Swimming
The sport of swimming is the 2nd biggest participation sport in the UK, and as the nation strives to improve it’s health and fitness, the popularity of swimming continues to grow. In addition to the physical benefits of swimming the personal safety of pupils in and around water is paramount. With these factors in mind the aims of the swimming programme at Dove House School are:
• All pupils will leave school happy, safe and confident
in and near water.
• All pupils will have an opportunity to learn to swim and
ideally will be able to swim unaided when they leave.
• All pupils will be encouraged to progress to their full
swimming potential,including opportunities to compete and links
with local swimming clubs.
When did it begin and how has it developed?
Swimming lessons began at Dove House School in September 2002 when ‘The Aquadrome’ swimming complex opened at Basingstoke Leisure Park. Initially we had exclusive use of the 20m teaching pool for one session per week. This has developed to three 45 minute sessions per week throughout the whole academic year.
The Aquadrome is an excellent resource. The 20m teaching pool has a moveable floor which means the water depth can be varied lesson by lesson to accommodate the height and ability of the pupils.
The lessons are taught by a member of staff who is a fully qualified ASA teacher. The swimming group is always accompanied by at least one classroom assistant who is well known to the pupils. There is always a lifeguard on duty at the Aquadrome while swimming lessons are in progress.
The more confident pupils are also able to experience swimming in the 25m-competition pool. This has a constant depth of 1.8m and necessitates swimming in lanes.
Who Swims?
The number of pupils who swim each year has risen annually. Currently Year 7 and Year 11 pupils swim for at least a term. The pupils in the Learning Support Base also all swim for at least one term of each academic year.
The groups are carefully organised to ensure every pupil makes maximum progress. Those pupils who are nervous of the water or unable to swim are taught in very small groups. Groups never exceed 10 regardless of age or ability.
How are the lessons planned?
The swimming lessons are planned using the ASA National Plan for teaching swimming (NPTS). This is a comprehensive, integrated, progressive teaching programme based upon sound technical and educational principles. The NPTS comprises three main areas of development:
• Skill development
• Stroke development
• Understanding and awareness
There is a range of awards, which have been designed to work in conjunction with the NPTS that act as great motivators for the pupils.Safety is the first priority,followed very closely by progressive education in swimming.
Additional awards used to motivate pupils of various ages and abilities:
• Dove House School distance awards
• ASA/ESSA national Curriculum Awards
• ASA Water Skills Awards
• ASA Preliminary Safety Award
• ASA School Speed Awards
Achievements
For the 2003-2004 academic year one of the whole school improvement targets was based on swimming:
‘90% of pupils who participate in the swimming programme will progress at least 1 level of the ASA National Plan for teaching swimming’
This was achieved.
93% progressed at least 1 level and 56% progressed at least 2 levels.
For the 2004-2005 academic year 100% of pupils who left Dove House School were able to swim 20m consistently and had achieved at least National Swim Award Level 1.
The more able swimmers have represented Dove House at several Hampshire Special Schools swimming galas. The number of pupils eligible to compete has risen each year and many gained the ASA School Speed Awards as a result.
Community Links
Dove House School has recently developed very strong links with Basingstoke Bluefins. The Bluefins are a very large, successful swimming club based at the Aquadrome.A Special Needs swimming session has been established which is offering further swimming opportunities for some pupils.
