Swim Classes
Adult swimming lessons
These are held for beginners, improvers, advanced, fitness, stroke and speed development.
Parent, toddler & baby swimming classes
These are held offering an introduction to the pool with the company of a parent or guardian. According to the NHS (27/04/06) website, babies can swim at any age and do not have to wait until completion of their immunisations. However, it is advisable to get authorisation from a health visitor or doctor. Fun and enjoyment are critical at any stage of learning to swim but particularly at this stage. The main emphasis is placed on developing water confidence whilst working with the parent or accompanying adult. This stage takes babies from the initial introduction to the water through to achieving independence. Children who complete this stage may be ready to move straight on to level 2, the beginner stage.
Approved ASA & IRM baby friendly pool at The Mount School, York.
A.S.A. National Teaching Plan for Swimming (for ages 3 years and upwards)
Our swimming lessons are structured to work towards the 10 stages of the national plan for teaching swimming.
According to the Amateur Swimming Association ‘the National Teaching Plan provides a fun pathway through the aquatic skills, firstly by the fundamental movement skills and the sports specific teaching, which is relevant to each aquatic skill and discipline. The NPTS gives an understanding of skills such as entries to the water, exits, water safety and healthy living. Skills developed are buoyancy and body rotation and orientation, travel & co-ordination, streamlining and aquatic breathing’.
Challenge Awards
The bronze, silver, gold, honours challenge awards are intergrated into the lessons after Stages 1-7. Distance awards will also be achieved
As your swimmer develops, he/she will become aware of the water and will be able to choose their own aquatic activity.Foundation Period
This is a development for the early years. The development is on basic motor skills, the introduction to water & pool environment. Duckling Awards are available for these swimmers.
Stage 1
Developing basic safety awareness, the understanding of a class situation, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. The swimmer will be encouraged to move around with the feet on or off the bottom. The introduction of the pool rules will be given. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. waist belts, floats, woggles.
Stage 2
Developing safe entries to the water, including jumping in, basic floating, travel front and back up to a distance of 5 metres, plus rotation to regain upright positions. Swimmers may use aids, e.g. waist belts, floats, woggles.
Stage 3
Developing safe entries including submersion, travel up to 10 metres on the front and back, progress rotation skills and water safety knowledge. At this stage, the Swimmer will be assessed without the use of aids or support.
Stage 4
Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes, and swimming 10 metres to a given standard as directed by the ASA
Stage 5
Developing ‘watermanship’ through sculling and treading water skills and complete rotation, also performing all strokes for a distance of 10 metres to the given standard as provided by the ASA within the NPTS resources.
Stage 6
Developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing across all strokes plus swimming a distance of 25 metres using a stroke of the swimmers choice; developing the water safety aspects and understanding of preparation for exercise.
Stage 7
Developing quality stroke technique up to 100 metres, incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout stages 1 - 7.
Stages 8 - 10
Once your swimmer has developed the core range of skills required to be confident, competent and safe in the water through stages 1 - 7, he or she then has the choice to take part in different aquatic disciplines.
Fundamental Sports Skills
stages 8 - 10 are available to achieve in:
- Competitive Swimming
- Flip n Fun = Diving
- AquaFun = Synchronised Swimming
- Mini-Polo! = Water Polo
- RLSSS Rookie Lifeguard
Swimming Teachers Association distance badges
Swimmers will be awarded distance badges when achieved eg. 10m 25m 50m 100m 200m 400m 800m 1000m 1mile.
The Carol Saunders Swim School provides the assessments against the identified outcomes to form a progression from one stage to the next. These outcomes are clearly defined by the Amateur Swimming Association which are strictly adhered to by all our teachers.
STA bronze, silver and gold water safety
This is the introduction of water safety skills for survival.
National Pool Lifeguards qualification
This is a nationally recognised qualification for people wishing to lifeguard professionally or casually. The courses are run throughout the year and include resuscitation, first aid and pool rescues.
Swimming Teachers Association - Teaching of Swimming Qualifications
Courses leading to the qualification of teaching swimming, coaching, parent and child and aquafit are run throughout the year and will qualify people to teach the various disciplines of swimming professionally or casually.