Children in Tendring are to benefit from learning to swim using the ASA’s National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS).

The aim of the NPTS is to take youngsters through from their very first splash to being fully competent in the water.

Pools at Clacton, Dovercourt and Frinton and Walton – which are all operated by Tendring District Council – have signed a five-year partnership agreement with the ASA to deliver the NPTS.

Every child learning to swim will follow a number of stages where they will learn all the basic skills.

These will involve how to enter and exit the pool safely and how to become buoyant in the water, right through to more advanced techniques – such as how to breathe in the water and how to perform different strokes.

Youngsters will be rewarded for their achievements at each stage and can buy certificates and badges to help track their progress and motivate them to the next level thanks to the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme.

All the Council’s ASA qualified swimming teachers are currently attending conversion training to bring them up-to-date on new methods and skills.

Martin Webb, Pools’ Manager for Tendring District Council, said staff had always used the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme but the NPTS had allowed them to review practices and improve delivery.

“Whilst all the class names will remain the same, the criteria needed for assessment has been tweaked,” he said.

“There will be a number of new challenges structured towards all ages, standards and abilities and by being part of the NPTS we can provide a high standard of teaching, recognised throughout the country.”

Pierre Oxley, Portfolio Holder for Leisure at Tendring District Council, welcomed the new initiative.

“There will be a major emphasis on fun and games within the swimming lessons which is an effective way for children to learn,” he said.

“We are very keen that we provide the best opportunities for all our youngsters and this is a step forward.”

More than 1,000 children attend swim school classes each week at the Clacton, Dovercourt and Frinton and Walton sites.

Bruce Learner, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Kellogg’s, said: “Since our partnership with the asa began in 1997, more than 13 million swimming awards have been presented to youngsters across the country, making it the most successful awards scheme in British sport. We will be celebrating this success at the Kellogg’s Swimtastic Awards in October, which recognises those pool based projects that benefit the community the most.”

-ENDS-

For more information contact the ASA Marketing Officer Esther Hope on 01509 632238, 07917 876459 or email esther.hope@swimming.org.

The ASA is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

About Kellogg’s

The Kellogg Company was founded in 1906 and today produces 40 different cereals including popular brands such as Special K, Cornflakes and Coco Pops, and 56 different snacks including brands such as Nutri-Grain and Special K snacks. Kellogg’s has been a partner of the ASA and British Swimming for 13 years, sponsoring the Kellogg’s ASA Awards and enabling over 50,000 people to take up swimming as part of an active lifestyle.
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