Classes


Classes


We offer classes for all ages and abilities. If you would like more information on classes and the awards we offer or to see which class your child might be suited to please see all that we offer below with a brief description and the awards they can achieve.


Awards are an extra cost to the lessons and although not necessary to purchase them they are a great way of tracking your child's progress but also a great way to reward all their hard work and efforts.


If you would like any further information please get in touch.

 

Each lesson is structured around fun, bonding, water safety, child development stages and most importantly is led by each baby & toddler. This is achieved through songs, games and activities where we get the adult the in the water to model or demonstrate different skills such as blowing bubbles to  encourage your baby or toddler to copy you. Your baby or toddler will tell you when they are ready to progress or explore the water world and we will be there every splash of the way to help guide and support you.


Lessons are 30 minutes long and at the end of the lesson there is usually 5 minutes to spend time with your child to either practice an activity, bond some more or to have some well earned fun!


You will be in the water supporting and holding you baby or toddler throughout. Floats and aids may be given to aid independence but are not necessary.


Please take a minute to look at the awards you and your baby or toddler can achieve during your lessons and the skills you will both learn together.

3-8 Months

This is the perfect introduction to the water and pool for our smallest swimmers.


We have very little equipment and take things slowly, keeping them close to you teaching you bassic holds and moves in the water.


You and your baby will learn:

  • Safe entry and exit into the water with baby.
  • Move and support your baby on their front and back in the water.
  • Encouraging baby to splash and wet their face.
  • Encouraging baby to hold onto a rail.
  • Encouraging baby to enter the water with assistance.
  • Encouraging baby to reach for toys on the water surface.
  • Encouraging your baby to kick their legs.

Please take a look at the Starfish 1 and 2 badges to see what you both will be working towards.

8-12 Months

This class is perfect for those babies who are sitting, starting to/can crawl and/or walk.


We introduce more equipment and songs whilst encouraging independance in the water with woggles and different holds.


You and your baby will learn:

  • Safe entry and exit into the water.
  • Encouraging baby to reach for toys on the water surface.
  • Encouraging your baby to kick their legs.
  • Encouraging baby to move from their front onto their back and vice versa.
  • Encouraging baby to put their face in the water.
  • Encouraging baby to hold onto side of pool and then climb out.
  • Encouraging baby to jump into the water.
  • Encouraging baby to swim independantly with a woggle.

Please take a look at the Starfish 3 and 4 badges to see what you both will be working towards.

12-18 Months

This class is perfect for those babies who are starting to seek indepandance.


We have fun and games with equipment and songs whilst encouraging independance in the water with woggles, jumping and short swims.


Your baby will learn:

  • Safe entry and exit into the water.
  • Jumping in.
  • Swimming with a woggle on front and back.
  • Encouraging to put face in the water/ independantly submerge.
  • Encouraging baby to float on back

Please take a look at the Starfish 5 and 6 badges to see what you both will be working towards.

Level 4

This class is perfect for those toddlers who are indepandant or would very much like to be indepandant in the water but still need the support of an adult.


We have fun and games with equipment and songs whilst encouraging independance in the water with woggles, jumping and short swims.


Your toddler will learn:

  • Safe entry and exit into the water.
  • Identify the teacher
  • How to swim a few metres on front and back with assistance 
  • Blowing bubbles
  • Push and glides

Please take a look at the Starfish 6 & Stanley 1 badges to see what you both will be working towards.

2-3 Years

This class is perfect for those babies who are indepandant or would very much like to be indepandant in the water but still need the support of an adult.


We have fun and games with equipment and songs whilst encouraging independance in the water with woggles, jumping and short swims.


Your toddler will learn:

  • Safe entry and exit into the water.
  • Understand poolside safety.
  • Swim on front whilst blowing bubbles.
  • Swim on back in a flat position.
  • Basic Front paddle arms.
  • Push and glides

Please take a look at the Stanley 1 and 2 badges to see what you both will be working towards.

