Tips For Creating Long Lasting School-Club Links

Linking up with schools: 5 things you need to know!

Hey there, kids activity providers! Are you ready to take your club to the next level by collaborating with schools and nurseries? If you already read our blog on [.pink__text]why you should team up with schools and nurseries,[.pink__text] you might be ready for the “how”. We've pulled together some amazing tips to help you rock this adventure and make a real difference in the lives of kids everywhere! Plus, if you'd like to learn more about this topic, why not give the [.pink__text]Approaching Schools podcast with Cerys Keneally a listen?[.pink__text] Are you ready for it? Let’s jump in.

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[.green__text]1. Speak their Language[.green__text]

Picture this: you're talking to schools and nurseries, and they're nodding along, totally picking up what you’re laying down. How do you make it happen? Easy! Just sprinkle in some educational terminology, link your activities to the curriculum, and throw in some words from official government docs that schools hear on the daily. This will show them that you really know what you’re talking about! In the end, what schools really want is to feel understood. So show them that you get their struggles and that you have the solution! If you're speaking the same language, they'll be excited to join forces with you!

[.blue__text]2. Be Crystal Clear[.blue__text] 

Winning schools over and convincing them that you’re the right fit doesn’t have to be super difficult. You just have to be very clear on what you can offer them. Show these schools and nurseries what you're all about, and why you're the club they need on their team! Your club is like no other, and you've got the secret sauce to spice up their learning journey. Let them in on how your activity supercharges the curriculum and solves issues that teachers and kids face every day! Maybe, your club is an amazing, creative outlet for kids that teaches children valuable lessons in how to focus for longer periods of time. That is a skill that the kids will automatically be using in class. And bam! You're solving issues like a real-life superhero!

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[.orange__text]3. Think Big, Think long-term[.orange__text]

You should think of the club-school link in the long run. Schools are all about the long-term, value for their coins, and outcomes that keep on giving. Don't worry about being the cheapest club in town. Your real superpower lies in providing valuable solutions and showing how you're the solution to their daily challenges! Try this: instead of offering schools cheaper one-off sessions, commit to the long-term and offer your services for a longer period of time. 9 times out of 10, schools want something valuable and stable rather than a one-time collaboration with you. Especially if you can prove that this is the most benefitial option for the kids!

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[.pink__text]4. Have a Stellar Action Plan[.pink__text]

When you’re approaching schools to work with them, you’ll need a grand master plan for how you’ll seal the deal. You’ll want to consider how you’ll approach schools and nurseries, what you can offer them, and, finally, how you’ll follow through and sell. It’s no good to put all of your effort into showing them why you’re the hero they’ve been waiting for if you don’t follow through and chase them up for a definite answer. In your demonstration, leave them with a cliffhanger question: "Are you ready to join forces with my club?" And when they say yes (they will!), have a contract in place, ready to seal the deal!