Swimming lessons

WQ.26/2022

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND EDUCATION BY DEPUTY L.M.C. DOUBLET OF ST. SAVIOUR

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 24th JANUARY 2022 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 31st JANUARY 2022

Question

“In relation to swimming lessons within schools, will the Minister state –

1. what the education curriculum requires;
2. when the current curriculum was put in place, when it was last reviewed and what plans, if any, there are to review it in the future;
3. who is responsible for overseeing physical education and, in particular, swimming, as identified within the curriculum;
4. what swimming tuition is provided for children in each Jersey primary school and to which year group(s) this is provided; and
5. who currently provides swimming tuition (broken down by school) and what specialist qualifications they hold?”

Answer

Key Background documents:

Physical Education Curriculum

Swimming Management Policy

Jersey Sport Guidance Document for Swimming (see appendix1)

1. what the education curriculum requires

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

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

• use a range of strokes effectively [for example, front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke]

• perform basic survival and rescue skills in pool based situations

• keep themselves safe and understand the potential dangers of Jersey’s beaches.

The provision of swimming to meet the requirements of the PE Curriculum is focused on pupils in Key Stage 2, to ensure that they leave primary school as confident swimmers with a good awareness of water safety.

2. when the current curriculum was put in place, when it was last reviewed and what plans, if any, there are to review it in the future;

The current Physical Education curriculum was part of the 2014 overall curriculum review, which fell in line with those made in the National Curriculum.

The provision and standards to be achieved through the curriculum were reviewed with Jersey Sport in 2017 and guidance was created to support this (see appendix 1).

The whole of the Physical Education Curriculum was taken to Jersey Curriculum Council in November 2021 via a CYPES partnership with Jersey Sport, to request a full review and update of the PE Curriculum, which will include swimming. This was approved and work is currently underway to devise a method to take this work forward.

3. who is responsible for overseeing physical education and, in particular, swimming, as identified within the curriculum;

Under the Education (Jersey) Law 1999 the Minister for Children and Education is responsible (after consultation with the Jersey Curriculum Council) for establishing and revising the Jersey Curriculum and in this capacity for overall sight of the Physical Education curriculum, including swimming.

The Minister for Children and Education is supported in this remit by the Jersey Curriculum Council, which includes Senior Officers in CYPES, and school and college representatives from all Key Stages and Special Education. Individuals from Jersey Sport contribute to feedback at an operational level regarding school activity on a six-weekly basis or more frequently if required, and the Department’s governance team also lead on the safety aspects of swimming on a regular basis.

4. what swimming tuition is provided for children in each Jersey primary school and to which year group(s) this is provided; and

Please see the following statement from the ‘Swimming Risk Management Policy’ available on gov.je for the statutory programme to meet the needs of the curriculum. (This is due for an update in 2022)

‘JERSEY SWIMMING PROGRAMME - Key Stage 2

The swimming programme is available to all Government schools with pupils in Key Stage 2. The programme combines a qualified swimming teacher(s) with access to a States run pool for a fixed period at the end of which pupils are assessed against the criteria above. The swimming programme is supported by the Sports Development department. From April 2017 this will be known as ‘Jersey Sport’ as part of the Fit for the Future Strategy. This is a joint venture agreed between the Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture department and the Education department.

Access to pools varies across Jersey schools however the programme aims to ensure that all Jersey pupils have sufficient access to meet the minimum Key Stage 2 standard. The programme offers core access during which the majority of pupils would be expected to achieve the standard. From September 2017 it will be primarily targeted at year 4 and early year 5 pupils with the latter half of year 5 used to focus on any student who has yet to achieve the core standard.

1. Additional access – Key Stage 1

There is no specified swimming programme in Key Stage 1. Some pupils have early access to swimming instruction in their Nursey and/or Reception year through the support of charitably funded or subsidised provision. Provision ranges from a free fixed period of ten thirty-minute lessons with a focus on water mobility and confidence provided to mixed ability groups across 8 to 10 schools a year, to cross school provision for identified non-swimmers, to subsidised provision for a small number of nursery classes.

