Call for universal school swimming as poorest children miss out on lifesaving lessons
MSPs to debate petition with 10,000 signatures calling for financial relief to keep pools open
The Scottish Government has been urged to make school swimming lessons universal after new research found the poorest children are missing out.
On Tuesday, MSPs will debate a petition calling for the value of swimming pools to be officially recognised and for financial relief to be provided to help keep pools open.
More than 10,000 people have signed the petition.
Ahead of the debate, Scottish Swimming said lessons in school time are necessary as only 16 per cent of children from the most deprived parts of the country take part in community swimming lessons.
The group said this is due to a 53 per cent real-terms increase in the cost of swimming lessons since 2018.
Erin Cummins, aquatics partnership manager at Scottish Swimming, said: “School swimming can help close the attainment gap.
“It is the only way to provide fair and equal access to all children to basic swimming and water safety skills.
“For many children school swimming is the only opportunity they will get to experience water in safe and educational environments.
“As an island nation with the worst drowning statistics of all the home nations, it really is imperative that all children can access these skills in Scotland to keep them safer in, on and around water.
“To do school swimming we need an estate of pools which is accessible, available and affordable.”
Ms Cummins added school swimming lessons are “critical” for the safety, health and wellbeing of the Scottish population.
The organisation added that 93 per cent of Scots agree that all children should learn to swim, and 91 per cent think swimming is an important part of every child’s education.
A Scottish Swimming survey also found that 98 per cent of primary school headteachers are supportive of school swimming.
John Lunn, CEO of Scottish Swimming, said: “Contrary to popular belief, school swimming is not universally delivered across Scotland.
“With eight local authority areas not delivering at all, and up to a further 10 areas only partially delivering school swimming, the current situation is grim.
“That’s why we need a phased implementation plan building to £6 million a year government investment to roll out the national primary school swimming framework.
“The framework is ‘shovel ready’ having been piloted and evaluated over the last two years.”
Last year Duncan Scott, Scotland’s most decorated Olympian, told a Holyrood committee drowning figures will worsen if action is not taken.
During his appearance in the Scottish Parliament, he said there will be a “generation of ‘cannot swim’” because of the number of pool closures.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “Every child should be given the opportunity to learn to swim, a skill which can save lives.
“Curriculum for Excellence includes guidelines on physical activity and sport which enable the provision of swimming within schools.
“It is for local authorities, under the Education Act 1980, to determine how curriculum elements are delivered locally.
“The Scottish Government will continue working with partners to provide more opportunities for children to become confident swimmers.”
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