Learn to Swim Framework - Stages 1 to 4

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 1 Award, swimmers will be able to:

• Enter the water safely.

• Move forward for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

• Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

• Move sideways for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

• Scoop the water and wash the face.

• Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.

• Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.

• Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing.

• Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.

• Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.

• Give examples of two pool rules.

• Exit the water safely.

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 2 Award, swimmers will be able to:

• 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.

• Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.

• Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.

• Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.

• Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.

• Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position, then return to standing.

• Perform a log roll from the back to the front.

• Perform a log roll from the front to the back.

• Exit the water without support.

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 3 Award, swimmers will be able to:

• 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.

*The four key water safety messages include:

• Always swim in a safe place.
• Always swim with an adult.
• If you fall in, float, breathe, relax.
• If someone else in trouble, call 999/112.

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 4 Award, swimmers will be able to:

• 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.

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 5 Award, swimmers will be able to:

• 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.

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 6 Award, swimmers will be able to:

• 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.

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 7 Award, swimmers will be able to:

• 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.