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Sedgefield Borough Council is the latest organisation to implement the Amateur Swimming Association’s (ASA) National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) throughout its pools.

The new five-year deal formalises an already successful relationship with the national governing body and sees them working in partnership until 2013.

The agreement to use the NPTS, a template for learn to swim schemes, means the centres will use the highest quality syllabus and awards system.  The plan is a comprehensive and progressive teaching programme based upon sound technical and educational principles.

The National Plan will run alongside the Kellogg’s ASA Awards Scheme and looks set to benefit the 1,150 children and adults that currently access swimming lessons across the three centres – Fishburn Pool, Spennymoor Leisure Centre and Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre. 

As part of the deal the centres will receive additional support and advice from the ASA’s Business Team and will work towards Aquamark accreditation – the ASA’s quality seal of approval for leisure providers.

The council began using the National Plan for their Swim Scheme in 2005 and changed over to the updated and revised version of the Plan at the beginning of this year.  The Scheme has close links with clubs within the borough’s Sedgefield 75 Swimming Club and Sedgefield Water Polo Club.

Sedgefield Borough Council’s Swimming Development Officer Sue Rogerson is pleased to be able to continue to show their support to the ASA through the new agreement,

“I am very proud of the achievements made by Sedgefield Swim School; we have a strong team of teachers who all have a very positive attitude to the NPTS stages scheme.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work and input into making the programme work”.

ASA Business Team Manager Mandy Mason welcomes Sedgefield Borough Council on board.

"The ASA is committed to providing our partners with the support they need to deliver quality learn to swim programmes,” she said.  “We are pleased to welcome Sedgefield Borough Council’s Swim Scheme and our Business Team will be working closely with them to ensure they build on their current success whilst using the National Plan for Teaching Swimming and the Kellogg's ASA Awards Scheme."

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