Testimonials

So far the 2011 - 2012 Make a Splash programme has received some fantastic feedback from key partners involved.

 

 

Total Swimming is very proud that the Make a Splash pools have made such an impact across London so far, so we'd like to share some of these comments about the programme:

 

 

Schools

 

 

"The pool was the highlight of our school year! The children, staff and parents loved it. Many children experienced swimmimg for the first time and learnt to swim. Others improved their skills and confidence. The standard of tuition was first class. The instructors worked with every child, even those with SEN and medical needs, often in the pool with them.The instructors were very mindful of safety and culltural sensitivities. We would have it back again tomorrow.

 

 

"It was a 100% success with no disadvantages just a wonderful, wonderful, experience for all our children!"

 

 

Mrs. Deborah Spruce, Head Teacher, Pinner Wood School, Host of Make a Splash in Harrow

 

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"Make-a-Splash has had the most significant impact on school life than any other whole school strategy to date. To be in the position after one term having had all of our children swimming (and many members of our community) is wonderful.  There are a significant number of children who have never been in a swimming pool who are now confident in the water and in some cases swimming a minimum distance.  Other children have had the opportunity to stretch their skills and it has helped the school to identify some truly exceptional swimmers as a result of this resource. 

 

 

"Our position in the local community has also improved significantly.  Swimming is something that everyone seems to enjoy and the pool was well used six days a week, twelve hours a day.  A wonderfully unique experience for all."

 

 

Mr. Anthony David, Deputy Head Teacher, Highgate Primary School, Host of Make a Splash in Haringey

 

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"Blanche Nevile is a school for deaf children, based in Highgate, North London. Our children come from a variety of backgrounds, and all of them have a significant hearing loss. Some of our children have additional needs.

 

 

"Many of our children had never been in a swimming pool before, so the Make a Splash pool was an amazing opportunity for them. Their weekly swimming lessons proved to be the highlight of their week and they were all very disappointed when the swimming pool and to leave to find a new home.

 

 

"The swimming instructors were wonderful. They quickly got to grips with the needs / abilities of the children and were able to communicate with them effectively. Normall, we would use a Community Support Worker to sign, but the instrctors were very visual, so this allowed the CSWs to support children in the water.  Having this opportunity has made sure that our children will not be afraid of the water by the time they reach Year 6 (this is when they will have weekly swimming sessions at a local pool).

 

 

"Thank you all so much for providing this amazing opportunity and we sincerely hope that the pool may return one day!"

 

 

Ms. Anna Smith, Deputy Head Teacher, Blanche Nevile School, Co-Host of Make a Splash in Haringey

 

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"On behalf of everyone at Highgate Primary School I would like to thank Make A Splash for giving us a swimming pool this summer. It was a magical experience for all of our children, especially those who had never been in a pool before. 

 

 

"Adam Whitehead’s assembly was truly inspiring – he can come back any time! – and a fantastic way to launch the pool. One of my favourite Make A Splash memories was seeing Adam with headteacher William and deputy headteacher Anthony, in the pool swimming with 15 pupils who had never ever been swimming before. They will never forget their once in a lifetime experience of swimming with a champion!

 

 

"The progress the children made over the term was impressive and it will undoubtedly impact on the aim to have thousands more children in London swimming before the 2012 Olympics. The children are not only far more confident in the water, but they have also discovered how much fun swimming can be."

 

 

Ms. Kate Imeson, Communications Officer, Highgate Primary School and Children's Centre, Host of Make a Splash in Haringey

 

 

Community Users

 

 

"The pool was also greatly enjoyed by the wider community, especially the families in the children centre who loved their sessions. One mum with twins said it made all the difference to her summer. She was able to walk to school and swim with both children in clean, warm water with attentive and helpful instructors. She had found the whole prospect of taking a double buggy and toddler twins on the bus to access public swimming pools too daunting and had consequently never been swimming with them. She was amazed that by the end of the summer both girls were happily splashing around in the water with inflatables on their own.

 

 

"Another local mum came to see me yesterday. She lives in the social housing estate next to school and as a non-working single mother, studying at college, she is struggling financially. She is already worrying about next summer holiday and was desperately hoping that the pool would return. She made full use of the two Children’s Centre sessions a week and when I booked her in for the whole summer she cried with gratitude. So many of the local authority subsidised holiday play schemes have been cut and it can be very hard to find affordable activities to do with children during the school holidays."

 

 

Ms. Kate Imeson, Communications Officer, Highgate Primary School and Children's Centre, Host of Make a Splash in Haringey