At Seahorses, we are proud to be an independent swim school, delivering lessons through our own specially designed award scheme. We have developed unique badges and certificates to celebrate each child’s progress. Our comprehensive programme covers all aspects of swimming technique and essential water safety skills, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed, build confidence, and thrive in the water. This approach creates happy, capable, and safe swimmers!

Preschool

Our main focus for our preschool classes is on water confidence, essential core skills and basic stroke introduction. Many of our preschoolers will be swimming unaided by the time they start school! These awards include aspects such as:

  • Safe entries and exits
  • Water confidence (blowing bubbles, submerging etc)
  • Floating, rotations, push and glides
  • Movement through the water on the front and back
  • Taking part in swimming games and songs
  • Independent swimming
  • Water safety and awareness

  1. Attend my first swimming lesson
  2. Enter the water safely with assistance if required
  3. Splash my feet in the water
  4. Move 5m on front or back with assistance if required
  5. Take part in a group song
  6. Exit the water safely

  1. Understand our pool rules
  2. Blow bubbles at the water surface
  3. Receive a shower overhead
  4. Show a push and glide on front or back with assistance if required
  5. Show a star float on front or back with assistance if required
  6. Kick 5m on front or back with assistance if required

  1. Scoop the water and wash the face
  2. Show a star float on front and back
  3. Show a push and glide on front and back
  4. Kick 5m on front and back
  5. Rotate 360 degrees (spinning in circles)
  6. Monkey monkey 5m along the wall

  1. Wash the face in the water
  2. Blow bubbles for 5 seconds with nose and mouth submerged
  3. Demonstrate front paddle arms
  4. Propel a floating object 5m by blowing or pushing
  5. Jump into the water with assistance if required
  6. Collect a sinker from the step/floor

  1. Jump into the water unassisted
  2. Fully submerge underwater
  3. Kick 5m efficiently on front and back
  4. Swim 5m with aids using a front paddle action
  5. Show a star float unaided
  6. Attempt to swim unaided

 

  1. Fully submerge and blow bubbles for 3 seconds
  2. Show a push and glide unaided
  3. Swim 5m unaided
  4. Demonstrate breastroke “froggy” legs
  5. Demonstrate sculling hands
  6. Answer 3 questions on water safety

Beginners

Our school aged beginner classes focus on water confidence, essential core skills and an introduction to the three initial strokes – front paddle, basic backstroke and breastroke legs and include aspects such as:

  • Safe entries & exits
  • Water confidence (blowing bubbles, submerging etc)
  • Floating, rotations, push and glides
  • Correct front paddle including leg kick, arm action & breathing
  • Correct back body position, leg kick & basic arm action
  • Basic breastroke leg kick
  • Water safety and awareness

With aids/assistance

  1. Enter the water using a safe swivel entry
  2. Blow bubbles in the water
  3. Receive a shower overhead
  4. Show a stretched floating position on the front
  5. Show a stretched floating position on the back
  6. Travel 5m by running, hopping or jumping
  7. Travel 5m on the front or back
  8. Show star floats on the front and back
  9. Demonstrate an understanding of our pool rules
  10. Exit the water safely

With aids/assistance

  1. Blow bubbles for 3 seconds
  2. Wash the face in the water
  3. Kick 5m on the front efficiently
  4. Kick 5m on the back efficiently
  5. Demonstrate basic breastroke legs on the back
  6. Show a push and glide on the front and back
  7. Monkey monkey 5m along the wall
  8. Show a star float rotation front to back or vice versa
  9. Without touching the bottom rotate through 360’
  10. Exit the water safely without use of the steps

With some aids/assistance

  1. Blow bubbles for 3 seconds with the face in the water, three times
  2. Swim 5m basic front paddle
  3. Kick 5m efficiently on the back with a float
  4. Demonstrate breastroke legs and “froggy” feet on the back
  5. Attempt to swim unaided
  6. Demonstrate a star float on the front or back unaided
  7. Demonstrate a push and glide on the front or back unaided
  8. Scull 5m head first on the back
  9.  Demonstrate treading water legs
  10. Jump into a woggle unassisted

With some aids/assistance

  1. Submerge and blow bubbles for 5 seconds
  2. Swim 5m efficient front paddle including breathing with a woggle
  3. Swim 5m unaided on the front or back
  4. Kick 5m using breastroke legs and feet on the back including push and glide
  5. Attempt dolphins legs on the front
  6. Attempt to tread water
  7. Demonstrate a star float rotation unaided
  8. Show a star float on front and back unaided
  9. Show a push and glide on front and back unaided
  10. Jump in safely and return to the side unaided

No aids/assistance

  1. Fully submerge to retrieve a sinker
  2. Swim 5m front paddle including breathing
  3. Demonstrate frontcrawl overwater arm recovery
  4. Kick 5m on the back with hands by sides
  5. Demonstrate backstroke overwater arm recovery
  6. Kick 5m using a correct breastroke action
  7. Demonstrate breastroke arms
  8. Kick 3m using a dolphin leg action
  9. Show a push and glide on the back with arms extended
  10. Jump in and swim 5m to the side on front or back

