Kiwi Swim Safe programme builds confidence for New Plymouth students

Swimming New Zealand Education Advisor Cecilie Elliot has been working with two teacher aides from Central School, New Plymouth on ways they can help their students with autism, behavioural problems and attention deficit disorder (ADD) to be safe in the water.

Elliot worked poolside alongside teacher aides, David Ormond and Pru Debreceny, helping them with teaching valuable swimming and survival skills to these students.

She said it was great to see that both of these teacher aides were willing to get into the water with these students to help them develop and grow both in the water and personally.

Ormond said it was one of the student’s teachers who noted they were unable to swim and lacked confidence in the classroom that came up with the idea of introducing swimming lessons twice a week throughout the third term.

“With the help of Cecilie from Swimming New Zealand and with the Kiwi Swim Safe programme we went about planning sessions to help teach him firstly the basics of water safety, confidence and then different disciplines of swimming,” said Ormond.

Initially just getting to the pool was a challenge in itself; however after just the first few weeks’ progress in the pool as well as benefits in the classroom had already been noticed.

“The swimming gave him something to talk about with his peers, which helped him to build relationships in the classroom,” said Ormond of one the students.

“As the term went on he was able to complete full lengths in both freestyle and backstroke and is progressing well in breaststroke.

“The rewards from this initiative have been immense and even though there is a long way to go, the progress has been very rewarding.”

Also noting progress with one of her students Debreceny said “when she first started she was scared to put her head under, but after a term was able to swim through a hoop and kick with a kickboard. This opportunity gave her a chance to shine, and she rose to the challenge.”