A HEADTEACHER has hit back at claims her school is putting pupils' lives in danger by suspending swimming lessons.

Parents of children at Spennells First School in Kidderminster had feared the suspension of swimming announced this term would risk the lives of youngsters living near the district's canals and rivers.

But De Pedvin stressed to the Shuttle/Times & News tuition would be reinstated next month and no child would miss out.

Years three and four - about 60 children - receive at least one term of lessons comprising 90 minutes a week.

Mrs Pedvin said: "No child will have left our school without a term's swimming."

She added she recognised the importance of swimming both as a life-saving skill and for its health benefits and took it "extremely seriously".

The head teacher said the suspension - announced to parents in a newsletter - was to work out more "effective" arrangements to deliver "quality" teaching.

The school has been using Stourport Sports Centre but Mrs Pedvin said it was unsuitable as travelling meant children spent only 30 minutes of a 90-minute session in the water.

Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre will be the new venue and children will be taught in smaller groups.

Gary Hardy, whose seven-year-old son attends the school, said he was reassured swimming would be reinstated next month but said the school's handling of the issue had sparked parents' fears.

"All indications prior to the governors meeting on Tuesday night were swimming was being suspended permanently.

"One of the mothers said there'd been 40 letters of protest sent to the school."

Mrs Pedvin claimed it had always been intended to impose a temporary suspension.

She added she had only received "one or two" letters from parents and stressed the school's "open door policy".