Pre-schoolers ready to take the plunge
Learn to Swim programme success
More than 1000 pre-schoolers are enrolled in South Lanarkshire Leisure’s Learn to Swim programme.
The massive uptake in the age group is one of the success stories of the Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water partnership to roll out the Learn to Swim National Framework for Swimming across Scotland.
Duncan Scott, who won six medals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia in April, is the ambassador for the framework.
He said: “Getting children into the pool as early as possible is the best way to start to love swimming.
“It is fantastic to hear so many kids at such a young age are learning to swim.”
The Learn to Swim Framework is aimed at youngsters from birth to 11-years-old and provides high quality teaching at least once a week which progresses through a series of lessons and levels over a number of years.
In South Lanarkshire, 1,022 pre-schoolers have enrolled onto the programme through South Lanarkshire Leisure, from a total of 7,901 youngsters.
Nationally, more than 5600 children aged three to five years have enrolled onto learn to swim programmes run at 19 Leisure Trusts and Local Authorities covering 100-plus pools across the country.
Brian Lironi, director of corporate affairs with Scottish Water, said: “Learning to swim is such an important safety skill and it’s vital the basics are learned at an early age. Safety both around and in the water is the paramount reason we’re involved in the Learn to Swim partnership with Scottish Swimming.
“We are looking forward to seeing the programme go from strengthto-strength, encouraging even more children and young people into the country’s swimming pools.”
Forbes Dunlop, CEO of Scottish Swimming, added: “Introducing young children to swimming at an early age brings a whole host of benefits for children.
“The pool is a water-based adventure playground for children to have fun, build confidence and learn new skills which they can use now and in future life.
“We want to try to ensure every child has a memorable, fun and enjoyable experience whilst learning to swim. I would like to thank our local partners and Scottish Water for their continued support in delivering this important programme.”
Learning to swim is such an important safety skill and it’s vital the basics are learned at an early age