Pupils at primary school next to lake in Wellington given valuable advice on how to stay safe in water amid concerns

Dothill Primary School in Wellington is situated next to Tee Lake which is part of the Dothill Local Nature Reserve. It freezes during the winter months which the school says leads to concerns over safety being raised given there are no barriers in place.

In response, nine-year-old artistic swimmer and international water safety ambassador, Seb Reeve made it his mission to deliver an assembly to fellow school pupils.

After a nationwide search last summer and hundreds of applicants, the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) chose five young people to be part of their 2025 Water Safety Squad, including Seb.

As part of his role, he organised a 'winter themed' water safety assembly for the whole school this week. 

Led by a team from the STA, who are a national educational charity dedicated to swimming and lifesaving, the assembly included an animated appearance by their water safety mascot 'STAnley'.

Pupils at Dothill Primary School learned important water safety skills, with a focus on staying safe around icy and snowy waterways, understanding the effects of cold water, and how to assist someone who has fallen through the ice. 

Each pupil also received a special bookmark which outlines the 'water safety code' that covers how to recognise hazards, and tells children to not go into water alone, how to assist others, and how to survive in emergency situations. 

Headteacher at Dot Hill Primary School, Mrs Harvey said: "All our students, from reception to Year 6, were thoroughly engaged with the water safety assembly. Being located next to the lake, we are always concerned about the children going on the ice and an incident occurring. That's why the visit from STA, thanks to Seb Reeve in his role as a water safety ambassador, was so valuable.

“The school is committed to educating both children and their families about water safety, and today, they all had a great time with STAnley while learning important lifesaving lessons."

The STA’s Commercial Director, Zoe Cooper who is also from Shropshire, added: "Water safety assemblies provide a fantastic opportunity for us, as a swimming and lifesaving charity, to engage with children and highlight the importance of learning to swim, and how to be more aware about water safety overall. In the case of Dot Hill, they requested a winter-themed focus due to the nearby lake, which allowed us to discuss the dangers of icy and snowy waterways. 

"With STAnley, our friendly water safety mascot, we were able to deliver an animated, fun assembly that the students could really connect with."