25 Metres Isn’t the Finish Line – It’s Just the Start at Lonsdale Pool.
At Lonsdale Swimming Pool, we celebrate every milestone in a child’s swimming journey, and reaching 25m is a big one. But while swimming 25m unaided is a huge achievement, it’s just the beginning of a much broader, lifelong journey towards being safe, confident and competent in the water.
More Than Just a Length of the Pool.
Drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death, particularly for children under 5. That’s why we believe every child should be given the opportunity to become a competent swimmer, not just someone who can manage one length of the pool. According to the Department for Heath Education (DfE, 2019), the minimum requirement for Key Stage 2 leavers includes being able to swim 25m, use a range of strokes effectively, and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations. But even this minimum standard doesn’t necessarily mean a child is prepared for the unpredictable challenges posed by real-world water environments.
Swimming 25m in a warm, clean pool with no distractions is very different from suddenly falling into cold, moving water, fully clothed, with no warning. In that situation, swimming ability is just one part of what’s needed. Confidence, understanding of the environment and water safety skills are equally essential. Simply put, the ability to swim 25m is a good foundation, but it isn’t enough on its own.
A Worrying Trend.
Swim England recently expressed real concern at the declining number of Year 7 pupils able to swim 25m unaided. In their December 2024 update, they highlighted that only 70% of Year 7 pupils (aged 11-12) currently meet this benchmark, compared to 77% of pupils in the same year group just six years earlier. This drop shows the importance of not just meeting the national curriculum minimums but going further to ensure children develop lasting skills.
The Difference Between School Swimming and Learn to Swim Programme.
Parents often believe that school lessons alone are enough, but that’s not the case. The national curriculum is designed to build basic water confidence and teach some safety techniques, but it doesn’t cover the in-depth technical progression or lifelong water safety understanding that regular swimming lessons do.
That’s why Lonsdale Swimming Pool strongly recommends continuing private lessons alongside school sessions. Lessons following the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme go well beyond the basics, progressing children through key stages with a focus on confidence, stamina, survival skills and confidence in a range of water environments.
Learning to swim isn’t just a school goal either. If you home school your child, swimming still needs to be a key part of their education. Home-educated children aren’t required to follow the national curriculum, but the Swim England School Swimming and Water Safety Charter is a brilliant benchmark.
Just Keep Swimming – Don’t Stop at 25m.
Water confidence is not the same as swimming competence. That’s why we say: don’t stop at 25m. We know that true swimming confidence comes from continued learning. Swimming isn’t just about collecting a certificate, it’s about gaining a life skill that can keep your child safe and open up a world of fun, fitness, and adventure for the rest of their life.
For more information about swimming lessons at Lonsdale Pool, or to enrol your child, please email [email protected] or see more on our website – https://www.lsst.org.uk/lessons-classes/lessons/
