Parents should play a part in teaching their children how to swim, says HSSD

RESPONSIBILITY for teaching children to swim rests with parents just as much as Education, the Health and Social Services Department has said.

HSSD called on families to play their part following the news that school swimming pools would close for a majority of the year, in order to save Education £100,000.

Education plans to cut most of its 16 pools' opening periods to just 12 weeks in the school year, but insisted it still wanted children to leave primary school with a minimum level of competence – able to swim 25 metres unaided.

Backing the plans, HSSD yesterday said both departments were keen to work together to promote 'healthy levels of physical activity' under the Healthy Schools initiative.

It said children needed to do at least an hour of physical activity each day.