and celebrate the community projects you run in schools.”
His Teacher Mr Rolls also attended to share their story of how Colchester United Football in the Community have supported Michael with Numeracy at school. Maths Stars was a project alongside others that was shared with Head Teachers and other school staff in the room to details the cross curricular approach the Sport & Education team has on how it can support children within different subjects.
Further information was shared around inclusive and competitive school sport and how the funding available through national programmes such as Premier League Primary Stars and EFL Joy of Moving can enrich these experiences for Primary School Children.
Helen Dey, Colchester School Sport Partnership Co-ordinator shared; "Thank you for inviting me to the School Partnership Networking Evening. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to get to network with more local Primary Schools and share our vision on how we can develop school sporting competition and inclusiveness to schools in the community.”
Colchester United Football in the Community’s Sport & Education Team is committed to supporting schools and educational institutions in North Essex and using the resources of its national and local partners, alongside the resources of Colchester United to support, enhance and enrich the opportunities available to schools within the national curriculum and extra curriculum.
Look out for more events and opportunities coming soon from the Sport & Education Team!
For more information please visit - https://www.cu-fc.com/fitc/our-programmes/education/ or contact Fitcsport&education@colchesterunited.net / 01206 755160
