Premier Education

Premier Education: sports activities and childcare for primary schools in the UK

Premier Education presents itself as the UK's leading provider of wraparound care, holiday clubs and PE for primary schools. The organisation serves over 50,000 families and schools across the country, according to its own data, and its activity focuses on keeping children active and healthy through activities led by qualified coaches.

Origins and evolution

The company was founded in 1999 by David Batch, who launched the first Premier Education session with football camps. Since then it has grown into a nationwide organisation that, it says, delivers more than 18 million hours of activity a year to children across the country. The company claims to be the UK's largest provider of school physical activity and childcare.

Services for families

Premier Education offers parents and carers the chance to book wraparound care, holiday clubs and school clubs. Holiday clubs cover periods such as October, Christmas, February, Easter, May and summer, as well as the HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme. Activities include options such as dodgeball, archery and treasure hunts, and run as full days. The company highlights the availability of an online booking system and the presence of expert, fully qualified coaches. It also mentions that it has more than 20,000 five-star reviews.

Programmes for schools

For schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs), Premier Education offers PE programmes, clubs and wraparound care. The company aims to support parents with demanding work schedules and to broaden pupils' opportunities to develop physical and social skills. Its offerings include Rise Gymnastics, a programme developed by British Gymnastics and delivered exclusively by Premier Education in primary schools across the UK, which can be funded through the Sports Premium. The company also offers curricular, extracurricular, enrichment and wraparound care activities.

Coach and franchise network

Premier Education has a network of more than 1,000 coaches who deliver almost 90 different activities, from badminton to boccia, handball and hockey, among many others. The company has developed a franchise model that allows it to offer a local, personalised service in different parts of the country. It has also established partnerships with national governing bodies and sits on four government steering groups on sport and education.

Activities and groups served

The company's offering is aimed at children of all ages and abilities, with the goal that they find an activity they enjoy. Its programmes cover sport, art and wellbeing, and are structured around school clubs, holiday clubs and childcare. The company also offers resources and training for coaches, as well as information for parents and schools through its Knowledge Hub.