A new initiative called Swim:ED is bringing portable pools to primary school playgrounds in some of the UK's most deprived areas, helping children learn to swim and vital water safety skills.
At Newington Community Primary in Ramsgate, Kent, a pop-up pool facility has been set up on the playground. Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils are taking part in an intensive two-week programme, with most year groups split into three classes of 10 based on swimming ability. Each class lasts 45 minutes and focuses on a specific technique, alongside water safety skills such as calling for help and huddling together to share body heat in an emergency.
Breaking Down Barriers to Swimming
In most of the areas targeted by Swim:ED, three quarters of children are unable to swim, and up to 51% leave primary school without basic water safety skills. The initiative aims to remove the barriers that prevent children from learning to swim, including the cost of lessons and the closure of local leisure centres.
Ryan Moore, PE teacher at Newington Community Primary, said: “Paying for swimming lessons is seen as a luxury in this area [Ramsgate] – it’s something very few have access to and is a huge barrier, whether that’s due to low family income or local pool closures. Some children have never been swimming. Having Swim:ED here [at the school] is excellent as it’s something many of the children would not be able to access otherwise.”
Programme Success and Pupil Feedback
The programme has already seen success, with 2,200 children completing it last year and half finishing able to demonstrate vital safety skills. The scheme is funded by schools and costs around £15,000 for two six-week terms.
Year 3 pupil Chicago Crawford, 7, said: “We learned that if you fall into the water and can’t see the bottom, you should just lie on your back until help comes. My favourite part of the classes was the games - the teacher would hide a fish float and we had to find it.”
Fellow pupil Kobie Tange, 8, added: “I learned that when you go in the water and it’s cold, if you stay in for a couple of seconds you will get warmer again.” Joie Wood, 8, said: “When it’s cold you should float on your back until you feel used to the water. I enjoyed falling off the ladder because it’s fun.”
Year 6 pupil Nevaeh Moore, 10, who starts lessons next week, said: “I can't swim yet, but learning to kick using a float I think will help a lot. I'm excited about learning to do the star fish so I'll know how to be safe if I fall into the water.”
Addressing the Drowning Crisis
Andrew Johnston, Operations Manager at Swim:ED, said: “While in the past schools had to fund transport to bus youngsters to the local pool, now children can walk to the pool seconds from the classroom. It also means they’re out of lessons for just 40 minutes, whereas travel to a local pool could take up a whole morning. There is a huge barrier to children accessing swimming pools, and Swim:ED removes that barrier.”
The UK recorded 202 accidental water-related deaths in 2025, with a surge of at least 35 deaths in England early this summer following five successive heatwaves. The Mirror has launched the Save Lives For Sam water safety campaign to tackle the UK's growing drowning crisis, backed by MPs, Olympic champions, national water safety organisations and bereaved families.
