Publication of National Primary School Swimming Framework

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the National Primary School Swimming Framework and supporting guidance for increasing and improving swimming lessons by primary schools, including in the Coatbridge and Chryston constituency; understands that the development of this framework has been carried out by Scottish Swimming, in partnership with Scottish Water, to improve the current levels of swimming attainment within Scottish schools as part of a wider effort to ensure that every primary school pupil is afforded the opportunity to learn how to swim; further understands that the main objectives of the framework’s proposals include introducing non-swimmers to the aquatic environment to develop their water confidence, and developing a strict understanding of safety in the water; acknowledges that Scottish Swimming recommends pupils to have a minimum of seven and a half hours of curriculum swimming delivery, which could be comprised of 10 sessions of approximately 45 minutes; recognises that Scottish Swimming believes that the recommended age at which pupils should receive school swimming lessons is P4 and P5 because such children will have attained the appropriate literacy skills and before any social stigma can hinder their participation, which will help to ensure that all children have equal means and opportunities to engage with the swimming lessons; considers that the framework makes a clear distinction between a "universal" and "targeted" approach to school swimming provision, whereby all children are afforded the opportunity to swim, while a targeted approach identifies any pupils who are non-swimmers and require additional training and support; notes that the framework actively encourages swimming lessons in consistent blocks to support pupils in an organised way and ensuring that pupils are actively supported in teaching them how to swim; supports the framework’s objectives on inclusivity, which highlight the provision of opportunities and pathways for children with physical, sensory, and learning impairments; praises the framework’s objectives on the importance of reporting information to further understand the progress made by pupils, which will include information such as year group, school postcode, and any disabilities or health problems that are faced by pupils; believes that the framework has effectively emphasised aquatic safety at the heart of its recommendations on teaching children how to swim, and notes the belief that the framework provides an effective starting point for a national conversation on how to more effectively encourage swimming from a young age to be considered a vital skill to teach children.