The School Swimming Strategy will focus primarily on the first three of the stated objectives whilst supporting the fourth.

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1 The ASA School Swimming Strategy 1. Introduction 1.1 School for many is the first time young children engage in organised sport and for many it is their first visit to a swimming pool. It is essential that this first introduction is as magical for the child as possible as it will, if handled correctly, stimulate a passion and interest in swimming and sport which will stay with them throughout their lives and that passion will also be passed on to their children in turn. We have a responsibility for the children of today and tomorrow to get this right by presenting school swimming in an inspiring way. (David Sparkes the asa CEO). A Vision for Swimming ( British Swimming) identifies four objectives: To ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn to swim To ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy swimming or water based fitness activities for health and fun throughout their lifetime To ensure everyone achieves their different personal goals throughout their lifetime To ensure we achieve gold medal success on the world stage The School Swimming Strategy will focus primarily on the first three of the stated objectives whilst supporting the fourth. 2. Context 2.1 Swimming and water safety has a unique position within the physical education curriculum and school sport, as a life and life saving skill, opening access to a wide range of other water based activities and arguably being the best activity for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The teaching of water safety also has wider advantages in that it educates children to be aware of dangers and to undertake simple but effective risk assessments, thus creating a culture of vigilance and awareness, which again is a life and lifesaving skill. In addition, most surveys rate swimming as the highest participation activity. (2) The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) particularly at Key Stages 1 and 2 reflect this unique position. A well planned and delivered swimming programme can make a positive contribution to high quality PE and school sport, healthy schools and engage young people in purposeful activity leading to sustained lifelong participation. It will also be important to assess the recommendations of the review of the National Curriculum at key Stage 3, the outcomes of which are due to be implemented in Every Child Matters In 2003, the Government published a green paper called Every Child Matters. Following the consultation, the Government published Every Child Matters: The Next Steps, and passed the Children Act 2004, providing the legislation for developing more effective and accessible services focused around the needs of children, young people and families. Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to: Be healthy Stay safe Enjoy and achieve

2 Make a positive contribution Achieve economic well-being This means that the organisations involved with providing services to children including voluntary groups - will be teaming up in new ways, sharing information and working together, to protect children and young people from harm and help them achieve what they want in life. Over the past few years, local authorities have been working with its partners, through children's trusts, to find out what works best for children and young people in its area and act on it. One way of swimming delivering on the Every Child Matters outcomes is to become involved in the delivery of the Extended Schools programme. An Extended School is one which provides a range of activities and services often beyond the school day to pupils, parents and the wider community. This could be in the form of activitities such as after school Aquatics Clubs and training opportunities for young people. 2.3 Aiming High for Young People: A 10 Year Strategy for Positive Activities The Aiming High for Young People: A 10 Year Strategy for Positive Activities focuses on helping all young people, and particularly those in deprived areas, to take part in enjoyable and purposeful activities in their free time, which can help them, develop new skills and raise their aspirations. The Government s vision is for all young people to enjoy happy, healthy and safe teenage years which prepare them well for adult life and enable them to reach their full potential - in short, to achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes and be on the path to success. Young people should be valued members of society, whose achievements and contributions are welcomed and celebrated. This means society viewing young people positively, not seeing them as a problem to be solved. All young people should have access to the support and opportunities they want and need to: Succeed in education and continue participating in learning until the age of 18 Take part in activities that develop their resilience and the social and emotional skills they need for life, and enjoy their leisure time Make a real contribution to society, using their energy and dynamism to bring about change Be emotionally and physically healthy and able to cope with the demands of adolescence and becoming an adult Grow up in a safe and supportive environment Funding for projects will be made available through the Children, Young People and Families Grant Programme 2.4 Physical Education and Sport Sports Strategy for Young People The Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links Strategy (PESSCL) has now evolved into the Physical Education and Sport Strategy for Young People (PESSYP). The PESSYP strategy has key strands, each designed to maximise opportunities for young people to access high quality PE and school sport. The aim is to create a world-class system for PE and sport for all children and young people, which will stimulate and increase their participation in sport, and sustain it. In addition to the existing work, the Strategy will go further and will: Create new sporting opportunities for young people in the FE sector by appointing FE sport coordinators, linked to School Sport Partnerships Invest more in coaching in schools, FE colleges and community sports networks Create a national network of Competition Managers to work with School Sport Partnerships on inter-school sport Provide a more attractive range of sporting activity based on what young people say they want

