Learn to Swim Stages

Learn to Swim Stages
The Learn to Swim Stage 1-7 Awards are divided into progressive stages. They make up the core, national syllabus of learning to swim for primary school aged children.

They are designed to reward your child for their development of the essential aquatic skills they need to be confident, competent and safe in the water.

Each of the Learn to Swim Stage 1-7 Awards has a list of clear outcomes that need to be completed in order to gain each Award.


Swimming Lessons waiting list

Join our waitlist for swimming lessons at all Leisure Centres. If you are looking for a certain time or day for your child’s swimming lessons, you can now sign up to our online wait list to be notified when a space becomes available on your chosen class.

Sign up on our swimming portal to join a waitlist →

Learn to Swim Stages 1-7

Learn to Swim Stage 1

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 1 helps to build water confidence, while introducing water safety skills and the basic skills needed to build swimming ability.

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Learn to Swim Stage 2

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 2 sees swimmers develop streamlining to their strokes and travel without their feet on the floor, using a recognised leg kick.

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Learn to Swim Stage 3

During Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 3, swimmers will develop their kicks, on both their front and their back.

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Learn to Swim Stage 4

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 4 sees swimmers perfect their leg kicks for all four strokes and further develop push and glides, while also being introduced to sculling.

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Learn to Swim Stage 5

During Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 5, swimmers will develop their skills in treading water, learn the correct arm pulls for all four strokes and learn how to do handstands and somersaults.

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Learn to Swim Stage 6

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 6 teaches swimmers how to prepare for exercise, while developing an efficient technique for all four strokes and further developing surface dives.

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Learn to Swim Stage 7

Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 7 focuses on fully developing all four swimming strokes, as well as building stamina and improving diving skills.

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