Lesson Descriptors

Stage	Ability level required to enter Class	Class aim	Possible Badges	Pool Area
3+ Non Swimmer	Pre-School Children confident but not swimming as of yet	Develop unaided travelling and working on core posture, develop kicking techniques.	Duckling 1-5 Stage 1	Shallow End
3+ Swimmer	Pre-School. Able to complete 2m on own without aids.	Develop unaided travelling and working on core posture, develop kicking techniques.	Duckling 1-5 Stage 1 Stage 2	Shallow End
Stage 1	Full time school aged 4+. Non swimmer.	Achieve water confidence with and without goggles. Pool rules, use of aids. Begin to travel mainly using aids.	Puffin, Alpha Stage 1 Duckling 1-5	Shallow End
Stage 1A	Full time school, happy in pool environment. Can move around freely and put face in, with or without goggles. Happy to attempt unaided swimming.	Develop unaided travelling and working on core posture, develop kicking techniques.	Alpha Awards Stage 1 Water skills Duckling 1-5	Shallow End
Stage 2	Able to travel 2-3m on front (face in) and back without aids.	Develop core posture, and body position. Introduce breast-stroke. Extending unaided travel to 5m with good core posture.	5m Stage 2	Shallow End
Stage 2A	Able to swim at least 5m on front (face in) and back (tummy/toes high in water).	Travel using arms and legs with good core body posture. Introduce over water recovery. Develop breast-stroke leg action. Extend distance to 10m front and back.	10m Rainbow Stroke (up to 10m)	Shallow End
Stage 3	Able to swim 10m on front and back (using arms and legs in controlled manner with good core posture) and 5m breaststroke legs (simultaneous circular action).	Develop over water recovery on front and back. Develop front crawl breathing. Refine breast-stroke and butterfly leg action. Further work on core posture using push and glides etc. Water safety.	Stage 3 Water skills 2 Rainbow Stroke (up to 10m)	Middle
Stage 4	Able to swim 10m on front and back (over water recovery, regular breathing), 10m “legal” breast-stroke legs and 5m butterfly legs.	Working on stroke technique. Working on floating and changing positions in the water. Working on butterfly and breast-stroke as whole strokes.	Working towards Stage 4 Rainbow Stroke (up to 10m) Preliminary Safety	Middle
Stage 4D	Able to swim 10m using 3 strokes with at least 2 to ASA standard.	Stroke techniques using all 4 strokes. Work on sculling techniques.	Rainbow Stroke Complete Stage 4	Deep
Stage 5	Able to swim 10m using 3 strokes to the ASA standard. Able to scull head first.	Developing a range of sculling techniques. Body control through jumps and handstands. Tread water. Extend range of strokes.	Stage 5 Rainbow Stroke (up to 20m), water skills 3	Deep
Stage 5 Lengths	Able to swim 20m to the ASA standard using all 4 strokes, able to scull (three types).	To develop stamina and allow child time to get use to the move from widths to lengths.	Stage 5 Rainbow Stroke (up to 25m), water skills 4 Personal Survival level 1	Lengths
Stage 6	Able to swim 20m to the ASA standard using all 4 strokes, able to scull (three types).	Learning about exercise preparation. Extend body control for transitions. Introduce personal survival/rescue skills. Refine breathing techniques in strokes.	Stage 6 Rainbow Stroke (up to 25m),water skills 4 Personal Survival level 1	Lengths
Stage 7	Able to swim 25m to the ASA standard using all 4 strokes, understanding of exercise preparation.	Extend stroke distance. Egg beater treading water. Introduce synchro skills. Sitting dive.	Stage 7 Rainbow Stroke (up to 100m), water skills 5 Personal Survival level 2	Lengths
Swim Academy	Open to all swimmers Stage 5 and above.	Fitness, stroke technique, children who want to improve and use this as a stepping stone into Club swimming.	School Speed badges	Lengths