There's a lot of talk about learn to swim, both informed and ill-informed, but being able to swim doesn't guarantee safety around water.

For Otahuhu Primary School, developing an aquatics programme that is not solely based around learn to swim has seen some very positive outcomes in meeting the needs of their students and community.

Tonight, children from the school will showcase just how successful their whole-school and community approach to aquatics and water safety education has been at their 'Aquatic Home-School Partnership Night'.

Otahuhu Primary is one of 15 schools WaterSafe Auckland has been working with under the Aquatic Education Initiative funded by the ASB Community Trust with the aim of assisting low decile schools to develop sustainable aquatic programmes.

"There is a distinct lack of children's knowledge around water safety," says Dr Kevin Moran, Researcher and Principal Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Auckland and Chairman of WaterSafe Auckland.

While the skill of learning to swim is a fundamental life skills it is just part of the complex picture of safe aquatic participation. There is a need for schools to ensure that an aquatics programme develops water safety and aquatic knowledge, skills attitudes and behaviours that can be transferred to a variety of aquatic environments.

Otahuhu Primary School's 'Aquatic Home-School Partnership Night' runs from 5.30pm to 6.30pm this evening at the school, 41 Station Road, Otathuhu.   

For further information about the ASB Aquatic Education Initiative contact jan.taylor@watersafe.org.nz.