A brief overview of stages 1-7:

A more detailed description of each stage is available to see, call into your local centre and ask to see the Aqualife board.

• Stage 1 – Developing basic safety awarness, the ‘class’ scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. arm bands, floats, etc.

• Stage 2 – Developing safe entries to the water, including jumping in, basic floating, travel and rotation unaided to regain upright positions. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. arm bands, floats etc.

• Stage 3 – Developing safe entries including submersion, travel up to 10 metres on the front and back, progress rotation skills and water safety knowledge.

• Stage 4 – Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes and swimming 10 metres to a given standard as directed by the ASA.

• Stage 5 – Developing ‘watermanship’ through sculling and treading water skills, and complete rotation, also performing all strokes to the given standards as directed by the ASA.

• Stage 6 – Developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing; developing the water safety aspects and understanding of preparation for exercise.

• Stage 7 – Developing a quality stroke technique up to 100 metres, incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout stages 1-7.

FUNDAMENTAL SPORT SKILLS, STAGES 8-10 of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming are available in competitive swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and rookie lifesaving. Dependent on each leisure facility, all or some of these opportunities may be available.     

Your child will be continuously assessed throughout the course.

A continuation form should be obtained for each child and completed for re- enrolment on lesson eight.

Payment for the next course of lessons needs to be made before or on lessons nine. You must bring your child’s lifestyle card along with your payment.

Please note only when children have mastered the skills required would they progress to the next level.

We must emphasise that children will only progress when ready to do so. This will not always be at the end of each course of lessons as children learn and master skills at different rates.

Children must change in the changing areas provided. Changing on the pool side or viewing area is not permitted and items must be secured in lockers where necessary.

For safety and security reasons children are not permitted to wear jewellery including stud earrings during swimming lessons.

Children with long hair must tie it back as this could hinder the Childs ability when learning to swim.

Please bring your lifestyle card and swipe it in at reception on every visit. Lost cards will be replaced only upon proof of identity. A £1.50 charge will still apply to cover the cost.

Swimming is a life skill and once mastered it can open the door to a whole host of water- based activities. These can be sampled within our development programme, but more importantly learning to swim can provide ‘ Safety for life’.