Why swimming lessons are important for home-educated children
Myself and the team at Swim Works have been working hard over the last month or so to develop and launch our brand-new swim programme, designed specifically for home-educated children and children who have additional needs. Daytime Swim School has been created to be so much more than just a swimming lesson. We want to create a space where children can learn important life skills, meet other children, build confidence and enjoy being part of a positive learning environment – all during the daytime.
One of the things that really motivated us to create this programme was thinking about some of the experiences that children who are educated outside of school might want more access to. At school, children build relationships with teachers, practise learning alongside other children and take part in structured curriculum physical education. Homeschooling families create wonderfully bespoke educational opportunities for their children and Daytime Swim School would love to contribute to that – by supporting children to create a bond with their teacher, socialise with others and enjoy a regular scheduled class. Swim families can also connect with and feel part of a community.
As I also work as a swim teacher in a school and each week I support dozens of primary pupils to work towards their KS1 and KS2 curriculum objectives for swimming and water safety. Those who are home educated may not have access to the swimming lessons that are delivered through school and these lessons are quite different from private afterschool swim programmes – they include focuses on safety, self-rescue, survival skills and much more. Daytime Swim School can help your child work towards achieving these curriculum objectives.
My SEND training is also a really important part of what makes this programme different. When it comes to learning, one size does not fit all, and this is often why families have chosen to home-educate – they are passionate about this ethos and I am too. At Swim Works we always meet children where they are at and adapt teaching to fit individual needs, communication styles and preferred ways of learning.
Swimming lessons are not just about learning to swim but offer endless other benefits. As a teacher, my hope is always that children leave each lesson not only a little more confident in the water, but also a little more confident in themselves.
Come and try the group lessons for just £5. Find out more online.
