School
Pools - Foreword
Schools provide the learning environment for a range of intellectual
and physical skill development both in and out of the water.
Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) believes the ability to swim and
the development of survival swimming techniques are essential skills
all New Zealanders should possess. In support of WSNZ’s position,
the Ministry of Education expects that all students will have had
opportunities to learn fundamental aquatic skills by the end of
year 6. This is a requirement of the Health and Physical Education
Curriculum.
School swimming pools are valued educational assets, which need
to be managed appropriately and used responsibly. Under the Ministry
of Education National Administration Guideline 5, each Board of
Trustees is required to provide a safe physical environment for
students and comply in full with legislation to ensure the safety
of students. Specifically relevant for swimming pools are the Ministry’s
policies on swimming pools and swimming pool water quality.
There are a number of pieces of legislation and standards which
schools are required to comply with for the operation and management
of a school swimming pool. Combined, these ensure a safe and secure
environment for pool users, as the school swimming pool is perhaps
one of the most potentially dangerous sites within a school.
This guide had been redeveloped and updated by Water Safety New
Zealand to provide guidance to Boards of Trustees for best practice
in the operation and management of school swimming pools. Most of
the information presented in this guide has been incorporated into
a number of Ministry of Education guidelines and policies since
first raised as an issue in the late 1990s.
This resource is a component of the ACC PoolSafe programme, developed
by Water Safety New Zealand and ACC. ACC PoolSafe incorporates a
range of initiatives aimed at reducing the number of water related
injuries in and around New Zealand pools.
© Water Safety New Zealand October 2004
First edition 1996 reprinted 2000 Swimming Pools. Guidelines for
Schools
All rights reserved.
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