Jessica Micallef
Aqua Schools Sunbury has reached an enrolment milestone.
More than 600 children are now enrolled at the swim school after it reopened its doors on November 9, following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Manager Chelsea King said parents were eager to get their children back to learning about the importance of water safety.
“Post COVID-19 lockdown, we’ve had an enrolment increase of about 127 per cent,” she said.
“We teach swimming and water safety skills, swimming alone and with a parent, swimming back to the edge, treading water and we also teach parents about water safety.
“When we reopened, we had kids who had forgotten their skills or kids would jump off the platform straight into the pool not realising they can’t swim and we knew that was going to happen.”
Ms King said the closure of swimming pools during the lockdown had a “massive impact” on children’s skills and water safety knowledge.
She said the recent drownings in Victorian beaches were a timely reminder that water safety was paramount among both children and adults.
“People aren’t being aware of their limitations and parents can take it for granted that if their child can tread water, they should be OK,” she said.
“The number one cause of death for children under five is drowning which is totally preventable.
“Supervision really is key.”
Aqua Schools Sunbury offer classes for children from 3 months old.
Details: aquaschools.com.au
