Find Your Stage
At The Standen Swim Academy, we follow the Swim England "Learn to Swim" framework to track progress. As your child advances through each stage, they’ll earn badges and awards to celebrate their achievements!
Unsure which stage fits your child? Use the descriptions below to find the best match. Once lessons begin, our teachers will assess your swimmer to make sure they’re in the right group.
If you’re still not sure, simply email us a quick summary of your child’s swimming experience, we’re happy to help you find the perfect stage.
Ages up to 3 are our Adult and Child Lessons:
Stage A: Water Discovery
Adult carer and child class for children aged 4 months – 1 year of age. Introduction to basic water safety and simple movement skills.
Stage B- Water Confidence
Adult carer and child class for children aged 1-2 years.
Development of water confidence and basic movement skills including jumping in and rotations.
Stage C- Water Exploration
Adult carer and child class for children aged 2-3 years.
Progression of water safety skills and basic swimming movements, including independently kicking holding a float or noodle.
Stages D and 1-5 are for swimmers aged over 3:
Stage D: Duckling
Stage 1 for preschoolers. Parents/carers are not needed in the water. Aged 3-4.5 yrs.
Main Objectives:
- Water confidence. - Face in the water blowing bubbles. - 5m rocket with face in the water. - 5m front crawl & backstroke kick.
Stage 1: Water acclimation
Suitable for school-aged swimmers who are not yet confident to go underwater.
Main objectives:
- Water confidence. - Face in the water blowing bubbles. - 5m rocket with face in the water. - 5m front crawl & backstroke kick.
Stage 2: Water Propulsion
Stage 2: Suitable for school-aged swimmers who are happy to go underwater and can rocket for 5m, but are not yet able to swim 5m using arms and legs.
Main objectives:
- Water confidence. - Breathing to the side on front crawl. - Push and glide on front and back. - Submerging with confidence. - 5m basic kick on all four strokes.
Stage 3: Stroke Foundation
Stage 3: Suitable for those that can swim 5m but not yet 10m.
Main objectives:
- 10m kick on all four strokes. - Front crawl kick with breathing to the side. - 10m backstroke swim using arms and legs. - 10m front crawl swim, arms recovering over the surface of the water.
Stage 5: Multi-Stroke Confidence
Suitable for those that can do the following with good technique:
– swim 10m backstroke
– swim 10m frontcrawl
– kick 10m butterfly
– kick 10m breaststroke
Main Objectives:
10m swims on all four strokes with good technique.
Stage 4: Stroke Development
Stage 4: Suitable for those that can swim 10m basic front crawl and backstroke.
Main objectives:
- 10m butterfly kick on front and back. - Introduction of butterfly arm pulls. - 10m breaststroke kick with good technique. - 10m front crawl swim with good technique. - 10m backstroke with good technique.