Swim England

A nation swimming

Latest free school swimming guides are published

The latest in a series of free guides designed to help ensure all children leave primary school able to swim and enjoy the water safely have been published.

Swim England and Swim Group have created the resource pack, on behalf of the Department for Education, to provide dedicated information for all those involved in the delivery of curriculum swimming and water safety.

Guides for primary schools and swimming providers were launched late last year and now two more documents have been released.

They are aimed at swimming teachers, parents and carers and are available to download from the Swimming and Water Safety in Schools hub on the Swim England website.

Jane Nickerson, Swim England chief executive and chairperson of Swim Group, said: “We’re delighted to be able to release these latest guides.

“The resource pack has been split into four to provide dedicated information for each group and each section provides practical guidance on how to plan, deliver and report on curriculum swimming and water safety.

“We are committed to making sure every child can leave primary school able to swim and with a good knowledge of water safety. Swimming and water safety being compulsory in the national curriculum for primary schools is a significant part of helping to achieve this aim.

“For some children, swimming at school will be the only opportunity they have to learn these vital lifesaving skills.

“That’s why it is so important we provide primary schools with the best possible swimming and water safety provision for their pupils. We hope teachers, parents and carers find the new guides useful.”

Making sure lessons are fun and effective

The Primary School Guide details:

  • Why it is important to teach swimming and water safety
  • What is meant by the three national curriculum outcomes
  • How to utilise the PE and Sport Premium to up-skill teachers and provide Top-up lessons
  • Ways to engage and support all pupils
  • And how to make lessons as cost and time effective as possible.

Meanwhile, the Parents and Carers Guide covers:

  • What you should expect from your primary school
  • What your child should learn from their curriculum swimming and water safety lessons
  • How you should be updated on your child’s progress
  • How you can support your child’s swimming after they finish primary school.

Nadhim Zahawi, Minister for Children and Families, said: “Swimming is a great way to stay fit and healthy – and it’s also hugely important that young people learn how to stay safe in and around water.

“This useful new guidance will help make sure school swimming lessons are fun and effective, and that parents have all the information they need to support their child.

“It builds on the support we’re giving primary schools through the £320million PE and Sport Premium – which can help every child become a confident swimmer, including funding extra lessons for those who need them most.

“In spring we will also publish our School Sport Action Plan, designed to give all pupils the opportunity to find a sport they love and set them up to lead healthy, active lives.”

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