Year 1 - Swimming with confidence

Well it’s been another busy week in Year 1 starting with swimming on Monday mornings. At Gateway School the children have the opportunity to swim for a term each year. We are delighted with how the children have coped not only with the swimming lessons but the travelling on the coach, getting changed and keeping their belongings together. It is a huge task for some, but they have all risen to the challenge! We have been amazed at the children's enthusiasm despite some children initially showing real fear about entering the water. The staff at Risborough Springs are kind, patient and encouraging and every week they comment on the children’s resilience and perseverance. It is lovely to see the children flourish in a different environment and interesting to watch how children learn a new skill.

In Learning For Life this term we have learnt how to set goals and make them achievable by planning small steps. Some children are visual learners who need to watch a friend or the instructor before having a go. Others are aural learners who don’t need the visual cues but listen intently to the instructions before quite literally taking the plunge! It is wonderful to hear the children recognise each other’s achievements afterwards in the changing room as they comment on how many strokes they did across the pool or how far under the water they went to find the swimming seahorse or toy. As parents I hope you are as proud of the children as we are. The leisure centre staff always comment on how polite the children are, thanking the coach driver, lifeguards and instructors. Watch out for Gateway School children appearing in the Mumbai Olympics in 2030!