Swimming & Water Safety
Here at Whittington we take School Swimming seriously. Swimming is not only a key life skill for pupils that allows them to be physically active and enjoy water-based activities, it is also a lifesaving skill. With many lakes, rivers and canals surrounding the area in which we live, it is crucial that pupils know how to stay safe in and around the water.
School Swimming:
We offer school swimming to our year 4 children during the Autumn term. All children must wear a swimming hat and remove all jewellery before entering the pool. Boys must wear trunks and NOT swimming shorts. Girls should wear suitable one-piece swimming costumes. Please make sure that all of the children's uniform and equipment is labelled and they are able to dry and dress themselves efficiently.
Water Safety:
Whittington is dedicated to giving our children a good sense of water safety knowledge. This is done through both classroom and land0based practical sessions, usually within our Sports& Wellbeing Week. We have developed a programme which we deliver from nursery through to year 6. Year 4 children will practise practical water safety during their swimming sessions.
We appreciate the support and role parents can play in helping their children gain water confidence and awareness. Below are some links to activities and resources you can do at home with your children to prepare them for lessons and gain confidence. There are also some links to water safety learning that would be useful to look at with your child at home, it would be great to have a walk near water and discuss these practically with your children.
Useful Websites:
Learn to Swim information for parents | Swim England Learn to Swim
Swim England | Welcome to the home of Swim England
RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution - Saving Lives at Sea