Program and level information

Parent in water

We aim to achieve basic swimming and water safety skills through play, exploration and encouragement in a predictable and comfortable environment.

These classes explore buoyancy, breath control, propulsion and submersion.

We choose age appropriate and suitable activities based on the level of the group and recommend free “water play” (under close adult supervision) after your lessons.

Progression out of Water Babes is based on age and emotional readiness.

Parent in water

We aim to achieve basic swimming and water safety skills through play, exploration and encouragement in a predictable and comfortable environment. 

These classes explore buoyancy, breath control, propulsion and submersion. 

We choose age appropriate and suitable activities based on the level of the group and recommend free “water play” (under close adult supervision) after your lessons. 

Progression out of Water Tots based on age and emotional readiness.

Parent in water

Early Tadpoles is designed to bridge the gap between Water Tots and Tadpoles, readying the infant for lessons independent from the parent/carer.

This transition class works towards minimising the level of involvement from the parent/carer over the course of time.

The Early Tadpole level is only offered to swimmers who have been promoted from our Water-Tots.  

Progression out of Early Tadpoles is based on ability, age and emotional readiness.

This class introduces the child to their first level of swimming education without the parent or carer. Elementary swimming skills such as; kicking, paddling and breathing are taught as well as safety skills including floating, entries and exits.

To graduate this level, children must demonstrate these skills:

• Slide in entry
• Face in blowing bubbles for 3 seconds
• Unassisted back float
• Unassisted front float
• 3m+ Push and glide torpedo
• 4m+ Doggy paddle - unassisted with pop up breaths (minimum two)

This class introduces the child to their first level of swimming education without the parent or carer. Elementary swimming skills such as kicking, paddling and breathing are taught as well as safety skills including floating, entries and exits.

This class is for children who are aged 8 and over that are beginner swimmers.

To graduate this level, children must demonstrate these skills:

• 10m+ freestyle straight arms (breathing to side and straight arms) with streamline push & glide to start
• 10m+ consistent backstroke
• 10m+ Recognisable dolphin kick
• Survival backstroke

This class further develops dog paddle to include breathing and distance as well as introducing basic freestyle arms.

Streamlining torpedoes and backstroke kicking skills are also established. Frogs will also be introduced to various types of floating, which will aid body position in future levels.

To graduate this level, children must demonstrate these skills:

• Unassisted front float, rotate onto back and recovery
• 7m+ Streamline torpedo: streamline push, glide and kick
• 7m+ Consistent Straight arms (any type of breath, the focus is body position, arms and kick)
• 7m+ Back kicking – unassisted, consistent

Basic freestyle is refined, and the first stages of teaching side breathing are added. Elementary backstroke is introduced combining arm action and breathing with the already mastered back kick. Many intermediate safety skills are introduced, aimed at individual survival.

To graduate this level, children must demonstrate these skills:

• 10m+ freestyle straight arms (breathing to side and straight arms) with streamline push & glide to start
• 10m+ consistent backstroke
• 10m+ recognisable dolphin kick
• Survival backstroke

The combination of side breathing, freestyle arms and flutter kick are coordinated to produce freestyle with bilateral breathing.  The swimming distance is increased for freestyle and backstroke. Breaststroke kick and advanced safety skills are introduced in this level.

To graduate this level, children must demonstrate these skills:

• 13m+ consistent bilateral freestyle (straight arms)
• 13m+ consistent backstroke (continuous arms)
• 13m+ breaststroke kick with board on front
• 13m+ butterfly kick with arms down
• Sitting dive (if able)

Bilateral freestyle and backstroke distance is increased. Breaststroke kick and advanced safety skills are further developed.

To graduate this level, children must demonstrate these skills:

• 18m+ consistent freestyle (straight arms)
• 18m+ consistent backstroke
• 18m+ basic breaststroke movement (one-kick to one-scull-breath)
• 18m+ butterfly kick in streamline position
• Crouch/squat dive (if able)

This level aims to refine freestyle and backstroke technique, while increasing the swimmer’s stamina over longer distances. Whole breaststroke is further developed. 

Instructors for this level teach in and out of the water, classes at AAC and LPAC may be held outdoors.

To graduate this level, children must demonstrate these skills:

• 50m+ consistent freestyle (streamline off wall and straight arms)
• 50m+ consistent backstroke
• 50m+ full breaststroke
• 25m+ single-arm butterfly drill (side breath)
• Standing dive (if able)

This is the advanced stroke correction class. Freestyle and backstroke endurance is continued and extended. Breaststroke, rudimentary butterfly and standing dives are introduced for the first time. 

Instructors for this level teach in and out of the water, classes at AAC and LPAC may be held outdoors.

To graduate this level, children must demonstrate these skills:

• 100m+ consistent freestyle (streamlining off wall, tumble turns, straight arms)
• 100m+ consistent backstroke
• 50m+ full breaststroke (pull-breathe, kick, glide)
• 25m+ basic butterfly (arms reset in front, two-kick to one pull)
• Scull/treading water
• Track dive (if able)

It is Swim School policy that all children under the age of 4, must wear an approved waterproof swim nappy (aqua pant) beneath regular swimmers whilst participating in our programs.

We cannot make exceptions to this policy. Our recommended product is Happy Nappy, which meets our safety and hygiene requirements. This product is available in our retail stores with a 30% discount for customers enrolled in our Learn to Swim program.

Parents wishing to use alternative brands must obtain prior approval from our swim school staff, as certain products do not provide adequate protection and are not suitable for use in our facilities.

• Children under the age of 4 must wear a tight-fitting aqua nappy beneath regular swimmers. We recommend and sell 'The Happy Nappy".
• Bring a towel plus a spare can be helpful.
• Warm, dry and dress your child after the lesson before leaving the centre, especially during cooler months.
• Take extra care with sunscreen and other creams. These can make infants slippery and difficult to hold.
• Keep your child’s shoulders and torso under the water as much as possible. This avoids excessive heat loss.
• Do not give your child food and drink immediately before their lesson. This can cause an upset tummy which does affect the lesson.
• Please toilet your child before your lesson.

Please contact the Swim School prior to your first lesson if your child has any medical conditions or special requirements that could affect their swimming lessons. This can include:

• Allergies
• Impairments such as hearing or sight
• Asthma
• Behavioural or cognitive conditions

The more information you can provide the better we can achieve well, structured and rounded lessons that allow for your child to progress through the program.

Please do not bring your child to swimming lessons if they are unwell and/or have a fever, rash or runny nose. This puts other children and the instructor at risk of infection.

If possible, encourage your child to use the toilet prior to the start of class.

We realise most infants will not be toilet trained when they commence swimming lessons, and will still be wearing nappies.

Infants must be removed from the water if they have soiled their pants and thoroughly cleaned before returning to the lesson in a clean pair of pants.