The Learn to Swim Stage 1-7 awards are divided into progressive stages. They make up the core, national syllabus of learning to swim for primary school aged children. They are designed to reward your child for their development of the essential aquatic skills they need to be confident, competent and safe in the water. Each of the Learn to Swim Stage 1-7 awards has a list of clear outcomes that need to be completed in order to gain each award.

Stage 1

1. Enter the water safely.

2. Move forward for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

3. Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

4. Move sideways for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.

5. Scoop the water and wash the face.

6. Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.

7. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.

8. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing.

9. Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.

10. Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.

11. Give examples of two pool rules.

12. Exit the water safely.

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Stage 2

1. Jump in from poolside safely to a minimum depth of 1.0 metre.

2. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically

3. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without support.

4. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without support.

5. Push from a wall and glide on the back – arms can be by the side or above the head.

6. Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.

7. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres.

8. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres.

9. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position,return to standing.

10. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position,return to standing.

11. Perform a log roll from the back to the front.

12. Perform a log roll from the front to the back.

13. Exit the water without support.

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Stage 3

1. Jump in from poolside and submerge to a minimum depth of 1.0 metre.

2. Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position.

3. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.

4. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.

5. Travel 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return on the back.

6. Fully submerge to pick up an object.

7. Answer correctly three questions on the Water Safety Code.

8. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the back.

9. Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the front.

10. Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.

11. Exit the water without using steps.

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Stage 4

1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating on the surface and demonstrate an understanding of floating.

2. Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor.

3. Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).

4. Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).

5. Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.

6. Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).

7. Perform a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.

8. Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front.

9. Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back.

10. Push and glide and swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.

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Stage 5

1. Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.
2. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
3. Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation.
4. Tread water for 30 seconds.
5. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.
6. Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke
7. Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl 
8. Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke 
9. Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly 
10. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
11. Perform a forward somersault.
12. Demonstrate an action for getting help.

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Stage 6

1. Give two examples of how to prepare for exercise and understand why it is important.

2. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke.

3. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl.

4. Swim 10 metres wearing clothes.

5. Push and glide and swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths.

6. Push and glide and swim breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths.

7. Push and glide and swim butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths.

8. Push and glide and swim backstroke to include at least six regular breaths.

9. Push and glide and swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional 

10. Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue.

11. Perform a surface dive.

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Stage 7

1. Push and glide and swim 25 metres backstroke 

2. Push and glide and swim 25 metres front crawl 

3. Push and glide and swim 25 metres breaststroke 

4. Push and glide and swim 25 metres butterfly 

5. Perform a movement sequence (linking skills with strokes and sculls) 

6. Push and glide and swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke 

7. Push and glide and swim 100 metres, using a minimum of three different strokes 

8. Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds.

9. Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout.