Welsh Government Announces National School Swimming and Water Safety Programme

Children across Wales are set to benefit from increased opportunities to learn essential swimming and water safety skills following the Welsh Government's announcement of a new national programme, Nofio Ysgol, which will begin rolling out from September 2026.

The new initiative will provide primary school pupils with access to structured swimming and water safety lessons, helping more young people develop confidence in and around water while learning life-saving skills. The programme will initially be delivered in a number of local authority areas before expanding across Wales, with full national coverage planned by the 2028-29 academic year.

According to the Welsh Government, pupils in Years 4 and 5 will receive a minimum of 20 swimming and water safety lessons each year, covering water confidence, self-rescue techniques and basic swimming competence. Classroom-based learning will also form part of the programme, ensuring children gain a greater understanding of water safety and risk awareness.

The launch of Nofio Ysgol represents a significant investment in improving access to swimming opportunities for young people. Welsh Government funding of £2 million will help schools overcome barriers to participation, including transport costs, accessibility requirements and access to facilities.

The announcement follows evidence that access to school swimming remains inconsistent across Wales. Swim Wales reported that around 66,000 primary-aged children participated in school swimming lessons during the 2024-25 academic year, despite more than 182,000 pupils being eligible to take part.

Laura Williams, Assistant Director for Sport Physical Activity & Health, said:

“We are delighted to see this significant investment in school swimming and water safety across Wales. Swimming is a vital life skill that supports young people's safety, confidence and wellbeing, and every child should have the opportunity to learn. 

As Wales' Sporting University, Cardiff Met has been proud to play a leading role in raising awareness of the importance of school swimming through the Nofio Ysgol Caerdydd Partnership, and we are pleased to have contributed to the development of this national programme. We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have for children and young people across Wales.”

At Met Community, we know the important role that swimming plays in developing confidence, resilience and lifelong physical activity habits. Just as importantly, swimming is a fundamental life skill that can help keep children safe in and around water. Expanding access to high-quality swimming and water safety education will provide more young people with the opportunity to develop these essential skills, regardless of their background or where they live.

The programme also aligns with wider ambitions to improve children's physical wellbeing, support healthy and active lifestyles, and reduce inequalities in access to sporting opportunities. Additional support is expected to be available for communities and learners who face the greatest barriers to participation, including rural schools, Welsh-medium provision and pupils with additional learning needs.

We welcome this investment and look forward to seeing the positive impact the programme will have on pupils, schools and communities across Wales over the coming years.

To see the original announcement from Welsh Government please visit: School swimming and water safety programme roll out from September | GOV.WALES