Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to swimming lessons for schoolchildren.

Swimming is part of the national curriculum, and all pupils must be taught to swim at least 25 metres unaided and be able to use recognised swimming strokes by the end of key stage 2 (age 11). It remains compulsory in the national curriculum following the curriculum review.

The Government has committed over £450 million of ring-fenced funding up to and including 2015/16 for primary schools to improve their provision of Physical Education and sport. Schools have the freedom to use the funding for additional provision for swimming but this must be for activity over and above the national curriculum requirements.

The Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) is the national governing body for swimming in England. Their ‘Learn to Swim' programme and award scheme has helped millions of children to swim and they provide a range of resources for schools to support high quality swimming instruction.