Starfish 1

This is the first award in the starfish series and is aimed at, but not exclusive to, our 3-6 month old Adult & Child swimmers.


Once acheived you and your baby will have learnt and be able to:

  • Safely enter the pool 
  • Using swing dips to introduce baby to the water
  • Supporting baby on the front and move freely around the pool
  • Supporting baby on the back and move freely around the pool
  • Cueing baby and washing face with water
  • Exiting pool safely

Starfish 2

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our 6-8 month old Adult & Child swimmers.


Once acheived you and your baby will have learnt and be able to: 

  • Holding baby facing you and submerging yourself in the water for baby to see
  • Moving freely around the pool using the safety hold
  • Moving around the pool using the seat hold, bobbing baby up and down
  • Supporting baby on the back while walking backwards and zigzagging through the water
  • Encouraging baby to wash their face with water, holding baby towards the adult
  • Encouraging baby to hold onto the poolside, with assistance, if necessary

Starfish 3

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our 6-12 month old Adult & Child swimmers.


Once acheived you and your baby/toddler will have learnt and be able to: 

  • Supporting baby under the arms and encouraging baby to flop gently into the water from a sitting position on the poolside
  • Encouraging baby to move from a front position to a back position using flip-flop rhythmical movements
  • Encouraging baby to reach for a toy while moving around the pool, supporting baby on the front
  • Helping baby to use a kicking action to move through the water while supporting baby on the back
  • Using the safety hold to support baby and rolling baby away from you, then gently back towards you
  • Using a buoyancy aid to support yourself, float in the water and lay baby on your chest or have baby sit on your tummy, all the while making eye contact

Starfish 4

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our 8-12 month old Adult & Child swimmers.


Once acheived you and your baby/toddler will have learnt and be able to: 

  • Supporting baby by the arms or hands to encourage movement into the pool from a sitting position
  • Using a forward hold to encourage and gently submerge baby
  • Using the Little Harbour hold to move around the pool while encouraging movement from baby
  • Encouraging baby to roll from a front position to a back position with support
  • Encouraging movement from baby by swiftly walking backwards while supporting baby on the back.
  • Assisting and encouraging baby to hold onto the poolside and climb out (if baby has the physical ability)

Starfish 5

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our 12 month and over Adult & Child swimmers.


Once acheived you and your toddler will have learnt and be able to:

  • Holding baby’s arms or hands, encouraging baby to jump into the water from a standing position on the poolside
  • Supporting baby while encouraging them to roll from a back position to a front position
  • Encouraging baby to make kicking movements with support either in a front surf hold or using a woggle
  • Swimming around the pool with baby holding onto your back
  • Supporting baby in a front hold, encouraging baby to move forwards and grasp a toy, then return with support in a back float position

Starfish 6

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our 12 month and over Adult & Child swimmers.


Once acheived you and your toddler will have learnt and be able to:

  • Encouraging baby to enter the water freely from a sitting position on the poolside
  • Encouraging baby to move freely through the water, either with minimal support or with the use of a buoyancy aid
  • Supporting baby by the hands and encouraging movement in a figure of 8 or snaking pattern through the water
  • Taking baby for a front or back ride through the water, with or without support

Stanley 1

This is the first award in the stanley series and is primarily aimed at but not exclusive to our pre-school swimmers, however we will award this to our Adult & child swimmers 2 years and over who have acheived all the Starfish series and are ready to start progressing to swimming alone.


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to:

  • Identify the teacher
  • Enter the water safely
  • Splash feet at water’s surface while supported by wall/ woggle/adult and then return to a standing position
  • Walk forwards, backwards and sideways through the water unaided for 5 metres. If in deeper water, unassisted walking actions may be substituted
  • Move through the water on the front for 2 metres, turn around and move back to start position
  • Move through the water for 2 metres on the back, roll to regain feet.
  • Blow a small object across the pool for 2 metres
  • Travel under a woggle bridge and through a shower created by a watering can
  • Push and glide on the front
  • Exit pool safely

Stanley 2

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our 2 years and over Adult & Child swimmers.


