Learn 2 Swim Stages

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HomeKids ActivitiesLearn 2 SwimLearn 2 Swim Stages

Stage 1

Learners will develop basic safety awareness, learn basic movement skills and water confidence skills.

They will also be introduced to a structured class setting. Swimmers may use floatation equipment, such as armbands and floats, throughout this stage.

The early stages are really important for developing the building blocks for future technique and the skills that are learnt should be fun and enjoyable.

During Learn to Swim Stage 1, children will be encouraged to move around the pool and become confident with water on their face.

I Can Swim without armbands

I Can Badges

Water Skills 1

Stage 1

 

  • 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.

Stage 2

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 2 sees swimmers develop streamlining to their strokes and travel without their feet on the floor, using a recognised leg kick.

Stage 2 further develops water confidence and teaches swimmers to breathe confidently while in the water.

Being confident with the face in the water, or having water on the face, is crucial to stroke development. Learning to be happy in the water at an early stage will allow swimmers to develop other skills more quickly later on.

This stage also introduces various safety skills, such as being able to float, while also developing a swimmer’s kicking ability, leading to independent travel in water.

Water Skills 2

5 Meters Distance

Stage 2

 

  • 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.

Stage 3

During Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 3, swimmers will develop their kicks, on both their front and their back.

They streamline through push and glides, whilst also swimming underwater.

Swimmers will develop safe entries into the water, including submersion, and travel up to 10 metres on their front and back. Water safety knowledge and rotation skills will also be progressed.

Water Safety 1

10 Meters Distance

15 Meters Distance

Stage 3

  • 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.

Stage 4

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 4 sees swimmers perfect their leg kicks for all four strokes and further develop push and glides, while also being introduced to sculling.

They will develop an understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills and should should swim 10 metres to the Swim England expected standards.

20 Meters Distance

25 Meters Distance

50 Meters Distance

Stage 4

  • 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.

Stage 5

During Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 5, swimmers will develop their skills in treading water, learn the correct arm pulls for all four strokes and learn how to do handstands and somersaults.

This means they will develop their technique and perform all strokes to the Swim England expected standards.

The emphasis is on ensuring all work done in the previous stages is developed further.

Water Skills 3

Water Skills 4

100 Meters Distance

Water Safety 2

Stage 5

 

 

 

  • 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.

Stage 6

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 6 teaches swimmers how to prepare for exercise, while developing an efficient technique for all four strokes and further developing surface dives.

The effective swimming skills taught include coordination, breathing and an understanding of water safety.

Within this stage, swimmers will work on all the other strokes, including streamlining, improving their technique with both their arms and their legs.

Swimmers will also learn to swim in clothes and understand how to be safe when they’re in and around water.

Bronze Award

Water Skills 5

200 Meters Distance Award

400 Meters Distance Award

600 Meters Distance Award

Stage 6

 

  • 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’s expected standards).
  • Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue.
  • Perform a surface dive.

Stage 7

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 7 focuses on fully developing all four swimming strokes, as well as building stamina and improving diving skills.

By the end of this stage, swimmers will be able to swim 25 metres of all four strokes to Swim England’s expected standards.

Swimmers will also be able to complete a continuous swim of 100 metres using three of these different strokes.

Water Skills 6

Water Safety 3

Silver Award

Gold Award

800 Meters Distance Award

Stage 7 Award

 

 

  • 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.

Junior SwimFit

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Junior SwimFit offers an alternative water-based session for those who want to work on their health, fitness, endurance, strength and stamina. 

 

The 45-minute sessions include a warmup, main activity and cool down as well as contrasting activities to improve overall fitness and swimming skills and add an element of fun and challenge.

 

To attend Junior SwimFit swimmers must be aged over 8 and have achieved the Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 5 award or equivalent.