SCHOOLS tennis in Basingstoke received a further boost this month, when Totally Tennis received new equipment to enhance the delivery of its hugely-successful schools programme.

The equipment, which includes 90 mid-size rackets, 200 balls and wheeled equipment bags, was donated to Totally Tennis by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after a successful bid by tennis development officer Alison Beard.

The equipment has already been put to good use as the school tennis coaching programmes began last week.

The equipment bags, combined with additional teaching aids, allow each coach to have their own "schools bag" to use throughout local schools when they are delivering the six-week coaching programme, both in curriculum time and in on-site, after-school clubs.

The Totally Tennis schools programme is run in line with the guidelines of the Government's Schools Sports Coordinator (SSCO) programme, which actively encourages schoolchildren to participate and enjoy physical education both in and after school.

The schools programme gives both children and their teachers the opportunity to get involved. Teachers are encouraged to participate in the sessions and are given a scheme of work and detailed lesson plans that have been devised by Totally Tennis, so that they can continue the learning process after the six-week coaching programme has finished.

All children involved in the programme receive a free voucher from Totally Tennis for follow-on coaching. Through a talent identification process, more promising players are also invited to sessions suited to their age and ability.

More and more schools in the area are taking up the opportunities that are being offered to them by Totally Tennis, and the feedback received from the schools has been extremely positive and encouraging.

Tennis director Nigel Long said: "I would like to thank Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Alison Beard for the fantastic new equipment and their support of our schools programme.

"Totally Tennis has a well-established reputation for its schools outreach programme and we feel that we are providing children with an opportunity to participate in sport and adopt a healthier lifestyle."

Tennis development officer Alison Beard said: "The equipment has been donated to Totally Tennis in support of the partnership between Totally Tennis and myself in the SSCO programme and the schools initiative in Basingstoke.

"I would like to thank Carian from leisure services at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for all her help in making this possible and for her continued support of the schools programme."

Schools benefiting from coaching this half term are Four Lanes Infant School, Oakridge Infant School, Kempshott Infant School, Kempshott Junior School, Park View Junior School, St Bedes Primary School, Rucstall Primary School, St Marks Primary School, Brighton Hill Community College and Costello Technology College.