St Mary's Pool
Adult and Child
Awards: Starfish 1-6, Duckling Grades 1, 2 and 3
Aims: Children work alongside the teacher and accompanying adult to instil a love of water and to build confidence in the water. Teaching aids include floats, woggles, songs and games.
Pre-School Non Swimmers
Awards: Duckling grade 4 or Puffin
Aims: Children who have attended Adult & Child lessons are helped to become completely water confident.
Pre-School Beginners
Awards: LTS 1 / I can swim
Aims: Children who can swim 3 meters on either their back or front are introduced to basic stroke technique.
Non Swimmers
Awards: LTS Stage 1 / puffin
Aims: To become water confident, learn to swim unaided on both front and back and to understand pool rules.
Beginners 1
Award: 5m
Aims: Children will be introduced to stroke technique and a main focus will be on developing a good body position. Breaststroke leg kick is also introduced.
Beginners 2
Award: WS 1
Aims: Children will develop the arm technique as well as being introduced to breathing. Breaststroke leg kick continues to develop with the introduction of the arm action. Butterfly kick is also introduced.
Beginners 3
Award: 10m
Aims: Front crawl breathing is developed and breaststroke technique is a key focus.
Improvers 1
Award: LTS 2 / 15m
Aims: To improve stroke technique and stamina in all 3 strokes.
Improvers 2
Award: LTS 3 / 20m
Aims: To continue to improve stamina and stroke technique in all 3 strokes and continue to practice the butterfly leg action. Skills such as sculling are introduced.
Improvers 3
Award: LTS 4 / WS 2
Aims: To introduce the children to circuits whilst maintaining good stroke technique, getting them ready for Mayfield. The butterfly arm action is also introduced.
IMPROVERS 4
Award: LTS Stage 4.
Aims: To concentrate on stroke technique and building confidence in deeper water, while building stamina over longer distances.
INTERMEDIATE 1
Award: 25 metres.
Aims: Swimmers are introduced to longer distances. Stroke development will take place at shorter distances.
INTERMEDIATE 2
Award: Water skills 3.
Aims: To continue to develop all the strokes and begin changing the stroke technique from basic to efficient. Introduce bilateral breathing to front crawl, swimming in clothes and basic rescue skills.
INTERMEDIATE 3
Award: LTS Stage 5, 50 metres.
Aims: To improve strength and stamina in all strokes by swimming circuits. Continue with basic rescue skills and emphasise the importance of warming up prior to exercising.