Primary School children to learn vital water safety skills.
Primary children will have the chance to learn to swim as the
Scottish Government capitalises on the forthcoming “spectacular
summer of sport”.
The rollout of the National Primary School Swimming Framework, a
universal offer to primary aged children, is part of a package of
measures to get people more active, inspired by the Glasgow 2026
Commonwealth Games and the Scotland men's team playing in the
FIFA World Cup finals.
An additional £40 million for sport has been allocated in the
2026-27 Budget, with £2 million for the swimming initiative in
its first year, with plans to expand the offer in future years.
Watching pupils from Pirniehill Primary School learning the
basics at a pool in Edinburgh, Sport Minister said:
“We believe that every child, regardless of their background,
should be given the opportunity to learn to swim - a core skill
that can save lives.
“There is no better time to offer them that chance than now. We
are preparing for a spectacular summer of sport which will see
Scotland welcome some of the world's best swimmers to Glasgow and
having elite sportsmen and women competing live on our doorstep
is an experience which can only serve to inspire.
“This investment is part of an additional £40 million of funding
for sport - enabling more people to get active and enjoy the
wide-ranging physical and mental health benefits that will last
long after this year's World Cup and Commonwealth Games have come
to a close.”
Swimmer Duncan Scott, who has won eight Olympic medals and 13
Commonwealth medals across three Games, said:
"I am delighted to see this Scottish Government commitment and
investment in school swimming to keep children safer and more
confident in, on and around water. As an island nation with
so much access to water it's critical that primary school
children have access to basic swimming and water-safety skills."
Scottish Swimming Chief Executive John Lunn said:
"It's fantastic to see this commitment to school swimming after a
long-fought campaign to ensure children have access to basic
swimming and water safety skills. This is an investment in the
future - a future where children are equipped with critical life
skills to keep them safer in, on and around water."
Background
The Scottish Government has allocated an additional £40 million
in the 2026-27 Budget for sport.
This comprises a core funding uplift of £20 million improving the
resilience of sporting organisations and an additional £20
million to create innovative and inspiring physical activity
opportunities for Scotland's children and young people.
Investing in sport and physical
activity
School Swimming Framework |
Scottish Swimming
