Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is the latest organisation to implement the Amateur Swimming Association’s (ASA) National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) throughout its pools via their Aquabeez Swim Scheme.

The new five-year deal formalises an already successful relationship with the national governing body and sees them working in partnership until 2013.

The agreement to use the NPTS, a template for learn to swim schemes, means the centres will use the highest quality syllabus and awards system. The plan is a comprehensive and progressive teaching programme based upon sound technical and educational principles.

The National Plan will run alongside the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme and looks set to benefit more than 1,200 people that currently access swimming lessons across the centres – Bank Hey Pool, Waves Water Fun Centre, Daisyfield Pools and Shadsworth Leisure Centre.  The Council also hopes to implement the Plan at the redeveloped Darwen Leisure Centre, due to reopen in Autumn next year.

As part of the deal the centres will receive support and advice from the ASA’s Business Team to develop the Aquabeez Swim Scheme further and host education courses and training for swimming teachers. 

The Swim Scheme was launched in 2002 when it was awarded Aquamark accreditation – the ASA’s quality seal of approval for leisure providers.  Successful re-accreditation was achieved in March 2006.  The Scheme has close links with swimming clubs within the borough Blackburn Centurions ASC and Darwen ASC.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s Acting Swimming Development Co ordinator Claire Birchenough believes the new deal will particularly benefit youngsters in the community.

“The ASA’s National Plan for Teaching provides a teaching framework so children can become confident all round swimmers, giving them the opportunity to acquire a wide range of aquatic skills. 

"Children are encouraged to achieve by gaining the range of colourful ASA awards available from the ASA at each stage of development”.

ASA Business Team Manager Mandy Mason welcomes Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council on board.

"The ASA is committed to providing our partners with the support they need to deliver quality learn to swim programmes,” she said.  “We are pleased to welcome Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s Aquabeez Swim Scheme and our Business Team will be working closely with them to ensure they build on their current success whilst using the National Plan for Teaching Swimming and the Kellogg's ASA Awards Scheme."

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For more information contact ASA PR Assistant Claire Freeman on 01509 632238 or email claire.freeman@swimming.org

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 1,220 affiliated swimming clubs through a National/Regional/County structure. The ASA aims to ensure everybody has an opportunity to learn to swim.

The Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme is the most successful awards scheme in British sport and issues around two million awards every year to swimmers all around the world.

For more information about ASA Awards please see www.swimming.org