Free buses a master stroke

BEN CAMPBELL/Manukau Courier

TICKET TO RIDE: Celebrating the arrival of the free bus service to free swimming lessons are mayor Len Brown, left, with Olympic legend John Walker and Manurewa West Primary School pupils, from left: Sophaia Taukei???aho and Samco Manisela, both 8, Brandon Kameta, 9, Cameron Slade, 7, Andy Hoang, 9, and eight-year-old Blade Tuiasau-Makoare.

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More Manukau kids can now get in the swim thanks to new free buses to take them to the pool.

The two buses are part of the Find Your Field of Dreams project to teach every year 3 pupil in the city to swim.

The project offers seven free swimming lessons at one of Manukau Leisure Services five aquatic centres as well as free transport for participating schools.

Project manager Mike Ibbertson says the free swim classes have been a big hit since they started with just two schools in May.

"This term we’re giving 11,000 free swimming lessons to children from 21 schools," he says.

The cost of hiring buses to take pupils to swimming lessons and back to school has been coming out of the project’s $346,000 annual budget.

Now the Lion Foundation’s grant of $130,000 a year for the two buses means more money to spend on swimming and water safety classes.

"Having the free buses means we can cater for more children," Mr Ibbertson says.

"There are plans to extend the programme to years 4 and 5 and the only barrier I can see is the lack of pool space."

An extension will require better year-round scheduling of pool use and encouraging more schools to shift their swimming lessons to the off-season.

Mr Ibbertson says having Swimsation’s professional instructors is proving an added bonus for the free swim project.

"Not only are the children getting free instruction but also high quality instruction.

"So they are coming out with the best water safety and swimming skills they’re capable of achieving."

The free lessons are having some unexpected and "galvanising" effects on schools, pupils and parents, he says.

One school has reported a noticeable drop in abstenteeism among kids eligible for the free classes.

"And a common comment from other schools is that kids in other classes are jealous and wish they were going too."

The five-year free swim project aims to give 46,000 lessons a year to more than 6600 pupils from 80 primary schools. There will be 3136 bus trips a year.

- © Fairfax NZ News