FAQs
If you have a question which isn't answered below then please contact us.
What is Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs?
Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs is a voucher–collect initiative which offers free equipment and professional coaching sessions to schools and clubs throughout the UK. Now in its third year the scheme was developed to help inspire the UK′s kids to get more involved in sport and to promote an active lifestyle.
When does it start / finish?
The collection period runs in–store from 10th September 2007 until the 4th November 2007. Equipment and coaching orders must be received by Friday 18th January 2008.
Who can join?
The scheme is open to all schools in the UK (nursery, infant, primary, junior, middle, secondary and special needs). Sports clubs with a children′s or ‘youth’ element can also take part as long as they are registered with national governing bodies and / or the local authorities and have the local authority′s required health and safety and child protection standards in place.
Tesco Sport for Schools and Clubs helpline staff can help explain the criteria for the scheme. (Tel: 0870 333 3365)
How do schools and clubs join?
Every school and club that registered on the scheme last year will be automatically entered into this initiative and will receive a detailed welcome pack by 7th September 2007. Other schools and clubs that want to take part can sign up by logging onto www.tesco.com/schools or calling Tel: 0870 333 3365.
How much is the initiative worth?
Since the scheme started in 2005 the scheme has given away over £20m worth of sports equipment and professional coaching sessions.
Does Tesco have any other similar schemes?
Yes, these include:
- Tesco U13 Football Cup – now in its third season. Over 2,500 teams (40,000 boys) took part in 2006.
- Tesco Great School Run programme – an annual 2k event (now in its third year) which encourages children to take part in exercise for fun. In 2006 the Tesco Great School Run set a Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous walk or run.
- Computers for Schools – this long–running voucher collection scheme, now in its 16th year. Between 1992 and 2006, Computers for Schools has donated almost £110 million worth of free computer equipment to schools nationwide (figures for 2007 will be available from mid–October).
- Sponsorship of Cancer Research′s Race for Life 5km and 10km races.
- FA Tesco Skills Programme – launched in June 2007 this programme aims to get 1m kids in England active through specialist football coaching by 2010, as well as 1m kids signed up to the website to practice their own football skills: www.TheFA.com/Skills
How much does it cost to join?
There is no cost.
How much do customers have to spend to get a voucher?
For every £10 spent (in a ‘main’ store) and every £5 in an Express store each consumer receives one voucher.
How many vouchers do customers have to save?
There is a wide variety of sports equipment and professional coaching sessions available on the scheme with varying voucher values – from just 16 vouchers for a skipping rope.
Are there any national bodies involved in the scheme?
The LTA, Ulster Branch of Tennis Ireland, RFU, IRFU and Loughborough University are supporting the delivery of coaching in their relevant sports. The athletics and football coaching schemes have also been developed in conjunction with Loughborough University. The scheme is also linked to a number of different sporting organisations through the website, to provide additional helpful advice for the consumer.
Why is this different to any other voucher scheme?
Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs doesn′t just offer equipment; it also offers the highest quality training from leading professional sports coaches, along with supporting materials to not only help get children fit but improve teachers/club coaches’ skills.
Can schools and clubs bank their vouchers for the following year?
Yes they can. However, there are many low cost items which can be conveniently ‘bought’ by schools and clubs, using up small numbers of leftover voucher, e.g. skipping rope for 16 vouchers. Alternatively send in any left over vouchers into Tesco and they will bank them for you until next year′s initiative. All vouchers must be banked by Friday 28th March 2008.
When do schools and clubs receive their items?
Schools and clubs will receive items by the end of the Spring Term 2008.
Can customers collect enough tokens to get a training session with Paula / Frank / Jason?
No. But they can collect towards a coaching session with professional coaches.
Are the coaches all qualified?
Yes – all are accredited by the relevant governing bodies or sporting partners.
Coaching FAQs
How qualified will the coaches be?
All professional coaches are fully licensed and qualified to a high standard with their respective governing bodies/sporting partners.
Will the coaches have Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) certification that they can provide to the school before or on the day of the coaching session?
All coaches are fully CRB checked, and will have supplied Octagon with their CRB registration number. However, it is up to the school to ask the coach to send/fax a copy of their certification to the school prior to/or on the day of the session to ensure this.
Why do I have to give five dates?
By giving five dates, we are able to have second, third, forth; fifth options in the case local coaches do not have availability on the first or second date given. Schools/clubs are also able to give week beginning dates as available dates.
When will I hear confirmation of the date and coach?
The Coaching Team allocate a 21 – 28 day period from receiving the five dates to confirmation of the coaches details for the schools/clubs. This allows the governing bodies time to identify and organise a coach available for those dates within your local area that suits the school/clubs needs. If you have not heard anything within 21 – 28 days, please contact the Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs coaching hotline (020 7862 0111) or email (tesco@octagon.com).
Is there a possibility that we can change the date of our session once it has been confirmed?
