Finding the right stage

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 1 Award, swimmers 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 the Learn to Swim Stage 2 Award, swimmers 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 the Learn to Swim Stage 3 Award, swimmers 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 Water Safety Code contains four key water safety messages:

• Stop and Think – Always swim in a safe place.
• Stay Together – Always swim with an adult.
• Float – If you fall in, float on your back, breathe, relax.
• Call 999 – If someone else in trouble;
  – Call 999/112
  – Tell the person to float on their back
  – Throw them something that floats.

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 4 Award, swimmers 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 the Learn to Swim Stage 5 Award, swimmers 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 the Learn to Swim Stage 6 Award, swimmers 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 the Learn to Swim Stage 7 Award, swimmers 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.

• Develop confidence and ability to perform a wide range of core aquatic skills without buoyancy aids
• Develop the basic technique of the strokes
• Introducing the basic technique of sculling
• Develop balance and buoyancy through a variety of activities

• Introduce and progress new core aquatic skills
• Develop stroke technique to include all four strokes
• Introduction to diving (pool permitting)
• Develop awareness and feel for the water through a variety of core aquatic skills

• Further develop competency in all four strokes
• Achieve the Triple S award / Scotland’s Safe Swimmer Award
• Development of diving
• Further developing Butterfly and Breaststroke aiming to achieve legal technique

• To demonstrate competent technique in all four strokes
• Introduce lifesaving skills and basic aquatic discipline skills
• To provide basic skills to enable progression in to all aquatic sports or disciplines including life saving