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to:

  • Show an understanding of poolside safety
  • Enter the water safely from the poolside
  • Blow bubbles into the water, with mouth or nose and mouth submerged
  • Move through the water for 2 metres on the front while blowing bubbles, return to an upright/standing position
  • Move through the water for 2 metres on the back using an alternating leg action, ears in water and return to an upright/standing position
  • Perform a star floating position on front or back
  • Use front paddle action to move a ball across the pool
  • Push and glide on the back
  • Roll from front to back, looking at the ceiling
  • Climb out of the pool safely

Each lesson is structured around fun, water safety, water confidence, independent swimming and so much more. We achieve this through songs, games and swimming activities with a focus on the children being independent in the water without a supporting adult. There is a teacher in the water for the duration of the lessons demonstrating, encouraging and supporting the children as and when necessary.


Lessons are 30 minutes long and are unaccompanied without a parent/guardian in the water. At the end of the lesson there is usually 5 minutes free play where the children can discover the water, practice skills and swimming and build water confidence without realising it.


Once your child has completed the pre-school lessons they will move onto the main stream lessons entering in either a Level 1, 2 or 3 class depending on which award they achieve and how confident they have grown.


Please take a minute to look at the awards your child can achieve during their lessons and the skills they will learn.

Stanley 1

This is the first award in the STAnley First Steps Series and aimed at but not exclusive to our 3 years and over Pre-school swimmers. 


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to (Buoyancy aids may be used):

  • Identify the teacher
  • Enter the water safely
  • Splash feet at water’s surface while supported by wall/ woggle/adult and then return to a standing position
  • Walk forwards, backwards and sideways through the water unaided for 5 metres.If in deeper water, unassisted walking actions may be substituted
  • Move through the water on the front for 2 metres, turn around and move back to start position
  • Move through the water for 2 metres on the back, roll to regain feet.
  • Blow a small object across the pool for 2 metres
  • Travel under a woggle bridge and through a shower created by a watering can
  • Push and glide on the front
  • Exit pool safely

We also award this to our Adult & Child swimmers who have acheived all the Starfish series and are ready to start progressing to swimming alone.

Stanley 2

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our preschool swimmers.


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to (Buoyancy aids may be used):

  • Show an understanding of poolside safety
  • Enter the water safely from the poolside
  • Blow bubbles into the water, with mouth or nose and mouth submerged
  • Move through the water for 2 metres on the front while blowing bubbles, return to an upright/standing position
  • Move through the water for 2 metres on the back using an alternating leg action, ears in water and return to an upright/standing position
  • Perform a star floating position on front or back
  • Use front paddle action to move a ball across the pool
  • Push and glide on the back
  • Roll from front to back, looking at the ceiling
  • Climb out of the pool safely

We also award this to our Adult & Child swimmers who have acheived Stanley 1 and are ready to start progressing to swimming alone.

Stanley 3

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our preschool swimmers.


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to (Buoyancy aids may be used):

  • Answer a question on poolside safety rules
  • Enter the water from poolside, move forward 1 metre, then return and exit the pool unassisted
  • Blow bubbles into the water with face submerged
  • Perform a star float while on the back and regain the feet
  • Move through the water while on the back, using an alternating leg action for 5 metres
  • Move through the water 5 metres on the front, using front paddle action
  • Complete a 360° turntable with feet off the pool floor
  • Roll from back to front and return onto the back
  • Jump or step into the water from poolside with hand support from a swimming teacher or assistant
  • Show treading water action with legs on woggle – (seahorses)

Stanley 4

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our preschool swimmers.


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to (Buoyancy aids may be used):

  • Answer 2 questions on poolside safety
  • Swim 5 metres of front paddle, roll onto back and swim 5 metres on the back
  • Bob up and down, submerging the face 4 times, exhaling underwater
  • Pick up an object from below the water surface
  • Perform 2 float positions, which may be in a sequence and performed on the front or the back
  • Push and glide on back, tuck and roll forward to return to poolside
  • Tread water, using arms and legs
  • Attempt a circular action of either arms or legs
  • Jump or step into pool safely unaided
  • Climb out of pool safely unaided

Stanley 5

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our preschool swimmers.


