HALO Leisure to provide an overview of how school swimming provision has developed in the County in the last year.

The Committee were informed of how swimming tuition for schools had developed over the last 6 months.

Mr J Argent, Chief Executive, and Mr S Gwynne, Hereford Pool Manager, Halo Leisure, informed the Committee that Halo worked with the vast majority of primary schools throughout the county to deliver swimming lessons for their pupils.  The total number of school swims p.a. by facility was: Ledbury – 11,080; Ross – 11,450; Leominster – 22,220 and Hereford – 33,685.  This compared to the total number of swims p.a by facility: Ledbury – 98,783; Ross – 100,105; Leominster – 117,372 and Hereford 273,761.  Swimming and water safety are statutory activities for schools at Key Stage 2.  Since September 2009 Halo had accommodated the displaced schools following Cabinet’s decision not to reopen the LEA Pool.  All schools were invited twice per year to a Headteacher’s Forum to discuss issues and subjects already discussed have been: registration for swimmers and records for the future; Top-up swimming; ASA support; Swimming Teacher Training; and operational problems to be resolved.  It was highlighted that Halo had accessed top up funding from government to provide more instructors during school lessons specifically targeted at children who cannot swim and those that cannot achieve 25m. Access had also been made to funding for disabled swimming tuition and funding from the ASA to provide a subsidised summer activity programme.

In summing up Mr Argent remarked that schools that used Halo managed facilities were now all working within a consistent and integrated learn to swim programme across the county which met best practice nationally and was delivered by specialists.  Halo were pleased to develop the partnership working with schools though accessing funding for teacher instruction and improving communication through regular dialogue at forums.  Halo were working well with the Sustainable Communities Directorate and the Environmental Health Team on a commissioning framework and he encouraged the Children and Young People Directorate to engage in this process so that pupil attainment at KS2 could become a prioritised outcome.

During discussion the following principal points were noted:

• Responding to how Halo were managing complaints about the conflict between public and school pool access time it was reported that while there had been complaints they had been relatively few.
• Along side Key Stage 2 swimming Halo were offering ASA Lifesaving courses.
• The achievement by pupil and school across the whole county was recorded making benchmarking and the targeting of schools possible.
• The introduction of free swimming had increased the attendance numbers with approximately three quarters of the increase being young people.  Statistics could be provided if required.
• It was noted that Halo had received a number of national awards including achieving ASA Aqua Mark status. 
• It was confirmed that Halo were working with the Planning Services to ensure that facilities would be available in response to the anticipated housing growth.

RESOLVED: That

1. Halo Leisure be invited to give a further update on school swimming performance in one years time;

2. It is recommended that Halo continue to compile a database on pupil/ school swimming attainment;

3. It is recommended that Halo continue to expand the training of teachers to assist in giving swimming lessons; and

4. A Members briefing note be provided on the take-up of free swimming and outline how Halo have managed the increase in patronage.