Swimming Lessons

Age:
0 - 12 months

Aim:
To introduce the adult and baby to the water. Develop the adult’s confidence and skills to ensure the safe handling of the baby in the water.

Exit criteria:

• Demonstrate safe pool entries and exits
• Demonstrate three progressive supports/holds in both prone and supine position
• Demonstrate rotation of baby from back to front/front to back in a horizontal/vertical position
• Baby’s arm and leg movements are relaxed
• Baby demonstrates ease with water near/over their face and will attempt to blow bubbles

Age:
12 - 24 months

Aim:
To encourage independent movement and develop toddlers’ water confidence and core aquatic skills through structured play.

Exit criteria:

• Demonstrate an independent standing and sitting entry into the pool with an adult in the water
• Independently place face in the water and blow bubbles into the water
• Float on front and back with or without buoyancy aids
• Rotate between front and back lying positions
• Push off wall to reach adult support on front and back
• Demonstrate a continuous leg action on front and back
• Show front and back paddle
• Exit the water safely with adult support

Age:
24 - 36/42 months

Aim:
To further develop the core aquatic skills through structured play and develop the independence necessary for the next level (without an adult in the water).

Exit criteria:

• Make an independent standing and sitting entry into the pool with an adult in the water, nearby but not supporting
• Jump in and turn around, return to wall, monkey to steps and climb out
• Exit the pool safely without using the steps
• Blow an object across the surface of the water for 2 metres
• With buoyancy aids, rotate 360 degrees in a vertical position
• From front lying position rotate 180 degrees around horizontal axis to back lying position
• Float with buoyancy aids on front and back for a minimum 5 seconds
• Use arms and legs to travel in any direction for approximately 5 metres

Age:
3 - 4 years

Aim:
To become more water confident and develop core aquatic skills (without adult assistance but with buoyancy aids as required).

Exit criteria:

• Enter and exit the pool safely without assistance
• Display aquatic breathing with full submersion (blow bubbles through mouth and nose)
• Fully submerge body
• Float on front and back with or without a buoyancy aid
• Demonstrate streamlining on front and back with or without a buoyancy aid
• Travel 5 metres on front or back with or without a buoyancy aid
• Jump in without assistance
• Demonstrate three different movements across the pool

Aim:
To further develop water confidence and develop core aquatic skills without buoyancy aids.

Exit criteria:

• Float on front and back without a buoyancy aid
• Demonstrate a mushroom float
• Demonstrate a push and glide
• Kick on front and back with or without a float for 10 metres
• Swim a minimum of 10 metres consistently demonstrating front crawl
• Swim a minimum of 10 metres consistently demonstrating backstroke
• Rotate from floating position front to back and back to front
• Demonstrate a sculling action
• Demonstrate repetitive bobbing for 30 seconds
• Confidently swim 10 meters in 1.1 meter depth

Aim:
To increase the competency of the core aquatic skills and develop basic stroke technique.

Exit criteria:

• Demonstrate a push and glide with leg kick for 5 metres holding streamline position
• Kick on front and back for a minimum 15 metres
• Swim front crawl with regular breathing for a minimum 15 metres
• Swim backstroke consistently for a minimum 15 metres
• Demonstrate breaststroke leg kick
• Scull for 10 metres headfirst on back whilst supported
• Headfirst surface dive to collect object on bottom of pool (minimum depth 1.2 metres)

Aim:
Introduce more advanced stroke technique and achieve Scotland Safer Swimmer (Triple S) standard.

Exit criteria:

• Swim on front and perform a somersault, finishing in a streamlined position
• Swim 25 metres front crawl and backstroke consistently maintaining correct technique
• Demonstrate breaststroke with simultaneous leg and arm action
• Demonstrate basic butterfly technique
• Travel 5 metres with an undulating body action
• Tread water for 30 seconds waving one hand above the head to attract attention
• Enter and exit the pool without using the steps
• Scull for 10 metres
• Complete the Triple S award

Aim:
To improve the quality of stroke technique, introduce multi aquatic skills/disciplines and basic lifesaving skills.

Exit criteria:

• Swim minimum 50 metres of front crawl demonstrating push and glide, competent technique with bi-lateral breathing, high elbow, and reach and pull
• Swim minimum 50 metres of backstroke demonstrating push and glide, good technique, steady head position, and rolling of the shoulders round the long axis
• Swim minimum 50 metres of breaststroke demonstrating push and glide, good technique, and basic undulation
• Swim minimum 15 metres of butterfly demonstrating push and glide, competent technique, and basic undulation
• Perform a dive with transition to any stroke
• Perform a straddle jump and tread water for 45 seconds

Aim:
To improve and maintain stroke technique over distance and develop basic training and race skills, producing a swimmer who is ‘Club Ready’.

Exit criteria:

• Swim 100 metres of both front crawl and backstroke, maintaining efficient technique and incorporating race skills
• Swim 50 metres of breaststroke, maintaining efficient technique and incorporating race skills
• Swim 25 metres of butterfly, maintaining efficient technique and incorporating race skills
• Attempt 100 metres individual medley whilst incorporating race skills
• Understand lane discipline and use of timing clock

Aim:
To become water confident and develop core aquatic skills (without assistance but with buoyancy aids as required).

Exit criteria:

• Enter and exit the pool safely without assistance
• Display aquatic breathing while fully submerged 3 times (blowing bubbles through mouth and nose)
• Float on front and back with or without a buoyancy aid
• Streamline on front and back with or without a buoyancy aid
• Travel 5 metres without a buoyancy aid
• Demonstrate a push and glide without a buoyancy aid
• Kick on front and back with a float for 10 metres

Aim:
To further develop core aquatic skills without buoyancy aids and develop basic stroke technique.

Exit criteria:

• Push and glide with leg kick for 5 metres holding streamline position
• Kick on front and back for a minimum 15 metres
• Consistently swim front crawl with proper breathing for a minimum 15 metres
• Consistently swim backstroke for a minimum 15 metres
• Demonstrate breaststroke leg kick
• Demonstrate a sculling action
• Headfirst surface dive to collect object on bottom of pool (minimum depth 1.2 metres)
• Show rotation from floating position front/back and back/front
• Tread water for 15 seconds