With no aids/assistance

  1. Kneel on the pool floor
  2. Swim 7m efficient front paddle
  3. Demonstrate frontcrawl side breathing
  4. Swim 7m basic backstroke
  5. Kick 7m using correct breastroke action on the front
  6. Kick 5m using a dolphin leg action on front or back
  7. Scull 5m head first on the back
  8. Tread water for 5 seconds
  9. Swim 3m on the back, rotate to the front and swim 3m
  10. Demonstrate a push, glide and 360’ log roll

Improvers

Once able to swim unaided front and back the children progress to improvers, where the focus is on implementing correct full strokes and work towards aspects such as:

  • Fluidity in the water (rotations whilst swimming)
  • Full frontcrawl (overwater arm recovery and side breathing)
  • Full backstroke (including shoulder roll and “S” pull)
  • Full basic breastroke (including arms, effective leg kick & breathing)
  • Effective dolphin leg action
  • Sculling, surface dives, treading water

  1. Enter the water safely using two different jumps
  2. Show a floating sequence of three floats
  3. Perform a mushroom float for 10 seconds
  4. Swim 10m on the front using an overwater arm action
  5. Swim 10m on the back using an overwater arm action
  6. Swim 10m using a correct breastroke arm action & breathing
  7. Kick 5m using a dolphin undulating action
  8. Push, glide on the front, rotate to the back & vice versa
  9. Jump in, swim 10m on the front or back, exit the water without use of steps
  10. Answer 3 questions on water safety

  1. Enter the water safely using three different jumps
  2. Kick 10m efficiently on the front with arms extended
  3. Kick 10m efficiently on the back with arms extended
  4. Kick 10m efficiently on the front breastroke legs
  5. Kick 10m on front or back efficient dolphin
  6. Demonstrate the backstroke shoulder roll and S pull
  7. Demonstrate basic breastroke with a woggle
  8. Sink, push and glide underwater in a streamlined position
  9. Perform a hands first surface dive
  10. Swim on the front, tuck, swim on the back and vice versa

  1. Show a star float on the front and rotate onto the back and vice versa (vertically)
  2. Swim 10m basic frontcrawl including side breathing
  3. Swim 10m backstroke including shoulder roll and S pull
  4. Swim 5m basic breastroke
  5. Swim 10m showing three changes of direction
  6. Demonstrate two types of treading water leg action
  7. Tread water for 10 seconds
  8. Sink, push, glide and dolphin to the surface
  9. Perform a feet first surface dive
  10. Swim through a submerged hoop

  1. Perform a straddle entry
  2. Perform a sequence with a partner including sculling, floating and rotation
  3. From an underwater push and dolphin swim 10m efficient frontcrawl with a regular breathing pattern
  4. From a push and glide swim 10m efficient backstroke including shoulder roll and S pull
  5. From a push and glide swim 10m breastroke including basic timing and glide
  6. Show a push and glide to the pool floor
  7. Perform a handstand for 3 seconds
  8. Perform a forward or backward somersault
  9. Demonstrate an action for getting help & a shout and signal rescue
  10. Answer 3 question of water safety

  1. Perform a sitting dive
  2. Including a correct underwater start and breakout swim 15m frontcrawl
  3. Including a correct underwater start and breakout swim 15m backstroke
  4. From a frontcrawl start rotate underwater into backstroke and vice versa
  5. Swim 10m head up frontcrawl propelling a ball
  6. Tread water for 20 seconds with one hand raised for 5 seconds
  7. Scull head first, somersault, scull feet first
  8. Demonstrate the four types of casualty in water
  9. Demonstrate a throwing rescue
  10. Enter the water using a straddle entry, tread water for 20 seconds, 5 seconds with an arm raised, swim 10m and exit

  1. Perform a kneeling dive
  2. From a correct underwater start swim 15m efficient frontcrawl
  3. From a correct underwater start swim 15m efficient backstroke
  4. From a correct underwater start swim 15m efficient breastroke
  5. Demonstrate butterfly arms and attempt basic butterfly
  6. Swim 25m using any stroke/strokes
  7. Demonstrate a breastroke underwater start
  8. Tread water for 30 seconds with one hand raised for 10 seconds
  9. Demonstrate a reaching rescue
  10. Swim 15m wearing a t-shirt and shorts/leggings

Advanced

Once able to swim at least 15m efficient frontcrawl, backstroke and breastroke the children progress to advanced. A large focus is now on essential life saving skills and we work towards aspects such as:

  • Correct underwater starts for all four strokes
  • Efficient frontcrawl including correct touch and tumble turns
  • Efficient backstroke including correct touch and tumble turns
  • Efficient breastroke includes correct touch turns
  • Basic butterfly including touch turns
  • Diving
  • Personal survival and lifesaving

