12 weeks to 4 years · 30 minutes lessons · £11 a lesson
Before they reach Level 1
Seven awards, from twelve weeks old to nearly swimming. You're in the water with them for every one of them.
Babies learn through repetition, so the shape of the lesson is the same every week. What changes is what you do inside it.
Nothing is ever forced. If your baby doesn't want to do something today, that's fine and we move on. Everything is donewith them, never to them.
The awards below aren't a timetable. Some babies fly through two of them and sit happily in the third for months. That's normal, and it isn't a problem.
Three stages, seven awards
Pup
12 weeks to 15 months
Pup 1 · Pup 2
The very beginning. Getting used to the water, the routine of a lesson, and the feeling of water on their face.
Cub
15 months to 3 years
Cub 1 · Cub 2 · Cub 3
Moving about. Kicking, reaching for toys, going under during activities, and the first jumps in.
Yearling
3 to 4 years
Yearling 1 · Yearling 2
Nearly swimming. Body position, pushing and gliding, and the confidence to move away from you and come back.
Pup 1
Water confidence, routine and first experiences
What you'll see them doing
- Getting into the water calmly, and starting to recognise that the lesson has begun
- Relaxed and happy during group activities like the welcome song
- Comfortable with water poured over their shoulders, head and face
- Enjoying moving up and down, round and side to side during songs and activities
- Floating on their back with full support while being gently moved
- Floating on their front with full support while being gently moved
- Their first gentle submersions, when they're ready, always with a clear cue first
- Coming back up calmly afterwards and staying relaxed
- Moving between front and back with support
- Leaving the pool calmly, and recognising that the lesson has finished
Pup 2
Supported movement, exploring, and the first signs of independence
What you'll see them doing
- Repeating submersions confidently as part of familiar activities
- Coming back to the surface and getting straight back into the activity on their own
- Starting to splash when encouraged, comfortable with water going over their face
- Moving on their front with full support, and starting to kick
- Moving on their back with full support, travelling forwards or round the pool
- Moving between front and back while travelling
- Reaching out with both arms for a toy and pulling it in
- Starting to kick when encouraged
- Travelling with a woggle or mat, with an adult helping
- Happy to move a short way away from you, and come back
Cub 1
Structured movement, supported propulsion, and the first vertical entry
What you'll see them doing
- Getting into the water with less support and joining in with the lesson routine
- Taking part in action songs with splashing, kicking and movement
- Starting to pour water over themselves — and others — confidently
- Moving on their front with support, and starting to kick
- Travelling with a woggle and full support, starting to move forwards
- Reaching out with both hands for toys and pulling them back in
- Kicking on the mat with support, making big splashes or small ones
- Blowing bubbles, introduced through play
- Their first entry into the water from the mat or poolside, with support
- Coming back up calmly after going under
Cub 2
Growing confidence, more propulsion, controlled entries
What you'll see them doing
- Moving confidently around the pool during activities and games
- Splashing and playing with the water using hands or toys, with enjoyment and control
- Going under during supported activities, including swimming through a hoop to you
- Moving on their front with a woggle and less support
- Travelling short distances on their own with a woggle
- Kicking more purposefully to move themselves along
- Walking across the mat with support, building balance and coordination
- Moving across the mat more independently, and jumping in
- Jumping in, going under, and coming back up calmly
- A front ride with you — holding on and staying in position while you move through the water
Cub 3
Independent movement, first breath coordination, nearly ready to move on
What you'll see them doing
- Moving confidently with a woggle, with little or no support
- Kicking effectively to move themselves around the pool
- Starting to link blowing bubbles with going under
- Starting to take a breath before going under, when prompted or in familiar activities
- Jumping in confidently and recovering with hardly any help
- Moving between upright and flat positions more independently
- Floating on their front and back with short moments on their own
- Moving across the mat independently and jumping in
- Joining in confidently with a whole range of activities and games
- Starting to move away from you and come back confidently
Yearling 1
Structured independence, body position and controlled movement
What you'll see them doing
- Getting in confidently with a jump or a step-in, with support
- Moving around the pool with a woggle, relying on you less
- Starting to keep their body flatter on the water with a woggle, then finding their feet again
- Pushing and gliding with support, travelling forwards
- Kicking with an alternating leg action on their front
- Blowing bubbles while moving, sometimes pushing or flipping toys along
- Travelling across the pool on a woggle under their own steam, then standing up
- Balancing on a mat or woggle, building coordination and control
- Rolling between front and back with support
- Holding the wall and moving along it — spider monkey — to get out safely
Yearling 2
Controlled propulsion, confidence, and ready for safety skills
What you'll see them doing
- Jumping in confidently with a safe body position, and going under
- Moving independently around the pool with a woggle, in good control
- Kicking effectively to move themselves across the water
- Reaching and pulling with their arms to help move forwards
- Blowing bubbles and starting to control their breathing while moving
- Going under to fetch objects from the surface or below it
- Pushing and gliding forwards with no floats, travelling towards you
- Floating on their front and back with less support, and better balance
- Rolling from front to back and back again to get themselves back in position
- Confident and ready to move towards swimming on their own
And then?
Once your child has finished Yearling 2 they're ready to swim without you in the water — which is a bigger moment for most parents than it is for the child.
From there they go into Level 1, Brook Otter, and start working through the levels.