St. Patrick’s National School
Lisboduff
Swimming Policy
This Policy was reviewed as part of our Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment in order to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place.
Aims/Purposes
Procedures Guidelines
Instructional Arrangements
Travel and Supervision Arrangements
Pupils will be accompanied and supervised by the class teachers and any relevant Special Needs Assistants on the way to the pool from the school. Pupils will travel to the pool by bus and class teachers will provide supervision before, after, and during the swimming lesson. Teachers will observe from the viewing area for the duration of the lesson.
Clothing
Parents are requested to ensure that children wear suitable clothing, shoes with ‘Velcro’ fastenings and clothes that children can change easily.
All children should wear their tracksuit. Swimming togs may be worn under tracksuits coming to school.
As swimming lessons take place in the winter months, it is important that all children have a warm coat and hat.
For those children with long hair, it is helpful for them to have their hair in a braid coming to school.
All children must have poolside footwear in order to reduce the risk of slipping on wet floors when entering and leaving the pool.
All items brought to the pool must be clearly labelled with the child’s name. This includes the bag, tracksuit, socks, underwear and shoes.
Each child must have their own togs, towel, hair brush and swim cap, all of which must also be marked.
For children in younger classes, parents are requested to practice the procedure for drying and dressing themselves in advance of the lessons.
Changing Arrangements
Best practice in relation to the supervision, instruction and child protection procedures as outlined by the Irish Sports Council, Swim Ireland and the National Safety Council will be adhered to at all times.
Staff are in loco parentis and will act as a prudent parent in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all pupils.
Cavan Leisure Complex will provide three private changing rooms for girls, junior boys and senior boys.
Teachers will move between all changing rooms and will ensure a balance is struck between the child’s right to privacy and adequate supervision, with due regard to gender and age.
Staff will avoid assisting children with anything of a personal nature that the child can do for him/herself. Instruction and guidance will be given, particularly to the younger children to ensure they dry themselves properly.
Health and Safety
Pupils are required to behave at all times in a manner that ensures the safety of all involved in school swimming.
All children must have poolside footwear in order to reduce the risk of slipping on wet floors when entering and leaving the pool.
Where a parent/guardian has a health concern regarding their child’s participation in swimming, professional advice must be sought before the child participates in the swimming lesson.
In the best interest of the child, it is the duty of parents/guardians to inform the class teacher and/ or Principal with regard to any health condition that may affect the child in the pool. This information will be held in confidence and provided on a need to know basis to the swimming instructors.
Deodorants etc. must not be brought to the pool as the dressing rooms are confined spaces. The Health and Safety Guidelines outlined by the pool authorities will be strictly adhered to.
Monitoring / Evaluation / Review:
Policy is revised annually or at other times if deemed necessary.
Lisboduff
Swimming Policy
This Policy was reviewed as part of our Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment in order to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place.
Aims/Purposes
- To enable pupils to acquire basic swimming skills while they are at Lisboduff NS.
- To comply with the requirements of the Revised Curriculum in aquatics.
Procedures Guidelines
- Each pupil will attend a 6/7 week session in a swimming pool annually from 1nd – 6th class
- The swimming pool at Cavan Leisure Centre has been reserved for the Hallowe,en to Christmas Term on Mondays from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
- Costs incurred by hiring of pool, transport and payment of instructors necessitate a charge being imposed on each pupil.
- Swimming is a compulsory facet of the Primary School Curriculum. Attendance at this course fulfils the Aquatics Module of the PE Curriculum as laid down by the Department of Education.
- A pupil who needs to opt out of a swimming class for a medical or other reason should provide a note of excuse, written and signed by the parent. A medical cert will be required if there is a medical condition which precludes the child from swimming on a long-term basis.
Instructional Arrangements
- The school Secretary, will organize the swimming programme for all classes from first to sixth
- Instruction in the pool will be provided by qualified coaches.
Travel and Supervision Arrangements
Pupils will be accompanied and supervised by the class teachers and any relevant Special Needs Assistants on the way to the pool from the school. Pupils will travel to the pool by bus and class teachers will provide supervision before, after, and during the swimming lesson. Teachers will observe from the viewing area for the duration of the lesson.
Clothing
Parents are requested to ensure that children wear suitable clothing, shoes with ‘Velcro’ fastenings and clothes that children can change easily.
All children should wear their tracksuit. Swimming togs may be worn under tracksuits coming to school.
As swimming lessons take place in the winter months, it is important that all children have a warm coat and hat.
For those children with long hair, it is helpful for them to have their hair in a braid coming to school.
All children must have poolside footwear in order to reduce the risk of slipping on wet floors when entering and leaving the pool.
All items brought to the pool must be clearly labelled with the child’s name. This includes the bag, tracksuit, socks, underwear and shoes.
Each child must have their own togs, towel, hair brush and swim cap, all of which must also be marked.
For children in younger classes, parents are requested to practice the procedure for drying and dressing themselves in advance of the lessons.
Changing Arrangements
Best practice in relation to the supervision, instruction and child protection procedures as outlined by the Irish Sports Council, Swim Ireland and the National Safety Council will be adhered to at all times.
Staff are in loco parentis and will act as a prudent parent in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all pupils.
Cavan Leisure Complex will provide three private changing rooms for girls, junior boys and senior boys.
Teachers will move between all changing rooms and will ensure a balance is struck between the child’s right to privacy and adequate supervision, with due regard to gender and age.
Staff will avoid assisting children with anything of a personal nature that the child can do for him/herself. Instruction and guidance will be given, particularly to the younger children to ensure they dry themselves properly.
Health and Safety
Pupils are required to behave at all times in a manner that ensures the safety of all involved in school swimming.
All children must have poolside footwear in order to reduce the risk of slipping on wet floors when entering and leaving the pool.
Where a parent/guardian has a health concern regarding their child’s participation in swimming, professional advice must be sought before the child participates in the swimming lesson.
In the best interest of the child, it is the duty of parents/guardians to inform the class teacher and/ or Principal with regard to any health condition that may affect the child in the pool. This information will be held in confidence and provided on a need to know basis to the swimming instructors.
Deodorants etc. must not be brought to the pool as the dressing rooms are confined spaces. The Health and Safety Guidelines outlined by the pool authorities will be strictly adhered to.
Monitoring / Evaluation / Review:
Policy is revised annually or at other times if deemed necessary.