SUMMER SCHOOL TEACHERS GET SPECIAL EDUCATION
25.08.2005
A Summer School in Northern Ireland is running a course specifically designed to instruct existing swimming teachers in techniques to deal with swimmers with profound special needs.
The courses are being held at Antrim based Cossum Swim School which is owned and managed by the Swimming Teachers’ Association’s (STA) Regional Organiser for Northern Ireland, Des Cossum. He said: “We ran a really successful swimming school last year, and were eager to build on its success with another this summer.”
“Over fifty teachers with varying stages of experience have attended over the last two weeks, and we are celebrating the successful culmination of the school with this special needs course.”
“Seventeen existing teachers are being taken through the very latest techniques to instruct swimmers with profound special needs, and help them both enjoy swimming as a recreational activity and also stay safe in the water.”
Mr David Cartwright (Senior Course Tutor) said: “It’s always great to come here and help with the summer school but this year has been especially good. The staff and the facilities at Muckamore Abbey Hospital have been great and I am sure this shows through the quality of the course.”
The Summer School has run a number of courses from entry level where those wishing to become swimming teachers are taken through the training and examination process, right through to lifeguarding training, and teaching infant aquatics courses.
Roger Millward, Chief Executive of the STA said: “This is the only special needs training course for swimming teachers which is on the National Qualifications Framework, and it is recognised throughout the United Kingdom by the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CEA) in Northern Ireland, and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in England.”
“I am delighted that it has proved to be so popular, with leisure centres across the whole of Northern Ireland sending their teachers.”
