"Taking place from today, it is the latest extension to lessons the Council has funded after it recognised it was the lack of opportunity rather than ability preventing some children from learning how to swim.

Bradford Council has seen the number of young swimmers who achieve the Key Stage 2 standard rise over the last four years from 3,570 in 2003 to 4,523 in 2007 - an increase of almost 27 per cent.

Bradford Council's executive member for environment and culture, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: 'The ability to swim is such an important life skill and it is really important we give youngsters opportunities to learn, which is why we have added the Christmas sweep-up to our school swimming programme.

'Providing additional swimming lessons for school children is a priority within our b active campaign and during our last sweep-up in July, over 200 pupils achieved the Key Stage 2 standard."

(Via Council Gives Gift Of Extra Swim Lessons (from Bradford Telegraph and Argus): .)

| school swimming | 12 December 2007; 2:23:58 AM |# | | |