2. Additional access – Key Stages 3 and 4

There is no specified swimming programme in secondary school and access to swimming provision differs between schools. Haute Vallee, Les Quennevais and Jersey College for Girls/Victoria College have designated pools where they hold timetabling priority. Other schools have to bid for available time after the Jersey Swimming Programme has booked its lesson and training allocations.’

In the past, there was a charitable initiative provided by the Le Mourier Swim School. This targeted Reception age pupils. This work has no Government of Jersey funding and engagement by schools was entirely voluntary. Le Mourier Swim School can supply more details if required.

In addition to the basic swimming lessons, Year 5 pupils also have access to the ‘Swim Safe’ campaign organised by Jersey Sport. This initiative covers the survival and rescue skills element of the curriculum. The lessons are offered for free thanks to a partnership between Swim England, the RNLI, the Bosdet Foundation and Jersey Sport.

e.  who currently provides swimming tuition (broken down by school) and what specialist qualifications they hold?”

All Government of Jersey primary pupils in Key Stage 2 are taught by qualified swimming teachers from Jersey Sport as part of the statutory curriculum requirements. This is in line with the agreed CYPES/ Jersey Sport Guidance Document for Swimming, which follows the Association for Physical Education best practice and states:

‘A level 2 swimming teacher should always be present when children are being taught swimming.

Jersey Sport will endeavour to provide level 2 teachers whenever possible although on some occasions a level 1 swimming teacher may be used alongside a level 2 swimming teacher.’

In addition to this, schools also need to provide a qualified individual with the ‘National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches’ (NRASTC). This is confirmed to be in place in all Government of Jersey primary schools.

Private schools are not compelled to adopt the Jersey Curriculum and therefore, they are responsible for making their own arrangements.

With reference to separate swimming arrangements in Early Years, Key Stage 1, or secondary education, where the curriculum is not statutory, individual schools make their own arrangements to comply with the swimming safety policy.

Data for individual school choices around additional non-statutory swimming provision lies with individual schools and headteachers; it is not currently collected centrally for this reason.

Appendix 1

School Swimming   Standard Operating Procedure

Index Code   JS

Author   Martine Le Guilcher

Authorised By   Catriona Mcallister

Issue Date   October 2017

Review Date   October 2018

Last Review Date   New Document

Changes   -

Overview   The purpose of this policy is to detail the School

Swimming  procedures  under  which  the  School Swimming programme are managed.

Document Index

 

Section 1

Introduction

Section 2   Responsibilities

1. School Responsibility
2. School teaching staff (Primary Class teacher/TA)
3. Qualified Swimming Teachers
4. Lifeguards

Section 3   Teacher to Pupil Ratios

1. Information surrounding ratios
2. Ratio Table

Section 4   Lifeguard Provision

Section 5   Curriculum

1. Background
2. Curriculum outcomes

Section 6   Teacher Clothing and Equipment

1. Teacher Clothing
2. Equipment

Section 7   Safety Equipment and First Aid Arrangements

1. Safety Equipment
2. First Aid Arrangements

Section 8   Swimming Attire

Introduction  Section 1

 

1

Jersey Sport are committed to providing a quality “learn to swim” programme to users within Key Stage 2 of the States of Jersey education system. The primary school programme is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure a quality learning experience is delivered to young people which links closely to Curriculum for Excellence and in particular Physical Education. Jersey Sport and States of Jersey Education Department work in partnership to ensure as many of our young people as possible learn how to swim.

 The following document outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner organisation.

Responsibilities  Section 2

 

School Responsibility

2.1

The Head teacher or a named member of staff is delegated the responsibility of school swimming. This will include knowledge and understanding of

· The swimming pool safety policy and procedures in States of Jersey facilities.