3 Create a national network one in each partnership of multi-sport clubs for young people with disabilities Establish a National School Sport Week The aim was for 85% of children to have access to two hours per week of high quality PE and school sport by This target was achieved a year early, as the 2007 School Sport Survey found that 86% of young people were taking part in a minimum of two hours per week. Now the ambition is for each child to have access to five hours a week by This should be made up of two hours of physical education within the curriculum and three hours offered on school sites or in the community. Underpinning the School Swimming Strategy are the following key documents: A Vision for Swimming, the Next Ten Years - British Swimming The Children s Plan: Building Brighter Futures DCSF The National Strategy for PE and Sport Strategy for Young People - DCSF Ten Year Youth Strategy, DCSF July 2007 Every Child Matters - DCSF The National Curriculum Handbook - QCA, DCSF Clearly Swimming and water safety training can make massive contributions to the stated objectives set out by the Government in these policies set out above. The Government clearly recognises this through its investment into school swimming and the charter for school swimming. 3. The Vision for School Swimming To ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate in a high quality school swimming linked to community programmes, delivered by appropriately qualified People in a safe environment. 3.1 Aims of the Strategy To achieve the vision for swimming in schools, the strategy will focus on the following key areas and will be supported by a clearly targeted operational plan: Policy and Guidance Advocacy at national level Influencing at local level Development of Training and Resources Communication of Best Practice 4. The Outcomes for School Swimming 4.1 Whilst the vision and its aims take a holistic approach to the issues facing swimming in schools, it is important to ensure that there are measurable outcomes which include a desire to ensure that all primary schools in England; Provide a high quality-swimming programme as an entitlement for all pupils at key stages 1 and/or 2 Have a nominated person with responsibility for swimming in each school whose role includes monitoring outcomes and evaluating the programme to maximise achievement Have a minimum of one member of staff who has a nationally recognised qualification in the teaching of swimming, supported by an appropriate number of staff that have received some training in the teaching of swimming in each school

4 Have an achievement level of 95% of all pupils at key stage 2, completing the full programme as detailed in the Key Stage 2 (KS2) National Curriculum for PE Can access a swimming pool within less than 20mins travel time (1) 4.2 In addition the asa will seek to support schools in: Providing appropriate and inclusive school competition that meets the needs of all young people Providing a clear and coherent structure to support and progress for all young people who want to progress as young leaders and volunteers within aquatics Providing a clear and coherent structure to support all young people to move freely between school and community aquatics 5. Aims and Objectives 5.1 The purpose of this strategy is to identify how the asa and key partners can work together to positively influence those involved in the planning, preparation and delivery of swimming in schools and to bring about improvement during and beyond the school curriculum. the asa and contributors to the strategy, in partnership with government and other key national and local agencies will endeavour to deliver the objectives outlined. 6. Physical Education and School Sports Strategy for Young People (PESSYP) 6.1 The PESSYP strategy has key strands, each designed to maximise opportunities for young people to access high quality PE and school sport. As part of the strategy, the asa works in partnership with the DCSF, Department for Culture Media and Sport South East (DCMS SE) and Youth Sport Trust (YST) to support the outcomes of the following work strands: 6.2 School Swimming The School Swimming Improvement Programme is an intervention designed to enable every child to achieve the Key Stage 2 standard in swimming. Each pupil needs to develop a range of skills during The School Swimming Improvement Programme and not just be limited to the measure of achieving 25 metres. General water confidence and skills will also hold them in good stead for the future. It exists to assist pupils who need extra support in addition to their school swimming provision, which can be in the form of booster swimming lessons. Aim: To provide opportunities for primary school pupils to reach Key Stage 2 swimming requirements Provide 10 hours of intensive swimming instruction Provide guidance on the planning, delivery and evaluation of school swimming. Support the education and training of School Swimming Teachers with training courses and resources 6.3 Step into Sport Step into Sport is managed by the Youth Sport Trust, Sport England and Sports Leaders UK. It provides a clear framework of coordinated opportunities at a local level to enable young people aged 14 to 19 to begin and sustain an involvement in leadership and volunteering through sport. the asa is working with these organisations to offer and support appropriate volunteering opportunities for young people. Aim: To provide training and volunteering opportunities for young people in an accredited aquatics club.

