The Coaching Plan for England: Two years on

This month Sport England released an update on their Coaching in an Active Nation, launched in 2017.

The Coaching Plan for England is challenging the sector to re-imagine the provision of coaching from the perspective of the participant or potential participant. A significant number of stakeholders have already embarked on this journey and there are signs that the plan is acting as a ‘lever for change’ across the coaching system.

The aim of the update is to build on this initial progress by working to increase cohesion and alignment of organisations across the sector by supporting them to adhere to the new framework of professional standards, while at the same time retaining enough flexibility to support each organisation to progress at their own pace.

CIMSPA have been leading the field in this work after funding from Sport England. Currently we have signed over 100 endorsed quality assured Skills Development Partners providing development opportunities within the sector and this number looks to steadily rise in the new year.

CIMSPA are also responsible for a new range of over 25 professional standards which have been developed as a means to regulate the sector and ensure a level of quality in the training and deliverance of coaching qualifications while also increasing opportunities in the field.

Finally we have been commissioned to begin consultation for a National Workforce registration scheme which will, in turn, create an accreditation programme to recognise deployers that are committed to providing coaches with a high quality learning and development environment.

As part of the scheme carried out over the last two years, UK Coaching commissioned a National Population Survey which explored public opinion of coaches and coaching and had over 20,000 responses. One of the main recommendations made was a closer working relationship between CIMSPA and UK Coaching to implement the coaching plan.

Spencer Moor, Director of Strategy at CIMSPA said of the findings;

“ Along with the professional workforce strategy, and the volunteering strategy, the Coaching plan for England is one of the 3 pillars in the transformation of the Sport & PA workforce. This publication clearly shows the key contribution and influence that CIMSPA is making to this work. We are also looking forward to building on this over the next two years and working with our partners in implementing the recommendations from the UKCC review. The ever increasing numbers of individuals and organisations that are joining CIMSPA on this journey shows that the work we are doing is both needed and valued by the sector”.

The full report can be found here and the original Coaching Plan for England here.