
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
2| ETKO SPORTS ACADEMY
is divided into three distinct areas:
ETKO Gym Babies (three to 18
months), ETKO Gym Tots (18 months
to three years) and ETKO Gym Kids
(three to five years). These preschool
sessions gently introduce youngsters
to ETKO Sports Academy’s unique
Fundamental Movement and Basic Sport
Skills Programme©. Progress is then
consolidated and built on as children
move on to school-age classes, which are
offered in disciplines such as gymnastics,
wrestling, running and physical fitness.
One might ask why we focus on
fundamental skills at such an early
stage. All too often, we come across
older children who have never
properly learnt how to perform core
movements, such as jumping or
hopping, which prevents them from
participating effectively in a variety
of sports. This gap was highlighted
in a statement in early 2019 from
sports minister Mims Davies, who
called for children to be given the
“fundamental” skills needed to build
“a sporting habit for life”. While her
call was directed at schools – and
followed a study conducted among
130,000 children aged five to 16 – we
believe that early engagement, ideally
at preschool stage, is crucial. This is
evidenced by the difference in ability
between children who have followed
our preschool programme and those
who join at school-age level.
Energised expansion
October 2016 saw the opening of
our national-standard 1,092-square-
metre gymnastics centre, which is
fully equipped with a sprung floor,
integrated trampolines and a foam
pit, plus beams, bars and vault
apparatus. Our former facility, based
on the same site, was refurbished to
create a larger fitness suite for teen
and adult training plus a dedicated
studio for exercise classes. This major
expansion of our facilities coincided
with a significant rebranding exercise,
including our name change from
Laura’s Gym to ETKO Sports Academy
and our transition from sole trader to
limitedcompany.
Such a substantial increase in our
space has enabled us to grow the
size, volume and variety of classes and
coached sessions we offer. Our junior
wrestling programme, spearheaded by
Vio and Nico Cojocaru – both reigning
British champions at their respective
weights – is among the foremost
in the country, with over 80 active
youngmembers.
Our ETKO Runners programme has
also expanded to accommodate
new sessions for both beginners
and secondary-school-age children.
Recognising that there are key points
when young people tend to disengage
from sports, we have worked hard
to develop training sessions and
membership packages for teens. We
are keen to bridge the fitness gap for
this important group, who often have
limited options when they finish junior
activities but are not of an age to
access adult gym facilities or clubs.
This approach links with one of our
core company values: inclusion. It is
further reflected in the specialist classes
and membership packages that we
have developed to suit mature adults
who may be retired, plus individuals
who work offshore.
Classes are offered in
various disciplines
October 2016
saw the
opening of
our national-
standard
1,092-square-
metre
gymnastics
centre
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