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to (Buoyancy aids may NOT be used):

  • Answer 2 questions on poolside rules
  • Swim 2 metres of front paddle or back paddle, without support
  • Hold 3 different types of floating positions, each for 3 seconds
  • Breathe rhythmically for 4 cycles, either supported or moving
  • Jump or step in from poolside, tread water, turn and swim back to poolside
  • Push off on the back and kick with a simultaneous leg action for 5 metres using a woggle or float
  • Perform a push and glide on the front, keeping the face in the water and blowing bubbles
  • Retrieve an object from bottom of pool
  • Demonstrate front crawl arm action
  • Demonstrate back crawl arm action

Stanley 6

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our preschool swimmers.


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to (Buoyancy aids may NOT be used):

  • Answer 2 water safety questions
  • Push and glide on the back, arms by side, ears in water
  • Swim through a submerged hoop
  • Swim 3 metres on front using a breaststroke type leg action, holding 2 floats or woggle
  • Swim 2 metres on the front and 2 metres back, paddle with a smooth transition in between (log roll)
  • Step, star or pencil jump into the pool, tread water then return to poolside
  • Hold the side of the pool and push off on the side under water
  • Swim on the front, tuck up and return swimming on the back
  • Swim 5 metres of either front crawl or back crawl
  • Scull forwards, backwards or in a circle, using a woggle

Stanley 7

This award is aimed at but not exclusive to our preschool swimmers.


Once acheived your child will have learnt and be able to (Buoyancy aids may NOT be used):

  • Answer 3 water safety questions
  • Perform a star float, slowly change to a narrow float and return to a star float on either the front or back
  • Push and glide on back with arms stretched then roll onto front
  • Swim 2 metres, dolphin leg kick on the front or back
  • Tread water for 10 seconds
  • Swim 5 metres using a frog breaststroke type action of the arms and legs
  • Swim 10 metres of front crawl confidently, attempt side breathing
  • Swim 10 metres on the back confidently
  • Swim through a submerged hoop and retrieve an object
  • Scull/scoop head first ,using a woggle, and arms only

Junior Lessons

School Age Children

Each lesson is structured around fun, swimming stroke/skill and water safety.


We encourage each child to grow their swimming and water confidence at their own pace through fun and games, we are great believers in a child will play when they are comfortable in their surroundings but also if you are learning through play and having fun you learn 90% quicker than through repetition.


Level 1 to 4 lessons are 30 minutes in duration and Level 5 to 7 lessons are 45 minutes in duration the difference in lesson length is because as the children progress more emphasis is needed on stroke technique.


Please take a look at the awards your child could achieve and a brief class description as well as additional awards available.

Level 1

Level 1 is for complete beginners who have zero to little water confidence. 


This class is perfect for those who:

  • Don't like going under water/getting their face wet.
  • Can't swim unaided.
  • Can't float without assistance.
  • Lack watter confidence.

Please take a look at the Octopus 1 & 2 badges to see what your child will be working towards and will be have achived once passed this level.

Level 2

Level 2 is for beginners who have water confidence and are comfortable attempting to swim unaided. 


This class is perfect for those who:

  • Will go under water/get their face wet.
  • Starting to swim unaided on both their front and back.
  • Float without assistance on their front and back.
  • Have water confidence.

Please take a look at the Octopus 3 & Goldfish 1 badges to see what your child will be working towards and will be have achived once passed this level.

Level 3

Level 3 is for intermediates who are comfortable in the water and can swim independantly for short distances. 


This class is perfect for those who can:

  • Swim 5M on thier fronts and back unaided.
  • Float independantly on their front and back.
  • Perform push and glides on their front and back.

Please take a look at the Goldfish 2 badge to see what your child will be working towards and will be have achived once passed this level.

