Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in class?
Pre School Age (age 4 & under) - Lessons begin with a warm up to nursery rhyme music, followed by activities which develop the child's basic ABCs (agility, balance and co-ordination). Racket and ball work plays the largest part of every lesson with sponge balls and small rackets being used to promote hand, eye co-ordination. Every child learns to hit over a low net from their very first session and they learn the basic shapes of the main tennis shots.
School Age (4-8 years) - Children learn the game of tennis on smaller courts with the adapted mini tennis equipment. The lessons follow the LTA's Mini Tennis Red programme with all lessons including warm ups, activities that develop their agility, balance and co-ordination and these lessons teach the basic forehand, backhand, volley and serve. Fun competition and scoring is also introduced.
Please see the Class descriptions link above for further information.
Do I stay with my child in class?
Yes for the pre school age group (age 4 & under). Classes are designed for you to attend with your child so that you can be fully engaged with their learning and development of their tennis skills. Parents and carers really enjoy coming to the classes and watching the fantastic progress their little ones make.
No for the school age group (4-8), although parents are always very welcome to stay and watch. Children build on their new found independence now that they are at school 5 days a week.
How many children are in a class?
Our maximum is 8: big enough to ensure good social interaction with their peers but small enough for children to receive focussed quality teaching.
How long does a class last?
The classes are 45 minutes.
Does my child need to bring a racket or any other equipment?
No, we provide all equipment although you can purchase our tennis sets as an optional extra which include a tennis ball, racket, t shirt and carry bag bearing the Tennis Tykes logo.
What does my child need to wear?
Loose fitting clothing and pumps or trainers so that they are comfortable and ready to play sport.
Can I bring babies and children younger than 2 years old along too to the pre school sessions?
We are very family focussed so babies and toddlers up to the age of 2 are welcome and there are places to leave a push chair. Although younger children are welcome to amuse themselves with one of the Tennis Tykes balls we recommend that you bring a few toys from home for them to play with during the session. Once siblings reach 2 years old we offer discounts for siblings to attend the sessions. Please see further for information on discounts on the How to Book page.
Are there separate sessions for 2-3 and 3-4 year olds?
We have found that children's abilities can vary significantly so that some 2.5 year olds are more advanced in their hitting skills than some 4 year olds. We do not therefore segment our sessions on an age basis such as 2-3 and 3-4 but look at the child’s skills once they attend the first lesson and ensure that their skills are matched with an appropriate session.
How do the school age sessions work for 4-8 year olds?
The sessions are split into reception and year 1 groups as children are used to working in these age groups at school but these are very much a guide and children generally attend the session that best reflects their ability.
Where can I attend a Tennis Tykes class?
Please see the Class Locations/How to book page.
Can I start up a Tennis Tykes group myself?
The answer is yes. If you have a group of friends that would be interested in attending a class we would be delighted to hear from you.
What are the payment terms?
Fees are payable termly or half termly in advance and cover you, your child, the costs of all equipment and stickers and sticker books. You are very welcome to join a class part way through a term and we only charge from when you start, not for the full term.
Fees for a full term are approximately £6.50 per week but may vary slightly depending on the length of term and location. Unfortunately we cannot give any refunds for any classes you cannot attend as the lessons are costed out on a termly basis.
How do I book?
Just phone us on 07843 342662 or email us. We look forward to hearing from you!
