Dear Parent/Carers
I am writing to inform you that children in Year 3 will be starting swimming lessons as part of their PE curriculum on Tuesday, 9th February 2026. Pupils will attend school as normal on Tuesdays and will travel, supervised by school staff, via coach to the Ponds Forge Leisure Centre each week. The swimming sessions will run until Tuesday, 6th July 2026 and will be taught by qualified swimming instructors. The sessions are fully funded by school, and as they are part of the curriculum, all children are expected to participate.
Times are a little bit different this year! Please can Y3 Tanzanite arrive at school for 8:30 AM, as the coach will pick you up at 8:50 AM. For Y3 Citrine and Y3 Zircon, you can stick to the regular school arrival time.
For each lesson your child will need to come to school dressed in their swimwear (underneath their school uniform).
They will also need to bring the following:
- A towel
- A waterproof bag
- A change of underwear
Please ensure you follow the guidance below:
- Your child should not bring or wear any jewelry, including ear piercings. Taping over piercings is not acceptable and will mean your child cannot participate in a swimming session.
- Long hair must be tied back.
- The teacher will ensure any medication which has been shared with school is taken with the child’s group. If your child has a medical need such as asthma, this information has been shared with school and an inhaler has been provided.
- Appropriate swimwear must be worn each week. Please do not send your child in shorts below the knee, heavy outdoor clothing or underwear.
- If your child is required to wear a long sleeve top and leggings, these should be lightweight materials and worn underneath or on top of swimwear.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher.