Water-based activities are a valuable part of Ontario’s school programs, supporting the development of physical literacy, awareness and confidence in, on, and around water, teamwork, and lifelong participation in physical activity. Central to providing opportunities for students to develop these skills is ensuring that all students can safely engage in swimming, watercraft and waterfront activities.
The 2025 updates to the Swim Assessment standards within the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education (OPASSE) reinforce that safe participation in water-based activities requires both effective risk management and thoughtful removal of barriers impacting participation. The updated standards reflect current, evidence-informed practices designed to:
- reduce the risk of drowning
- maintain a high level of student safety in, on, and around water
- reduce or eliminate barriers to student participation
These updates empower educators to confidently bring water-based activities into school programs while prioritizing safety and inclusion. Multi-layered safety standards that account for students’ swim ability, comfort, and experience provide guidance to support activity-specific decisions for planning, instruction, and supervision.
Physical Safety and Access to Participation — Interconnected and Essential
Physical safety in aquatic programming focuses on preventing injury and reducing the risk of drowning through clear, consistent safety standards. These include considerations for Equipment; Clothing, Footwear, and Jewellery; Facilities; Environmental Conditions; Special Rules/Instructions; Supervision; and Qualifications.
The Swim Assessment updates shift the focus from a traditional “swim test” toward a responsive, activity-specific framework that considers:
- The risk level of the activity
- The environment (pool, lake, river, waterfront)
- Required equipment (e.g., correctly fitted and properly secured/fastened lifejacket/personal flotation device (PFD), safety craft)
- Students’ swim ability, comfort, and experience
- Skills necessary for safe participation
- Qualifications necessary and types of supervision required
For all watercraft activities participants must wear a correctly fitting, properly secured/fastened and Canadian approved PFD or lifejacket, with whistle/signaling device attached, at all times near the water, where the depth of the water poses a risk, in and on the water and the “swim test” has been replaced by the Sample Swim Ability and Swim Comfort Assessment Questionnaire Form.
For water-based activities, in-water assessments remain required with updated criteria aligned to the skills necessary for safe participation. This ensures safety measures are relevant, purposeful, and clearly connected to the demands of the activity while maintaining structured, well-managed aquatic learning environments.
Benefits of the Updated Swim Assessment Approach
Supporting Emotional and Physical Safety
Thoughtful implementation of the Swim Assessment standards supports both physical and emotional safety. Students are more likely to:
- Be assured: when multi-layered safety measures support safe participation regardless of swim ability, comfort, or experience
- Be empowered: when educators consider swim ability, comfort, and experience, and involve students in planning
- Be represented and respected: when activities reflect diverse identities, abilities, and interests, and participation is supported through appropriate equipment and clear safety skill instruction to support participation
- Be understood: when open communication allows students to share concerns, preferences, or support needs
Ensuring safety strategies reflect the students participating in the activity and reinforcing the connection between emotional and physical safety creates structured, predictable, and inclusive learning environments where students can participate with confidence. To assist in establishing and maintaining a physically and emotionally safe learning environment for all students refer to Ophea’s Disability Centred safety tools and the Emotional Safety Check-List.
Benefits for Educators and Coaches
Intentional implementation of the updated safety standards prepares educators to:
- Apply consistent safety practices: aligning activities by risk level and expectations across programs
- Use structured decision-making tools: such as the Swim Ability and Swim Comfort Questionnaire Form
- Implement layered risk-management strategies: moving beyond reliance on a single assessment checkpoint
- Adapt programming responsibly: making informed adjustments that support safe participation and inclusive access
Supporting Implementation and Safe Practice
Ophea provides resources to support implementation:
- Updated Swim Assessment standards for all watercraft and water-based activities
- Updated In-Water Swimming Assessment Criteria
- Sample Swim Ability and Swim Comfort Assessment Questionnaire Form
These resources guide school boards and educators in reviewing policies, updating documentation, training staff, and planning for water-based activities that may occur at school, in the community, or on school-based trips.
At the school and program level, safe aquatic practice is strengthened through a multi-layered and holistic approach:
- Ensuring students are wearing correctly fitting, properly secured/fastened and Canadian approved PFD or lifejacket, with whistle/signaling device attached, at all times near the water, where the depth of the water poses a risk, in and on the water
- Conduct activity-specific in-water assessments when required
- Use the Sample Swim Ability and Swim Comfort Questionnaire to inform planning and supervision
- Assess environmental conditions (e.g., water temperature, depth, current, wind)
- Define boundaries, entry/exit procedures, and regrouping signals clearly
- Review emergency action plans and supervision/monitoring roles before activities begin
- Maintain active, qualitative supervision
Moving Forward
The Swim Assessment updates represent a meaningful move forward in water safety for Ontario schools. By aligning standards with the specific risks of each activity, grouping activities by risk level, and applying barrier-reduced strategies, OPASSE ensures student safety while supporting equitable participation. These updates give educators the guidance and confidence to plan water-based activities that are structured, inclusive, and responsive to students’ swim comfort, experience, and ability.
With intentional planning, clear communication, and focused staff training, schools can create aquatic programs that are safe, accessible, and well-managed. Water-based programs have unique educational, physical, and social benefits. Multi-layered protection measures and informed professional decisions make it possible for all students to participate confidently, making aquatic experiences a valuable and meaningful part of the school program and life-long participations.