Thankyou for your support for this week’s swimming program, unfortunately the weather hasn’t been kind to us but the students have shown great persistence and resilience! I have had a few questions this week in regard to why schools need to run swimming programs, please see below information as to provide some further clarity. 

Swimming and water safety is included in the Health and Physical Education Curriculum from Foundation to Level 10. This means that schools must ensure that they are implementing a swimming and water safety program that meets the requirements of the curriculum. The Health and Physical Education curriculum includes four focus areas with specific reference to swimming and water safety which schools are required to teach

• Fundamental movement skills (FMS) = Develop foundation movement and skills to enable students to participate in a range of physical activities. E.g. Floating and moving the body through water.
• Safety (S) = Practise behaviours and skills to keep themselves and others safe in and around water.
E. g. Sun safety. use of protective equipment and first aid.
• Lifelong physical activities (LPA) = Understand that swimming can enhance lifelong health-related fitness and wellbeing.
• Challenge and adventure activities (CA) = Participate in challenging swimming activities in a range of contexts. E.g. Triathlon. diving. water polo.