· Risks assessments

· Pool safety operation procedures Normal Operating Procedure (NOP) and Emergency Action Plan( EAP) available at each pool

· All Swimming related communications are given to appropriate staff.

School Teaching Staff    2.2

Because of the special knowledge and understanding they have of their pupils, primary school teachers/Class TA’s should accompany their own class to swimming.

 Class teachers/TA’s have the following responsibilities:

· Appropriate supervision of children when changing

· Control of pupils at all times

· Head counts are taken prior to and after every session

· Normal Operating Procedures and Emergency Action Plans are followed

· They must be on the poolside appropriately dressed (see section 6.1) and

will be asked to assist the swimming teacher with the lesson. This may

involve teaching a group with the support of a swimming teacher, working 1 to 1 with nervous pupils or supporting with behaviour or ASN/SEN.

· To pass on information about pupils that will inform the swimming teacher of particular needs.

 Primary class teachers will not be asked to undertake tasks that they are uncomfortable with.

Qualified Swimming  2.3

Teachers

A level 2 swimming teacher should always be present when children are being taught swimming.

Jersey Sport will endeavour to provide level 2 teachers whenever possible although on some occasions a level 1 swimming teacher may be used alongside a level 2 swimming teacher.

They have responsibility for ensuring the safe conduct of the class in the water and on poolside, in line with good practice and their training, which includes:

· Planning, developing and monitoring the swimming programme in line with the Jersey PE Curriculum.

· Preparing schemes of work appropriate to pupils’ ages, abilities and interests in line with the learning outcomes.

· Co-operating with the class teacher to check numbers of pupils before, during and after each session

· Enabling the class teacher to assist with the delivery of the swimming lesson.

· Identifying specific groups within each swimming session and providing appropriate activities.

· Having a thorough knowledge and understanding of NOP and EAP for the pool

· Carrying out emergency drills every term.

· Working with the lifeguards on duty or, if there are no lifeguards, providing lifesaving and first aid skills on their own or with others

· Affect a rescue if necessary.

· Give appropriate training to class teachers and pupils in relation to safety procedures and roles of all in the event of an accident/incident.

 All Swimming Teachers will be DBS checked.

Lifeguards   2.4

Jersey Sport have a responsibility for the safety of all who attend their lessons.

Whenever children swim, there must be someone present with appropriate lifeguarding, rescue and first aid qualifications

The person responsible for lifeguarding, rescue and first aid will:

· Have knowledge of the NOP and EAP

· Be observant of the pool and pool users at all times

· Initiate any rescues or other emergency action required

· Be able to affect a rescue from the bottom of the deepest part of the pool

· Administer first aid

· Prevent unsafe activities

· Assist in the running of emergency drills

· Secure the pool against unauthorised access when not in use

· Communicate clearly at all times with all users / teachers in the pool

· Lifeguards must work with school teachers and swimming teachers.

· Lifeguard instructions for safe conduct in the pool should be followed at all times.

Teacher to Pupil  Section 3 Ratios

 

Information surrounding ratios

3.1

Each pool will have a designated maximum bather capacity appropriate to the size of the pool, which will be specified in the Normal Operating Procedure.

· There must always be at least 2 supervisors from the school present on the poolside for school swimming lessons (ratio 1 – 12 for school staff to pupils). For afterschool swimming lessons where less than 12 pupils are in attendance only one member of school staff needs to be present on poolside supervising.

· Pupil/ swimming teacher ratios must not exceed the below ratios and for the vast majority of cases in primary school swimming should be less.

