A brand new resource aimed at improving the standard of swimming taught at school swimming sessions is soon to be launched by City of York Council’s sport and active leisure team.

The publication is designed for teachers who teach swimming to school children as part of their PE curriculum.  It covers areas like health, safety and hygiene and, most importantly, gives a structured and easy to deliver approach to teaching swimming.

Included in the publication are lesson plans and success criteria for five stages of swimming ability, from non-swimming beginners through to improving and advanced swimmers.  Once a child is at the advanced stage, they can expect instruction in exciting water-based activities, such as competitive swimming, life-saving, water polo and synchronised swimming.  Each stage is based upon a suggested ten-week programme, for which proposed lesson plans have been produced.  These lesson plans form a progressive, fun, safe and structured approach to teaching swimming to school children.

The pack contains records of pupil achievement together with children's certificates to be awarded on the completion of each stage so that teachers and pupils alike can monitor progress.

The publication has been commissioned and compiled by Liz Burkinshaw, City of York Council’s PE and schools sports consultant.  Much of the content has been written and collated by Catherine Butt and Martin Popplewell, two of York’s most experienced swimming teachers.

Liz is enthusiastic about the improvements that this publication could bring to the standard of school swimming as nothing like it currently exists.  She commented: "Teachers in schools do a great job teaching swimming, but they may not necessarily have a sports background or professional qualifications in this area.  This document is intended to support them by making lesson plan suggestions to make effective use of their time in the pool.  It also motivates pupils, who will progress through defined stages to be awarded certificates at each level."

One publication will be delivered free of charge to each school for use by teachers who teach school swimming and copies will also be supplied to all swimming teachers who teach swimming for schools.  Further copies will be available at both Edmund Wilson Swimming Pool and Yearsley Swimming Pool, and more copies are available on request (at a cost).

All schools in York, as well as anyone who teaches school swimming, have been invited to the launch of the publication, which is taking place at Edmund Wilson Swimming Pool on Monday 26 February at 4.30pm.  If swimming teachers have not already confirmed their attendance they are welcome to contact Mary Perham on 553376 to book a place.