Level 4

Level 4 is for intermediates who are comfortable in the water and can swim independantly for longer distances. 


This class is perfect for those who can:

  • Swim 10M on thier fronts and back unaided.
  • Perform different floats in a sequence.
  • Push and glide to the bottom and come back up to the surface.

Please take a look at the Goldfish 3 and Angelfish 1 badges to see what your child will be working towards and will be have achived once passed this level.

Level 5

Level 5 is for improver swimmers who can swim independantly for longer distances. 


This class is perfect for those who can:

  • Swim 15M on thier fronts and back.
  • Swim Breaststroke and Butterfly a short distance.
  • Perform a hand stand in water.

Please take a look at the Angelfish 2 and 3 badges to see what your child will be working towards and will be have achived once passed this level.

Level 6

Level 6 is for advanced swimmers who can swim all 4 strokes. 


This class is perfect for those who can:

  • Swim 25M on thier front crawl and back stroke with correct finish.
  • Swim 20M Breaststroke with correct finish.
  • Swim up to 20M Buttrefly.
  • Scull head and feet first for 10M.

Please take a look at the Shark 1 & 2 badge to see what your child will be working towards and will be have achived once passed this level.

Level 7

Level 7 is for advanced swimmers who can swim all 4 strokes. 


This class is perfect for those who can:

  • Swim 25M in all 4 strokes. 
  • Have a basic understanding of personal survival and rescue skills.

Please take a look at the Shark 3 badge to see what your child will be working towards and will be have achived once passed this level.

Octopus 1-3

Octopus 1

  • Answer 2 water safety questions
  • Enter the pool safely, steps, ramp, swivel
  • Move through the water confidently in different ways – walk, hop, jump, skip, gallop, march
  • Use a woggle to swim front paddle and back paddle for 5 metres
  • Push and glide on the front and back
  • Attempt a simultaneous circle action with legs while on the back for 2 metres, using a woggle or floats
  • Travel under a woggle waterfall, experiencing water over the head
  • Return to standing from a star float on the back
  • Perform a treading water action with legs using a woggle (sea horses), or floats
  • Exit the pool safely and unassisted

Octopus 2

  • Answer 2 water safety questions
  • Enter the pool safely with a step or jump
  • Swim 2 metres of front paddle, and 2 metres of back paddle, unaided
  • Use a woggle to kick across pool while blowing bubbles
  • Demonstrate front crawl arm action while standing
  • Demonstrate back crawl arm action while standing
  • Push and glide on the front with face in the water
  • Push and glide on the back arms by the side
  • Rotate from back float to front float, and return back to a back float, using a woggle
  • Submerge under water and retrieve an object

Octopus 3

  • Answer 2 water safety questions
  • Enter the water with a step or jump entry, turn around and swim back to poolside
  • Push and glide into either front crawl or breaststroke for 5 metres
  • Push and glide into back crawl, and swim for 5 metres
  • Perform a star float on the front or back, and hold for 3 seconds
  • Perform dolphin leg kick on the front or back for 2 metres
  • Scull head first, using a woggle
  • Attempt breaststroke – may use a woggle for support
  • Tread water for 10 seconds
  • Swim forward for 2 metres and then roll onto back, swim on the back for 2 metres and roll into a standing position (regaining feet)

Goldfish 1-3

Goldfish 1

  • Answer 2 water safety questions
  • Enter the water with a step or jump entry, tread water for 5 seconds, swim to poolside
  • Push and glide, and hold the streamlined position for 5 seconds
  • Push and glide, or swim to the bottom of the pool, to retrieve an object
  • Swim 5 metres on front, roll over and swim 5 metres on back
  • Perform dolphin leg kick on the front or back for 5 metres
  • Scull head first for 2 metres
  • Scull feet first, using a woggle for support
  • Show rhythmical breathing in front crawl for 10 metres, using a woggle or float
  • Swim a recognisable breaststroke for 5 metres

