School Swimming Scheme
Aquatic Activities

Contents

Intensive English Centre information

Students enrolled at Intensive English Centres (IEC) are eligible to participate in the School Swimming Scheme providing they meet the eligibilty criteria. IEC inclusion in the School Swimming Scheme can occur twice a year in line with the student intake. This ensures that each eligible student at an IEC has the opportunity to access water safety and learn to swim classes. As with the School Swimming Scheme for all Schools, students must meet costs associated with transport and pool entry. The cost of instruction is covered by the Department.

The School Swimming Scheme will endeavour to provide a program that is senstitive to cultural diversity. However, circumstances at the pool are beyond our control, similarily it is not always possible to adjust staffing rosters for specific schools and specific requests.
The following guidelines have been developed to assist the coordinating teachers from IECs.

Participant Numbers

  • The student:teacher ratio will be 1:10
  • The maximum number of students per session is 40.

Staffing

  • The SSS will provide three (3) staff to deliver the program.
  • The IEC will be required to supply 3 teachers per session; a Swimming Escort Teacher and two Supervising Escort Teachers. Their roles and responsibilities are provided below.

School Escort Staff Responsibilities

  • Swimming Escort Teacher The Swimming Escort Teacher will be required to teach a group for the duration of the program. This teacher will be given a set of suggested activities notes and will be guided by the SSS staff.
    It is preferable that the same teacher is available for the entire program.
  • Supervising Escort Teacher It is the responsibility of the IEC to provide two (2) supervising escort teachers (one male and one female) who will not take a group but will be responsible for all ‘pool deck’ supervision and provision of support for SSS staff with any issues relating to language, behaviour, medical needs etc. 

School Coordinator’s Responsibilties

Prior to commencement of SSS program

  • Organise transport and costs.
  • Contact the pool to ascertain entry price.
  • Prepare and distribute permission notes

During the SSS program

  • Roll Books - the rolls need to be ready for the first day of the SSS program and need to contain each student’s name.
  • Any medical problems need to be recorded next to students name and individual health plans and behaviuor management plans provided
  • Each day, the student’s attendance or absence must be recorded in the roll.
  • If students change groups, the progression needs to be recorded and kept up to date to ensure that each student is in the correct group each day.
  • Schools are advised that the roll books should be retained for a minimum of three (3) years then destroyed. (except where a student has an accident necessitating an accident report, in which case retain until student reaches the age of 25)
  • A typed list of students’ names needs to be given to the TIC on the first day. To assist with student identification, if students have a roll number, this should be placed next to the student’s name.
  • To assist with the conduct of the program, it is expected that IEC staff will assemble and settle students prior to the commencement of each session.

Duty of Care

Teachers have a duty of care for all students enrolled in their school, including those who are 18 or older.

All students, regardless of age, need to be actively supervised and are expected to obey instructions.

* Dismissal from Pool
If students are to be dismissed from the pool, they must be taken outside first. Any who wish to re-enter the pool must pay another entry fee.

* Games Day
If a Games Day is included in the Scheme it will be a structured activity and run by SSS staff. There will be no free swimming, in accordance with the Guidelines for the Safe Conduct of Sport and Physical Activity in Schools.