SEND Swimming Sessions

20th July 2022

Pinpoint are very excited to be able to let parents know that thanks to your feedback on difficulty in accessing swimming lessons, particularly for children with autism and those that can’t cope in a larger mainstream class, we have been working with Living Sport and leisure provider Better and come up with a solution that we hope will work for many of you that we would love people to try this summer holiday.

Better are planning to run Crash Courses specifically for children with ASD or those that want to try out what lessons might be like and might not like a larger group setting. The crash courses are designed an introduction to swimming lessons; run over 5 days with half an hour a day, the class will be no more than 8 children and there will be 2 experienced teachers running each class. The teachers will work with the children during the 5 sessions and by the end of the week will have got to know them and assessed the children for their level of swimming and lesson requirement. This is all with the aim that if the child wants to continue with lessons after the crash course they can. If this requires smaller classes, additional help etc. this will all be provided to the child at the cost of a mainstream group lesson and no more thanks to funding from Sport England and the National Lottery.

The supported crash courses will cost £35 for the week’s lessons are planned for:

8th-12th August from 10am-10.30am at the Abbey Leisure Complex teaching pool, in Cambridge

15th -19th August from 8am – 8.30am at the Hive Leisure Centre teaching pool in Ely

Both pools have areas where parents can watch and vending machines to get drinks and snacks if required. The sessions have been arranged in line with other crash courses that are running, and the times have been agreed based on when the pools / centres will be at their quietest to avoid any unnecessary stress. We realise the times might not suit everyone but have tried to work with the teachers and the pools to find the best possible time for all to have the best experience. If for any reason you can’t make one of these sessions but would be interested at another time, please let Better know ( email on information attached) so they can assess demand. Also if you would struggle to afford lessons please also speak to Better as depending on circumstances they maybe able to offer further support.

To book please contact ben.turner@gll.org

Please make the most of this opportunity and let us know how you get on too.