Adult & Child

Each child must be accompanied by an adult in the water and with a teacher on the poolside, swimmers learn water safety and basic movement through songs and structured activities.

Children aged 6 months – 3 years and an accompanying adult.

Toddler 1

Taught from the water, swimmers will learn to move freely in the water wearing buoyancy aids. Submersion of the face, and floating on the front & back will be taught using games and songs.

Children aged 3 years to school age.

Toddler 2

Moving from toddler 1, taught from the water, swimmers will progress from basic travel on their front and back into aquatic breathing whilst swimming and floating with reduced aids will be practiced.

Children aged 3 years to school age.

Toddler 3

Moving from toddler 2, taught from the water, swimmers will become more confident in buoyancy and streamlining with more reduction of aids. Games and songs are still an important part of each session.

Children aged 3 years to school age.

Stage 1

A beginner stage, taught from the water, swimmers will learn movement, flotation & basic streamlining through constructive activities and play, pupils will be taught from in the water.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 2

Taught from the water, swimmers will improve streamlining, rotation and floating. A large amount of manual support will be provided by the teacher, all criteria will be assessed without aids.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 3

Swimmers will learn advanced streamlining, basic stroke work and early lifesaving skills, this stage is taught from the water.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 4

More advanced stroke work over increased distances will be achieved, alongside sitting dives, sculling and self-help lifesaving skills are taught. This is the last stage that the teacher will be in the water.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 5

All four main strokes are performed and assessed over a longer distance, new skills are introduced and additional lifesaving elements are implemented.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 6

A regular breathing pattern for all 4 strokes is taught, lifesaving skills & standing dives are implemented and all four strokes should now be fully recognisable.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 7

The first stage taught in 20 metre lengths so stamina and distance are increased and basic touch turns are introduced, and new lifesaving skills are implemented.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 8

Swimmers continue to increase strength and distance, vital for healthy lifestyle alongside tumble turns, advanced diving, additional lifesaving skills. The Bronze Challenge Award is completed in Stage 8.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 9

Swimmers continue to increase distance and fitness, alongside correct starts, turns and finishes. The individual medley swim is introduced and the Silver Challenge Award is completed in Stage 9.

Children aged school age and above.

Stage 10

A one hour session preparing swimmers for lifelong participation in the sport of swimming, swimmers will be able to start, turn and finish all 4 strokes to ASA standard. The Gold Challenge Award is completed within Stage 10.

Children aged school age and above.

Rookie Lifeguard

An introduction to saving yourself and saving others in and around water, including basic first aid and CPR skills. Rookie Lifeguard spans three stages - bronze, silver & gold.

Children of stage 9 standard and above.

Lifesaving

A progression from Rookie Lifeguard, Lifesaving is aimed at older children who want to gain a more in depth knowledge of lifesaving and can be used as a stepping stone to the nationally recognised Pool Lifeguard Qualification.

Children that have completed Rookie Lifeguard or older children with an interest in lifesaving. Maximum age 16 years.

Special Needs

For children that, for any reason cannot comfortably function in a mainstream group lesson. Lessons can be one to one, or small group, depending on ability and activity.

Children aged 3 years and above.