Swimming

The importance of swimming

Since 1994, swimming and water safety has been a statutory element of the National Curriculum for physical education in England.

This means that every 11-year old child should leave primary school with the skills to keep themselves safe while enjoying swimming with friends and family.

The three national curriculum outcomes

Swimming is the only sport to be included within the national curriculum physical education programme of study. All primary schools must provide swimming and water safety lessons in either Key Stage 1 or 2.

Each pupil is required to be able to do the following:

• Perform safe self-rescue in different water based situations
• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
• Use a range of strokes effectively, for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke.

At Fulfen, children go swimming for a term in Key Stage 2.

As swimming and water safety is of paramount importance, please see the Swim England website for some useful advice to improve your child's confidence: