From home to pool

Warragul Leisure Centre has launched a specialised program teaching homeschooled children how to swim.

Following an expression of interest posted to social media that drew a strong response from local families, the program kicked off in February and now has five groups enrolled for classes, which are capped at five children each.
The program was kickstarted to help address a gap for homeschooled students, who often missed out on traditional lessons.
The idea initially came from centre manager Daniel Chu and quickly took off as more families reached out.
"Overnight we had inquiries and we even had whole homeschool groups reaching out. That's where we really got the word out, on social media," said aquatics co-ordinator Teaghan Mills.
Swim teacher Meg Jefferyes leads classes, aiming to accommodate for all ages and skill levels.
Participants in the program range from as young as five to early high school age. Many of them have never had swim lessons.
Classes are held in the middle of the day when the centre is at its quietest, which organisers said was a significant factor in the program's success.
"We found that in a normal mainstream swimming lesson you'd get a certificate and you'd move up to the next level, but our homeschooled kids weren't getting that experience because there's really nowhere for them to level up," Ms Mills said.
"I think everyone needs swim lessons, it's not just about our schoolkids. It's the ones who aren't ready for school, the ones who are homeschooled, especially the ones who had additional needs as well. I think it's really important that we make swimming lessons a good experience for them too."
Parent Donna Francis, who has three kids in the program, said the lessons had been "fantastic" for her children.
"We used to do private lessons but we found the kids weren't quite progressing," she said.
Staying for a swim after their lessons has allowed the children to practice the skills they learn, while the small groups have ensured everyone gets individual attention, she added.
"Their swimming and their confidence have progressed incredibly... I'd absolutely recommend it."