Active Leeds School Swimming Updates
Active Leeds Free Swimming Lessons - SUMMER 2026
Following a super succesful Easter provision, this summer will see the opportunity for over 600 children to receive FREE swimming lessons in conjuction with the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, and given the recent media as a service we're super keen to ensure all children in Leeds are safe in and around water! These lessons
It is our intention this year to get as many children as possible accessing the free-swimming lessons, through the help of the HAF team and use of social media to highlight the importance of learning a vital life skill and knowing to approach schools should their child be eligible. We encourage as many schools to get involved as possible. We have seen a very successful programme since starting back in summer 2021 with nearly 6500 children accessing the programme to date, all receiving four days of free-swimming lessons!
It is important that children not only meet the national curriculum outcomes of being able to swim 25m unaided but also understand how to be safe in and around water. As a result, Active Leeds have developed a package in order to help children reach these outcomes.
Lessons are only for those children that are non-swimmers or beginners(school swimming non-swimmer/beginner groups). Children that have attended previously can attend again if they still require support as a timid/non-confident swimmer. Please note a child in the middle/deep end of the pool or one who can swim more than 15m would not be suitable for this programme.
To ensure this isn’t a free for all, the following criteria should be used when selecting the children from your school who would most benefit from intensive lessons with Active Leeds.
Criteria
- Are a non-swimmer e.g. require buoyancy aids to move independently in the water, unable to swim 5m or Beginner/Low Ability i.e. can swim up to 10m but only with swim aids/flotation
- In receipt of free school meals or the school are aware the family are from a low income background
- Are aged 7-12years (in current school Years 3-7)
Booking Process
All schools have been initially allocated 20 vouchers (attached), these are to be printed and handed to the child so they can be taken home. Please only print 1 copy of each of the vouchers as they’re all individually numbered. School needs to add the child’s name along with the school's name prior to handing them out. Should you need any additional vouchers please just let me know. The voucher details what the parent needs to do to redeem the voucher and also directs them to the Active Leeds website for further information and FAQs (Healthy Holidays Intensive Swimming Lessons | Active Leeds). Having information online directly related to the lessons allows better access for families where English isn’t their first language, breaking down further barriers.
We have also provided a slightly different voucher to the leisure centres as it might be the Swim Teachers delivering your school lesson identifies a child that would benefit from the programme.
If your school hasn’t taken up this offer previously and would like a conversation, I’m more than happy to discuss 😊 Schools in areas with low levels of deprivation may still have children who fall into the criteria stated above! Identifying children that may be due to start their school swimming later in 2026 (not necessarily with Active Leeds) will really benefit from these lessons and will massively help give them a boost before their school swimming lesson!
Should you have any queries or questions please do let me know.
Many thanks
Sarah
Sarah Crossley
Senior Business Development Officer
T: 0113 3780307
E: sarah.crossley@leeds.gov.uk
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Preparation for the 2026/27 academic year, Active Leeds
Please note this email is for all schools who deliver their school swimming through Active Leeds, Leeds City Council.
If you use Aireborough Leisure Centre for your school swimming, you will get a separate email from Sarah Crossley and do not need to respond to this email.
Dear Colleagues
In preparation for the 2026/27 academic year, Active Leeds, in collaboration with the Leeds Well School Partnership, will be hosting a number of School Swimming Meetings.
Any school planning to take part in the Active Leeds School Swimming Programme next year must register for one of these sessions by CLICKING HERE.
Please note that attendance at one of these meetings is mandatory for all schools participating in LCC swimming during the 2026/27 academic year. The meeting should be attended by the staff member responsible for organising and supervising school swimming sessions.
Current staff should select a meeting date in July; if you are registering a new staff member who will start in September, please choose one of the September meeting dates.
The purpose of these meetings is to ensure schools are getting the most from their swimming lessons and have all the information they need. We will cover:
- Expectations of schools
- What schools can expect from LCC
- Resources available to support children with swimming lessons
- Examples of good practice
All meetings will take place on Microsoft Teams from 3:45pm–4:45pm.
