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Government response to the 2nd report from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (2002);
"The Swimming Advisory Group was formed in January 2001 following the publication of the Ofsted report Swimming In Key Stage 2 An Inspection Report on Standards and Provision in November 2000.
The Government welcomed the generally positive report, which showed that in the schools inspected in November 1999 four out of five children are able to swim 25 metres at the end of Key Stage 2. However, the OFSTED report, and other recent surveys, touched on several areas of concern, and highlighted some serious factors affecting the number of children who can swim at the end of Key Stage 2. Although the Key Issues for Action in the report were directed at schools and indirectly to LEAs, Ministers responded immediately to set up the Swimming Advisory Group to take the views of all those associated with school swimming, in acknowledgement that more needs to be done to support those who cannot swim 25 metres unaided by Key Stage 2.
The Government is committed to encouraging sports providers, particularly local authorities, to recognise the valuable role that all sports can offer to all sections of society in tackling problems such as poor health, social exclusion, improving local economies and regenerating local communities. Although a non-statutory service, the majority of local authorities continue to recognise the good value for money represented by spending on sport and recreation for people of all ages in the communities they serve and the Government is very keen to ensure that the existing funds available to them are used to plan sensibly and strategically."
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