The mother of 10-year-old girl with Down’s Syndrome has Greenvale Leisure Centre in Magherafelt is “discriminating” against her daughter after a decision was taken by the centre to stop offering in-water one-to-one support to children with additional needs during school swimming lessons.
Sorcha Moran (pictured), is a pupil of Holy Family Primary School, loves going to the swimming pool with her classmates for their weekly swimming lessons.
Her condition means means she requires extra support while in the water.
However, as a result of new procedures introduced by the leisure centre’s management, Sorcha, is from Desertmartin, will no longer benefit from the extra one-to-one support by qualified swimming instructors.
This is a decision, which Sorcha’s mum Margaret, believes is “unfair.”
Mrs Moran said: “Sorcha attended Magherafelt swimming pool as part of swimming lessons with the school for a term last year and she absolutely loved it.
“She got on really well and really took to her instructor.
“Because of the progress she was making,
“I paid for private swimming lessons over the summer holidays.
“Again, Sorcha was really lucky and got the same instructor. She was really looking forward to going back to school and going back to swimming.
“This year her class are the first group to go swimming.
“For the past few weeks, Sorcha was going to the pool and getting on really well but just last week we were told that she wouldn’t be assigned her one-to-one instructor anymore. I think it’s really unfair.
“I contacted the leisure centre and pleaded with them to reconsider even just to the end of term, I even offered to pay the extra difference out of my own pocket, but they will not budge,” she said.
The mum-of-two went added: “I just feel that she is being discriminated against. These new procedures are discriminating not just Sorcha, but all children with special need who will now lose out.
“Sorcha was born with two holes in her heard and a cyst on her lung, but she doesn’t let that hold her back, she just gets on with it. As a mother all I want is the best for her and to give her every opportunity that is available,” she said.
Sorcha is a member of Magherafelt Marvels, a locally-based Special Olympics group.
She recently won two gold medals, one for the 50 metre walk and for softball throw.
“If she keeps this up, she could represent Ireland in the Special Olympics someday, that is why I am so determined that she gets that extra bit of support and encouragement when she goes swimming,” said her mum.
“Not only does swimming keep her fit and healthy bur it could open opportunities down the line. I don’t want her to missing out, especially if this decision is down to money.”
A spokesperson for Greenvale Leisure Centre said: “All school group swimming lessons are taught from the poolside in a group format.
“An important aspect of our school group swimming lessons, and indeed all activities at the centre, is that they are inclusive in nature and so provide tuition for children of varying of abilities and needs. This has worked extremely well, with the programme successfully catering for over 1,000 children per week, many of whom have additional needs.
“While we have provided assistance using our own staff in the past to children with particular needs, the demand has risen to such a degree that we are unable to do so and have introduced new procedures. These allow any school which feels a child with additional needs requires in-water support, to have an assistant in the pool with the child and work under the supervision of our qualified and experienced instructors who will teach the group from the poolside.
“These procedures are consistent with other leisure centres, including those in Cookstown and Dungannon,” said the spokesperson.
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