  1. Perform a standing dive
  2. From a correct start swim 25m efficient frontcrawl
  3. From a correct start swim 25m efficient backstroke
  4. From a correct start swim 25m efficient breastroke
  5. Kick 25m efficient dolphin legs (half-length on front, half-length on back)
  6. From a correct start swim 10m basic butterfly
  7. Swim 50m using any stroke/strokes
  8. Demonstrate a correct frontcrawl, backstroke and breastroke touch turn
  9. Perform a forward and backwards somersault
  10. Scull 5m using a torpedo scull (feet first)

  1. From a dive swim 25m efficient frontcrawl and 25m efficient backstroke
  2. Swim 75 meters using any stroke/strokes
  3. Using a kick board kick 25m front, back and breastroke
  4. Demonstrate a correct frontcrawl, backstroke and breastroke finish
  5. Swim frontcrawl into the wall, forward somersault, push off streamlined on back
  6. Swim backstroke into the wall, rotate onto front, forward somersault, push off streamlined on back
  7. Demonstrate a correct breastroke turn including underwater pull out
  8. Whilst treading water accurately pass a ball to a partner 5m away
  9. Complete a circuit including an underwater swim through a hoop, hands and feet first surface dives, retrieving a brick from the pool floor and treading water for 10 seconds with both arms raised
  10. Complete a 50m individual medley swim

Personal Survival Award (clothes to be worn throughout)

  1. Enter the water using a safe swivel entry
  2. Tread water for one minute with one hand raised signalling for help for 30 seconds
  3. Swim 50 meters to a floating object keeping the head above the water throughout
  4. Swim 25 meters retaining the floating object
  5. Take up the H.E.L.P. position for two minutes
  6. Swim 25 meters retaining the floating object
  7. Climb out of the water without use of the steps/assistance
  8. Answer three questions on water safety/survival skills

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise
  2. Swim continuously for 3 minutes warm up (frontcrawl and backstroke)
  3. Swim 50 meters frontcrawl including correct start and touch turn
  4. Swim 50 meters backstroke including correct start and touch turn
  5. Swim 50 meters breastroke including correct start and touch turn
  6. Demonstrate a frontcrawl tumble turn
  7. Demonstrate a backstroke tumble turn
  8. Kick 4 x 25 meters I.M. order using a pace clock to take 15 seconds rest between each length
  9. Tread water for two minute using two types of treading water leg action
  10. From a dive swim 50 meters of any stroke with race technique and use the pace clock to accurately time the swim

  1. From a dive swim 50 meters frontcrawl, 50 meters backstroke and 50 meters breastroke
  2. Complete a kick set including of 4 x 50 meters choice kick (board may be used)
  3. Swim 50 meters practicing a frontcrawl arm drill and understand the aims of the drill
  4. Swim 50 meters practicing a breastroke timing drill and understand the aims of the drill
  5. Swim 50 meters practicing a backstroke arm drill and understand the aims of the drill
  6. Swim 50 meters head up frontcrawl controlling a ball throughout followed by an accurate 5 meter throw into a floating hoop
  7. Swim 4 x 25 meters I.M. order using a pace clock to take 10 seconds rest between each length
  8. Perform a fly – back, back – breast and breast – free correct turn
  9. Swim 100 meters frontcrawl, backstroke and breastroke
  10. Perform a rescue of two casualties using appropriate rescues and controlling the situation throughout

Personal Survival Award (clothes to be worn throughout)

  1. Enter the water using a straddle entry
  2. Swim continuously for 5 minutes keeping the head above the water throughout
  3. Tread water for 3 minutes, signalling for help every 30 seconds
  4. Swim 100 meters retaining a floating object
  5. Take up the H.E.L.P. position for four minutes
  6. Participate in a huddle with at least two other swimmers for two minutes
  7. Tow another swimmer using woggle, towel, clothing etc for 25 meters keeping constant communication throughout
  8. Climb out of the water without use of steps/assistance
  9. Answer three questions on water safety/survival

Purchasing & Receiving Awards

At Seahorses, we use continuous assessment, which means your child has the chance to achieve an award at any time during the term—there’s no need to wait for a specific “badge week.” As soon as your child completes an award, we’ll let you know and share the simple steps for ordering. Badges and certificates are available for £4.00 each and can be paid for through your direct debit. Once ordered, we’ll bring your child’s badge and certificate along to their lesson for collection. It’s a wonderful way to recognise their hard work, boost their confidence, and keep them excited about learning to swim!

Completing the Award Scheme

Upon completion of the advanced awards swimmers will be able to swim at least 100m of all three strokes efficiently including correct starts, turns and finishes, have a complete range of aquatic skills and be aware and safe around water with personal survival and lifesaving knowledge.

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