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Swim School Stages explained

Swim School Information

Classes for children age 5+ from beginner level to advanced, which make up the core national syllabus of learning to swim for primary school aged children.

Our wide range of lessons, across our 6 leisure centres follow Swim England’s Learn to Swim 1-7 stages and are offered at times to suit you.

They’re designed to reward your child for their development of the essential aquatic skills they need to be confident, competent and safe in the water and with the added benefits of:

  • FREE access to public swim sessions where you and your little one can practice what they’ve learnt
  • A FREE hat on joining and then at each stage reached.
  • FREE access to the Active Nottingham portal, where you can track their progress every step of the way.
Image description: a group of children are in the swimming pool looking up and smiling. Two children are wearing red swimming hats and two children are wearing orange swimming hats. They're also holding pool noodles.

Stages explained

Stage 1

Developing basic safety awareness, movement and water confidence skills, using aids or support if needed, to travel 5m on their front and back. Awards achieved on completion are Swim England's Stage 1 and Puffin Awards.

Not included
Stage 2

Focuses on developing safe entries into the water, basic floating and swimming 5m on the front and back without aids and support. Awards achieved on completion are Swim England Stage 2 and Rainbow Distance 5m Awards.

Not included
Stage 3

Developing safe entries into the water, including submersion and swimming 10m in a basic style. Awards achieved on completion are Swim England's Stage 3 and Rainbow Distance 10m Awards.

Not included
Stage 4

Developing an understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes. The swimmer has to start to swim to the Swim England expected stroke standards. Awards achieved on completion are Swim England Stage 4 and 5m Rainbow Distance in all four stokes.

Not included
Stage 5

Developing "watermanship" through sculling and treading water skills, complete rotation and also performing all strokes to the Swim England expected stoke standards. Awards achieved on completion are Swim England Stage 5 and the 10m Rainbow Distance in all four strokes.

Not included
Stage 6

Developing effective swimming skills, including coordinated breathing across all strokes. The swimmer will develop further distance in all four stokes to the Swim England expected stroke standards. Awards achieved on completion are Swim England Stage 6 and Rainbow Distance 25m in all four strokes.

Not included
Stage 7

Developing quality stroke techniques upto 100m. They also successfully complete an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills achieved through stages 1-7. Awards achieved on completion are Swim England Stage 7 and Rainbow Distance for 50m and 100m and Rainbow Distance Stroke for 25m in all four strokes.

Not included
Stage 8-10

For children aged 5 years+ who have completed stages 1-7. Once the swimmer has mastered the core range of skills required they may choose to take part in different water based activities. These include: Stage 8 - pre-swimming club level, diving, rookie lifeguard, mini water polo and synchronized swimming. Note: not all classes are available at all centres, check with your local pool for details.

Not included

Did you know that according to Swim England

96% of youngsters stop learning to swim too early?

By keeping them enrolled in lessons, you’ll ensure that your child will meet these 4 core competencies Swim England recommend as a minimum ability:

  • be able to swim at least 100 metres without stopping
  • be able to tread water for at least 30 seconds
  • experience swimming in clothing
  • ‘float to live’ (performing a star float on their back for at least 30 seconds)
Image description reads "Swimming competency checklist. Can your child: Float to live (includes a graphic of a person floating in water), Tread water for 30 seconds (includes a graphic of a person in the water wearing a red swim hat and goggles), Swim in clothing (includes a graphic of a teeshirt), Swim 100m (includes a graphic of a person swimming fast). Don't stop their swimming lessons until these minimum standards are achieved. Includes the Swim England logo and a check mark.