General Information

Stage 1

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Helps to build water confidence, while introducing water safety skills & the basic skills needed to build swimming ability.

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

Swimmers will be introduced to a structured class setting. Swimmers may use flotation equipment throughout this stage.

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Some of the outcomes of Stage 1 are:

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1. Move forward, backwards & sideways for a distance of 5 meters, feet may be on or off the floor

2. Scoop the water & wash the face

3. Be comfortable with water showered from overhead

4. Move from a flat floating position on the back & front & return to standing

5. Push & glide in a flat position on the front & back from a wall

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Stage 2

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Sees swimmers develop streamlining to their strokes & travel without their feet on the floor, using a recognised leg kick.

Swimmers are also introduced to aquatic breathing & taught to make safe entries into the water, including jumping.

They will develop basic floating & learn how to rotate to regain an upright position without support. All travel must be achieved without the use of flotation equipment, though buoyancy aids may be used when swimmers aren’t travelling.​

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Some of the outcomes of Stage 2 are:

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1. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically with nose & mouth submerged

2. Regain upright position from the back & front without support

3. Push from wall & glide on the back & front

4. Travel on the back & front for 5 meters, aids or equipment may be used

5. Perform a rotation from the front to the back & vice versa, to gain an upright position

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Stage 3

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Swimmers will develop their kicks, on both their front and their back.

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

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

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Some of the outcomes of Stage 3 are:

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1. Jump in from poolside & submerge 

2. Sink, push away from wall on side & maintain a streamlined position

3. Push & glide on the front & back with arms extended & log roll onto the back & front

4. Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back

5. Fully submerge to pick up an object

6. Answer correctly three questions on the Water Safety Code

7. Push & glide & travel 10m on the back & front

8. Perform a tuck float & hold for 3 seconds

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Stage 4

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Sees swimmers perfect their leg kicks for all four strokes & further develop push & glides, while also being introduced to sculling. 

They will develop an understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills & should swim 10 meters to the Swim England Expected Standards.

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Some of the outcomes of Stage 4 are:

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1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes whilst floating at the surface

2. Push & glide from the wall to the pool floor

3. Kick 10m backstroke, front, breaststroke, butterfly (one item of equipment optional) to Swim England Expected Standards

4. Perform on the back a head first sculling action for 5m in a flat position

5. Travel on back & log roll in one continuous movement onto front

6. Travel on front & log roll in one continuous movement onto back

7. Swim 10m, choice of stroke is optional

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Stage 5​

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Swimmers will develop their skills in treading water, learn the correct arm pulls for all four strokes & learn how to do handstands & somersaults.

This means they will develop their technique & perform all strokes to the Swim England Expected Standards.

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

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Some of the outcomes of Stage 5 are: 

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1. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 meters whilst horizontal on the back

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

3. Tread water for 30 seconds

4. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water

5. Swim 10m backstroke, front crawl, breaststroke & butterfly to the Swim England Expected Standards

6. Perform a handstand & hold for a minimum of three seconds

7. Perform a forward somersault, tucked, in the water

8. Demonstrate an action for getting help

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Stage 6

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The effective swimming skills taught include coordination, breathing & 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 & legs. Swimmers will also learn to swim in clothes & understand how to be safe when they’re in & around water.

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Some of the outcomes of Stage 6 are: 

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1. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick & rotate into backstroke/ front crawl

2. Swim 10 metres wearing clothes

3. Push and glide & swim front crawl, breaststroke, butterfly & backstroke to include at least rhythmical breaths

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

5. Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue

6. Perform a surface dive

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