Pre-School Swim Stages

Discovery Ducklings

These Swim England Pre-School Framework Awards are perfect for babies from birth (subject to Health Visitor advice being followed). They are also perfect for pre-school children who are new to swimming.

Parents or carers will attend swimming lessons with their babies or young children and join them in the water. This helps to provide reassurance for the child and gives the parent or carer confidence in assisting their child in the water.

Four separate Awards are available which begin with an introduction to the water and swimming environment through fun and games.

I CAN Blow Bubbles

Discovery Ducklings 1

Discovery Ducklings 2

Discovery Ducklings 3

Discovery Ducklings 4

 

  • Enter the water safely from a seated or standing position and return to the wall or pool side, with full adult support.
  • Float on the front using floatation equipment, with full adult support.
  • Reach and grab toys on top of and under the surface of the water.
  • Rotate 180 degrees either using a log roll or an upright position, using floatation equipment and with minimal adult support.
  • Push away from the wall in a streamlined position, with full adult support.
  • Be at ease wetting or splashing the face and putting the chin in the water.
  • Travel on the front using floatation equipment, with full adult support.
  • Hold the rail or side of pool and move towards the steps or ladders using floatation equipment, with full adult support.
  • Exit the water safely with adult supervision.

Ducklings

These Swim England Pre-School Framework Awards are a natural follow on from the Discovery Duckling Awards. They are aimed at children who are old enough to follow instructions and can move on their own.

They give the child more independence and start to build their confidence in water. These Awards are used to slowly build up the child ready for the Learn to Swim Framework Stages 1-7.

Again these lessons will be given as an adult and child lesson, where both are in the water.

Tiddler 1

Tiddler 2

Duckling 1

Duckling 2

  • Make a sitting entry with adult support if required.
  • Rotate 180 degrees either using a log roll or an upright position, using floatation equipment and without adult support.
  • Submerge the face with confidence and without force under adult supervision.
  • Blow an object for a distance of 2 metres.
  • Travel 3 metres using arms and/or legs without adult support.
  • Move 5 metres along the rail or wall without adult support.
  • Enter the pool, rotate and return to the side with minimal adult support.
  • Exit the water safely with minimal adult support.

Advanced Ducklings

Tiddler 3

Tiddler 4

Tiddler 5

Duckling 3

Duckling 4

Tiddler 3

Tiddler 4

Tiddler 5

Duckling 3

Duckling 4

  • Jump into the water unaided, but supervised.
  • Perform a mushroom or star float.
  • Rotate 360 degrees either using a log roll or an upright position.
  • Push and glide achieving a streamlined position on the front or back.
  • Submerge completely.
  • Travel 10 metres on the front or back, without adult support.
  • Jump into the water, turn around, swim back to the point of entry and hold on to the side or rail.
  • Climb out of the water with adult support if required.