Swimming lessons are back! 

This academic year we are taking both Year 3 classes swimming at Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre.

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 Vertas Swimming. Vertas Swimming provides a comprehensive, centrally organised and administered service to assist schools to meet their individual swimming target and fulfil the National Curriculum requirements.

During the academic year 2024-2025 we will be taking both Year 3 classes swimming and a group of Year 6 children swimming during the summer term. 

Year 3 swimming takes place on a Thursday morning before lunch. Miss Morris and Mrs Cook's class will be swimming from Thursday 12th September 2024 until Thursday 9th January 2025. Miss Palmer's class will be swimming from Thursday 16th January 2025 until Thursday 22nd May 2025. 

Swimming kit

When swimming at Stowmarket Leisure Centre, with Vertas Swimming, children will need:

• Boys - close fitting swimming trunks/shorts (which should be mid thigh or above)

         Girls - close fitting 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 and the goggles need to be compliant with the British safety standard)
• No jewellery. All earrings need to be removed for swimming, no other jewellery should be worn. The school swimming service (Vertas) 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. 

Swimming Data for 2023-2024

At the end of the each academic year, we are asked to show the school data for the National Curriculum requirements for swimming and water safety. The link below shows the swimming data for last academic year 2022-2023 (Year 6 leavers).