Swimming

As a school we must provide swimming instruction either in Key Stage (KS) 1 or KS2. At Pike Fold this programme of study is followed in Year 4.

This includes teaching pupils to:

• 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
• Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

All parents must ensure that their children attend all allocated lessons. As swimming is a statutory part of the National Curriculum. Parents do not have the right to withdraw their children from this statutory element of the National Curriculum. Children who forget their swimming kits will be provided with a spare swim kit in order to join the lesson if a parent is unable to drop this at school in time for the lesson. This is not optional . The spare equipment is washed after each use by school.

Parents of children returning from an illness that would prevent them from swimming for a short period of time must provide the school with medical evidence (from hospital or a doctor) of the illness indicating valid reasons why your child cannot attend. Should a child not be able to swim for an extended period of time, more than 2/3 sessions, a doctor’s letter must be provided. If your child does not pass the requirement of 25m within the current year group, they will attend the year after. It is essential that all children leaving Pike Fold can swim a minimum of 25m.

Whilst we wish to support parents and meet their specific requests with reasonable steps, it is not possible to exempt children for the National Curriculum.

All Manchester Swimming Teachers are professionally qualified and are trained National Pool Lifeguards. Standards are high due to continued professional development in all aspects of aquatic disciplines. The Safety of your child is of paramount importance.

Clothing requirements for School Swimming are as follows:-

 Girls:-

• One-piece swimming costume – no bikinis
• A swimming hat is required to be worn if the hair covers the eyes or airways
• A towel

Boys:-

• A pair of traditional swimming trunks
• A swimming hat is required to be worn if the hair covers the eyes or airways
• A towel

No Bermuda or long shorts are allowed, as these can be dangerous, – for reasons of safety the swimwear should be sufficiently tight fitting to allow the freedom of body and limb movement without causing unsafe water resistance. In terms of the legislation that governs this we are guided by AfPE (Association for Physical Education) Safe Practice in Physical Education and Sport 2012 and the ASA (Amateur Swimming Association)

It remains the policy of the School Swimming Programme that jewellery of any description should not be worn in the School Swimming lesson. It is important that earrings in particular are removed. If you wish for your child to have pierced ears please ensure that they are able to be removed.

Goggles are only permitted for medical reasons. Parents must produce a letter from either a Doctor or Optician to state that your child has a medical condition and is required to wear goggles in the school swimming lesson. Once again this policy is in place for safety reasons and AfPE Safe Practice 2012 is the legislation that governs this.