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Primary school pupils in Years 4 and 5 are to be offered a minimum of 20 swimming and water safety lessons under a new £2 million Welsh Government scheme.

The Nofio Ysgol programme aims to end what ministers describe as inconsistent provision across the country, where around one in five primary schools currently offer no swimming lessons at all.

The initial £2 million phase will roll out across nine council areas from September. The scheme will expand to 16 local authority areas in 2027 before covering all 22 Welsh councils by September 2028.

As well as practical pool sessions, the curriculum will cover water confidence, self-rescue skills, and classroom-based safety education.

Culture and sport minister Heledd Fychan said school-based lessons are the only chance many children get to learn essential safety skills.

The Plaid Cymru MS said: “Access to school swimming remains inconsistent across Wales. Around one in five maintained primary schools currently provides no swimming lessons, while relatively few children access extracurricular swimming opportunities.

“For many pupils, school-based provision is their only opportunity to develop water confidence, swimming competence and essential self-rescue skills.”

The programme will be funded directly by the Welsh Government and delivered alongside local authorities and governing body Swim Wales. Extra targeted support will be given to schools in deprived communities, Welsh-medium settings, rural areas, and to children with additional learning needs.

Ms Fychan added: “Our ambition is simple but significant. Every child in Wales should have the opportunity to learn to swim, understand how to stay safe in and around water, and develop skills that could one day save their life.”