Certificates

A child’s first learn to swim experience is one of the most important in terms of capturing and retaining their interest. We believe the best way to achieve this is to create safe environments in which children can be introduced to the water whilst having fun and by providing a progressive learn to swim programme that is both challenging and rewarding.
The starfish programme is a series of awards designed to introduce babies from a few months old with their accompanying parent/adult to a water adventure where water confidence and safety skills are introduced.

These awards follow on from the Starfish programme and are the start of the Learn-to-Swim experience for all children. This programme is perfect for toddlers and pre-school children who are both new to swimming classes and those who are growing in water confidence while staying close to adult support.

These are the next step on from the Discovery Duckling Awards and are suitable for all our young children who are learning to swim without the help from their parents or guardians. Duckling 1 will see children start to move by themselves in the water and by Duckling 4, children will be jumping in, going underwater, floating and start to travel without support. Duckling Awards are great at promoting increased independence and water confidence to help prepare for Stage 1 of the Learn to Swim Framework.

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.

The Swim England Rainbow Distance Awards are a range of bright, cheerful badges and certificates to help keep your child motivated while working through the individual Learn to Swim stages. The Rainbow Distance Awards (including Puffin Award) are aimed at swimmers of five years and older and are designed to demonstrate the pupils’ ability to swim from A to B without pause and without stress. They are a great way to give swimmers the incentive to develop their swimming abilities and stamina by gradually increasing the distance they can swim.

The Advanced Swimmer Series consists of three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold; each award has a badge and certificate. This series develops swimming technique, speed, stamina and water polo or synchronised swimming skills.