Stage 2 sees swimmers develop streamlining to their strokes and travel without their feet on the floor, using a recognised leg kick.

Swimmers are also introduced to aquatic breathing and taught to make safe entries into the water, including jumping.

They will develop basic floating and learn how to rotate to regain an upright position without support. All travel must be achieved without the use of flotation equipment, though buoyancy aids may be used when swimmers aren’t travelling.

Stage 2 further develops water confidence and teaches swimmers to breathe confidently while in the water.

Being confident with the face in the water, or having water on the face, is crucial to stroke development. Learning to be happy in the water at an early stage will allow swimmers to develop other skills more quickly later on.

This stage also introduces various safety skills, such as being able to float, while also developing a swimmer’s kicking ability, leading to independent travel in water.

STAnley Three

1. Answer a question on poolside safety rules
2. Enter the water from poolside, move forward 1 metre, then return and exit the pool unassisted
3. Blow bubbles into the water with face submerged
4. Perform a star float while on the back and regain the feet
5. Move through the water while on the back, using an alternating leg action for 5 metres
6. Move through the water 5 metres on the front, using front paddle action
7. Complete a 360° turntable with feet off the pool floor
8. Roll from back to front and return onto the back
9. Jump or step into the water from poolside with hand support from a swimming teacher or assistant
10. Show treading water action with legs on woggle – (seahorses)

5 Metres Distance

STAnley Four

1. Answer 2 questions on poolside safety
2. Swim 5 metres of front paddle, roll onto back and swim 5 metres on the back
3. Bob up and down, submerging the face 4 times, exhaling underwater
4. Pick up an object from below the water surface
5. Perform 2 float positions, which may be in a sequence and performed on the front or the back
6. Push and glide on back, tuck and roll forward to return to poolside
7. Tread water, using arms and legs
8. Attempt a circular action of either arms or legs
9. Jump or step into pool safely unaided
10. Climb out of pool safely unaided

Stage Two

By completing the Learn to Swim Stage 2 Award, swimmers will be able to:

1. Jump in from poolside safely.
2. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.
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, without the use of floatation equipment.
8. Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
9. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.
10. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position, then 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.