If you need to change the date of your confirmed coaching session, please contact the coach first to find out whether he/she can revise the date. Please provide as much notice as possible – where possible a minimum of 10 working days. If the coach is able to change the date, you are then required to ring/ email the Coaching Team to make them aware of this change so that changes can be registered on our records.
If the coach originally assigned to the school is unable to help, then please immediately contact the Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs Coaching Hotline (020 7862 0111) and we will try our best to rearrange the session for you. However, if a coaching session cannot be rearranged within the specific time or arrangements have been left too late to organise, this session may become void.
After I have contacted Tesco with my preferred dates and information regarding the coaching session what happens next?
The Coaching team can take up to 21 – 28 days to locate and confirm a coach. After this 21 day period you will receive an email and a letter with the coaching confirmation form. This will have all the details of the session, and contact detail for the coaches. Once you have this information please contact the coach to reconfirm the details and to discuss any specific requirements you have for the session.
What other information do I need to give apart from preferred dates?
To locate and organise a coach that will suit the needs and wants from your school/club, you will need to provide us with the following information:
- Preferred timings for session (start/breaks/finish)
- Age groups of the children that will be participating
- Number of groups/ staff present (as advised in catalogue/on website)
- Specific sporting equipment that you already possess at the school in relation to the activity
- Your facilities that can be used (playground/field or hall in case of wet weather)
- Gender of the children taking part
- Any special coaching needs that you may have.
Why do I have to give my personal mobile number/personal email address as well as the school/club details?
We need to contact you whilst you may be working/teaching. However, it can be difficult keeping track of messages through third parties (reception etc). Therefore, if we can leave a message for you at your personal email/phone number, we are able to act more efficiently and keep track of our communication. You do not have to give us your personal contact details if you do not want to.
Will the coaches be one of Tesco Ambassador Team (Frank Lampard, Paula Radcliffe or Jason Robinson)?
No, the coaches will be local, professional coaches from your area.
How long is the coaching session?
The coaching session is three hours long and can be split between one and up to six groups of children.
Why is it only three hours?
It is three hours because it is easy to fit into the school timetable, either in the morning or in the afternoon, it is also easier for the school/Club to organise and the children to participate in.
Does the three hours include break/lunch times?
No. The three hour coaching session can be used at the school/club′s disposal and will be arranged around the school′s scheduled day.
How many children can there be in any one group?
We suggest that no more than 32 children are in each group, however, we understand that there could be classes that could possibly have a higher number of children, and coaching sessions can be flexible but will need to be discussed with the coach.
Do we need to provide a teacher/club coach for each group?
Yes, there needs to be one teacher/club coach for every 16 children.
Are you able to have more than one group within a session?
Yes, you are allowed to have up to six groups within the three hour session, therefore, allowing 30 minutes per group. There is only one coach, so, one group at a time and you need to ensure that there is a teacher/club coach present with every 16 children.
Does it matter what facilities and equipment that we have at the school/club?
No, we ask for a specific description of the equipment that you already have at the school. The coach can then set guidelines for their lesson plan, or possibly bring other equipment for the session. If you wanted to work on specific skills (e.g. athletics throwing skills), and you do not have the correct equipment, discuss this with the coach as they may be able to bring the equipment required for the session.
What happens if it rains?
The school will need to provide wet weather facilities (e.g. hall). If you are unable to provide wet weather facilities and the session is cancelled on the day or at short notice, Tesco cannot be held responsible and the session may become void if a coach is unable to rearrange to come into the school for the remaining time of the session.
What is the process for booking the session?
It′s easy. Once you have ordered your necessary coaching session and have received confirmation, you will find details of Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs Coaching information on the website/or through your confirmation letter; alternatively you can request further information via email. Please fill in the form, and send to tesco@octagon.com. Or alternatively print the form, fill it out by hand and send to:
Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubsc/o Octagon Marketing
81–83 Fulham High Street
London
SW3 6JW
Once we have received this information we will send you an email confirmation that we have all your details to locate a local coach.
Within 21 – 28 days we will contact you via email and post the confirmation form with all the information about your session, including coach′s details, and the school/club information.
Once you have received the coach′s details, please contact the coach to reconfirm date(s) of the coaching session(s) and provide information regarding the session and to discuss any specific requirements that the school/club may have.
That′s all you have to do!
A week or so before the session is due to take place, the Tesco Coaching Team will contact you and the coach to make sure that contact has been made between the school/club and the coach.
Why is it difficult to contact the Coaching team through the Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs’ Coaching Hotline?
The Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs’ Coaching Hotline can get very busy at break times, lunch times and after school. Please do leave a message/send an email (tesco@octagon.com) and a member of the Coaching Team will be in contact as soon as possible. We do suggest that where possible you try and contact the hotline outside of these peak times. The telephone line is manned between 9am–5.30pm Monday to Friday.
How else can I get the details needed for the coaching session?
The details are on the website and in the Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs catalogue. Alternatively, if you cannot find the information that is needed or if you have a specific query, then please either leave a message on Tesco Sport for Schools & Clubs Coaching Hotline (020 7862 0111), or send an email to tesco@octagon.com.