Ratio Table   3.2

 

Activity	Baseline Learner/ Teacher ratio	Comments
Adults & Child Class (where adults are in the water with a child on a 1-to- 1 basis)	12 babies & adult pairs to 1 teacher	Pool Temperatures are critical for young infants. Pool depth to be suitable for the adult in an adult and child class.
Younger children between 3 & 4 years old	6 to 1	Where the teacher is in the water any lifesaving competency (s)he has is diminished
Teaching in the water	6 to 1	Teacher should preferably teach from the poolside from improver and above. When the teacher is in the water a lifesaver should be on the pool deck. It is preferable where possible for the swimming teacher to be on the poolside and the helper in the water
Beginners (children over 4 years and including adult learners)	12 to 1	Learners with or without floatation aids that cannot swim 10m comfortably and safely.
Improving swimmers (Children and adults)	20 to 1	Learners who have mastered stroke technique and have the ability to swim 10m comfortably and safely
Mixed ability groups not including beginners (Children and adults)	20 to 1	Should not include beginners and all should be able to swim 25m minimum. Mixed ability groups are often a necessity in managing school groups.
Competitive club swimmers	30 to 1	The number of swimmers should fit in the lane/area. The ratio should reflect the swimming competence of the swimmer and the activity taking place.
Diving tuition from poolside (children & adults)	20 to 1	Standing dives from the poolside should be taught into a minimum of 1.8m of water. Exercises leading to full standing dives from the poolside such a sitting and kneeling dives may be considered in shallower water for young children after a risk assessment and taking into account the size and height of the child.
Platform Diving training (children & adults)	10 to 1	Only one diver should be on the board at any one time. Expansive diving facility configuration with safe spaces between the plunges may allow the ratio to increase
Synchronised Swimming (Children & adults)	20 to 1	Some synchronised swimming exercises should not be taught in shallow water in case of pool bottom impact . A risk assessment should consider the depth of the water needed for the exercise in relation to the height of the learners.
Waterpolo (children & adults)	30 to 1	Water space would normally preclude larger groups. Additional water polo players out of water may allow the ratio to increase in a training session.
Exercise in water – shallow water (Adults)	30 to 1	Participants need to be able to stand up from lying in the water on their front or back whether this is a session in shallow or deep water.
Exercise in water – Deep water (Adults)	20 to 1	Unlike exercise in shallow water consideration as to be given to participants swimming ability and the use of buoyancy aids
Learners with Special educational needs and/or disabilities (Children & adults)	1 to 1 upwards	Each situation must be considered independently as people with disabilities are not a homogenous group.

Reasons identified in the risk assessment why the ratio may be increased or decreased

• Dedicated lifeguard observing the lesson area only may permit the lesson ratio to increase

• Additional helper(s) in the water may allow the ratio to increase

• Shallow water area may allow the ratio to increase (shallow water is defined by the risk assessment in relation to the height of the learner)

• Teaching learners in ‘waves’ keeping a % of the learners out of the water may allow the ratio to increase but reduces the quality of the lesson.

• Poor definition of the teaching area may require the ratio to decrease.

• Sharing the space with another activity may require the ratio to decrease

• If the area is deeper than is suitable for that level of lesson the ratio may need to be decreased (deep water is defines by the risk assessment in relation to the height of the learner)

• Poor water clarity (although not so bad as to require pool closure) may require the ratio to decrease

• Steep floor gradients or uneven pool floor may require the ratio to decrease in water of standing depth

• Poor effectiveness of the pool bottom non-slip tiles may require the ratio to decrease in water of standing depth

• Language and learning difficulties may require the ratio to decrease This is not an exhaustive list, there may be many other reasons specific to the pool or type of lesson

Lifeguard  Section 4 Provision

 

4

There is a statutory requirement for a ‘lifeguard’ to be available whenever a school swimming lesson is taking place. This will be a designated person with an RLSS National Pool Lifeguard qualification.

· The ‘Management of Health and Safety in the Swimming Pool’ states that “In certain circumstances a swimming teacher can also be the ‘lifeguard’ for his/her group subject to holding the appropriate qualifications and or training. This only applies to ‘programmed’ swimming”

Programmed activity is defined as;

· With a formal structure

· Disciplined

· Supervised or controlled

· Continuously monitored from the poolside

Curriculum  Section 5

Background   5.1

Jersey Sport will deliver their school swimming programme in line with learning outcomes set out in the States of Jersey Education Department’s physical education programme. The outcomes will be taught in relation to the age and stage of each pupil. It is an aim that all children will achieve the minimum swimming safety standard by the end of Key Stage 2, as stated in the Jersey Curriculum.

