Oldham Active to boost school children’s water safety
Tragic recent drownings during the summer heatwaves have highlighted the critical importance of water safety, prompting Oldham Active to remind schools of its free swimming initiative. Schools that sign up for its Key Stage Two Swim School programme unlock 12 months of free pool access for their pupils. Since launching four years ago, the ongoing programme has helped more than 2,000 local children practice vital safety skills through regular practice outside of school hours.
National Curriculum physical education programme
Swimming and water safety are a mandatory part of the National Curriculum physical education programme in England. All primary school children are expected to be able to confidently swim at least 25 metres, using a range of strokes effectively and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. Children participating in school sessions tend to be in years three to five. The lesson programme usually runs for six months.
To ensure young learners can effectively master these vital skills, Oldham Active is bridging the gap between school lessons and practice by giving children free access to public swim sessions for a whole year.
Oldham Active currently partners with approximately 50 schools across the region to deliver these high-quality, structured swimming lessons, which are led by their expert swimming teachers.
Steve Ferriss, Sport Development Officer at Oldham Active, the charity operating leisure facilities across the borough, says: “Learning to swim is a vital, life-saving skill that every child deserves to learn. The recent heart-breaking drownings during this summer’s heatwaves are a stark reminder of how critical water safety is. We understand private swimming lessons are beyond reach for many families, and that’s why we are passionate about our swim school programme, ensuring all children can master basic water safety. We know confidence in the water grows with regular practice and, by continuing to offer 12 months of free access to our school swim children, we are removing some of the financial barriers and giving children the perfect opportunity to enjoy our pools.
“Furthermore, we know how hard our local teachers work. Their wellbeing is incredibly important to us, so we also offer discounted gym memberships to teachers from the schools signed up to our swimming or physical education programmes to help them look after their own physical and mental health.”
School swimming lessons
The school swimming lessons take place at all of Oldham Active’s facilities across the borough, including Oldham Leisure Centre, Saddleworth Leisure Centre, Chadderton Wellbeing Centre, Failsworth Sports Centre and Royton Leisure Centre.
Teachers can find out more about the Swim School programme, and the free 12-month pupil passes, as well as the accompanying teacher discounts on our Active Education page, or by contacting Steve Ferriss directly at [email protected].
