Children’s Learn to Swim Programme
Our Children’s Learn to Swim Programme is designed to teach all the essential strokes and water safety skills needed to become a confident, competent swimmer. Delivered across six progressive levels, the programme helps every child develop the ability to enjoy swimming as a lifelong activity; whether for fun, fitness, or competition.
Level 1
Level 1 is all about helping the children become familiar with the aquatic environment. this level of the programme focuses on providing learners with the FUNdamental skills of swimming and other aquatic disciplines. These skills are developed through play and exploration, using all their senses.
- Enter and exit the pool safely without assistance.
- Demonstrate FUNdamental movements skills & orientation.
- Display aquatic breathing – blowing bubbles through the mouth and/or nose.
Fully submerge head and body. - Demonstrate floatation on front with a buoyancy aid and face underwater, then regain standing position.
- Demonstrate floatation on back with a buoyancy aid and ears underwater, then regain standing position.
- Swim 5 metres on front while holding one float with arms extended forward.
- Swim 5 metres on back while holding one float on the chest.
Level 2
Level 2 focuses on helping swimmers become more independent in the water. They will develop floatation and body control without support. Swimmers will be introduced to basic frontcrawl and backcrawl, together with an introduction to deep water. At this level we continue to use play and exploration to make swimming lessons fun.
- Demonstrate a push and glide on front in a streamlined position.
Frontcrawl kick for up to 10 metres with no float. - Backcrawl kick for up to 10 metres with no float.
- Demonstrate single arm action on front with a float.
- Demonstrate single arm action on back with a float.
- Demonstrate deep water entry – feet first jump to full submersion, resurface, swim to the side and exit.
- Scull for 5 metres headfirst on back with a buoyancy aid.
- Demonstrate basic dolphin leg kick.
- Star float on front rotating to back, for 5 seconds on each side, without a buoyancy aid.
Level 3
Level 3 will see swimmers develop full stroke frontcrawl and backcrawl, and an introduction to butterfly kick. Swimmers will become confident jumping into and swimming in deep water and have an awareness for water safety.
- Demonstrate a push and glide on back in a streamlined position – arms extended above head.
- Swim full stroke Backcrawl consistently for a minimum 15 metres – in deep water 1.5m+.
- Swim full stroke Frontcrawl demonstrating basic side breathing (cheek & ear in water) for a minimum 15 metres – in deep water 1.5m+.
- Perform a forward roll.
- Butterfly leg kick on front with arms extended for up to 10 metres.
- Scull for 10 metres headfirst on back unsupported.
- Pencil jump into deep water, then treading water for 30 seconds.
Level 4
Level 4 will introduce the swimmers to breaststroke and basic diving. Skill development will continue for backcrawl and frontcrawl. with correct technique and efficiency over a greater distance.
- Demonstrate Breaststroke leg kick (heels to seat – turn out feet – kick out, back & together).
- Demonstrate Breaststroke arm action & breathing.
- Backcrawl full stroke for 20 m with rhythm, timing and efficiency.
- Front crawl full stroke for 20 m with rhythm, timing and efficiency.
- Travel on front & perform forward roll.
- Treading Water – 60 seconds.
- Sitting/ Kneeling Dives (*if pool allows – 1.5m+)
- Butterfly leg kick on back with arms at their side for 10 metres.
Level 5
Level 5 will see swimmers focus on developing full stroke breastroke and introduce basic butterfly. Swimmers will develop starts and turns, including standing dives and basic tumble turns.
- Breaststroke full stroke demonstrating correct timing of pull>breathe>kick>glide over 25m/ 1 length.
- Frontcrawl full stroke – rhythm development and stroke efficiency over 50m/2 lengths of pool.
- Backcrawl full stroke – rhythm development and stroke efficiency over 50m/2 lengths of pool.
- Demonstrate basic Butterfly arm action and kick for a minimum of 10 metres.
Demonstrate a two-handed finish and touch turn. - Travel on front, then demonstrate a basic tumble turn, planting feet on the wall and then push and glide.
- Perform a backward roll.
- Standing Dives (*if pool allows – 1.5m+)
Level 6
Level 6 will develop all strokes with good rhythm, timing and efficiency in preperation for progressing to club level or other aquatic activities.
- Breaststroke full stroke 50m – rhythm, timing development & stroke efficiency.
- Butterfly full stroke 25m- rhythm, timing development & stroke efficiency.
- Frontcrawl full stroke – rhythm development and stroke efficiency over 100m/4 lengths of pool.
- Backcrawl full stroke – rhythm development and stroke efficiency over 100m/4 lengths of pool.
- Racing Dive (*if pool allows – 1.5m+). From deck level or a freeboard depending on pool layout.
- Individual Medley over 100 metre/4 x 25m.
Book swimming lesson at your local leisure centre.
