PA
Too many children are leaving primary school unable to swim.
In a report, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) says that one in three kids will reach Year 7 without being able to swim the length of a pool, or 25 metres. They say the 'startling' new research they carried out alongside Kellogg's, found that "a staggering 200,000 children will leave primary school this summer unable to swim, amounting to 2 million non-swimmers over the next 10 years."
The ASA is calling for ALL primary school children to have swimming tuition, amid revelations that nearly four out of 10 kids do not have lessons at school.
They say that swimming is a statutory element of the National Curriculum, and compulsory for seven to 11-year-olds, whilst government recommendations state that: "By the end of primary school, pupils must be taught to swim 25m unaided using recognised strokes on their front and back and use a range of personal survival skills."
The ASA is calling for lessons to be a priority in school as swimming is a life saving skill. The association's spokesman David Sparkes said: "Swimming is the only subject on the national curriculum that can save your life."
The ASA and Kellogg's are meeting with the Government today to "urge parliamentarians, policy makers, local authorities and relevant organisations to prioritise the only sport that saves lives so every child has the opportunity to learn to swim irrespective of socio-economic and ethnic background."
The research also suggested that mums and dads need to play a bigger part in making sure their kids can swim, as one in six parents admits they never take their child swimming.
What do you think?
Do your children have swimming lessons at school
Do you think that teaching your child to swim is primarily the parents' responsibility?