Aquatic Learning Stages for Children
We have identified and listed the learning levels for children below.
Pre-school Class
(Teacher in water)
- For ages 2 1/2 to 4yrs
- Max. Pupil:teacher ratio of 4:1
- For children with little previous water experience or confidence but who are able to enter the water without their parents and follow instructions.
- Teacher in water with the children when teaching but during Co-vid times will be adopting a “hands off” approach where possible.
Beginners One
(Teacher in water)
- For ages 4yrs and over
- Max. Pupil:teacher ratio of 6:1
- For children who are able to enter the water without their parents, (with or without aids), are water confident but unable to swim.
- Teacher in water with the children when teaching but during Co-vid times will be adopting a “hands off” approach where possible.
Beginners Two
(Teacher in water)
- For ages 4yrs and over
- Max. Pupil:teacher ratio of 6:1
- For children who are water confident, show control of breathing, able to float, and can travel 5m on their front & back with minimal assistance.
- Teacher in the water with the children when teaching however during Co-vid times shall be poolside for as much as possible and only in the water if really necessary.
Improvers
(Teacher may enter water to demonstrate)
- Max. Pupil:teacher ratio of 8:1
- For children who can swim 10m unaided on their front and back in a recognised stroke.
- Teacher may enter the water to provide visual demonstrations where necessary.
Stroke Development
- Max. Pupil:teacher ratio of 8:1
- For children who can swim 25m competently using front crawl, backcrawl, and breastroke, as well as a basic understanding of butterfly.
Swimfit
- Max. Pupil:teacher ratio of 8:1
- For children who want to prepare to join a swimming club or just simply enjoy swimming and want to keep fit. Emphasis is on training, stamina building, perfecting stroke technique, competitive starts/turns etc
- On completion of this level the swimmer will be ready to join a local swimming club, or perhaps try Water Polo, Diving, or Artistic swimming.
One-to-one & One-to-two Tuition
- Tailor made lessons to accommodate every individual standard and need.
Please note that in our experience One-to-two tuition works better the closer the two children are in ability.
General Class Structure
- To maximise learning we aim to give individual tuition and feedback within the class environment. In our younger levels of class the teachers give the teaching points to the class as a whole, and then work with the children in 1’s or 2’s depending on the complexity of the skill they are working on. From experience this is the most effective way for children to learn to swim. Our upper levels again receive teaching points as a class, before practising the skill being taught in regular lane swimming formation.