Swimming Fund To Increase Free Swimming Lessons

3rd September 2010

Free swimming lessons for primary school pupils across Scotland are set to increase, it was announced this week.

Funding of £800,000 is being invested over the coming year which will support the improved delivery of swimming lessons and ensure that all children should have the opportunity to learn to swim before leaving primary school.

Each local authority will decide how best to design services in their area or supplement existing provision and submit detailed plans to sportscotland who are working in partnership with Scottish Swimming to help support implementation.

The announcement was made today in Stirling by Minister for Sport Shona Robison and Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning. They were joined by Louise Martin CBE chair of sportscotland and Ashley Howard of Scottish Swimming as well as primary five pupils from Raploch and St Margaret's primary schools.

Ms Robison said:

"The Scottish Government has always wanted to make sure that Scotland's children are given the opportunity to learn to swim and to enjoy swimming as a lifelong activity.

"By giving local authorities the flexibility to create opportunities to try new approaches and improve on their current provision, this announcement will continue the process of ensuring that this happens.

"Following evidence from Scottish Swimming it is clear that focus and resources should be on improving access to swimming lessons for children and that is why the funding announced today is to be welcomed. The skills our children learn when swimming not only give them confidence in the water but provide them with a fun way of being active which will stay with them throughout their lives."

Mr Brown said:"It is vital that physical activity forms part of all young people's lives and that there are appropriate opportunities to stimulate and develop interest and commitment that will provide a foundation for sustained physical activity throughout their lives.

"I have always emphasised this government's commitment to the two hour physical education target and the Curriculum for Excellence, which is currently being introduced into all schools, will embed at least two hours quality PE in the curriculum for every child every week.

"This funding announced today will contribute towards our ambition and commitment to see children and young people become more physically active in and around the school curriculum."

Maureen Campbell, Chair of Scottish Swimming, said: "The top up programme is a pivotal step forward in Scottish Swimming's quest to ensure that every child in Scotland can swim. School and community based swimming is an issue of entitlement, safety and equity, and we are delighted that the Government has led with an innovative model for helping local authorities review their swimming provision for children.

"Changes to programmes will be supported by sportscotland and Scottish Swimming and aim to be both high impact and sustainable. As examples, a local authority might use this opportunity to unite its community and school teaching workforce to ensure a consistency of education for teachers is offered, or bring the year in which swimming is taught down to an earlier level when swimming teaching has its highest impact. We look forward to working with partners to make the most of the Government's exciting top up programme."

Chair of sportscotland Louise Martin CBE said:"The announcement made by the Scottish Government provides young people with a further opportunity to participate in sport and develop a vital life skill that will help them to feel safe in water. By teaching children how to swim we are giving them the opportunity to engage in an active and healthy lifestyle."

The programme will enable children to achieve the Scottish Swimming National School Swimming standard at primary school (25m). Pupils are also expected to develop the other range of skills related to the National School Swimming Award which are about general water confidence.

Funding of £800,000 additional funding will go to sportscotland to invest in the swimming top up programme. This will be allocated to local authorities in the context of the current partnership agreement.

Local authorities will have the flexibility to develop their delivery models across the community and schools to meet locally identified needs. Their plans would need to meet agreed criteria and be approved by sportscotland before the investment is released.