Introducing School Swimming
School swimming is a statutory element of the National Curriculum. Make sure your child isn’t missing out.
If you are a parent or guardian of a child with disabilities go to our Disabilities section for more on school swimming.Learning to swim at an early age can go on to save your child’s life - drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death in children.
All children should access swimming lessons through school because swimming and water safety is compulsory as part of the National Curriculum.
Lessons take place during primary school with the aim that by the age of 11 children should be able to swim unaided for at least 25m.
However, recent research from the ASA and Kellogg's showed that 200,000 children leave primary school each year unable to swim.
- Contact your child's school and ask them how they are meeting their obligation to your child's swimming development.
As a parent you also have a huge role to play in ensuring your child can swim.
- Locate your nearest pool with our Pool Finder and play games with your child to boost their water confidence.
- Locate your nearest pool offering ASA Children's lessons with our Pool Finder and enrol them today.
- Ask your child's school about Aquasplash, a fun festival for primary school age children designed to improve water skills
ASA School Swimming Manifesto
To try and improve the provision of school swimming across England the ASA has launched a six-point manifesto for change.
- Download and read the ASA Manifesto and help us get children swimming
For more in-depth information on school swimming go to the ASA zone's school swimming section:
- Learn how the ASA is supporting school swimming in England
- Learn about a scheme to improve swimming teaching in schools
