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Primary education

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Swimming in the school day

38 replies

Pluto9 · 21/11/2017 13:53

We have just moved into Herts - I’m keen to find a school which teaches swimming to save me getting up every Saturday with my girls? Any ideas?

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Norestformrz · 22/11/2017 17:27

When did it become compulsory for school to teach swimming in primary? 1988 and before that most LAs had an expectation that children were taught to swim (can only go back to the 60s)

PineConesAplenty · 22/11/2017 19:03

Even if your child is "taught" to swim at school, and I use the term very loosely having accompanied the swim run for years, it is like a musical instrument, you wouldn't just have the school lesson without practising.

My youngest son hasn't had any formal swim lessons but because we go swimming every weekend as a family he has sort of taught himself. We have been going for years. It is important to us.

School did water confidence and then lengths but it didn't really teach him much.

Swimming is an activity we can all do together, whereas dance, karate etc are activities we observe or drop and go.

Whizziwig · 22/11/2017 19:08

Swimming is in the curriculum but there is no specified amount of time devoted to it. At my school, because it's difficult to get access to a swimming pool, swimming is only taught for one term in year 5.

Look for a school with a pool on-site as they are likely to have more regular lessons.

Norestformrz · 22/11/2017 19:16

From this year, schools will be required to publish how many Year 6 pupils have met the national curriculum requirements relating to swimming and water safety.

OldWitch00 · 23/11/2017 04:18

Norest, surely that will reflect a mix of school instruction and independent instruction. those children and communities with easier access will look great on paper but the reality may have nothing to do with inschool instruction.

Norestformrz · 23/11/2017 05:24

You are assuming that all children actually visit swimming pools outside of school or have private lessons? Definitely not the case for most of our pupils.

OldWitch00 · 23/11/2017 05:26

sad to hear this Norest.

Norestformrz · 23/11/2017 05:41

Parents struggling to feed kids don’t have money to get to swimming pools never mind pay to swim.

Feenie · 23/11/2017 06:34

My DN's school took them all every week in Reception - great idea, imo (although I bet changing was fun!) At 11, she is a really strong swimmer.

Theworldisfullofidiots · 23/11/2017 06:39

Swimming is compulsory in that children are able to swim a certain distance.
It's also expensive and not funded. The ring fenced money was withdrawn several years ago and then budgets cut.
Schools usually only have one swimming instructor plus classroom teacher/s. It's in no way the same as taking your children to swimming lessons with an instructor if you can afford it.

Longwalkoffashortpier · 23/11/2017 06:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Norestformrz · 23/11/2017 06:55

We had our own pool so every class could go swimming once a week from reception and we could offer before school swimming for Y6. The pool was also used by the community and surrounding villages for swimming lessons and exercise classes. Unfortunately our LA closed nearly all school pools and demolished them.

BikeRunSki · 23/11/2017 07:02

DS has school swimming lessons, they’re not great (not herts though). He also has music lessons at school - would like be a possibility to free up some weekend time?

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