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Swim failures in spotlight
ONLY half of Sheffield's children know how to swim - and those from low-income families are less likely to manage a length of the pool than those from more affluent backgrounds.
A report reveals an average of just 51 per cent of youngsters are currently achieving the National Curriculum standard of being able to swim 25 metres - one length of a standard pool.
But the Sheffield Council document said: "This masks significant disparities between schools, with some achieving 100 per cent pass rate and others only single-figure pass rates. Pass rates vary in line with socio-economic characteristics of the school catchments. Those from higher income areas of the city have significantly higher pass rates."
The report said extra lessons can significantly help address the problem. A programme of top-up classes led to one school increasing its pass rate from 14 per cent to 58 per cent, it added. Now extra classes are to be expanded to help 650 children from 24 Sheffield primary schools where swimming pass rates are low.
A total of 250,000 is to be spent on the sessions over the next two years, with funding split 80 per cent from Sheffield Council and 20 per cent from NHS Sheffield.
The council said its offer of discount swimming lessons to adults has received a "very positive" response from the public with hundreds of people now taking part in sessions. All adults aged 16 or over can take part in an eight-lesson course for 10 - less than a third of the normal price of around 35.
The scheme is being run by Sheffield Council and Sheffield International Venues at no cost to the taxpayer and is "currently teaching around 200 adults at any one time".
The report also considered the impact of Sheffield's decision not to take part in the Government-backed programme of free swimming for under 16s and over 60s because it was not offered enough funding to cover the cost.
National research has found there was "no significant increase" in pensioners swimming although over 60s who already swam have been visiting pools more often. However there were many more visits by children.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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