Diving into water safety

Children and families have been watching a new swimming pool take shape at Sesame Lane Care and Kindergarten’s Kippa-Ring campus, and are looking forward to its official opening on April 17.

The pool, which is expected to be finished by the end of this week, will be officially opened by Australian swimming legend Susie O’Neill during a family fun day from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

The event will include rides, a flag-raising ceremony and the chance for families to check out the new pool and the three centres at the Kippa-Ring campus, at Regency Street.

Head of Sesame Lane Kerri Smith said the 3x4m ‘drop-in pool’ had been designed with the needs of children in mind and the features essential for learn-to-swim lessons.

Why is this happening?

The aim is to create an environment for children to feel confident and competent as they learn to swim.

The pool has moulded seats, steps, a ‘monkey-monkey’ bar and Perspex viewing window for parents.

“As a community surrounded by water, we spend so much of our time swimming, so learning water safety is an important element in our children’s education,” Ms Smith said.

“We’re pleased to provide swimming lessons at no additional cost to families to ensure kindergarten children don’t miss out on learning these important skills.”

Lessons will be offered to kindergarten children first and the team hopes to eventually expand it to children aged under three years.

Parents of these younger children would need to attend lessons.

“We have been running swimming lessons with kindergarten children already, but have needed to take them to pools offsite,” Ms Smith said.

She said changes to regulations involving the transport of children in childcare made this more difficult. If the pool at Kippa-Ring is a success, it is something Sesame Lane will consider for other centres across the region.

“We have over 300 children on site, so it’s a good centre to start with.”

The pool will be heated and Ms Smith said the team planned to start lessons at the start of the next school term.

“The big thing for us is it will give the children confidence when it comes to the water, which is really important,” she said. “We’re trying to be positive and proactive in engaging with water safety.”

Want to know more? Head here