A brand new aquatic adventure launching Autumn 2019

We are pleased and proud to share details of our latest aquatic adventure - our new independent awards scheme. The Swimtime Learn to Swim programme is an innovative new approach to swimming teaching and standards. It’s designed to provide enriching learning experiences and equip learners with educational and life skills. 

What is it?

Our Learn to Swim programme meets the learning needs of three key groups: early years, 4+, and adults. Aligned to our Swimtime values and National Curriculum learning outcomes, our awards programme is flexible and inclusive. Classes are designed to adapt to the needs of the individual swimmer, meaning children with additional needs are able to learn alongside their peers. The programme will grow with your child, allowing learners to progress at their own pace and never feel under pressure to achieve the next level.

Introducing our Aquatic Friends!

The awards scheme is based around an Aquatic Journey with each level represented by an exciting underwater character. Swimmers will learn about the traits and characteristics of Aquatic Friends like Paloma Puffer Fish and Barry the Barracuda as they journey through the programme. The characters give children extra incentive to progress to the next level.

All our new aquatic friends have been hand drawn especially for Swimtime by a former Disney Illustrator. We know our learners are going to love them!

Swimmers’ progress will be continually assessed and recorded on our online system and they will continue to receive an award certificate on completion of each stage.

Baby Swimtime

For babies and toddlers aged from 0-2 years, our early years classes encourage adult and child to bond and build confidence and safety in the water.

Swimtime Tots

2-4 year olds can progress through four stages with and without parental support, under the watchful eye of Polly the Prawn.

Learn to Swim programme 4+

Our Swimtime Learn to Swim programme takes children and young people through six exciting levels alongside characters like Rocco the Rockfish and Sabina Stingray. We’ve developed the programme to build swimmers’ confidence in and around the water and encourage development of new skills, strokes and an understanding of key health benefits at each stage. There are a total of 17 challenging stages to complete before progressing to our Senior Cadet Programme.

The Swimtime adult programme enables adults of all abilities to participate in swimming lessons from the nervous non-swimmer to the advanced adult who wishes to train and develop present skills and knowledge. This exciting programme will nurture the nervous and challenge more competent swimmers.

Key benefits for learners

• Supports the health and wellbeing of children by actively encouraging social interaction and the development of life skills.
• The awards programme is designed to grow with the child. Each swimmer can learn and progress at their own pace, with no time limit for progression to the next level.
• All levels of the programme are fully inclusive and can be adapted to suit the learner’s individual needs.
• Class content and learning standards/outcomes are exactly the same across the country, making it easier for learners to move between regions.
• Certificates awarded on completion of each level.

What happens next?

You don’t need to take any action. Transition to the new awards programme for current learners will happen automatically during the autumn term. Our systems will map learners to the correct level of the programme, which you’ll be able to view in your Swimtime account. There will be no change to class fees.

How can I find out more?

If you are an existing Swimtime customer, you’ll receive an email from us informing you of the changes. Visit our information pages for more details on the awards scheme and learning outcomes.