Thanks to the school’s dedicated staff, Seacole Park students are enjoying weekly swimming lessons. 🏊♀️
Staff members Ms Robson and Mr Tyler have invested a lot of their own time in organising the lessons for their students. Ms Robson, the project’s leader, is a fully qualified ASA swimming teacher and coach. She has sourced a private pool, for exclusive access, and organised the resources required to provide the lessons in a safe, fun and productive way.
Because of Ms Robson’s efforts, the students are able to follow both the National Curriculum and the Swim England, learn to swim programme. To help the programme to be run successfully, Mr Tyler undertook some additional training – completing first aid and water rescue qualifications in the process.
At the start of the programme, only two of Seacole Park’s students were able to swim. Because of this, students’ initial lessons began with developing water confidence and water safety knowledge. Students learned the water safety rules and began to follow structured lessons – with some learners developing enough confidence to put their faces in the water and blow bubbles. Others learnt how to float on their fronts and then on their backs.
Seacole Park is situated near to the coast and has an estuary, leading to a large body of open water. This has made the life skill of learning to swim even more important for the youngsters. To maintain maximum engagement, lots of the lessons are game based or challenge based. Students have responded very well to this format and actively encourage each other to succeed.
The programme has produced many success stories. For example, one student had developed a fear of getting into the swimming pool and spent weeks sitting on the side of the pool. After much encouragement, the learner summoned the confidence to climb down the steps and get in. In typical Seacole style, classmates and staff heartily cheered the achievement!
As well as having lots of fun in the pool, learners have also gained lots of awards over the last few months. Some learners, who started as non-swimmers, have learned to swim, developed their techniques in front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke an even butterfly. Learners have also developed their confidence, resilience and fitness. Students are now able to swim distances ranging from 10 metres. Two students have even managed to swim 100 metres.
Among the many skills developed through the programme, learners have developed a respect for the water, their own swimming ability and have experienced the power of positive encouragement and support. They have also passed swimming level awards and Rainbow Distance Awards.
One student, after receiving his Rainbow Distance 100 metre award and his Swim England Stage 4 award immediately asked, “What do I need to do for my next badge Miss?”
The programme was initially set up as an autumn term activity. But students have said they enjoy it so much, they want it to be part of their timetables every week! As a result of their enthusiasm, swimming lessons are continuing for the foreseeable future.
Well done to the learners at Seacole Park, who have done incredibly well. And many thanks to Ms Robson and Mr Tyler for all their hard work to make this happen.
