Our Curriculum

Our lesson criteria has been carefully designed using a combination of Swim England, STA and Instant Swim skills to develop a well rounded and inclusive set of awards.

Our classes allow consistent progression, whilst developing a love for the water. As swimmers progress through the program, awards can be achieved and purchased on our Book & Shop page!

Shop Awards

For our swimmers age 4-36 months

Parent & Child

Starfish 1

  1. Enter the water safely and comfortably, with full adult support
  2. Bob up and down in the water, using seat hold, with full adult support
  3. Float on the back, laying on adult's chest to make eye contact
  4. Be at ease with the face being washed or splashed
  5. Splash hands in the water
  6. Complete a horizontal or vertical rotation, with full adult support
  7. Reach for toys on the surface of the water
  8. Move smoothly through the water, in an upright position, with full adult support
  9. Make progress towards holding the side of the pool, with full adult support
  10. Exit the water safely, with full adult support

Starfish 2

  1. Enter the water safely, with full adult support. Swimmers should be encouraged to sit on the side and wait for adult instruction
  2. Be at ease wetting or splashing the face and putting the chin in the water
  3. Float on the back, with full adult support behind the head, shoulders and hips
  4. Reach and grab toys on the water surface
  5. Log roll from a front position to a back position with full adult support
  6. Float on the front using floatation equipment, with full adult support
  7. Travel on the back and encourage kicking, with full adult support
  8. Travel on the front and encourage kicking, with full adult support
  9. Hold the rail or side of pool and begin to move along the wall
  10. Exit the water safely with adult supervision

For our swimmers age 3-4 years

Pre-school

Starfish 3

  1. Make a sitting entry with adult support if required
  2. Float on back with adult support behind the head without floatation equipment
  3. Blow bubbles at the water surface
  4. Kick 5 metres on back with adult support
  5. Travel without adult support for 3 metres to a floating object
  6. Rotate 180 degrees either using a log roll or an upright position, using floatation equipment
  7. Submerge the face with confidence
  8. Move 5 metres along the rail or wall without adult support
  9. Enter the pool, rotate and return to the side with minimal adult support
  10. Exit the water safely with minimal adult support

Starfish 4

  1. Jump into the water unaided, but supervised
  2. Perform a star float on front and back without support
  3. Push and glide achieving a streamlined position on the front or back
  4. Blow bubbles with the mouth and nose underwater
  5. Travel 5 metres on the front to the side of the pool (may use flotation equipment)
  6. Kick 5 metres on the front holding a float (the adult may hold the other end of the float)
  7. Rotate 360 degrees either using a log roll or an upright position
  8. Fully submerge to pick up a sinker with support
  9. Jump into the water, turn around, swim back to the point of entry and hold on to the side or rail
  10. Climb out of the water with adult support if required

For our swimmers age 4 years +

Learn to Swim

Stage 1

Stage 1

  1. Enter the water safely
  2. Walk forwards, backwards and sideways for a distance of 5 metres
  3. Scoop the water and wash the face
  4. Be comfortable with water showered from overhead
  5. Blow an object for a distance of 2 metres
  6. Perform a star float on front and on back with minimal adult support
  7. Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall
  8. Jump from poolside to an adult
  9. Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules
  10. Exit the water without assistance

Stage 2

  1. Enter the water with a seated swivel entry
  2. Blow bubbles with nose and mouth submerged
  3. Perform a star float without support
  4. Push from a wall and glide on the front in a rocket shape
  5. Push from a wall and glide on the back in a rocket shape
  6. Kick 5 metres on front and back with flotation equipment
  7. Swim 5 metres on front or back without support
  8. Rotate from a front star float to a back star float
  9. Perform a log roll from the front to back and back to front
  10. Exit the water without support

Stage 3

  1. Jump in from poolside and submerge
  2. Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position
  3. Travel 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return on the back
  4. Fully submerge to pick up an object 
  5. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the front breathing to the side
  6. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the back using arms
  7. Perform a mushroom float and hold for three seconds
  8. Attempt breaststroke arms and legs
  9. Attempt dolphin kicking with arms by side or in front
  10. Exit the water without using steps

Stage 4

  1. Jump into deep water and return to side of pool without assistance
  2. Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor
  3. Kick 25 metres of all strokes, using flotation equipment
  4. Push and glide and swim 15 metres confidently on front
  5. Push and glide and swim 15 metres confidently on back
  6. Swim 10 metres breaststroke with correct timing
  7. Attempt butterfly stroke with arms and legs
  8. Travel on front and rotate on to back (3 arms on front, 3 arms on back)
  9. Tread water for 30 seconds out of depth
  10. Perform a sitting dive from the side of the pool

