The Trust's fundamental aim is to maintain and enhance the position of rural community primary schools and to continually enhance our offer to families and young people and help them to live healthier lifestyles. Schools are at the heart of our communities and this all-weather swimming pool will not just be a resource for our schools within the Trust, but other local schools, clubs, families, young people and swimming clubs, making this swimming pool an ‘all-inclusive, all weather, all year community facility’, ensuring physical education thrives within the community.

• The pools depth of 1.2m if offers an ideal facility for younger children up to age 10 to learn and develop their swimming, not available at other local pools, which are substantially larger and deeper.
• The pool depth provides an ideal depth for a range of aquafit, water polo, snorkelling and other water based activities for all ages.
• The pool will provide a private, secure and safe environment for swimming tuition, satisfying safeguarding and the protection of children and vulnerable adults not available in public pools.
• The pool will provide schools and organisations  an additional swimming provision by other local swimming providers increasing water confidence, water safety and awareness in a suitably sized pool.
• The pool will be used for Shallow Water Instructor Training to schools and other organisations
• The pool will be used by individuals or groups for private hire, increasing access beyond the swimming time restrictions of public pools

In December 2017, Yoxford & Peasenhall School applied to a new government Healthy Pupil Capital Fund (popularly known as the ‘sugar tax fund’), for investment in our swimming pool facilities.

We are delighted that our application was successful in securing £320,000 of funding for the full refurbishment of the existing swimming pool, contained within a temperature controlled enclosure turning it into a fully-heated, all weather facility, with new changing rooms, showers and toilets including disabled and baby changing facilities.

The project, which we intend to benefit to the local community as well as all the schools within the Trust, Associated Schools and those which simply wish to use this fantastic facility will provide an inclusive, accessible and value for money swimming facility.

The Trust will provide a fully flexible service to Trust, Associate and other local schools, groups, clubs and the community.  The Trust's P.E. team offers a traded service with qualified lifeguards and swimming instructors including:-

School & Group Hire:-

• Pool hire only;
• Pool hire with lifeguards;
• Pool Hire with transportation, to and from the swimming pool;
• All inclusive – includes instructors and transport;

Community Swimming:-

The pool timetable will include a wide variety of swimming and water activities for the community, including:-

• Swimming lessons for ages;
• Timetabled swimming sessions open to the public;
• Parent & Toddler Groups;
• Family Swimming;
• Senior Swimming;
• Adult, ladies and gentleman only sessions
• Aquasize & Aquajogging;
• Teen Group Swimming;
• Swimming Parties;
• Snorkelling;
• Water Polo;
• Artistic swimming;

For further information of our pool services or to make an enquiry, please contact Aimee Tilley, our Head of Service for PE & ODL at:  http://a.tilley@consortiumacademy.org

The Trust’s PE traded service team has a strong knowledge of the National Curriculum study and will ensure that pupils follow this.  Schools can be assured that the team follows the National Curriculum for swimming.

• Swimming & water safety has been a statutory element of the national curriculum for physical education .

Annual research by the national governing body for swimming, Swim England shows that since 2012 only half of children aged between 7 and 11 years have met the required swimming standard (Swim England Research 2012-2016).

• All schools must provide swimming instruction either in KS1 or KS2. In particular, pupils should be taught to: swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres; use a range of strokes effectively; perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations (www.gov.uk/government/publications/national curriculum)
• All primary schools have access to local facilities that allow them to teach swimming and water safety to all pupils, including disabled young people and those with special needs (Curriculum Swimming and water Sfaety Review Group – on behalf of the Swim Group)
• Curriculum swimming provision for SEND pupils: The Trust commits to further investigation into the reality of swimming provision for SEND pupils, with the aim of working up a specific plan to tackle the issues surrounding disabled children’s participation in swimming. 
• Breakfast Swim Clubs: The Trust will explore practicalities around supporting primary schools with Breakfast Swim Clubs to support pupils from more deprived areas to have greater access to swimming, as well as an opportunity for a healthy breakfast. •
• After school swimming: and general participation opportunities to enable young swimmers to benefit from a structured delivery of aquatics, including family swims, water polo, snorkelling and much more.
• Community Links:  As part of supporting young people through their swimming journey and meeting the ethos of the Trust's PE Team that "all children to experience high quality physical education, school sport and physical activities, that will lead to a life-long participation“ the Trust will seek to develop suitable and appropriate links between schools and community aquatic opportunities. This would include local other Swimming, Health & Athletic Clubs, Weight Management Groups such as Slimming World and Weight Watchers, MenCap and Break; as well as developing links with Suffolk Coastal and supporting council strategies.

The Trust has been delighted to work with PCH Associates in the bid, planning and creation of our Pool.
https://www.pchassociates.co.uk/

• Early Years Swimming: - An Early Years Swimming Project at Griffith University found that by the time children start school, children who swim in the early years are ahead of non-swimmers by 6 to 15 months when it comes to solving maths problems, counting, language and following instructions.
• Physical Benefits:-  Swimming has a positive impact on the health of children, from the beginning of their lives.  Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular workout that promotes heart and lung health, improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina and even improves balance and posture. Swimming puts less strain on joints and connective tissues than any other forms of exercise and is a non weight bearing exercise, excellence for those suffering with arthritis and joint issues. Swimming provides a continuous provision of physical development, even in winter when sports limited. 
• Childhood Obesity:- Is still alarmingly high - the provision of an all-weather pool will provide this continuous exercise preventing childhood obesity – which is linked to juvenile diabetes.   An all-weather pool will provide continuous provision of physical development     Non weight bearing, lots of children exercise without out of breath with carrying their weight around, (under water hockey – look it up)
• Emotional & Mental Health:-  Swimming can improve mental and emotional health - the natural buoyancy of water is more relaxing than most other exercises. It’s a proven fact that physical activity improves mood in children and adults.  Stress from work, school, exams, family pressures, job hunting all add to life's stresses and strains. For people with conditions like fibromyalgia, swimming can help decrease stress and anxiety, while relaxing, strengthening and toning muscles.  Water-based exercises improves mental health and can decrease anxiety, exercise therapy in warm water can decrease depression and improve mood.
• Get Confident!:-  Swimming builds confidence, raises self esteem and increases your self-reliance. Introducing swimming at a young age prevents fear of water developing later. 
• Inclusion:-  Swimming is good for everyone, at any age! Once you step into the water and start moving around, your body becomes ageless!   Our pool will provide increased engagement within the community – supporting whole families and communities.
• Positive Relationships:- Parents and carers of children, particularly those with development disabilities have found that outdoor activities in a casual setting, like swimming, help improve family bonds, confidence and mental health.
• Water Safety:- – We live in a rural area, close to the coast & surrounded by rivers.   Drowning is the third biggest cause of accidental among children under 5 in the UK.  Even infants can be taught vital safety techniques from birth – as can adults swimming with their children. Children who don’t get a chance to learn to swim are deprived of a skill that saves lives.   Simply put, knowing how to swim means a person is less likely to drown. Swimming is the only subject on the curriculum that will save lives!