Swimming

Our Aim is for all children to gain increased water confidence, swim competently using different strokes and be safe around open water. For all children able to swim 25m unaided by the time they leave Overdale Junior School.

Lessons

Swimming lessons take place in Year 5 at Aylestone Leisure Centre on Wednesday morning.  All pupils attend a 6-week course at the leisure centre, travelling by coach. The children are taught in ability groups (up to 12 pupils) by qualified swimming teachers. Lifeguards are always on duty for swimming sessions. The aim for each child is to progress by improving water confidence, stroke technique, distance, life saving and self-rescue techniques.

Top up sessions occur in Year 6 (post SAT tests) to help those children who have not yet achieved 25m to become more confident swimmers and help them towards being able to swim 25m unaided. Y5 & Y6 Pupil Premium children are able to get help with the cost of swimming.

Assessment

The school is a member of the School Swimming Charter and this provides us with a large number of resources for teaching swimming, information about safe swimming and a recognised Swimming Assessment and Awards system. The progressive award levels are 1-6 and also include rescue techniques and aquatics skills for the higher swimming ability pupils. Where children achieve an award they are given a badge and certificate. There is also a greater focus on safety around water, including the SAFE Code and understanding the meaning of different coloured beach flags.

Overview of Provision 

Children in Y5 take a 7 week course in swimming at our local leisure centre as part of the National Curriculum. They are put in ability groups with the aim to help them swim at least 25 m. They work on stroke technique and stamina. In addition all children take part in basic safe rescue techniques and some more able pupils take part in life saving techniques. All children learn about the SAFE code and beach safety. Where possible we also use the ASA School Swimming Charter Awards for further assessment of children who do not reach 25m. Using data from Y5 we are able to decide which children need booster sessions in Y6 to help them to become more water confident and potentially achieve 25m before leaving school at the end of KS2.

Meeting national curriculum requirements for swimming and water safety
What percentage of your current Year 6 cohort swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres? N.B. Even though your children may swim in another year please report on their attainment on leaving primary school.68%
What percentage of your current Year 6 cohort use a range of strokes effectively [for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke]?63%
What percentage of your current Year 6 cohort perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations?63%
Schools can choose to use the Primary PE and Sport Premium to provide additional provision for swimming but this must be for activity over and above the national curriculum requirements. Have you used it in this way?Yes