Please choose one of the following dates:
- Wednesday 8 July
- Thursday 9 July
- Wednesday 15 July
- Thursday 16 July
- Tuesday 2 September – new staff only
- Wednesday 3 September – new staff only
- Tuesday 8 September – SILC / SEND provision only
A confirmation email will be sent out at least a week before the meeting, and this will include the Teams link for the meeting.
Please let us know should you require any further information.
RLSS UK Drowning Prevention Week (13–20 June)
As we approach RLSS UK Drowning Prevention Week (13–20 June), we encourage all schools and practitioners to engage with the campaign and share key safety messages within their communities.
Call to action: This is a critical time for Physical Education leads to work collaboratively with RSE leads within their schools to plan and deliver a coherent, cross-curricular approach to water safety. By aligning practical swimming provision with school-based learning, schools can ensure consistent messaging and maximise impact. The RLSS UK Water Smart Schools programme offers a valuable, ready-made resource to support RSE delivery, providing structured content to complement Swim England’s School Swimming Charter and help embed essential water safety knowledge and behaviours alongside the skills learned in PE.
June 13th – 20th is RLSS UK Drowning Prevention week a national awareness raising campaign, get involved by sharing water safety messages from our dedicated supporters pack with your communities
School Swimming Updates - March 26
School Swimming Timetable
30 March - 2 April 2026
School Swimming Updates - December 25
Temporary Pop-Up Pool Briefing Note
Please see attached temporary Pop- Up Pool Briefing notes
Additional Weeks School Swimming Dec 25-Jan 26
Attached is a the additional weeks School Swimming December 25 - January 26
School Swimming & Drowning Prevention Week 16-22 June 2025 - Sent: 11 June 2025
Good Morning,
It is important this information is passed to those teachers who bring the children for their school swimming lesson!
National Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) in association with the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) takes place this month, here at Active Leeds we are a huge supporter and one of our aims is to make sure the people of Leeds are safe in and around water. That is why, swimming lessons taking place week commencing 16th June will be drowning prevention specific.
Lesson Plans
Please see attached lesson plans & activity sheets that the Aquatics Team have produced. If you take your own group(s) then please feel free the use these for your own delivery, if you're unsure of anything please speak with the team when you attend this week.
We have written the lesson plans without the need for pyjamas/shorts & t-shirts so children don't need to remember anything extra!
Certificate
Attached is a certificate which you can print for all pupils who complete their DPW lesson, nice to hand these out in assembly.
Pre Lesson School Talk
We are keen to ensure the children receive a bit of 'pre information' ahead of their lesson next week, if you could cover the following within your school day that would be super helpful.
- We have produced the following 'DPW for Schools Video' which can be shown in classrooms and/or assembly > Click here https://shorturl.at/18EAq
- Who to call in an emergency situation - why not ambulance/police if stranded at sea? Coastguard required!
- Water Safety Code – go over this within classroom sessions
- Beach Flags – learn these within classroom sessions
All of the above can be covered by the wider school not just those attending current school swimming lessons, therefore please do share the information! It is never too early to learn how to be safe in and around water.
Competiton
Within all leisure centre we are holding a colouring and design a poster competition, to celebrate Drowning Prevention Week with some fun prizes available to the winner in each age category:
Under 5s, 5-7 years, 7-11 years : Download any of these colouring sheets, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5
11 years + : Design a water safety poster, details on the water safety code can be found here
Please write child's name, age and contact details on the reverse and hand into leisure centre reception when you visit. The winners of the competition will be announced week commencing 30th June.
More information on Drowning Prevention Week can be found here and resources for families to use can be found here
If you have any queries ahead of next week then please do drop me an email.
