Beginners – Stages 1-3b
Our group beginner lessons aim to have the teacher and an assistant in the water with the children for their safety, fun and speedy progression! Group sizes are small at this stage of learning, ensuring understanding, on the spot correction and of course lots of positive feed-back and enthusiasm!
Stage 1
At this beginning stage we introduce our children to water safety skills and the basic skills needed to build swimming ability. Our pupils will develop basic safety awareness, learn basic movement skills and water confidence skills. They will also be introduced to a structured class setting. Swimmers will use flotation equipment, such as noodles, back packs and floats.
The early stages of learning to swim are really important for developing the building blocks for future techniques and skills. During Stage 1, our children will be encouraged to move around the pool and become confident with water on their face. Stage 1 lessons are fun and enjoyable.
Stage 1 Curriculum
By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you 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.
Stage 2
Stage 2 sees swimmers develop streamlining to their strokes and travel without their feet on the floor, using a recognised leg kick. Our pupils 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. Stage 2 further develops water confidence and teaches swimmers to breathe confidently while in the water.
Being confident with the face in the water, or having water on the face, is crucial to stroke development and moving on from this stage of learning. Learning to be happy in the water at an early stage will allow swimmers to develop other skills more quickly later on.
This stage also introduces various safety skills, such as being able to float, while also developing a swimmer’s kicking ability, leading to independent travel in water.
Stage 2 Curriculum
By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you 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.
Stage 3
At WetWetWet Swim School we have consistently found that for a child to complete Stage 3 it can take quite a while as there are many new skills to be learnt… In order to continue with the motivational journey, we have cut the award into 2 halves and called them 3a and 3b.
During Stage 3 swimmers will develop their kicks, on both their front and their back. We also concentrate on streamlining, taught through push and glides, whilst also swimming underwater. Our swimmers will develop safe entries into the water, including submersion, and travel up to 15 metres on their front and back. Water safety knowledge and rotation skills will also be progressed.
One of the fun areas of this stage is learning to go under the water to pick up an object. This helps develop skills for a number of different disciplines, including synchro, diving and competitive swimming.
Halfway through the stage (at the end of Stage 3a), we award our swimmers their 10m Distance Award for encouragement and pride!
Stage 3 Curriculum
By completing this Award, without floatation equipment or support, you 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:
1. Always swim in a safe place.
2. Always swim with an adult.
3. If you fall in, float, breathe, relax.
4. If someone else in trouble, call 999/112.
Please note; WetWetWet Swim School have split Stage 3 into 2 parts – 3A & 3B. This is because Stage 3 is quite a leap from Stage 2 and then onto Stage 4, and we feel our swimmers need more short term goals in between certificates. At the end of Stage 3A your child will receive their 10 metre award. You will pass your stage 3B when you are able to complete all outcomes as well as swim 15 metres confidently without swim aids.
