South Ayrshire swimming provider praised for championing inclusion following rise in kids with disabilities taking part in mainstream lessons

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A South Ayrshire swimming provider has been celebrated for breaking down barriers to allow swimming lessons to be accessible and inclusive to all children in the area.Sport and Leisure South Ayrshire has been praised for championing inclusion in mainstream swimming lessons, after a new report highlighted that 85 per cent of children with disabilities take part in mainstream ‘Learn to Swim’ lessons in 2023 in the area.This figure is up from 77 per cent in 2020, reflecting Sport and Leisure South Ayrshire’s commitment to making swimming inclusive to all.Through the adaption of pool facilities and staff awareness training, it has allowed more children to learn to swim, as well as gain the social benefits beyond just swimming that they wouldn’t experience in a one-to-one setting.South Ayrshire Council’s Sport and Leisure team is one of 38 Learn to Swim providers who deliver the National Framework, a partnership between Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water.Over 3000 children are enrolled in lessons across the four pools in South Ayrshire.Councillor Brian Connolly, South Ayrshire Council’s spokesperson for Sport and Leisure, said: “Swimming is an important life skill, and we want to be able to provide as many children as possible with an opportunity to learn to swim, no matter their ability.“We’re proud to be an inclusive employer, and we’re ensuring that all staff from reception to poolside undergo awareness training.“We’re also in the process of providing deaf awareness training to staff.”In a bid to increase communication with parents and caregivers, an online form has been rolled out for parents and caregivers to complete at anytime with updates on their child’s needs to ensure adaptations are made to include as many