Many thanks
Sarah
Applications Open: Active Leeds School Swimming 2025/26 - Sent: 27 March 2025
Good Morning,
Please ensure this email is passed to the appropriate person for completing requests for 2025/26.
Prior to making a booking please ensure the cover note attached is read as this contains important information ahead of submitting an application.
As with last year, all applications need to be completed online! Please complete your application with as much information as possible. Should you wish to book more than one slot then please ensure you complete separately.
Booking form link available here
Booking form submission no later than WEDNESDAY 30th APRIL 2025. The link will stop accepting applications after this date.
Please note no booking is confirmed until you receive final confirmation. Allocations will begin circa June and confirmations I am hoping to send out early July.
Should you not be making a booking for 2025/26, please complete the following document as this will capture the information required - Click Here
Any questions please do let me know.
Many thanks
Sarah
Active Leeds School Swimming Manual - Spring Term - Sent: Wednesday 18 December 2024
Following the email earlier today with the various files and information for your school swimming lessons returning/starting in January. the Aquatics Team have recently implemented the new Active Leeds School Swimming Manual across 3 Leisure Centres; Armley, Kippax and John Charles.
We are now in a position to expand this programme to the following Leisure Centre's: Aireborough, Fearnville and Morley.
The Why
As part of a school swimming working group in association with Leeds Well Schools Partnership we trialled a new school swimming lesson product in the 2024 summer term with 2 schools swimming at John Charles. The feedback has been brilliant from the school teachers and most importantly the children who said that they felt challenged and swimming was their favourite lesson of the week.
As mentioned, phase 2 was completed during the last term and we're now moving into phase 3 of the project which is involving 3 more leisure centres (Aireborough, Fearnville and Morley).
The How
The centre swimming teachers teaching your school pupils, will follow a scheme of work and lesson plans each week. The swim teachers may amend, adapt or develop the lesson plans as required. We welcome and encourage the support from the schoolteachers and know many deliver lessons to groups of children, so these plans equip school staff with even more resources than previously shared.
The plans follow the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) school swimming product which includes free certificates to be awarded to the children when they reach certain milestones. As with other records a member of school staff will be required to keep and maintain these however the swimming teachers will let you know who can do what during the lesson.
Resources
Due to the size of the files, all documents have been added to a Google Drive. Lesson plans, scheme of work, certificates and manual are available via the following link: School Swimming Manual - Google Drive
It is advised these are printed and, in a folder, to be brought to the centre each week. The centre teachers will adopt this scheme of work and have a copy to work to on poolside. It is schools' responsibility to ensure paperwork is completed each week.
Please note these are bespoke to Active Leeds and as a school that swims with us we are providing these directly to our schools. Please do not share these with other schools who may not swim with us.
Teams Call
We have set up two teams calls to allow us to pass on more information on the new programme but also allow schools to ask questions etc. Please make every effort to attend one of the Teams Calls to aid your knowledge prior to starting the following week:
Thursday 9th January, 08.00-08.30
Meeting ID: 356 921 215 322
Passcode: tz7Ky9ua
Thursday 9th January, 12.30-13.00
Meeting ID: 342 474 834 237
Passcode: JA3fq2T9
It might be we don't answer all questions/queries on the call depending on volume, but we can utilise the chat function and provide responses following the meeting if needed.
We are really excited about this project and passionate about giving the children of Leeds the best possible chance of learning how to be safe in and around the water and we hope you support this programme, if you have any questions please reach out and one of the team will be happy to get back to you.
Spring Term: School Swimming Information - Sent: Wednesday 18 December 2024
Welcome to Active Leeds Swimming – Click the Link: Active Leeds School Swimming - YouTube
These videos are site specific so if your pupils attend multiple sites, please ensure they watch the correct ones. All children and staff attending swimming must watch the video before attending the pool, emergency procedures are covered, plus the sounding of the drowning & fire alarms and it is very important everyone knows what these sound like and what to do in the event of hearing them. Should a new member of staff take the children for a week etc then please ensure they know to watch the video, also any new children.
