Swimtots

The ‘Swimtots‘ programme is an accredited children’s swimming programme from the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA). It takes your child on a fun and exciting journey from their first splash in the swimming pool to developing confidence and competence in the water.

Increase confidence in the water with adult and child swimming classes

Basic movements and swimming skills are learned during the Swimtots classes. Swimtots swimming is for 2-4 year olds. At this age children are encouraged to wet their faces, tummies, splash, blow bubbles and play.

Stages Awards View available lessons Discover your toddler’s swimming level

The swimming essentials…

Entries and exists

Entries and exists

  • safe entry and exits, use of steps, side and jumping in with adult support.
Buoyancy and balance

Buoyancy and balance

  • introduction to buoyancy, star-shaped floats
Streamlining

Streamlining

  • introduction to streamlining, rocket shapes and gliding with an adult.
Increased swimming confidence

Increased swimming confidence

  • developing confidence in the water. Playing games, blowing bubbles and increasing a feeling of being at ease with the water.
Travel

Travel

  • introducing movement. Swimming forwards and backwards. Exploring how to travel with adult support.

Water safety

  • development of a basic understanding of how to keep safe around water.

All the movement skills are linked to one another. For example, buoyancy and balance are linked to swimming skills such as travel, streamlining and confidence.

View available lessons Discover your toddler’s swimming level

Summary of Swimtots levels 1-4

Every stage in the swimming programme has a set of skills for the swimmer to achieve. Each swimming skill is key to the swimmer’s further development. The skills must be comfortably achieved before moving on to the next stage.

Stage 1

Introduction to water and safety awareness. Basic movement and water confidence skills. Swimmers may use arm bands, floats etc.

Stage 2

Developing confidence, entries and exits. Introduce floating and travel.

Stage 3

Developing safe submersion, travel short distances on the front. Develop travel on back. Introduce rotation skills.

Stage 4

Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of swimming skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes and swimming 10 metres to an able standard. Developing travelling skills using arms and legs effectively. Full water confidence, carrying out swimming exercises without adult support.

What comes next?

Once the Swimmer has developed the Swimtots range of swimming skills required to be confident and safe in water, they will be prepared to excel in the Learn to Swim programme.

View available lessons Discover your toddler’s swimming level

Certificates and swimming badges

We like to celebrate success! Certificates and badges are available throughout the term. Speak to your swimming instructor about upcoming awards.

Swimming progress

Our swimmers advance to the next stage when they can confidently demonstrate every swim skill at their level. The time this takes can vary as some swimmers are more naturally competent and confident in the water. You should expect swimmers to stay with their group for at least year. We continually assess each swimmer against the outcomes for their stage and some swimmers will progress faster than others. Other swimmers are slower to learn new skills, but they quite often become stronger, more proficient swimmers as they progress.

Support

We are proud that our swimmers can demonstrate sound swimming skills without hesitation! We won’t simply advance your child because it’s time. We care for the safety of our swimmers and will support them properly – ensuring that they have both ability and confidence before moving to the next stage.

Get involved!

Adults can play an active role in increasing swimming confidence. We invite you to watch our swimming sessions, learn the teaching points and try them out yourself in the pool!

Regular trips to a swimming pool are a great way to build swimming confidence and develop skills. The most important factor for us is that each child learns to swim and enjoys learning. That parents can see their child improving over the course of swimming lessons and receiving regular feedback from their swimming instructor.

View available lessons Discover your toddler’s swimming level