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 |