Special needs school ensures their students are spending quality time in water

Kimi Ora School, a special needs school in Wellington, is ensuring their students are confident and spending quality time in the water.

To make sure their students are getting the best out of their swimming programme one of the school’s teachers, Dave Speden, has developed his skills in aquatic education through the Swimming New Zealand Swim Teach Award (SNZSTA) course.

Speden, who is also an occupational therapist, has now achieved his SNZSTA, following the completion of all the required documentation and a practical assessment.

"Dave provides amazing lessons to his students. I was blown away by his ability to inspire confidence in his students through a firm but fair approach,” said Swimming New Zealand Education Advisor Sarah Gibbison.

“It was so clear to see that there is mutual respect between him and his students - it was really heartwarming to witness.”

With thirty students in the school, swimming time is scheduled by teachers ensuring that each student receives one on one time in the pool twice a week.

The school has a specially designed pool that is between 70cm and 1.4m deep that their students use. The pool has built in jets, allowing the swimmers to feel the water moving around their bodies and to float in moving water.

Specially designed equipment is used for the students to best meet their needs, and each student has an information card that includes what they are working on in the water, what they most enjoy and how they like to be communicated with. This may include sign language, physical touch or watching demonstrations.

Kimi Ora School is also a Kiwi Swim Safe School and caters for a diverse range of students aged from five to twenty one years of age with high and very high complex special needs.