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Learn to Swim in 7 steps...

The STAnley - First Steps Series also links together and provides a more logical progression from the STARFISH baby and young child water safety programme, to the STA's International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP).

Important information for Programme Users

The First Step Series is designed to teach children aged 2 years upwards to learn to swim.
After completing the 7 steps of the STAnley First Steps Series, pupils should progress to ILSP Level 2 - Goldfish Series.
Older Children will probably wish to learn to swim using the Octopus Series.

For more information download the ILSP Resource manual from our downloads section click here.

A child’s first learn to swim experience is one of the most important in terms of capturing and retaining their interest. We believe the best way to achieve this is to create safe environments in which children can be introduced to the water whilst having fun and by providing a progressive learn to swim programme that is both challenging and rewarding.

Using our extensive experience of developing pre-school swimming and water safety programmes and understanding the importance of these first introductions to the water, we have developed the STAnley – First Steps Series.

The STAnley - First Steps Series offers a progressive aquatic awareness programme for young children from 2 years to 5 years by combining a flexible mix of lessons, activities and incentives. 7 progressive levels, each with its own full-colour A4 certificate and woven badge.

The STAnley – First Steps Series focuses on creating fun, positive experiences for young children that will not only help them to develop physically, but also emotionally, intellectually and socially too, whilst equipping them with key safety skills in the water.
It builds upon our commitment to making water a safe and enjoyable environment for young children, where they can gain valuable skills for a lifetime’s successful and safe swimming, and enjoyment of the aquatic environment.

The STAnley – First Steps Series also links together and provides a more logical progression from the STARFISH baby and young child water safety programme, to the STA’s International Learn to Swim Programme and the National Teaching Plan.

Click here to download the First Steps Assessment Standards.

Important Information for Scheme Users

The First Steps Series is designed to teach children aged 2 years upwards to learn to swim.
After completing the 7 steps of the STAnley First Steps Series, pupils should progress to ILSP Level 2 – Goldfish Series.
Older children will probably wish to learn to swim using the Octopus Series.

For more information contact us direct.

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STANLEY 1

Demonstrate the ability to:

Identify the teacher.
Enter the water safely.
Splash the feet on the surface, whilst holding the rail, trough or poolside and then return to standing position.
Walk forwards, backwards and sideways through the water unaided for 5 metres, if in deeper water, unassisted walking actions may be substituted.
Move through the water on the front for 2 metres
Move through the water 2 metres on the back, regain feet.
Blow a small object across the pool for 2 metres.
Using a woggle as a bridge and a watering can as a shower, move under the waterfall.
Push and glide on the front.
Exit pool safely.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used; adult assistance in the water is optional.

Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

STANLEY 2

Demonstrate the ability to:

Show an understanding of poolside safety.
Enter the water from the poolside safely.
Blow bubbles into the water, nose and mouth submerged.
Move through the water for 2 metres on their front returning to a standing position.
Move through the water for 2 metres on their back using an alternating leg action with the eyes looking at the ceiling, return to standing position.
Perform a floating position.
Use front paddle action to move a ball across the pool.
Push and glide on the back.
Roll from front to back, look at the ceiling.
Climb out of the pool safely.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used; adult assistance in the water is optional.

Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

STANLEY 3

Demonstrate the ability to:

1. Answer a question on poolside safety.
Enter the water from poolside, move forward 1 metre then return and exit from the pool unassisted.
Hold the rail, trough or poolside, with the face in the water and blow bubbles.
Perform a star float whilst on their back and regain the feet.
Move through the water whilst on their back using an alternating leg action for 5 metres.
Move through the water 5 metres on their front using front paddle action.
Complete a 360 turntable with feet off pool floor.
Roll from front to back and then stand up.
Jump into the water from poolside with hand support from carer.
Tread water action with legs on woggle – (seahorses).

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used; adult assistance in the water is optional.

Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

STANLEY 4

Demonstrate the ability to:

Answer 2 questions on poolside safety.
Swim 5 metres front paddle, tuck and roll onto back, swim 5 metres on back.
Hold the rail, trough or poolside, bob up and down and submerge the face 4 times exhaling underwater.
Pick up an object from below the water surface.
Perform 2 float positions.
Push and glide on front and roll onto back.
Tread water action with arms and legs.
Attempt a circular action of either arms or legs.
Jump into pool safely unaided.
Climb out of pool safely unaided.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may be used.

Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

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STANLEY 5

Demonstrate the ability to:

Answer 2 questions on poolside rules.
Swim 2 metres front paddle or back paddle.
Hold 3 different types of floating positions for 3 seconds each.
Hold the rail, trough or poolside and breathe rhythmically 4 cycles.
Jump in from poolside, turn and swim back to support at wall, climb out safely.
Tread water (may be in a spinning action).
Perform a push and glide on their front, keeping the face in the water and blowing bubbles.
Retrieve an object from bottom of pool.
Demonstrate front crawl arm action.
Demonstrate back crawl arm action.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless stated.

Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

STANLEY 6

Demonstrate the ability to:

Answer 2 water safety questions.
Push and glide on front with arms stretched, face in water.
Swim through a submerged hoop.
Swim 3 metres using a breaststroke type leg action, holding 2 floats or woggle.
Swim 2 metres on their front and 2 metres back paddle with a smooth transition in between.
Star or pencil jump into the pool, tread water then return to poolside.
Hold side of pool; push off on side under water.
Swim on front, tuck up and return swimming on back.
Swim 5 metres either front crawl or backstroke.
Using a woggle scull forwards, backwards or in a circle.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless stated.

Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

STANLEY 7

Demonstrate the ability to:

Answer 3 water safety questions.
Perform a star float, slowly change to a narrow float and return to a star float on either their front or back.
Push and glide on back with arms stretched then roll onto front.
Swim 2 metres dolphin leg kick on their front or back.
Tread water for 10 seconds.
Swim 5 metres using a frog breaststroke type action of the arms and legs.
Swim 10 meters front crawl confidently, attempting side breathing.
Swim 10 metres on their back confidently.
Swim through a submerged hoop and retrieve an object.
Scull headfirst using arms only.

It is recommended that all skills be performed in shallow water. Buoyancy aids may NOT be used unless stated.

Download Tick Sheet
as pdf

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STAnley Swimming Competence Award

There is currently an industry recommendation that a responsible person should take no more than two children between the ages of 4 and 7 into a swimming pool and if a child is under 4 the ratio should be one to one.

The STA and ISPAL recognise that these criteria are not always practical and there will be times when this current ratio of adults to children creates problems for customers and pool managers.

The STAnley Swimming Competence Award reassures pool managers and pool lifeguards as to the ability of young pool users and can be used as a tool to assist pool managers to vary the ratio where a competent adult is already accompanying two children between the ages of 4 and 7.

The STAnley Swimming Competence Award is particularly aimed at young people between the ages of 4 and 7.

The STAnley Swimming Competence Award is simple and cost effective to operate by your pool staff and provides flexibility without compromising safety standards.

Who can assess the STAnley Swimming Competence Award?

Assessment of the candidates for the swimming competence award can be conducted by;

STA Qualified Full Swimming Teacher (or equivalent)
Pool Managers or
A person who is appointed by the pool manager, who is a qualified NaRS Pool Lifeguard/Attendant (or equivalent)

What are the criteria for the STAnley Swimming Competence Award?

Candidates will be assessed against the following criteria:

Jumping into the water at the deep end (provided that the pool depth is great enough) and fully submerging. If there is insufficient depth to jump in, the candidates may slide in but they must show they are comfortable when fully submerged in the water.
Swimming for 12.5 metres using a competent recognisable stroke. Having safely completed the swim the candidate shall change direction and swim a further 12.5 metres to the deep end of the pool.
Treading water at the deep end for 1 minute.
Swimming a further 25 metres using any recognised stroke, this can be a stroke previously used in the award.

Note: Candidates may use one or more recognised strokes but at least one of the stages (2 or 4) must be swum using a stroke on the front.

Information for the STAnley Swimming Competence Award Assessor

The swimming element of the award may need to be adapted to suit different pool layouts; the assessor should ensure that the required distances are swum.
Candidates can use any recognised stroke or combination of strokes but at least one of the swims must be performed on the front.
The 4 stages must be taken as one continuous test and candidates must not gain any support from the poolside or a helper.
There is no time limit for the test.
All stages must be completed in a competent and efficient manner.

How does my reception staff know whether a candidate holds the STAnley Swimming Competence Award?

Assessors can purchase photographic identity cards from the STA; these detail the skills assessed and the candidate's name. The assessor should insert a passport size photograph of the candidates and sign and date the card before sealing.

The STAnley Swimming Competence Award Identity Card should be shown, by the holder, to reception staff upon entry to the pool premises; this will identify them as being competent and may allow pool management to vary the ratio.