Jersey Curriculum  5.2

Standards

The Jersey Curriculum swimming criteria states pupils should be able to do the following:

• A minimum of 25m Front Crawl breathing to the side – no lifting of the head t front – with good technique.

• A minimum of 25m Backstroke with technically correct arm and leg action a body position.

• A minimum of 15m (desired 25m) of a recognisable breaststroke or butterfly correct timing is not essential, no front crawl kick or front paddle allowed.

• A straddle entry keeping face dry.

• Treading water for a minimum of 30 seconds, keeping head above the water without travelling.

• Perform a surface dive at full reach depth and touch the bottom with hand/s

• Swim a minimum of 25m head up front paddle / breaststroke strongly.

Teacher Clothing and  Section 6 Equipment

Teacher Clothing  6.1

Teachers should change into suitable non slip footwear to be able to move easily around poolside and not bring outdoor dirt onto the pool surround on their feet.

They should wear clothes suitable to the humidity and temperatures of the pool. If the member of staff is a NRASTC/STA SAT qualification holder, they should be wearing clothes appropriate to aid a rescue if necessary.

Equipment   6.2

Because of the special knowledge and understanding they have of their pupils, primary school teachers/Class TA’s should accompany their own class to swimming.

 Class teachers/TA’s have the following responsibilities:

· Appropriate supervision of children when changing

· Control of pupils at all times

· Head counts are taken prior to and after every session

· Normal Operating Procedures and Emergency Action Plans are followed

· They must be on the poolside appropriately dressed (see section 6.1) and will be asked to assist the swimming teacher with the lesson. This may involve teaching a group with the support of a swimming teacher, working 1 to 1 with nervous pupils or supporting with behaviour or ASN/SEN.

· To pass on information about pupils that will inform the swimming teacher of particular needs.

 Primary class teachers will not be asked to undertake tasks that they are uncomfortable with.

Safety Equipment and First  Section 7 Aid Arrangements

Safety Equipment  7.1

· States of Jersey pools are equipped with a means of raising an alarm

and summoning support in the event of an accident or incident. This is an emergency button, which activates a siren alerting other facility staff to take action.

· There are appropriate reach and rescue equipment on hand to use in the event of any incidents.

· Equipment, including a evacuation blankets and first aid equipment are immediately to hand.

· Pool depths are clearly marked on the walls of the pool and instructors should explain their significance to pupils, especially beginners.

· A pool divider, usually a rope, will normally be positioned to separate deep from shallow water when non-swimmers are present.

· All pools can be locked off and isolated to prevent unauthorised access when not manned.

First Aid  7.2 Arrangements

It is the responsibility of Jersey Sport to ensure that there is a lifeguard on site. In the event of an accident occurring which requires first aid, procedures outlined in the States of Jersey site specific NOP and EAP must be followed. The incident must be recorded on the accident form of the pool being used, Jersey Sport and the school should request a copy for their own records.

Swimming Attire  Section 8

 

8

Pupils should wear appropriate costumes for swimming that conform to safety, cultural and teaching requirements. It is important that swimming clothing is relatively tight fitting so as to minimise the effect of drag that waterlogged clothing can create. Sensitivity is required to ensure:

· The correct balance when cultural demands require looser fitting garments

· The need to be able to see the movements that limbs and joints are making in the water to ensure appropriate learning

· Children who swim frequently or whose eyes are susceptible to irritation may request to use goggles for swimming

· Children with long hair must be encouraged to tie hair back

· Children must wear a swimming hat in the pool for hygiene reasons and also to make them more easily identified.