Newton Westpark Primary School

Swimming at Newton Westpark

Our Approach to Swimming

Swimming is a vital life skill and an important part of our Physical Education curriculum. At Newton Westpark, we are committed to ensuring that all pupils develop the confidence, competence, and safety awareness needed to enjoy swimming and to keep themselves safe in and around water.

Our swimming curriculum is designed to support pupils’ physical wellbeing, promote healthy lifestyles, and ensure equality of access for all children, regardless of starting point.

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Curriculum Intent

The intent of our swimming curriculum is to ensure that pupils:

• Develop confidence and enjoyment in the water

• Learn to swim safely and effectively

• Build stamina, technique, and control in a range of strokes

• Understand how to stay safe and perform basic self-rescue

Core swimming instruction is delivered in Year 3, with refresher lessons provided in Upper Key Stage 2 to revisit skills, reinforce safety, and ensure pupils are supported to meet national expectations by the end of primary school.

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Statutory Requirements

Swimming is a statutory part of the National Curriculum for Physical Education.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils are expected to be able to:

• Swim competently, confidently, and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres

• Use a range of strokes effectively, for example front crawl, backstroke, and breaststroke

• Perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

Our swimming provision is designed to ensure pupils are supported to achieve these outcomes by the end of Key Stage 2.

Curriculum Implementation

Swimming is taught in Year 3 through structured blocks of lessons. Lessons take place at a local swimming facility and are delivered by qualified swimming instructors, supported by school staff and lifeguards.

In Year 3, the focus is on:

• Developing water confidence and basic safety

• Learning and improving swimming strokes

• Building stamina and control

• Introducing self-rescue skills

In Upper Key Stage 2, refresher swimming lessons are provided to:

• Revisit and consolidate swimming skills

• Reinforce water safety and self-rescue

• Support pupils who have not yet met the 25-metre expectation

• Build confidence and endurance in more independent swimmers

This approach ensures skills are not lost over time and that pupils are supported to meet statutory expectations.

Inclusion and Equal Access

We are committed to ensuring that all pupils can access swimming lessons.

Reasonable adjustments are made to support pupils with SEND or additional needs, including:

• Flexible grouping

• Additional adult support where required

• A focus on confidence, participation, and safety alongside outcomes

This ensures all pupils are able to participate safely and make progress.

Assessment and Impact

Pupils’ progress in swimming is assessed through ongoing observation and practical outcomes during lessons. Assessment focuses on what pupils can do in the water, including confidence, technique, and distance.

Assessment information is used to:

• Track progress towards the 25-metre expectation

• Identify pupils requiring refresher or additional support

• Inform planning for Upper KS2 provision

As a result of our swimming curriculum, pupils develop secure swimming skills, improved water confidence, and a strong understanding of water safety.