Schools face many challenges arranging swimming lessons: travel time, staffing, costs, safety oversight, and meeting the National Curriculum. The Swim:ED programme by FIFTH Movement transforms how primary schools in Tameside and Stockport deliver swimming and water-safety education by bringing a heated, pop-up pool onto the school playground, in a secure, modular structure.
Benefits of Swim:ED
Here are the key advantages for schools, pupils, staff, and the wider school community:
Enhanced learning time: Avoiding travel to off-site pools, time which would be lost to transport, changing, transit, etc., is retained for learning. That means more lesson time per session, more lessons in the term.
Reduced logistical headaches: Less planning around transport, supervision for journeys, liaison with external facilities. All pool setup, water treatment, safety supervision etc are managed by FIFTH Movement staff.
Meeting curriculum expectations: Lessons taught by certified swim teachers, with qualified lifeguards, aligned to the national curriculum for swimming and water safety.
Safety & inclusivity: The structure is a secure, modular structure, with appropriate anchoring, safety procedures, supervision, risk assessment etc. All children are included regardless of background.
Data-driven tracking & impact: Swim:ED provides assessments of each pupil’s progress; schools receive reports; there is measurable improvement in children’s swimming competence, including ability to swim 25 metres unaided and perform essential self-rescue.
Cost-efficiency: While there’s investment required, Swim:ED’s model often offers better value than hiring external pool facilities plus transport and staffing costs/time. For schools, the total cost often is more manageable and predictable.
What Schools Need: Requirements & Setup
For a successful installation and running of Swim:ED, schools must provide certain infrastructure and meet practical requirements. Here’s what to expect and prepare:
| Requirement | What Schools Must Provide / Arrange | Notes / Typical Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Space | A suitable playground-area to host the temporary modular marquee and pool. The surface should be level, adequate in size to accommodate the marquee, pool, walkways etc. | The school’s site will be assessed beforehand. |
| Electrical supply | Either an outdoor three-phase plug socket, or a 2-gang weatherproof outdoor switched socket, to power the pool plant system. | If these are not already present, schools will need to liaise with an electrical contractor to install. Estimated one-off cost for electrical work is usually between £1,500 and £2,000. |
| Water & heating | Access to water supply and the ability to heat the pool water; also ability to treat and maintain water quality (chemicals, filtration) is handled by FIFTH Movement but needs reliable water source and heating. | The pool is filled over 2-3 days (depending on water pressure); heating and chemical treatment take a further 2 days. |
| Installation time | The marquee structure is delivered and built by a specialist team. Anchoring takes about half a day. Pool installation equipment is brought in, physically set up in a day, then filled/treated/heated over subsequent days. | |
| Anchoring / safety of the structure | Temporary modular structure must be secured (anchoring pins or concrete blocks) to meet structural / safety requirements. Risk assessments, Pool Safety Operating Procedures (PSOP). | |
| Other considerations | Insurance is covered by FIFTH Movement for the delivery period; the school is responsible outside lesson times. Planning permissions generally not needed as structure is temporary and under 5 m height. If delivered over 28 days, some written permission may be required. |
Cost Breakdown
Note: actual cost depends programme duration, structure type etc.
Base cost example: A five-week programme starts from £10,750 plus VAT.
Additional one-off costs: If you need to install the required electrical socket/plugs, estimate £1,500–£2,000.
Other possible extras: heating and chemical treatment overheads are built into the Swim:ED model; maintenance and pool plant operation are handled by the FIFTH Movement team.
Depending on the number of pupils, length of the programme (e.g. a 3-week minimum), and whether you choose additional weeks or extras (e.g. after-school clubs), the total investment will vary. Schools should budget with a cushion for site preparation and any school-specific requirements.
What Schools Can Expect: Timeline & Process
Here’s roughly how the Swim:ED installation & delivery flows:
Pre-installation assessment: School site is visited to check space, power, safety etc.
Installation
Marquee structure delivered and erected (≈ half a day)
Pool equipment installed (≈ 4 hours on the first day)
Pool filled (2-3 days depending on water pressure)
Heating & chemical treatment (a further 2 days) until water is safe & at right temperature.
Lessons begin: Swim:ED delivers daily lessons over at least 5 weeks depending on term length.
Assessment & reporting: Ongoing tracking of pupil performance; at end of programme the school receives a report.
Is Swim:ED Right for Your School?
If your school can meet the above infrastructure requirements (space, power, water/heating access), and is willing to commit for at least 5 weeks and ideally more FIFTH Movement can provide a high-quality, reliable, and safe swimming programme with clear benefits.
It’s particularly attractive for schools:
without easy access to off-site pools or where travel & transport are costly
wanting to reduce disruption, missed learning time
aiming to provide inclusive water safety education for all pupils
keen on measurable outcomes and reporting
