National Curriculum (NC) Swimming

In November 2018, the National Swim Group published further guidance and clarity about what each of the above strands should look like. Swim England have produced some useful guidance for schools, which can be found on the Swim England Website (Recourse Pack)

What do the outcomes mean?

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

This means demonstrating

• a continuous swim of more than 25 metres without touching the side of the pool or the pool floor without the use of swimming aids. Whenever possible, at least part of the swim should be completed in deep water, defined as greater than shoulder depth. This is because ‘competence’ and ‘proficiency’ cannot be assured if the swim takes place in shallow water only,
• the stroke, or strokes, are as strong at the end of the swim as at the start and that the swim is completed without undue stress,
• the stroke or strokes are recognisable to an informed onlooker. Using an ineffective stroke and just managing to swim 25 metres does not meet the minimum requirement. Nor does it provide the skills necessary for pupils to be able to self-rescue if they get into difficulty. A competent, confident, and proficient swim over a distance of more than 25 metres is the minimum requirement to meet the National Curriculum outcomes. It is hoped that a number of pupils will be able to swim significantly further, although evidence of this is not required for primary schools to officially record (although could be considered for parent and secondary school reporting).

Use a range of strokes effectively

Pupils should be able to use a range of strokes and make choices about the strokes they use to achieve different outcomes and be certain of success. To do this they need to experience simultaneous and alternating strokes, on their front and back and be able to adapt them for a range of purposes and intended outcomes. Examples of an intended outcome might be a swim of 50 metres or using an effective leg kick to tread water successfully.  Swimming strokes do not have to be perfect; the emphasis should be on effectively achieving the required aim rather than precision hand or feet movements. 

Other examples could be; using a front crawl with face down and aquatic breathing to swim in a competitive race, using a front crawl with head up to play water polo, using a front crawl-type leg kick in a vertical position to tread water.

Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

As part of NC Swimming, pupils should be taught the key water safety messages (age-appropriate); including the Water Safety Code:

Keep water safety messages:

• always swim in a safe place,
• always swim with an adult,
• if you fall in: float, breathe, relax,
• if someone else is in trouble, call 999 or 112,
• Shout, throw, never go.

Stop and Think:

• water is always moving,
• the water is colder than you think,
• edges can be dangerous,
• there may be dangers underwater.

Stay Together:

• never swim alone - stay close to a friend or family member (3 if possible, 1 to go for help, 1 to stay with person in difficulty),
• find a safe place to go - only swim in the sea where there is a lifeguard,
• plan your activity – check the weather, and tide times, get local advice, and wear the right clothing for your activity.

Float:

• if you fall in, float until you feel calm,
• signal for help, raising one hand in the air and shouting for help,
• if you can, swim to safety or hold on to something that floats,
• keep warm if you can’t swim to safety, using the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) or huddle position.

Call 999 or 112:

• if you see someone else in trouble in the water call 999 or 112 or shout for help - STAY SAFE,
• never enter the water to save others,
• signal to casualty and look for something you can throw to help them float like a life ring or even a football could help,
• keep watch until help arrives.

To meet the three National Curriculum requirements for swimming and water safety, lessons should focus on developing some or all of the following skills and strokes in different water-related contexts:

• how to enter (entry with full submersion and re-surface; fall in ;step in entries),
• exit the water (climb out unassisted, without use of the steps),
• floatation,
• submerging,
• rotating from back to front and front to back and regaining an upright position,
• pushing and gliding and an understanding of streamlining,
• aquatic breathing,
• moving effectively and efficiently through the water using alternating and simultaneous strokes on front and back, such as front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, also side stroke,
• swimming longer distances and for increasing amounts of time,
• using swimming skills and strokes for different purposes such as water polo and synchronised swimming,
• survival and self-rescue skills: treading water, maintain Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) and Huddle positions, floating and resting in the water (to regulate breathing), attracting attention by signalling for help (raising one arm and shouting), sculling, swimming in everyday clothing and with various buoyancy aids, swim 15m out and then swim 15 m back.
• water safety: knowledge and understanding of different water environments, how to stay safe when playing in and around water including recognising national swimming flags and warning signs and understanding national and local water safety advice,
• what to do if others get into difficulties: stay safe: shout, signal; throw, do not go into the water; raising the alarm 999,
• play competitive games such as water polo and apply basic principles suitable for attacking and defending.