5 Develop and implement a volunteer strategy to recruit and retain, young volunteers and leaders Provide appropriate training courses for young people Develop opportunities for young people to volunteer in a variety of roles at national, regional and local level 6.4 School Competition Framework the asa, working in partnership with the English Swimming Schools Association (ESSA), has developed the Aquatics School Competition Framework. The purpose of the framework is to support the provision of school competition, by ensuring that it; Meets the needs of the young person Provides competitive opportunities for all levels of ability Provides a clear and coherent structure to support progress and retention within aquatics as a participant or a volunteer Outlines a purpose for all competition that is focused on the young person Creates synergy with other initiatives and programmes for young people in aquatics Aim: To engage more school children into appropriate competitive swimming and to reduce over competing by the top swimmers within each school, as proposed in the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model. Objectives Encourage the development of a school competition structure, which supports British Swimming and LTAD principles Provide competitive opportunities for all levels of ability Provide clear and coherent structures to support progress and retention within aquatics as a participant, volunteer or professional 6.5 School to Club links The main aim of the Club Links work strand is to strengthen links between schools and local sports clubs and by doing so increase the number of children who are members of accredited clubs. The target is to increase the percentage of 5 to 16 year-olds from School Sport Partnership schools who are members of, or participate in governing body or otherwise accredited sports. Aim: To ensure that swimming programmes offered by schools support those offered by the asa; that the transition from school to club swimming is seamless and that there is a synergy between the swimming programmes offered within a local authority, with clear pathways for progression. Objectives Encourage the establishment of clear local authority/school club links as part of the athlete pathway Encourage the development of Aquatic Youth Clubs with the emphasis on health and life long participation Encourage opportunities for all those who wish to participate in a range of multi aquatic activities that will encourage life long participation in aquatics Encourage the establishment of a network of local swimming action groups to establish clear links with emerging Community Sport Networks Provide guidance on the Extended Schools to programme to ensure Aquatics is considered as a development option for School Sports Partnerships and asa Regions Submit outline application for Swimming Communities initiative to The Children, Young People and Families Grant Programme Gifted and Talented Formatted: Bullets and Numbering

6 The principle aim of the Gifted and Talented is to improve the identification of, support and provision for gifted and talented pupils in Physical Education and School Sport. Action is divided into four key areas. These are: Benchmarking Excellence Talent Identification in PE Provision for Young Talented Athletes Support for Talented Athletes Aim: To support schools in identifying and supporting talented pupils in PE and Aquatics, to help them to realise their full potential - both in sport and education. Objectives Work with School Sports Partnerships on the roll out of Multi-skill aquatics clubs Assist in Identifying a young person s needs and, with the assistance of teachers, parents and coaches, give that person the opportunity to reach their sporting potential while reducing the conflicting demands that developing sporting talent often brings Maximise the sporting potential of young people, by working closely with School Sports Partnerships by providing guidance s on a swimmers needs 7. National Curriculum The National Curriculum lies at the heart of the government s policies to raise standards in schools. It sets out the statutory entitlement for the learning of all pupils. Swimming is an integral part of the school curriculum, with particular emphasis at key Stages 1 and/or 2. The School Swimming Strategy aims to further enhance the provision of swimming in schools and take positive steps to ensure that the entitlement to a high quality programme is a reality for all pupils. Aim: Create an overarching framework for swimming in schools that outlines the requirements and expectations to meet the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum and addresses the Government s health and activity agenda. Develop a range of policies and guidelines to support the delivery of effective aquatic programmes in all schools Establish criteria to measure the effectiveness of schools Research and develop best practice guidance Develop a process of record keeping and tracking of pupils achievement from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 Develop guidance and support for aquatic activity at Key Stage 3 and 4 following an audit of current provision 8. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) 8.1 The BSF programme is a major aspect of the Governments plans with the intention to reform and improve education in England and will see the replacement or renewal of every one of England s 3,500 state secondary schools during the 15-year lifetime ( ) of the 40 billion programme. The programme sets out to put the schools at the heart of the community, and what better way to achieve this than through swimming? With links to primary schools, links to the community and voluntary sector, swimming provides a powerful tool in delivering this outcome. This programme could have a significant impact on the older school and community swimming pool stock with many of these pools reaching the end of their life and are either unsuitable or being closed. If we want more active children and communities we need a stock of pools that meet expectations of young people today and are readily accessible.

