Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to improve swimming rates among primary school children.

Swimming and water safety are compulsory in the primary National Curriculum for Physical Education (PE) and Sport.

The PE and Sport Premium can be used by primary schools to support swimming and water safety lessons, including funding teacher training and additional swimming lessons for pupils not able to meet National Curriculum expectations after their PE and Sport lessons. On 8 March 2023, the Government announced a total of over £600 million across the next two academic years for the PE and Sport Premium.

The Department also provides up to £300,000 a year to a consortium grant to improve opportunities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities to take part in PE and Sport. This includes a focus on swimming and water safety. A new inclusion hub on the Swim England website has been created to provide resources for schools and swimming teachers.

A range of swimming and water safety resources and guidance documents have been developed by sector organisations and are available online for teachers and parents.