A LOCAL primary school has become the first in the town to offer on-site swimming lessons to its pupils.

Hunningley Primary Academy is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and they’re certainly living up to their title with their latest project.

They’ve installed a temporary swimming pool to help children ensure they’re able to meet the expected standard before the end of year three.

Assistant principal Jack Parker told the Chronicle: “There’s a marquee erected around it with changing rooms inside, which just makes it safe for all children on site.

“What we really liked is that the swimming instructors actually get into the pool with the children.

“There’s no more than ten children at any time so they all get that dedicated one-to-one support they need.”

Jack says that due to the pandemic, the year six pupils were unable to take their swimming lessons - and the move has helped them pick up the skill easier.

“The vision behind it is that with the national curriculum, our year three children need to be able to swim 25 metres,” he added.

“The pool’s here for five weeks and the year three children will swim every day for 15 days.

“And then we’re opening it up to our less able swimmers in school or children that sadly can’t afford the swimming experience.

“Our year six cohort were our Covid year group, so we couldn’t offer swimming that year.

“So what we’ve done for our year sixes is every Monday after school, there’s an after school club, which is just direct towards year six.”