Ensuring that a child's first experience in the pool is as 'magical' as possible is essential to stimulate a passion and interest in swimming.

For some children, learning to swim at school may be their only opportunity, with only one in four children receiving swimming lessons outside of school. Yet despite school swimming being a statutory National Curriculum subject, over a third of children are leaving primary school unable to swim, which amounts to an astonishing 200,000 children leaving primary school this summer unable to swim.

The ASA's (Amateur Swimming Association) aim is to encourage more people to swim, more often. It operates the world renowned British Gas ASA Learn to Swim Pathway and the Kellogg's ASA Awards Scheme that has taught millions of children to swim. Kellogg's, in conjunction with the ASA, has undertaken research with councils across England to obtain the latest school swimming attainment figures for children being able to swim at least 25 metres unaided by the end of Key Stage 2.

The research has highlighted regional variations in attainment rates, ranging from 26% in Middlesbrough to 91% in South Northamptonshire, clearly demonstrating that some areas are performing exceptionally well and others worryingly poorly. Research amongst parents has backed up the findings, with interesting insights, such as one in six parents admitting they never take their child swimming.

Ensuring that a child's first experience in the pool is as 'magical' as possible is essential to stimulate a passion and interest in swimming, which will stay with them throughout their lives and be passed onto their own children.

The benefits of learning to swim are clear, as not only is swimming the only subject on the National Curriculum that can save a child's life, but the numerous health and social benefits ensure that swimming has a role in tackling the nation's worrying childhood obesity problem.

A host of Olympic sports rely on athletes being able to swim including rowing, sailing and canoeing, and the ability to harness the excitement sweeping the nation this year provides a powerful opportunity to create the Olympic stars of tomorrow.

Support for our schools

The ASA believes that providing support to schools is essential in tackling the issues around school swimming. As well as providing the framework for learning to swim, the ASA facilitates a number of schemes to support schools, such as the British Gas Pools 4 Schools portable swimming pool programme and the Kellogg's Swim Active Grant Scheme.

As a statutory National Curriculum subject, the ASA believes that more must be done to ensure that all primary schools across the UK provide an opportunity for every child to learn to swim. It is therefore essential that schools place swimming as one of their budget priorities, provide teachers with the necessary aquatics and water safety training and identify solutions to ensure that school pools stay open.

Additional support at Key Stage 3 is also essential for the 22% of secondary school students who are unable to swim and are more likely to become the one in five adults who are unable to swim in the UK.

We have a responsibility for the children of today and tomorrow to get this right by presenting school swimming in an inspiring way.

David Sparkes OBE, chief executive officer of British Swimming and the ASA

For more information and online resources visit www.swimming.org/learntoswim