Swim England National Curriculum Training Programme (NCTP)

The below explains the Swim England Course content and overview. All candidates will receive invaluable resources, including the NCTP Learner Guide and National Curriculum Activity Cards. (Candidates will be registered with Swim England, recorded on the BSSP Database, and will receive certificates).

Primary CPD 

Support Teacher of School Swimming (6-hour course)

The course includes practical elements. Candidates must be confident in the water and able to swim 25m.

1. Statutory requirements for swimming and water safety in the National Curriculum
2. Good practice with regard to health and safety in a school swimming programme
3. Roles, responsibilities, and relationships related to the delivery of swimming in schools
4. Organisation of the learning environment
5. Physical literacy and its importance in PE and School Swimming
6. Developing water confidence using the core aquatic skills
7. Introduction to the swimming strokes

Teacher of School Swimming (Day-long course with some pre-course reading)

The course includes an Observation of Candidates teaching pupils (or if this is not possible, each other).

1. Aquatic skills appropriate to those working at the improver level
2. Technical aspects related to the four strokes – i.e. stroke analysis
3. Faults and causes and progressive practices to bring about improvement
4. Key skills within the School Swimming and Water Safety Charter that meet National Curriculum attainment targets
5. Key considerations when developing a school swimming lesson plan
6. Creation of session plans for the delivery of swimming lessons - delivery of these
7. Key aspects of communication in relation to delivery – feedback, questioning, and skill development
8. Reviewing the effectiveness of  planning and delivery to improve participant progression

Secondary CPD 

Secondary Teacher of School Swimming

Combined course - 15 hours: pre-course reading and 1-day course. The course includes an Observation of Candidates teaching pupils (or if this is not possible, each other).

1. Statutory requirements for swimming and water safety in the National Curriculum
2. Good practice with regard to health and safety in a school swimming programme
3. Roles, responsibilities, and relationships related to the delivery of swimming in schools
4. Organisation of the learning environment
5. Development of water confidence using the core aquatic skills
6. Introduction to the swimming strokes
7. Skills appropriate to those working at the improver and more advanced level (drills)
8. Technical aspects related to the four strokes – i.e. stroke analysis
9. Faults and causes and progressive practices to bring about improvement
10. Key skills for school swimming that meet National Curriculum attainment targets for KS3/4 PE (including Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming)
11. Key considerations when developing a Swimming lesson plan
12. Creation of session plans for the delivery of swimming lessons and delivery of these
13. Key aspects of communication in relation to delivery – feedback, questioning and skill development
14. Reviewing the effectiveness of planning and delivery to improve participant progression

CPD for Special Schools - Swim Supporting Pupils with SEND During School Swimming (5-6 hour course)

1. Improve understanding of SEND and inclusion in the National Curriculum and Physical Education, specifically Swimming
2. Swimming and Water Safety in the National Curriculum and adaptations where required
3. Identify good practice in health and safety
4. Understand barriers to swimming and Identify strategies to overcome these for pupils with SEND
5. Identify methods of communication and resources to support pupils with SEND
6. Understand fundamental movement skills and core aquatic skills and the links between them
7. How to develop water confidence using core aquatic skills
8. How to introduce the swimming strokes

Key Information 

For details on all of the above courses, or to book a place, please contact BSSP by emailing swimming@ahs.bucks.sch.uk

Important Information 

Swim England advises that school staff should refresh or upskill their training within a 5-year period.  Please see page 45 for the recommended pathway of training.