7 Aim: To encourage schools within the BSF programme to consider the provision of a swimming pool within the framework of the local County Facility Strategy Plan and to support and work with schools and education authorities on the development of swimming pools within the BSF programme to meet the statutory requirements of the national curriculum and address the Government s health and activity agenda. All school swimming pools should be designed to be capable of general community use and be capable of operating independently from the rest of the school site Schools with swimming pools should be strategically placed to act as hub schools providing swimming facilities for a network of local feeder schools That County Facility Strategy Plans should ensure that all schools have access to a swimming pool within reasonable travel time (20 minutes by coach or walking) and that the requirements of the national curriculum and the Government s health and activity agenda are met All Specialist Sports Academy Schools should be required to provide swimming training to lifeguard qualification standard, which would require access to a swimming pool of variable depth with some deep water and be of a sufficient size to enable swimming competencies to be achieved 9. Advocacy Role 9.1 the asa will need take a proactive role in working with Government Departments and relevant partners to ensure school swimming remains high on the political agenda. Aim: Act as an advocate for swimming in schools to ensure that all pupils have access to a programme relevant to their individual needs. Lobby key decision makers in respect of the entitlement of all pupils at key stage 1 and 2 to be safe and secure in and around water Encourage Ofsted to regularly include swimming and other aquatic activity as part of the inspection of physical education Encourage QCA to continue to provide schemes of work and supporting material to help with the teaching of swimming Encourage DCSF to continue to provide a strategy for those who are unable to reach the required standard by the end of Key Stage 2 Encourage the provision of appropriate facilities within easy access of all primary schools Produce a Swim Charter 2 focussing on case studies and best practice relating to Key Stage 2 Swimming 10. Influencing at a Local Level 10.1 It is imperative to the successful delivery of school swimming that the asa Nationally and Regionally work with local delivery partners to ensure access by pupils to a high quality school swimming programme. Aim: Seek to influence key decision makers at a local level to ensure that swimming is incorporated into school development plans. Develop and disseminate value of swimming information to organisations such as School Sport Partnerships (SSPs), Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), and Governing Bodies of Schools etc Encourage transparency and clarity in respect of the budgetary provision for school swimming

8 11. Education and Training 11.1 It has been recognised by the asa that the key to learning to swim and the progression of swimmers from school to Swim 21 or other aquatic programmes are School Swimming Teachers. the asa will therefore, provide quality training and resources to support these Teachers. Aim: To provide a range of training opportunities, resources and incentive awards for all those involved in the delivery of swimming and other aquatic activity in schools. Continue to promote and deliver the asa National Curriculum Training Programme (NCTP) and to support the National CPD (Continuing Professional Development) programme Promote the NCTP for inclusion in initial teacher training for primary teachers Develop guidance documents encouraging teachers delivering school swimming to look beyond the minimum attainment targets and explore a wider programme of study Develop a guidance document aimed at pool managers with the emphasis on facilitating school swimming Organise annual, regional conferences, targeted at all those involved in the organisation and delivery of swimming in schools Develop a school swimming syllabus based upon fundamental aquatic skills and linked to longterm athlete development and the National Plan for Teaching Swimming Provide opportunities for key stage 3 and 4 pupils to become involved in wider aquatic opportunities linked to event management, officiating, teaching, coaching etc 12. Conclusion 12.1 The importance of swimming in the life of the whole population, and the role which schools can play in developing the skills, understanding and motivation to participate, has been recognised by many of the key national agencies including QCA, DCFS and DCMS. This strategy aims to provide a common purpose for all those involved in the planning, preparation and delivery of swimming in schools and to ensure that all pupils at key stages 1 and 2 in addition to those pupils at key stages 3 and 4 who have access to swimming, receive a high quality programme delivered by well qualified teachers in well managed and well resourced facilities. The Development of this School Swimming Strategy was supported by: Association for Physical Education Youth Sports Trust Institute of Sport and Recreation Management Royal Life Saving Society English School Swimming Association Reference (1) The National Facilities Strategy for Swimming (the asa & Sport England 2002) (2) Sports Participation, Special Report Mintel Any reference to swimming embraces water safety and, where appropriate, other aquatic disciplines. PESSYP Manager