Resources
Due to the size of the files, all documents have been added to a Google Drive for the Spring Term. Lesson plans, scheme of work, certificates and manual are available via the following link: School Swimming Manual - Google Drive
All schools are to use the new school swimming programme to ensure consistency in the weekly lessons. It is advised these are printed and, in a folder, to be brought to the centre each week. The centre teachers will adopt this scheme of work and have a copy to work to on poolside. It is schools' responsibility to ensure paperwork is completed each week.
Please note these are bespoke to Active Leeds and as a school that swims with us we are providing these directly to our schools. Please do not share these with other schools who may not swim with us.
Water Safety Lessons / Drowning Prevention Week
For the Spring term there will be a focussed week on water safety, children will need to bring their pyjamas or shorts & t-shirt w/c 3rd March. For those schools continuing in to the Summer term We will then take part in National Drowning Prevention Week with specific lessons taking place w/c 16th June, children will again need their pyjamas or shorts & t-shirt.
School Safety Checklist
Should you have any new members of staff attend then please ensure they are added to the previous document and resubmitted.
Children – Medical Conditions
Please can you ensure if children are attending swimming who have a medical condition(s) which do not necessarily require a ‘support teacher in the water risk assessment’ that you communicate this direct with the teacher(s) on poolside. For example a child with epilepsy, severe asthma, hearing/visual impairment, ADHD, Autism etc, this will ensure the staff on poolside are aware and can ensure the safety measures are in place should an incident arise. This will also ensure their teaching style can be adapted should it be required.
Active Leeds School Swimming CPD Course Dates Available
Dates are being finalised for the 2025 courses; I will share these shortly along with the booking process.
If you have any queries at all then please do get in touch.
Sarah Crossley T: 0113 3780307 E: sarah.crossley@leeds.gov.uk
Spring Term: School Swimming Information - Sent: Wednesday 18 December 2024
Welcome to Active Leeds Swimming – Click the Link: Active Leeds School Swimming - YouTube
These videos are site specific so if your pupils attend multiple sites, please ensure they watch the correct ones. All children and staff attending swimming must watch the video before attending the pool, emergency procedures are covered, plus the sounding of the drowning & fire alarms and it is very important everyone knows what these sound like and what to do in the event of hearing them. Should a new member of staff take the children for a week etc then please ensure they know to watch the video, also any new children.
Scheme of work/Registers
All schools are to use the framework to ensure consistency in the weekly lessons. Please see attached a copy of the Spring frameworks which will need to be printed, it is advised these are in a folder to be brought to the centre each week. The centre teachers will adopt this scheme of work and have a copy to work to on poolside. It is schools responsibility to ensure these are completed each week.
Water Safety Lessons / Drowning Prevention Week
For the Spring term there will be a focussed week on water safety, children will need to bring their pyjamas or shorts & t-shirt w/c 3rd March. For those schools continuing in to the Summer term We will then take part in National Drowning Prevention Week with specific lessons taking place w/c 16th June, children will again need their pyjamas or shorts & t-shirt.
School Safety Checklist
Should you have any new members of staff attend then please ensure they are added to the previous document and resubmitted.
Children – Medical Conditions
Please can you ensure if children are attending swimming who have a medical condition(s) which do not necessarily require a ‘support teacher in the water risk assessment’ that you communicate this direct with the teacher(s) on poolside. For example a child with epilepsy, severe asthma, hearing/visual impairment, ADHD, Autism etc, this will ensure the staff on poolside are aware and can ensure the safety measures are in place should an incident arise. This will also ensure their teaching style can be adapted should it be required.
Active Leeds School Swimming CPD Course Dates Available
Dates are being finalised for the 2025 courses; I will share these shortly along with the booking process.
School Swimming Water Safety Week - Sent: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Active Leeds School Swimming 2023/24: Vital Information - Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2024