Learn to Swim - for children aged 4 and over

Verulam Swimming Club has a Learn-to-Swim Programme using the Swim England’s National Plan for Teaching Swimming. It is run by qualified teachers with lots of help from club swimmers, so new and less confident swimmers get the attention they need. Children can join at any time after their fourth (4th) birthday. Swim School 6 & 7 sessions are designed to support swimmers in their transition from Learn to Swim to Academy or Competitive swimming.

More details of each stage shown below

When?

Half-hour lessons on Sunday afternoon between 4:00pm and 6:00pm.

45 minute lessons on Friday evening between 5:45pm and 6:30pm (Swim School 6 & 7)

Where?

Sunday Learner and main pools at Westminster Lodge

Friday St Albans High School for Girls

How much?

Please check are current Fees

Thinking of joining?

Please contact us and you will be contacted soon.

 

Swim School Stages

At the end of the stage 1 participants will be able to:
  1. Enter and exit the water safely                                                                                         
  2. Move forwards, backwards and sideways for a distance of 5 metres                                          
  3. Scoop the water and wash face                                                                                                      
  4. Be at ease with water showered from overhead                                                          
  5. Blow bubbles a minimum of 3 times rhythmically with nose and mouth submerged         
  6. Regain an upright position from on the back with or without support                            
  7. Regain an upright position from on the front with or without support                            
  8. Kick 5m with up to 2 pieces of equipment on front                                                                    
  9. Kick 5m with up to 2 pieces of equipment on back                                                                    
  10. Push & glide on back with or without assistance                                                                        
  11. Push & glide in a horizontal position from a wall face in the water                                          
  12. Take part in a teacher led partner orientated game and demonstrate understanding of the pool rules
At the end of the stage 2 participants will be able to:
 
  1. Regain an upright position from on the back without support                                                
  2. Regain an upright position from on the front without support                                                
  3. Jump in from poolside safely                                                 
  4. Perform a log roll from the back to the front                                                  
  5. Kick 10m with up to one piece of equipment on front                                                 
  6. Kick 10m with up to one piece of equipment on back                                                 
  7. Push and glide and swim 5m on front without equipment                                                       
  8. Push and glide and swim 5m on back without equipment                                                        
  9. Begin to develop an understanding for breaststroke kick                                            
  10. Begin to develop an understanding for butterfly kick                                           
  11. Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules
At the end of the stage 3 participants will be able to:
  1. Jump in from poolside and fully submerge (min depth 1m) to pick up the object                  
  2. Sink, push away from wall on side and maintain a streamlined position                                          
  3. Push & glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back                                  
  4. Push & glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front                   
  5. Perform a tuck float for 5 seconds                                                                                   
  6. Swim 10m frontcrawl beginning to develop sideways breathing                               
  7. Swim 10m backstroke with efficient kick                                                                        
  8. Kick 10m breaststroke kick on front with one piece of equipment                                          
  9. Swim 5m butterfly kick arms by the side                                                                        
  10. Demonstrate correct breaststroke arms and legs with a noodle
At the end of the stage 4 participants will be able to:
  1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of 3) whilst floating on the surface
  2. Scull head first for 5m                                                                                                        
  3. Travel on back and log roll in one continuous move on to front                                               
  4. Travel on front and log roll in one continuous move on to back                                 
  5. Push and glide from the wall to pool floor                                        
  6. Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back         
  7. Swim 15m backstroke with efficient kick                                                                                      
  8. Swim 15m frontcrawl with sideways breathing                                                                           
  9. Swim 15m breaststroke attention to legs (symmetrical and feet turned out)                     
  10. Swim 10m butterfly kick       
  11. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of 3 seconds

At the end of the stage  5 participants will be able to:

  1. Perform 3 different shaped jumps into deep water.                                                                   
  2. Scull 5m feet first in a flat horizontal position                                                                             
  3. Perform a summersault                                                                        
  4. Sink, push and glide and begin butterfly kicks underwater                                                       
  5. Swim 20m backstroke beginning with sink push and glide                                                        
  6. Swim 20m frontcrawl beginning with sink push and glide
  7. Swim 20m breaststroke with correct timing                                                                                
  8. Swim 10m butterfly drill                                                                       
  9. Have an understanding of butterfly                                                                          
  10. Tread water for 30 secs & demonstrate an action for getting help
At the end of the stage 6 participants will be able to:
 
  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 in streamline and transition into front crawl                       
  3. Sink, push off on side from the wall and transition into backstroke                                          
  4. Perform a surface dive                                             
  5. Kick at wall, flip and land with feet on the wall   
  6. Swim 50m frontcrawl    
  7. Swim 50m backstroke   
  8. Swim 25m breaststroke
  9. Swim 10m butterfly                     
  10. Perform a 'Shout and Signal' rescue
  11. Perform a sitting dive     
At the end of the stage 7 participants will be able to:
  1. Perform a safe racing dive                                                                                                 
  2. Perform a backstroke start                                      
  3. Sink, push on side and complete 3 underwater butterfly kicks before completing the length on front                                
  4. Sink, push on side and complete 3 underwater butterfly kicks before completing the length on back                                 
  5. Perform a successful tumbleturn                                          
  6. Perform correct breaststroke underwater phase and complete length                
  7. Swim 15m legal butterfly                                                                                                   
  8. Show an understanding of legal starts and finishes                                                                    
  9. Swim 50m breaststroke                                                                                       
  10. Swim 100m continuously on front                                                      
  11. Swim 100m continuously on back                                                                                                 
  12. Demonstrate the ability to finish on back