Swim School

Ducklings Assessment criteria

This is the first stage in the Swim England programme, suitable for children who are new to swimming. The aim of this stage is to make water activity fun, safe, and engaging for children so that they can start to build confidence trying different movements and understanding basic verbal instructions to complete the stage.

To pass this stage your child will need to:

• Be able to safely enter the pool via the steps and using a slide in entry.
• Be able to safely exit the water using the steps.
• Be able able to listen to, and follow, instructions, paying attention to the teacher at all times throughout the lesson.
• Be able to put their face in the water and blow bubbles continuously while swimming.
• Be able to move for 5m on their front, kicking their legs and using a basic arm action. This Be with two floats in a jacket and without support from their teacher.
• Be able to kick for 5m on their back, arms by their sides. This should be with two floats in a jacket and without support from their teacher.
• Attempt a star float on their back for 5 seconds with support from their teacher and 2 floats in their jacket.
• Be able to jump to the teacher in the pool without support, wearing a jacket with two floats in it.
• Be able to kick for 5m on their back, arms by their sides and 5m on their front, kicking their legs and using a basic arm action. This should be with six floats in a jacket and without support from their teacher
• Be able to kick for 5m on their back, arms by their sides and 5m on their front, kicking their legs and using a basic arm action. This should be with four floats in a jacket and without support from their teacher
• Be able to kick for 5m on their back, arms by their sides and 5m on their front, kicking their legs and using a basic arm action. This should be with two floats in a jacket and without support from their teacher.

Parent Portal Link here

B6+ Swimming Stage Assessment criteria

This class is for children who are older than 6 years old that would otherwise fit our Duckling or Stage 1 criteria but are a bit older. We have created this unique class to suit their unique needs – blending Duckling and Stage 1 criteria together. Which means when your child is ready for the next stage up, they will progress to Stage 2.

To pass this stage your child will need to:

• • Be able to swim 10m front crawl confidently and with good stamina in the deep end demonstrating breathing to the side and an effective pull and over arm recovery while continuously kicking their legs.

• Be able to swim 10m on their back confidently and with good stamina in the deep end demonstrating an effective pull and over arm recovery while continuously kicking their legs. The body should be flat in the water and legs should be straight when kicking with a slight bend at the knee only.
• Be able to jump off the diving blocks into the deep end independently.
• Must attempt basic dolphin kick across 5m with arms by their sides.
• Demonstrate a push and glide on their front and return to the wall, arms should be above the head shooting forwards.
• Demonstrate a push and glide on their back and return to the wall, arms should be above the head shooting forwards.
• Demonstrate a head first surface dive towards the bottom of the pool, retrieving a sinking toy, with support from their teacher if required.
• Demonstrate basic breaststroke leg shapes in order rocket, moon and star using a woggle.
• Be able to listen to, and follow, instructions, paying attention to the teacher at all times throughout the lesson.
• Parent Portal Link here

Stage 1 Assessment Criteria

Upon successful completion of Ducklings, your child will be moved up to Stage 1 in the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage your child will need to:

• Be able to listen to, and follow, instructions, paying attention to the teacher at all times throughout the lesson.
• Fully submerge their face under the water and demonstrate bubbles continuously while swimming on their front.
• Be able to swim 5m on their front confidently moving through the water with no aids or support from their teacher. The legs should be continuously kicking and the arms should come up and over the water.
• Be able to swim 5m on their back confidently moving through the water, arms should be by the side of the body and the body should be flat and high in the water.
• The body should be flat in the water and legs should be straight when kicking with a slight bend at the knee only.
• Demonstrate a push and glide to their teacher on the front; arms may be by their sides.
• Demonstrate a push and glide on their back to their teacher; arms may be by their sides.
• Be able to perform a star float with no aids or support from their teacher and hold it for 5 seconds on their back.
• Be able to jump into the pool at the shallow end independently with no aids.

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 2 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 1, your child will be moved up to Stage 2 in the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage, your child will need to:

• Be able to swim 10m front crawl confidently and with good stamina in the deep end demonstrating breathing to the side and an effective pull and over arm recovery while continuously kicking their legs.
• Be able to swim 10m on their back confidently and with good stamina in the deep end demonstrating an effective pull and over arm recovery while continuously kicking their legs. The body should be flat in the water and legs should be straight when kicking with a slight bend at the knee only.
• Be able to listen to, and follow, instructions, paying attention to the teacher at all times throughout the lesson.
• Demonstrate a push and glide on their front and return to the wall, arms should be above the head shooting forwards.
• Child should demonstrate a push and glide on their back and return to the wall, arms should be above the head shooting forwards.
• Demonstrate a head first surface dive towards the bottom of the pool, retrieving a sinking toy, with support from their teacher if required.
• Demonstrate basic breaststroke leg shapes in order rocket, moon and star using a woggle.
• Be able to jump confidently into the deep end independently.

