Swimming

Intent

At The Willows Catholic Primary School, we aim for pupils to become confident, competent and safe swimmers.

Swimming is an important part of our Physical Education curriculum because it develops physical competence while also teaching essential water-safety skills.

Our curriculum is designed to ensure that pupils develop the confidence, technique and stamina needed to swim effectively using a range of strokes. Pupils also learn how to keep themselves safe in and around water and how to respond appropriately in an emergency.

By the end of Key Stage 2, we aim for all pupils to:

• swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres

• use a range of strokes effectively, including front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke

• perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

We want pupils to leave primary school not only able to meet the statutory swimming requirements but with the skills and confidence needed to enjoy swimming safely throughout their lives.

Implementation

Swimming is taught through a structured programme that progressively develops pupils' water confidence, swimming technique, stamina and understanding of water safety.

Pupils receive direct teaching from qualified swimming instructors, supported by school staff. Teaching takes account of pupils' different starting points and allows them to progress from developing basic confidence in the water to swimming independently and efficiently over increasing distances.

Pupils are taught the key techniques involved in front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke. They develop effective body position, coordinated movement and appropriate breathing so that they can maintain their technique while swimming over distance.

Swimming lessons also develop pupils' water safety and self-rescue skills. Pupils learn how to enter and exit the water safely, recover following an unexpected entry, float, tread water, attract attention and use appropriate techniques to reach safety.

Our swimming curriculum goes beyond simply measuring whether a pupil can complete 25 metres. Pupils are expected to develop control, confidence and proficiency so that they can sustain effective swimming without relying on the pool floor or side.

Teachers and swimming instructors assess pupils against clearly defined swimming and water-safety outcomes. Progress is recorded so that pupils who have not yet secured the statutory requirements can be identified and provided with further opportunities to develop their skills.

Teaching and support are adapted where required so that pupils, including those with SEND or additional physical needs, can participate safely and make appropriate progress.

Impact

The impact of our swimming curriculum is demonstrated through pupils' increasing confidence, competence and safety in the water.

Pupils should develop the ability to swim independently using a range of recognised strokes with increasing control and efficiency. They should be able to maintain an effective body position, coordinate their movements and manage their breathing when swimming over distance.

Pupils should also demonstrate secure water-safety knowledge and practical self-rescue skills. They should understand how to respond if they unexpectedly enter the water and be able to float, tread water, signal for help and move towards safety.

Assessment information enables the school to identify which pupils have met each of the statutory National Curriculum swimming requirements and which pupils require further teaching.

The PE subject leader monitors swimming outcomes and considers the proportion of pupils meeting each statutory requirement. This information is used to evaluate provision and plan additional support where necessary.

By the end of Year 6, our aim is for pupils to leave The Willows as safe, confident and competent swimmers who understand how to behave responsibly in and around water.