For further information and to look at these documents in more detail, visit School Swimming Guides.

Therefore, pupils need to understand how water-based incidents occur such as:

• falling into water when playing on a footpath,
• falling out of a boat,
• swimming in clothes,
• becoming tired,
• sustaining an injury,
• being out of one’s depth,
• hampered by weeds or underwater hazards,
• rough water or tides.

Pupils should understand where water-based incidents occur:

• homes and gardens including ponds,
• swimming pools (develop an understanding of different types of pools),
• beaches,
• rivers,
• canals and reservoirs,

 Pupils should understand and be able to explain:

• the differences between swimming in open water and a heated swimming pool,
• how strong swimmers can get into difficulties when the water is cold, unpredictable and deep,
• the differences between swimming indoors and outdoors,
• that getting in and out of open water is more difficult (in comparison to steps at a swimming pool),
• that you need to prepare differently for swimming outdoors; e.g. wearing a wetsuit and bright swimming hat,
• that the conditions of open water can quickly change dependent on the weather,
• that you may not be able to see under the water to spot potential hazards,
• the effects of cold water shock (and what happens if you are not prepared to swim in cold water.

Statutory Information

Physical Education including Swimming is a National Curriculum Foundation Subject and thus STATUTORY.  Parents do not, therefore, have the right to withdraw their children from school swimming.

All schools must provide swimming instruction in either Key Stage 1 and/or Key Stage 2.  In particular, pupils should be taught to:

• Swim competently, confidently, and proficiently over a distance of at least 25m,
• Use a range of strokes effectively, such as front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke,
• Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.

The National Curriculum Swimming and Water Safety Group expects schools to provide swimming provision until all their pupils meet the minimum standards for school swimming and water safety.  This means that schools may need to look at Top Up Programmes (these are additional lessons to help pupils achieve these standards).

Key Information 

Pupils should know the dangers of water and understand how to act responsibly when playing in or near different water environments. 

Teaching Swimming and Water Safety at Key Stage 1 or 2 - A Guide for Primary Schools (produced by Swim England on behalf of the National Swim Group)

This includes understanding and adhering to the advice of national and local water safety sites, being able to use appropriate survival and self-rescue skills if they unintentionally fall in or get into difficulty in the water, and knowing what to do if others get into difficulty. To ensure pupils fully understand this important area, ‘water-based situations’ should not only cover how an incident could occur, but also different types of water environments.

Around 190 people lose their lives at the UK and Irish coasts each year, and over half never even planned to enter the water.  

Important Information

Swimming teachers and school staff need to be particularly aware of swimmers tiring when swimming in clothing due to the resistance the clothes present in the water.

Useful Links

Both the Bucks School Swimming Partnership and Swim England have awards for pupils aimed at meeting and exceeding National Curriculum requirements for Water Safety.

Teaching pupils Lifesaving Skills

In addition to the Water Safety School Swimming Programme, schools may decide to teach pupils lifesaving, i.e. as part of the Rookie Lifeguard Programme.  This should only be covered once pupils have an understanding of, and have developed competence in, self-rescue skills as a requirement of National Curriculum Swimming.

Important Information 

When teaching lifesaving, pupils below 8 years of age should only be taught rescues from the poolside (e.g. shout & signal, throwing, reaching with a pole, or similar items).

Pupils under 13 years of age should not be taught In-water contact rescues apart from when they are taught within a comprehensive Lifesaving Award programme where sufficient additional safety knowledge is learned.  Pupils must also be competent, confident, and proficient swimmers.

(Safe Practice in Physical Education School Sport and Physical Activity 2016 Edition 4.1.68)

Useful Links

Advice on resource packs and awards for teaching lifesaving skills at the appropriate key stages in primary and secondary education is available from the RLSS UK

Visit STA - School Swimming Academy Awards 

Visit RNLI (Youth Education)