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 3 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 2, your child will be moved up to Stage 3 in the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage, your child will need to:

• • Be able to swim 15m front crawl confidently in the deep end and with good stamina demonstrating breathing to the side and an effective pull and over arm recovery while continuously kicking their legs.

• Be able to swim 15m backstroke confidently in the deep end and with good stamina demonstrating an effective pull and over arm recovery while continuously kicking their legs. The body should be flat in the water and legs should be straight when kicking with a slight bend at the knee only.
• Be able to demonstrate an effective breaststroke leg action over 15m on their front with feet turned out using a wedge kick.
• Be able to demonstrate a kneeling dive from the side of the pool, entering the water head first.
• Be able to listen to, and follow, instructions, paying attention to the teacher at all times throughout the lesson.
• Be able to demonstrate basic dolphin kick action over 10m with arms by their side, the body should undulate and legs should stay together.
• Demonstrate a submerged push and glide, dropping down in the water and pushing off in a streamlined position.
• Be able to demonstrate a push and glide on their back, keeping their hands in a streamlined position.
• Should be confident to swim in the deep end and to jump off the block independently.
• Be able to submerge using a head first surface dive and retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool, minimum depth 1.2m.

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 4 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 3, your child will be moved up to Stage 4 in the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage, your child will need to:

• Be able to swim 25m front crawl showing good technique and stamina throughout, they should demonstrate breathing to the side, good stamina and consistent speed.
• Be able to swim 25m backstroke showing good technique and stamina throughout, as well as consistent speed. The body should be flat in the water and legs should be straight when kicking with a slight bend at the knee only.
• Be able to swim 25m breaststroke showing good technique, demonstrating basic breaststroke timing as well as consistent speed and good stamina.
• Be able to demonstrate a standing dive from the side of the pool, entering the water head first.
• Demonstrate basic breaststroke timing of pull, breathe, and kick in order to move through the water effectively.
• Be able to listen to, and follow, instructions, paying attention to the teacher at all times throughout the lesson.
• Be able to swim 15m butterfly kick with arms out in a streamlined position. The legs should be together and an undulation should be demonstrated coming from the body not the legs.
• Demonstrate treading water for a minimum of 30 seconds using an eggbeater leg action and sculling hands.
• Be able to exit the pool without using the steps by climbing out at the deep end.

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 5 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 4, your child will be moved up to Stage 5 in the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage your child will need to:

• Be able to swim 50m front crawl demonstrating good technique for the full distance. The child should demonstrate a streamlined body position and the arms should reach forward, catching the water to produce an effective arm pull and streamlined body position.
• Child must be able to swim 50m backstroke demonstrating good technique for the full distance.
• Demonstrate a streamlined body position throughout and the arms should rotate continuously, rolling the shoulders to produce an effective arm pull. The body should be flat in the water and legs should be straight when kicking with a slight bend at the knee only.
• Be able to swim 50m breaststroke demonstrating good technique for the full distance.
• Demonstrate the correct timing and their arms should pull back to the shoulders and into a streamline position on recovery.
• Demonstrate a standing dive from the block or side, they should enter the water head first and remain streamlined.
• Demonstrate a developed dolphin kick across 25m in a streamlined position. An undulating movement should be performed coming from the body.
• Demonstrate treading water for a minimum of I minute using an eggbeater leg action and sculling hands.
• Demonstrate a head first surface dive from a treading water position in the deep end, diving down towards the bottom of the pool.
• Demonstrate a feet first surface dive from a treading water position in the deep end, diving towards the bottom of the pool.
• Be able to listen to, and follow, instructions, paying attention to the teacher at all times throughout the lesson.

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 6 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 5, your child will be moved up to Stage 6 in the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage, your child will need to:

• Be able to swim 100m on their front showing good front crawl technique and stamina across the full distance.
• Be able to swim 100m on their back showing good backstroke technique and stamina across the full distance.
• Be able to swim 100m on their front showing good breaststroke technique and stamina across the full distance streamlined glide position should also be demonstrated.
• Be able to swim 25m using basic butterfly stroke. A good undulation kicking from the body not the legs should be demonstrated and the arms should simultaneously come up and over the water.
• Demonstrate a standing shallow dive from the block or side, they should enter the water headfirst and remain streamline.

