SEN UK Swimming, supported by STA, publishes first-of-its-kind research exploring the experiences of families and swimming teachers.

A new report from SEN UK Swimming, supported by STA (Swimming Teachers’ Association), is calling for greater collaboration across the aquatics sector to help improve swimming opportunities for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Believed to be the first report of its kind in the UK, Swimming Without Barriers brings together the real-life experiences of both parents of children and young people with SEND and swimming teachers, providing unique insight into the barriers families face when accessing swimming lessons, as well as the challenges and opportunities experienced by those delivering them.

The research forms part of SEN UK Swimming’s ongoing commitment to improving access to inclusive swimming and supporting families to find suitable opportunities for their children, while recognising the vital role that confident, well-supported swimming teachers play in creating positive experiences in the water. STA supported the project as part of its commitment to developing an inclusive, confident and highly skilled swimming workforce.

Drawing on responses from families and swimming teachers across the UK, the report explores the challenges faced by both groups, while also highlighting examples of good practice and identifying practical opportunities to strengthen inclusive swimming provision.

The findings reveal that many families continue to experience barriers when trying to access suitable swimming lessons, while swimming teachers demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusion but want greater access to specialist training and continuing professional development to build their confidence and skills.

The report concludes with five recommendations to help strengthen inclusive swimming across the UK by:

• Strengthening the workforce through training and development
• Embedding inclusive practice across swimming provision
• Sharing good practice and successful approaches
• Helping families make informed choices
• Using evidence to drive long-term improvement.

Troy Parsonage, Founder and CEO of SEN UK Swimming, said: “Every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy the physical, social and emotional benefits that swimming can provide, yet for many families of children and young people with SEND, finding suitable lessons remains a significant challenge.

“Swimming Without Barriers has given both families and swimming teachers a voice, helping us better understand not only where the barriers exist but also the opportunities to remove them. We hope this report encourages continued collaboration across the sector and provides a practical foundation for creating more inclusive swimming opportunities for every child.”

Dave Candler, CEO of STA, said: “STA is proud to have supported SEN UK Swimming with this important piece of research. As an awarding organisation and leading provider of swimming teaching qualifications, we know that swimming teachers are passionate about supporting every learner and continually developing their skills.

“This report provides valuable evidence that will help inform future training, workforce development and partnership working. By investing in our workforce and continuing to work collaboratively across the sector, we can help remove barriers and give more children and young people with SEND the opportunity to learn to swim with confidence.”

The report is intended to support swimming providers, employers, training organisations, governing bodies, policymakers and funding organisations in strengthening inclusive swimming provision, while also helping families make more informed choices about the opportunities available to them.

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Association News, Member News, Swimming Teaching