Goldfish 2

  • Answer 2 water safety questions
  • Perform a back float, tuck to a front float and return to a standing position
  • Scull head first for 5 metres, and feet first for 3 metres
  • Push and glide on the back, tuck, rotate to the front and return to the starting point
  • Swim 10 metres of a recognised front stroke, either front crawl or breaststroke. Learner’s first choice
  • Swim back crawl for 10 metres
  • Swim 5 metres of a recognised front stroke. Learner’s second choice
  • Push and glide to the bottom of the pool, tuck, place feet on the bottom and spring up
  • Perform a mushroom float and hold for 3 seconds, extend to a front float and return to a standing position
  • Enter the water with a step or jump entry, swim 5 metres on the front, then swim to poolside and exit water safely

Goldfish 3

  • Answer 2 water safety questions
  • Perform 2 different types of entries and tread water for 15 seconds each time; performed in shoulder-deep water
  • Swim 15 metres of back crawl
  • Swim 15 metres of a recognised front stroke, either front crawl or breaststroke
  • Swim 10 metres, holding a float under each arm, using lifesaving backstroke leg kick
  • Swim 5 metres, dolphin leg kick on front
  • Swim 5 metres, dolphin leg kick on back
  • Perform a handstand with both hands on the pool floor; performed in chest-deep water
  • Perform a horizontal float on the back and hold for 5 seconds, roll on to the front, hold for 5 seconds, roll to the original back float position and hold for 5 seconds
  • Submerge, push and glide on the side, roll to a face down position

Angelfish 1-3

Angelfish 1

  • Be rescued by a reaching aid
  • Perform a straddle entry and tread water for 30 seconds. If the water is too shallow, substitute step entry and support scull for 30 seconds.
  • Push and glide into a forward somersault
  • Scull head first for 5 metres and feet first for 5 metres
  • Swim 15 metres of a recognised front stroke with correct breathing. Learner’s first choice
  • Swim 10 metres of front stroke with correct breathing. Learner’s second choice
  • Swim 20 metres of back crawl
  • Swim 10 metres on the front, using dolphin leg kick, without aids
  • Start in a crouch position in the water, spring up before gliding to bottom of pool, then glide to surface
  • Swim 5 metres of lifesaving backstroke without aids

Angelfish 2

  • Be rescued by catching a buoyant aid
  • Perform a straddle entry, tread water for 30 seconds, perform a 360° turn in a vertical position while wearing a T-shirt. If the water is too shallow, substitute step entry and support scull for 30 seconds and a 360° turn in a vertical position while wearing a T-shirt
  • Swim 5 metres, perform a forward somersault and continue to swim forward for 5 metres
  • Swim 20 metres of a recognised front stroke using a correct touch finish. Learner’s first choice
  • Swim 15 metres of a recognised front stroke using a correct touch finish. Learner’s second choice
  • Swim 20 metres of back crawl using a correct touch finish
  • Swim 5 metres on the back using a double arm action and dolphin leg kick
  • Swim 5 metres on the side using a dolphin leg kick
  • Start in a crouch position in the water, spring up before gliding to the bottom of the pool, tuck, place both feet on the bottom of the pool and spring up. Perform in chest-deep water

Angelfish 3

  • Be rescued by catching a rope
  • Perform a straddle entry and tread water for 30 seconds while wearing a T-shirt. Remove the T-shirt and climb out unassisted. If the water is too shallow, substitute step entry and support scull
  • Perform a head-first and feet-first surface dive. If in shallow water, perform an underwater push and glide to pool floor
  • Scull feet first for 10 metres and head first for 10 metres
  • Swim 25 metres of back crawl using a correct finish
  • Swim 25 metres of a recognised front stroke, incorporating a correct finish. Learner’s first choice
  • Swim 20 metres of recognised front stroke, incorporating a correct finish. Learner’s second choice
  • Swim 5 metres of butterfly
  • Push and glide into a handstand – must be performed in tummy-deep or to chest-deep water
  • Perform a sitting dive, depending on the depth of water. If in shallow water, perform underwater push and glide, roll onto back while underwater and surface in a back glide