Be able to listen to, and follow, instructions, paying attention to the teacher at all times throughout the lesson

• Demonstrate a forward roll in a tuck position from a push and glide.
• Demonstrate a backwards roll remaining in a tucked position
• Demonstrate treading water for a minimum of 2 minutes using an eggbeater leg action and sculling hands.
• Be able to demonstrate treading water with one hand in the air.

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 7 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 6, your child will be moved up to Stage 7 in the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage, your child will need to:

• Be able to swim 200m front crawl demonstrating correct technique across the full distance, showing consistent speed and good stamina.
• Be able to swim 200m backstroke demonstrating correct technique across the full distance, showing consistent speed and good stamina.
• Be able to swim 200m on their front showing correct breaststroke technique across the full distance, showing consistent speed and stamina.
• Be able to swim 25m on their front showing good butterfly technique with the correct timing across the full distance.
• Demonstrate a standing shallow dive from the block, they should enter the water headfirst and remain streamline and swim underwater surfacing to full stroke of choice.
• Demonstrate a turn with underwater kick off the wall, surfacing to continue swimming front crawl.
• Demonstrate a turn with underwater kick off the wall, surfacing to continue swimming backstroke.
• Demonstrate a turn with underwater kick off the wall, surfacing to continue swimming breaststroke.
• Be eager to improve, listening and following instructions putting their full effort into each lesson

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 8 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 8, your child will be moved up to Stage 9 in the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage, your child will need to:

• Complete a set lasting 400metres (eg 16 x 25m, 8 x 50m, 4 x 100m) on a specific turnaround time agreed by the teacher or coach (eg 100 minutes for each 25m) with a focus on stroke technique and consistency.
• Be able to swim 400m using front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke throughout showing correct technique across the full distance, the correct competitive start and turns throughout the swim should be demonstrated.
• Swim 400 metres continuously using one stroke.
• Be able to swim 25m butterfly showing good technique across the full distance to the expected standard.
• Perform a 15 metre underwater kick on front from a push and glide in a streamlined position.
• Perform a backstroke start then butterfly kick in a streamlined position underwater up to a maximum of 15 metres from the start point. Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25 metres.
• Be able to demonstrate a competitive tumble turn with underwater kick off the wall, surfacing to continue swimming front crawl.
• Be able to demonstrate a competitive start and a tumble turn with underwater kick off the wall, surfacing to continue swimming backstroke.
• Be able to demonstrate a competitive turn with underwater kick off the wall, surfacing to continue swimming breaststroke.
• Demonstrate a racing dive from the block, entering the water and performing the correct competitive start before continuing to swim their chosen stroke.

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 9 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 8, your child will be moved up to Stage 9 in the Swim England Programme.

• Be able to swim 800m using front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke throughout showing correct technique across the distance, they should demonstrate a steady pace throughout and the correct competitive start and turns.
• Complete a set lasting 800m (either 16 x 50m, 8 x 100m, 4 x 200m) on a specific turnaround time by the teacher or coach (eg 130 minutes for 50m) with a focus on stroke technique and consistency.
• Swim 800m continuously using one stroke · Be able to swim 4 by 100m individual medley (butterfly, back, breast, free) showing good technique across all 4 strokes. The child should demonstrate a competitive start and competitive turns throughout.
• Be able to swim 50m butterfly, showing good technique across the full distance. ·
• Demonstrate a 25m front crawl with a competitive start and turn.
• Demonstrate a 25m backstroke with a competitive start and turn.
• Demonstrate a 25m breaststroke with a competitive start and turn.
• Demonstrate a 25m butterfly with a competitive start.
• Perform a backstroke start then butterfly kick in a streamlined position underwater up to a maximum of 15 metres from the start point. Transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25metres.
• Perform a 15 metre underwater butterfly kick from a push and glide in a streamlined position.
• Demonstrate a developed racing dive from the block, entering the water and performing the correct competitive start before continuing to swim their chosen stroke.

Parent Portal Link here

Stage 10 Assessment criteria

Upon successful completion of Stage 9, your child will be moved up to Stage 10 which is the final stage of the Swim England programme.

To pass this stage, your child will need to:

• Complete a set lasting 1600m (either 16 x 100m, 8 x 200m, 4 x 400m) on a specific turnaround time agreed by the teacher/coach (e.g. 2.30m for 100m); focus on stroke technique and consistency.
• Swim 1500m continuously using one stroke.
• Perform a continuous 100m individual medley (4 x 25m) without using a kickboard
• Swim a continuous 200m individual medley (4 x 50m) using recognised turns.
• Perform a front crawl relay take over – as an incoming swimmer
• Perform a front crawl relay take over – as an outgoing swimmer

Parent Portal Link here