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 flotation equipment, such as backpacks and floats, throughout this stage.

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.

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

They will develop basic floating and 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.

• 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.

1. Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.
2. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
3. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
4. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.

1. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position, then return to standing.
2. Perform a log roll from the back to the front.
3. Perform a log roll from the front to the back.
4. 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.

• 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 swim 10 metres to the Swim England Expected Standards.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

STAGE 6

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

Swimmers should develop a quality stroke technique for up to 100 metres, incorporating the skills they have learnt throughout the stages and combining them to develop a linked routine.

They should successfully complete an obstacle course, which combines a variety of skills they have learnt from Stages 1 to 7.

• 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.