Nottingham PfS is part of the Governments Playing for Success initiative which began in 1997. The initiative brings together working partnerships between LEAs, local sporting clubs and businesses to provide opportunities for pupils to attend after school study support sessions. All centres use the environment and medium of sport as a motivational tool with the aim being to raise standards in literacy, numeracy and ICT by raising pupil confidence and self esteem. By September 2003, 89 sports clubs had signed up to the initiative, 78 of which had opened centres.

Nottingham PfS consists of The Nottingham Forest Study Support Centre, The Learning Zone at the National Ice Centre and The Ace Base at The Nottingham Tennis Centre. Each centre is part of The City of Nottingham Education Department who provide funding, staffing and management.

All, three centres are equipped with the latest state of the art ICT facilities including interactive whiteboards, internet access, video editing facilities, printers and network systems that allow for either group or individual work. Whilst each centre works to the same aims and principles each has its own unique environment which reflects the immediate sporting surroundings. Each centre is also able to offer daytime usage and programmes details of which are available from individual centre managers.

All three centres have their own centre manager who is an experienced and qualified teacher supported by admin and technical staff along with a pool of approximately 60 voluntary Study Coaches who are recruited from local sixth form collages, the two main City Universities and local businesses including both Experian and Capital One.