My new book Chess for Schools has finally hit the shops today. You can buy it direct from the publishers here. If you enter the code SUMMER30 at checkout you can, at least at the moment, claim a 30% discount.

If you have any contacts at local schools, through your children or for any other reason, do let them know. I’d be happy to visit them to explain my ideas in person if they’re interested.

Many of you will know that I’ve been teaching and promoting children’s chess for 50 years. My views are very different to those of most people involved in junior chess in this country.

I propose a three-pronged approach:

1. Promote simple strategy games based on subsets of chess in primary schools
2. Promote chess for primary school age children within the community through external clubs
3. Promote chess proactively in secondary schools

There are two takeouts for this for Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club, and, in general, for all chess clubs.

1. We should be running a volunteer-led family club for children and parents where members can relax, enjoy themselves and make new friends, while having access to professionally written coaching materials. (We now have a safeguarding policy in place and are currently in the process of appointing Safeguarding Officers.)
2. We should be forging links with secondary schools in the state sector within Richmond upon Thames and perhaps our wider catchment area: perhaps helping them run internal competitions and offering free membership to the winners.

As the Junior Chess Officer at Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club this is my responsibility, but I need others to get involved.

If you have some spare time and have DBS clearance please let me know if you can help!

Richard James