Shark 1-3

Shark 1

  • Perform a shout and signal rescue to a weak swimmer, 5 metres away
  • Enter the water with a slide-in entry, swim 10 metres in a T-shirt, tread water for 30 seconds, remove T-shirt, and climb out
  • Swim 5 metres of a recognised front stroke, perform a head-first surface dive and swim 5 metres underwater
  • Swim 5 metres of a recognised front stroke, perform a feet-first surface dive, tuck, and swim 5 metres underwater
  • Swim 50 metres of a recognised front stroke. Learner’s first choice
  • Swim 50 metres of back crawl
  • Swim 25 metres of a recognised front stroke. Learner’s second choice
  • Swim 25 metres of Old English backstroke
  • Swim 25 metres of front crawl, demonstrating bilateral breathing
  • Perform a kneeling dive, depth of water permitting. If in shallow water, perform underwater push and glide for 5 metres

Shark 2

  • Perform a reaching rescue to a casualty up to 2 metres from the side
  • Throw a buoyant aid 3 metres to a target point in the pool
  • Enter the water with a step-in entry, swim 10 metres of a recognised stroke in a T-shirt and shorts, tread water for 1 minute, swim 5 metres of a recognised stroke, surface dive, swim 3 metres underwater, surface, climb out of the pool unassisted
  • Swim 75 metres during which the learners perform 3 recognised strokes with a smooth transition and the correct turns
  • Scull head first for 20 metres
  • Swim 10 metres of butterfly
  • Swim 20 metres of side stroke, wearing a T-shirt and shorts
  • Perform a plunge dive, swim width of pool or 7 metres, depth of water permitting. If in shallow water, submerge and push and glide on your side, roll onto the back and return to the surface with dolphin leg kick
  • Swim 4 x 1 width of individual medley, incorporating the appropriate transition procedure at the end of each stroke
  • Perform a backwards somersault

Shark 3

  • Throw a rope over 5 metres
  • Enter the water with a straddle entry, swim 25 metres in a recognised stroke in a T-shirt and shorts, tread water or scull support for 1 minute, tread water for 1 minute waving one arm, surface dive, swim 5 metres underwater, surface and remove clothing. If in shallow water, substitute straddle jump for step- in or slide-in entry
  • Swim 100 metres of a recognised stroke on the front, incorporating the appropriate start, turns, and finish. Learner’s first choice
  • Swim 50 metres of a recognised front stroke, incorporating the appropriate start, turns and finish. Learner’s second choice
  • Swim 100 metres of back crawl incorporating the appropriate start, turns and finish
  • Swim 25 metres of a fourth recognised stroke, not undertaken in the other tests
  • Swim 4 x 1 length of individual medley, incorporating the appropriate transition procedure at the end of each stroke
  • Perform a competitive start for two separate strokes using two different stances that is legal for the depth of water available
  • Swim 50 metres of side stroke or old English backstroke
  • Perform a head-first surface dive and pick up a sinkable toy from the bottom of the pool, minimum depth of 1.5 metres

Rainbow Distance and Stroke Distance

The Distance Series is a range of 20 awards that reward distance and stamina from 5 metres to 5,000 metres and can be gained throughout the International Learn to Swim Programme.


5 metres

10 metres 

15 metres

20 metres

25 metres

50 metres

75 metres

100 metres

200 metres

400 metres

600 metres

800 metres

1000 metres

1500 metres

1 Mile

2000 metres

2500 metres

3000 metres

4000 metres

5000 metres

Supporting Awards

STAnley Well done Award

STAnley ‘Well Done’ can be presented as when a learner acheives a skill or needs added encouragement.


Swimming Award 

Can be presented as when a learner acheives a skill or needs added encouragement.


Good Stroke Badges

Awarded to learners who swim a good stroke. 

Bubbles 'N' Splashes Awards

These awards are designed and printed in house and can be catered to each individual.

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