Swimming, a vital life-skill, is being enjoyed by pre-school children who take part in weekly sessions at Horncastle’s Pool & Fitness Suite.
The team at Little Acorns Nursery in nearby Coningsby believe it to be essential to get youngsters in the water as soon as possible. They take the three and four-year-olds to the pool, which is run by the Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture.
And, says qualified swimming instructor Charlene Fisher, the difference in their abilities from when they started six months ago is incredible.
“You cannot believe the change in some of them, as far as their confidence and love of the water goes,” said Charlene.
“Some are now staying on to join swimming lessons to work towards their awards. To get children going in the water at this age is very important especially. For example, if parents are taking them on holiday and will be near the sea or in a pool. Just the confidence and their ability to breathe in water is essential,” she added
Nursery manager Amanda Long, explained why the nursery took the decision to introduce the lessons:
“Not only was this a fantastic way to promote community businesses, we found this an incredible way for children that may not have the opportunity to partake in swimming lessons have this experience. We found this a suitable way to pose exercise into our curriculum – allowing children to get their core exercise and have fun with this.
“We have also found that our parent partnership has been strengthened – allowing parents to partake in viewing sessions that has been kindly permitted. Our parents were so happy when they could collect their child’s Duckling Awards. Confidence in the children has sky rocketed too,” she added.
Magna Vitae operates swimming pools in Horncastle, at the Pool & Fitness Suite in Skegness and at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre. For more information on lessons for nursery classes, please email the Swim Development Manager Hollie Field on hollie.wells@mvtlc.org