Swimming
Swimming is not only a healthy activity, but also acts as an essential life-skill. Swimming and water safety are statutory activities at Key Stage 2, designed to ensure children are able to swim unaided over a distance of at least 25 metres. Swimming is also one of nine workstrands within the national PE, School Sport and Club Links strategy. Action to date includes:
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Publishing (on 22 December 2003) a Swimming Charter. The Charter provides practical advice on how to plan and deliver effective swimming programmes. It also provides guidance on how to encourage more children to take up and enjoy swimming.
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The creation of a Swimming and Water Safety Website. The site — developed by the QCA — is aimed at teachers, parents and pupils. It provides practical ideas, resources and guidance to help children and young people learn how to swim safely and well.
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Running two pilot Swimming Top-Up Schemes. The pilots were run in Bristol and County Durham in 2003. They test out how children who were likely to reach the end of their primary schooling without being able to swim could be supported to learn and enjoy the sport.
As a result of the success of the pilots the Prime Minister announced, in December 2004, that a further £5.5 million would be invested in the two years to 2008 in swimming. This will fund a national top-up swimming programme. From April 2006 primary schools will begin to benefit. To support the organiser of the scheme a Top Up Swimming Toolkit has been developed and schools will also receive support from the Amateur Swimming Association.
Published: 11 December 2006
