New swimming lessons programme begins for Welsh schoolchildren
Children in Welsh schools to receive 20 hours of swimming lessons in year four and five.
A new initiative in Wales is set to deliver swimming and water safety lessons to schoolchildren across the country.
This month marks the beginning of Nofio Ysgol, a universal programme targeting students in years 4 and 5 in Welsh maintained primary schools, offering them a minimum of 20 hours dedicated to swimming and water safety education.
As part of a phased roll out nine local authorities will participate with a planned expansion across all Welsh regions by 2028.
The first phase will see the scheme rolled out in Ynys Môn, Gwynedd, Wrexham, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Cardiff.
Key skills such as water confidence, self-rescue, and basic swimming proficiency are the central focus of the Nofio Ysgol initiative.
The official launch of the programme took place on 23rd September at Penlan Leisure Centre in Swansea, attended by the First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, and the Minister for Culture and Sport, Heledd Fychan.
They interacted with local school pupils as they engaged in their swimming lessons.
The First Minister said: "Learning to be safe and confident around water is a key life skill and one which you can use from childhood through the rest of your life. I look forward to seeing Nofio Ysgol grow across the whole of Wales."
Heledd Fychan said the programmes hopes is not solely about swimming, but about nurturing habits that enhance pupils’ physical and mental wellbeing.