Please note in response to the current lockdown school swimming lessons are cancelled.

We will update this page when we have further information. 

At Abbot’s Hall we value swimming, not only as excellent form of exercise, but as a key life skill. We aim for all children to reach the National Curriculum’s expectations for swimming by the end of Key Stage 2.

The National Curriculum expectations for swimming are that all schools must provide swimming instruction either in Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2. In particular, pupils should be taught to:

• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
• Use a range of strokes effectively (for example, front crawl, back stroke and breaststroke)
• Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

Swimming is part of the Year 3 PE Curriculum, with each class attending swimming lessons at Stowmarket Leisure Centre for a term and a half. Like most schools in the local area our swimming provider is Suffolk  Norse. Suffolk Norse Swimming provides a comprehensive, centrally organised and administered service to assist schools to meet their individual swimming target and fulfil the National Curriculum requirements.

Swimming for children in Year 3 takes place on a Thursday morning before lunch. 

Swimming kit

When swimming at Stowmarket Leisure Centre, with Suffolk Norse, children will need:

• Boys - swimming trunks (which should not come below the knee)

         Girls - swimming costume (one-piece swimming costume)

• Swimming hat
• Towel
• Goggles (these are optional. If your child wishes to wear goggles they will need parental permission via the signed slip)
• No jewellery. All earrings need to be removed for swimming, no other jewellery should be worn. The school swimming service (Suffolk Norse) does not allow earrings to be worn. 
• Medication - any medication will need to accompany your child to the swimming lesson. All children who have asthma must take their school inhalers to the swimming pool, so medication is available at all times. Children who do not have an inhaler in school will not be allowed to swim.