KAL School Swimming - Parent Information
KAL would like to welcome all pupils who will shortly be starting school swimming.
School swimming lessons are part of the National Curriculum, our aim is to provide the opportunity for all Key Stage 2 pupils to learn how to swim. A key objective is to also provide water safety skills in a pool environment, and KAL aim to do this as part of an educational, enjoyable programme.
The national curriculum lists three outcomes that all pupils must reach by the end of Year 6. These are minimum standards of swimming and water safety and will help to give your child the basic skills to be able to enjoy the water safely.
It is hoped that all children will also want to develop their water skills further by taking part in swimming sessions outside of school through either swimming lessons or attending some of the various swimming sessions offered across KAL.
For more information on the KAL Swim please visit www.kalswim.co.uk
Importance of Children’s Swimming Lessons: www.swimming.org
Swim Caps
Swim Caps are required for both health & safety as well as hygiene reasons.
Goggles
Children are allowed to wear goggles in their swimming lessons. All goggles should be made of unbreakable plastic and be of BS (British Safety) standard. Children should be aware of how to wear and remove them safely prior to their first lesson.
Jewellery
Physical Education Safe Practice states that all jewellery, including earrings and religious adornments must be removed. However, KAL appreciate that this is not always easy to ensure, therefore would request that parents/guardians please check that if their child’s ears are pierced, they wear simple stud type earrings if due to attend school swimming lessons.
Medical Issues/Exclusions
If your child has any medical conditions, please ensure that your school informs the KAL school swimming teachers prior to their first lesson. Any medication (e.g. asthma inhalers) must accompany children to the pool.
Swimming is a life-saving skill and a compulsory part of the National Curriculum, therefore children will only be allowed to be excluded on medical grounds that are supported by a medical certificate.
Buoyancy Aids
Buoyancy aids, such as armbands, are not always for non-swimmers. At times they may also be used to improve technique for a particular stroke or skill. All buoyancy aids are provided by KAL.
Floats & Woggles
KAL swimming instructors will use a variety of equipment throughout each lesson, all the equipment is provided by KAL.
Following a recent review of the KAL School Swimming partner package, we have launched the KAL School Swimming Access Card which will provide free access to Public Swims at any KAL swimming pool from September to August for all pupils in the year group attending school swimming in the current academic year.
If your child is or will be attending KAL School Swimming this academic year, you are eligible to apply for the free access by completing the KAL School Swimming Access Card Application Form which will be sent out by your child’s school. Only accessible throughout the year.
(You’ll receive info for applications from your child’s school in the July before your the term starts.)
Upon completion of the form KAL will send out further information directly to parents. For any queries please contact us at contact.centre@kal.org.uk
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I sign up more than one child? | Children must be in the pupil group attending KAL School Swimming in the current academic year. KAL will have the register of Pupils attending from schools so will cross reference this against applications. |
| Can I sign up at site? | No, applications can only be done via the Microsoft Forms online application form. |
| Which swims are included in the access? | Only Public Swim sessions are included. |
| What are the benefits of having the KAL School Swimming Access Card? | Accessing Public Swims outside of the weekly school swimming lesson will allow pupils to practice and develop the skills learnt during their lesson. This creates a greater opportunity for progression during lessons and will help your child to become a safe and competent swimmer. |
We strongly recommend they do! Swim England Learn to Swim and School Swimming have different outcomes to achieve, we therefore recommend that swimmers continue with any swimming lessons they are currently in. School Swimming will enhance the skills and strength for your child’s swimming.
KAL can only provide a comparison for swimmers which attend KAL Swim lessons.
KAL Swim Lessons follow Swim England Learn to Swim framework which progresses through to performance swimming.
KAL Swim has approximately 10 outcomes for each stage, school swimming has 4 main outcomes. KAL Swim therefore offers the ability to develop and achieve a wider swimming skill.
During your child’s school swimming lesson the ratio of swimmers in the pool to qualified teachers is significantly higher. The area of pool that the lesson takes place in may be different to what your child is used to (e.g. swimming in the deep end). For this reason, children may be asked to wear additional buoyancy aids.
KAL only provide fully qualified swimming instructors for the delivery of KAL Swim Lessons and School Swimming, therefore they will be committed to ensuring that the stroke for each swimmer is correct, sometimes this may require support from a buoyancy aid.
There are some great additional benefits from joining the KAL Swim lesson programme, including:
All comments, concerns and complaints should go through your school, who will liaise with KAL to resolve any issues.
