All lessons are meticulously planned to be progressive and follow the STA's badge scheme (or Swim England if under 3). We also like to add in a bit of fun!
All of our teachers follow the same lesson plans for each level, so if your child's teacher is unwell one week, you can be assured that the planned lesson will still go ahead and your child will complete the same curriculum regardless of who teaches them. Teachers teach using the same vocabulary for the skills and in the same way so there's never any confusion when a child changes level or teacher.
Our toddler classes focus on the aquatic skills needed to learn to swim. Toddlers will learn water safety and a respect for the water while having lots of fun through songs and games. Toddlers will work towards the Discovery Duckling or Duckling Awards.
These children are complete beginners but not yet ready to swim without their familiar adult. They will be between 3yrs and 5yrs and may be exceptionally shy, or have an additional need. They will be in aids and will be working on the Swim England Duckling awards or the STA Stanley awards 1-3. They will stay in this class until they are happy and safe to swim without their familiar adult. Gradually throughout the term, the teacher will ask you to step back a little more until your child is happy for you to be sitting on the side in your kit, or even fully dressed! Most children will only need a term in this class, but every child is different.
This class is INVITATION ONLY. These children have completed the Adult and Child program at Kingfishers and have an abundance of basic skills. They will be between 2.5yrs and 3.5yrs and will swim without their parent in the water. These classes have extra adults/assistants and the lessons are heavily play based while children learn how to wait their turn as well as an range of swim skills.
These children are complete beginners. Children can join this class from age 3 years. They will be in aids and will usually be working on the STA Stanley awards 1-3. They will stay in this class until they have built water confidence, are happy to swim with aids but without teacher assistance, and are beginning to put their face in the water to swim. This class is very game and play based while learning the basic skills of swimming.
These children can swim across the pool confidently with aids and are beginning to swim independently. They are confident enough to put their faces in the water and blow bubbles and even have a go without their aids with the support of their teacher. They will usually be working on the STA Stanley 4 and Octopus 2 awards.
These children are beginning to swim and gain confidence to swim unaided. They can swim a short distance (1-2 metres) without aids and have the confidence to push and glide on their fronts and backs to a nearby teacher. They will usually be working on the STA Stanley awards 5 and 6 and sometimes the Octopus 3 award.
These children can now swim the 8 metre width across the pool on both their fronts (with their faces in) and on their backs, attempting arms over the water. They will usually be working on the STA Stanley awards 6 and 7, the Octopus 3 award and/or the Goldfish 1 award.
These children are able to swim 10 metres on their front and 10 metres on their back, attempting proper stroke.
These children usually swim around the width of the pool and are working on their basic stroke technique. They begin to experience swimming without their teacher in the water but some may still have an assistant with them.
They will usually be working on Stanley 7, Goldfish 1, 2 or 3.
These children are able to swim 10 metres of a recognised front crawl, 10 metres back crawl and a width of recognisable breaststroke.
They usually swim half way down the pool and back. This class focuses on all 4 strokes but with a strong focus on effective front crawl breathing. Usually teachers are on the side but children are closely monitored.
They will usually be working on Stanley 7, Goldfish 1, 2 or 3.
These children are now able to swim 25 metres front crawl and back stroke, and have completed Goldfish 3. They will usually be working on Angelfish 1. These children will swim 1 full length or a longer deep circuit at a time and work on perfecting their strokes. This class heavily focuses on breast stroke breathing and timing to achieve the Angelfish 1 award. Teachers teach from the side.
These children are able to swim front crawl with bilateral breathing, back stroke with a good alternating armpull, breast stroke with correct breathing and 10 metres of butterfly where their arms recover over the water. They are usually working on Angelfish 2 and 3 or Shark 1. Teachers teach from the side.
These children are competent at front crawl, back stroke and breast stroke over 50 metres of each. They have a basic understanding of butterfly technique. They will be working on the Shark 2 & 3, Water safety and Survival and the Advanced stroke series. Teachers teach from the side and these classes run for either 30mins or 40mins.
These Level 7s have been in Level 7 for at least a term, sometimes more, and they are stronger, fitter and have good stamina. They work on speed and the Advanced skills needed for the Advanced Level Awards. These classes run for 40mins.
Similar to the other level 7 classes but generally an older group of swimmers continuing for fun and fitness (and that just don't want to leave us!) Sometimes joined by the off duty teachers keeping fit!
They work on the Advanced Swimmer and Advanced Water Safety Awards and the Platinum Award. 40min class.