Pre-school & Children’s Lessons

We follow the Swim England ‘Programme’.
Swim England’s Learn to Swim Framework consists of Learn To Swim Stages 1-7.

If the criteria of these levels cannot be met at any point then we award the children with Swim England’s achievement awards, “I Can” Awards or Swim England’s rainbow distance awards.

A woman floating on her back in a swimming pool with her arms outstretched and eyes closed.

The FUN-Damentals

Stages 1-7 focuses on developing fundamental movement skills and teaching children to swim using all 4 strokes of front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly through play, fun & enjoyment.

  • By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

    • Enter the water safely.

    • Move forward for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

    • Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

    • Move sideways for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

    • Scoop the water and wash the face.

    • Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.

    • Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.

    • Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing.

    • Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.

    • Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.

    • Give examples of two pool rules.

    • Exit the water safely.

  • By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

    • Jump in from poolside safely.

    • Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.

    • Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without support.

    • Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without support.

    • Push from a wall and glide on the back – arms can be by the side or above the head.

    • Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.

    • Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.

    • Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.

    • Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.

    • Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position, then return to standing.

    • Perform a log roll from the back to the front.

    • Perform a log roll from the front to the back.

    • Exit the water without support.

  • By completing this Award, without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

    • Jump in from poolside and submerge.

    • Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position.

    • Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.

    • Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.

    • Travel 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return on the back.

    • Fully submerge to pick up an object.

    • Correctly identify three of the four key water safety messages.*

    • Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the back.

    • Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the front.

    • Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.

    • Exit the water without using steps.

    *The four key water safety messages include:

    1. Always swim in a safe place.

    2. Always swim with an adult.

    3. If you fall in, float, breathe, relax.

    4. If someone else in trouble, call 999/112.

  • By completing this Award, without floatation equipment or support, you will be able to:

    • Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating on the surface and demonstrate an understanding of floating.

    • Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor.

    • Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).

    • Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).

    • Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.

    • Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).

    • Perform a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.

    • Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front.

    • Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back.

    • Push and glide and swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.

  • By completing this Award you will be able to:

    • Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.

    • Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.

    • Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation.

    • Tread water for 30 seconds.

    • Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.

    • Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.

    • Perform a forward somersault.

    • Demonstrate an action for getting help.

  • By completing this Award you will be able to:

    • Give two examples of how to prepare for exercise and understand why it is important.

    • Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke.

    • Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl.

    • Swim 10 metres wearing clothes.

    • Push and glide and swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths.

    • Push and glide and swim breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths.

    • Push and glide and swim butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths.

    • Push and glide and swim backstroke to include at least six regular breaths.

    • Push and glide and swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue.

    • Perform a surface dive.

  • By completing this Award you will be able to:

    • Push and glide and swim 25 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Push and glide and swim 25 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Push and glide and swim 25 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Push and glide and swim 25 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Perform a movement sequence (linking skills with strokes and sculls) of one minute duration, in a group of three or more, incorporating a number of the following skills:Sculling: head first, feet first

    • Rotation: forward or backward somersault, log roll

    • Floating: star on the front or on the back, tuck float, create own

    • Eggbeater: Moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water

    • Perform a sitting dive or dive.

    • Push and glide and swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Push and glide and swim 100 metres, using a minimum of three different strokes (performed to Swim England expected standards).

    • Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds.

    • Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout.

A woman and a girl in swimming pools, with large windows and a foggy or rainy scene outside, during sunset.

Stages 8-10 of Swim England’s Learn To Swim Framework are about building sports specific skills to encourage focus on aquatic sports. In our case competitive swimming. An introduction to club swimming.

  • By completing this Award you will be able to:

    • Complete a set lasting 400 metres (e.g. 16 x 25 metres, 8 x 50 metres, 4 x 100 metres) on a specific turnaround time agreed by the teacher or coach (e.g. 1.00 minutes for each 25 metres) with a focus on stroke technique and consistency.

    • Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke.

    • Push and streamline then kick 25 metres backstroke with or without using a board.

    • Push and streamline then kick 25 metres breaststroke with or without using a board.

    • Push and streamline then kick 25 metres butterfly without using a board.

    • Push and streamline then kick 25 metres front crawl with or without using a board.

    • Perform a backstroke turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out.

    • Perform a breaststroke turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out.

    • Perform a butterfly turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out.

    • Perform a front crawl turn from 10 metres in to 15 metres out.

    • Perform a dive track or grab start, and kick butterfly underwater in a streamlined position for 5 metres with the focus on progressing it to 10 metres.*

      *Delivery will depend on the pool design and facilities available.

  • By completing this Award you will be able to:

    • Complete a set lasting 800 metres (either 16 x 50 metres, 8 x 100 metres, 4 x 200 metres) on a specific turnaround time agreed by the teacher or coach (e.g. 1.30 minutes for 50 metres) with a focus on stroke technique and consistency.

    • Swim 800 metres continuously using one stroke.

    • Swim a continuous 100 metre individual medley (4 x 25 metres) using recognised turns with a focus on stroke technique and consistency.

    • Perform a 15 metre underwater kick on front from a push and glide in a streamlined position.

    • Perform a backstroke start then butterfly kick in a streamlined position underwater up to a maximum of 15 metres from the start point (wall). Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.*

    • Perform a front crawl start then kick in a streamlined position underwater up to a maximum of 15 metres from the start point (wall). Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.*

    • Perform a butterfly start then kick in a streamlined position up to a maximum of 15 metres from the start point (wall). Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.*

    • Perform a breaststroke start then perform a one and a half pull underwater. Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.*

      *Delivery will depend on the pool design and facilities available.

  • By completing this Award you will be able to:

    • Complete a set lasting 1600 metres (either 16 x 100 metres, 8 x 200 metres, 4 x 400 metres) on a specific timed turnaround set by the teacher or coach (e.g. 2.30 minutes for 100 metres), focus on stroke technique and consistency.

    • Swim 1500 metres continuously using one stroke.

    • Perform a continuous 100 metre individual medley kick (4 x 25 metres) without using a kick board.

    • Swim a continuous 200 metre individual medley (4 x 50 metres) using recognised turns.

    • Perform a front crawl relay take over – as an incoming swimmer.

    • Perform a front crawl relay take over – as an outgoing swimmer.

Club Awards

The Swim England Club Awards consist of six progressive awards aimed at helping children transition from the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme to becoming club-level swimmers. These awards are structured to encourage skill development and provide recognition for achievements in swimming. They are delivered by fully-qualified swimming coaches and are designed to be motivational for young swimmers.

Key Features of the Club Awards

  • Progressive Structure: Each award builds on the skills learned in the previous stages, ensuring a comprehensive development pathway for swimmers.

  • Motivation and Recognition: The awards not only motivate swimmers to improve their skills but also recognize their achievements, fostering a sense of accomplishment and belonging within the club environment.