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The Amateur Swimming Association has joined forces with the Government to increase the number of youngsters able to swim at least 25m by the age of 11.

In a move designed to help the one in five who are unable to swim the minimum 25m by the end of Key Stage 2, The Department for Education and Skills is launching a £5.5million national top up swimming scheme.

It will see pupils receive intensive coaching over a two-week period to ensure more are able to meet the minimum life skill requirement and therefore reduce the number of people who drown each year.

The initiative, launched today by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly, follows on from pilot schemes in Durham and Bristol in 2003 where 57% of those pupils attending achieved their Key Stage 2 standard by the end of the two-week course.

Working together, the DfES and the ASA have launched a consultation to determine the most effective way of delivering the top-up scheme with views being sought from within the sector.

The consultation will help in implementing an effective funding mechanism and to define the best way to deliver the schemes.

'The Amateur Swimming Association is delighted the Department for Education and Skills has decided to follow up the successful top up pilot schemes, conducted by the ASA on behalf of the DfES, with £5.5million of support from 2006 to 2008,” explained ASA Chief Executive David Sparkes.

'This top up funding should ensure that every Key Stage 2 pupil has an enhanced opportunity to reach the target and to swim a minimum of 25metres, thus leaving primary school with basic swimming life skills and hopefully helping to reduce the number of young people who lose their lives each year in water related accidents.

'The funding also supports the Government's health agenda and improvements in basic swimming skills will encourage more young people to engage in healthy activity outside of normal curriculum time.'

The consultation will involve schools, local education authorities and school sport partnerships, and will run for 14 weeks from 29th March to 4th July.

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For further information on the scheme visit www.teachernet.gov.uk

To become involved in the consultation visit www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1328

The Amateur Swimming Association is the English National Governing Body for Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water, and Synchronised Swimming. It organises competition throughout England, establishes the Laws of the Sport and operates comprehensive certification and education programmes for Teachers, Coaches and Officials as well as its renowned Learn To Swim Awards scheme. The ASA supports 1,600 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

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