Stage 5

  1. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water
  2. Push and glide and swim 20 metres confidently on front
  3. Push and glide and swim 20 metres confidently on back
  4. Swim 15m breaststroke with correct timing 
  5. Swim 10 metres butterfly with correct timing
  6. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back
  7. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds
  8. Perform a forward somersault
  9. Tread water and demonstrate an action for getting help
  10. Perform a kneeling or standing dive from the side of the pool

Stage 6

  1. Give two examples of how to prepare for exercise and understand why it is important
  2. Sink, push off on side from the wall in a streamlined position into front crawl
  3. Sink, push off on side from the wall in a streamlined position into backstroke
  4. Swim 15 metres wearing clothes
  5. Push and glide and swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
  6. Push and glide and swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional
  7. Swim 15 metres butterfly with correct breathing
  8. Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue
  9. Perform a surface dive and retrieve an object from the pool floor
  10. Perform a straddle entry into deep water

Stage 7

  1. Perform a standing dive
  2. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl
  3. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke
  4. Push and glide and swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke
  5. Push and glide and swim 100 metres, using a minimum of three different strokes 
  6. Swim 25m breaststroke with correct underwater phase start
  7. Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds.
  8. Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout.
  9. Perform feet first sculling to 15 metres
  10. Swim 25 metres wearing clothes

For our 25m + swimmers

Swim Academy

Stage 8

  1. Complete a set lasting 400 metres (e.g. 8 x 50 metres) on a specific turnaround time agreed by the coach
  2. Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke
  3. Perform a front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly turn
  4. Perform a dive track or grab start, and kick butterfly underwater in a streamlined position for 5 metres 
  5. ​​Push and glide into a forward tucked somersault to finish upright
  6. Take part in a relay race and understand the concept
  7. Swim forwards 5 metres with head up, whilst controlling a ball in front.
  8. Play a simple water polo game, score by placing ball on the side of the pool
  9. Demonstrate two stationary floating positions, one with good body extension and one tightly tucked into a mushroom float
  10. Perform a back layout, scull continuously for 3 metres head first, followed by a rapid back tuck somersault

Stage 9

  1. Complete a set lasting 800 metres (e.g. 8 x 100 metres) on a specific turnaround time agreed by the coach
  2. Swim 800 metres continuously using one stroke
  3. Swim a continuous 100 metre individual medley (4 x 25 metres) 
  4. Perform a front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly reaching 10m underwater
  5. Perform a front crawl relay take over – as an incoming & outgoing swimmer
  6. Swim 5 metres with a ball, pass the ball to target, and continue to swim 5 metres
  7. Pick up a ball, shoot at a target from a 2 metre distance and repeat five times. The target may be a player, kick board, plastic bottles, etc.
  8. Swim 5 metres head up front crawl with breaststroke legs
  9. Perform a handstand with hands on the bottom of pool and back against the wall of the pool demonstrating a vertical line
  10. Scull continuously in a back layout position for 3 metres feet first, followed by a 180 degrees tub and a rapid back tuck somersault

Stage 10

  1. Complete a set lasting 1600 metres (e.g. 8 x 200 metres) on a specific timed turnaround set by the coach
  2. Swim 1500 metres continuously using one stroke
  3. Perform a continuous 100 metre individual medley kick (4 x 25 metres) without using a kick board
  4. Swim a continuous 200 metre individual medley (4 x 50 metres) using recognised turns
  5. Dolphin kick in a vertical position for 30 seconds
  6. Take part in a mixed medley relay
  7. Play a simplified water polo game, score by hitting a target on the side of the pool or some other adaptation
  8. Perform a stationary handstand or vertical holding the side of the pool, back against the wall with good extension
  9. Demonstrate support scull standing on bottom of the pool
  10. Take part in a race with a partner, applying skills learnt in this stage

incorporated in all classes

Water Safety

Bronze

  1. Perform a swivel entry
  2. Identify shallow and deep end of pool
  3. Climb out using the side of the pool
  4. Star float on back for 5 seconds
  5. Float on front and roll onto back
  6. Swim with head up for 5 metres
  7. Jump into deep water and return to side
  8. Pick up an object from pool floor

Silver

  1. Jump in and float on back
  2. Tread water for 15 seconds and shout for help
  3. Star float on back for 30 seconds
  4. Jump in and float without goggles
  5. Swim 10 metres without goggles
  6. Swim 10 metres with clothes on
  7. Complete ‘reach and throw’ exercise to aid someone in
  8. Understand the role of a lifeguard

Gold

  1. Swim 25 metres without goggles
  2. Jump in, tread water for 30 seconds and then float on back for a rest
  3. Swim 25 metres with clothes on
  4. Confidently swim 100 metres front crawl and backstroke
  5. Float on back for 1 minute
  6. Tread water for 1 minute and rotate 360 degrees
  7. Demonstrate the HELP position
  8. Identify the colours and meanings of beach flags