CONFIDENCE - COMMUNITY - ADVENTURE
A GUIDE TO OUR SWIMMING PROGRAMME
Confidence and skills, at every age.
Our swimming programme supports swimmers of all ages, from babies exploring the water with an accompanying adult to children learning to swim and adults developing technique or fitness.
This guide introduces our swimming options and the skills developed through our Learn to Swim stages.
Programme or Stage | Main focus | What swimmers work towards |
|---|---|---|
Baby & Toddler Swimming | First water experiences | Babies and young children explore the water with an accompanying adult through play, supported movement and reassurance, building confidence together. |
Learn to Swim - Stage 1 | Water confidence and first skills | Entering and leaving the water safely, becoming comfortable with water on the face, and exploring movement, floating and gliding with support where needed. |
Learn to Swim - Stage 2 | Floating and independent movement | Floating and returning to standing, blowing bubbles, gliding and rolling, and travelling 5 metres on the front and back without flotation equipment. |
Learn to Swim - Stage 3 | Underwater confidence and travelling further | Streamlined gliding, changing position in the water, retrieving an underwater object and travelling 10 metres on the front and back. |
Learn to Swim - Stage 4 | Developing all four kicks | Body control, floating and sculling - using the hands to move through the water - alongside the kicks for front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. |
Learn to Swim - Stage 5 | Bringing the strokes together | Swimming 10 metres of each of the four strokes, treading water for 30 seconds, and developing sculling, rotation and deep-water entry skills. |
Learn to Swim - Stage 6 | Breathing, coordination and water safety | Coordinating breathing with swimming, completing a 25-metre swim in one stroke, and practising skills including swimming in clothing and signalling for help. |
Learn to Swim - Stage 7 | Stronger technique and stamina | Swimming 25 metres of each stroke, 50 metres continuously in one stroke and 100 metres using at least three strokes, alongside diving and linked aquatic skills. |
Beyond Stage 7 | Continuing swimming development | Building on established skills and exploring suitable next steps with guidance from our teachers. |
Adult Learn to Swim | Confidence and swimming foundations | Becoming more comfortable in the water and developing floating, breathing, independent movement and basic swimming skills. |
Adult Technique Swimming | More comfortable, efficient swimming | Improving body position, breathing and stroke coordination, with a focus on technique. |
Adult Squad & Fitness Swimming | Stamina and structured swimming | Developing endurance and fitness while maintaining and improving technique through structured swimming sessions. |
Swim Together
Early water experiences for little swimmers and their grown-ups.
BOOK THROUGH SOAKLY
Children's Swimming
Fun, progressive lessons for every stage.
BOOK THROUGH SOAKLY
Adult Learn
Build confidence, skills, and technique
BOOK THROUGH SOAKLY
Adult Squad & Fitness
Train, improve and stay strong in the water
BOOK THROUGH SOAKLY
More ways to enjoy the water.
Explore personalised coaching, open-water swimming and mermaiding, with support for your interests and goals.
Swimming that works for the individual.
We welcome swimmers with additional support needs in our regular programmes.
Whether you’re enquiring for yourself or someone you support, we’ll take the time to understand what would help and discuss suitable options together.
Where helpful, we can also offer private lessons or tailored sessions.
FOR SCHOOLS, GROUPS & PARTNERS
Swimming for schools and communities.
We work with schools, community organisations and local partners to deliver practical, inclusive swimming provision where it is needed.
This can include school swimming, water confidence and safety, swimming development, tailored ASN provision, community sessions and bespoke projects. Some programmes are a one-off; others need a longer-term approach. We will help you work out what is needed and deliver it well.
