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Introducing the STA Swim Scheme

For many years we have operated an incentive based swimming skills scheme - The STA International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP) and millions of children worldwide have learned to swim using this system. Now, as part of our commitment to improving the standards of swimming teaching and water safety worldwide we have, after consultation with our members and experts within the industry, developed ILSP, the new comprehensive approach to teaching swimming.

A set of Tick sheets for the ILSP schemes is available to download here. Links to download individual Tick sheets can be found with the details of each badge.

The ILSP recognises that pupils learn to swim at many different ages and progress at varying paces. It also appreciates that swimming teachers use different techniques and have different levels of experience and that pool managers have diverse requirements. Click here to download information on facility constraints. But at the same time, both parties recognise that at no stage should safety, quality standards or consistency be compromised. The the ILSP consists of five progressive schemes which are interlinked. There is a stand alone scheme for people with disabilities, supporting awards for the more competent swimmer and diver and an introduction to the First Aid award. Click here to download our water safety questions.

All levels of the ILSP have clearly defined standards, teaching objectives and learning outcomes. Click here to download a list of definitions. This ensures a consistent level of achievement from a high quality programme. The progressive and interlinked nature of the scheme provides for continuity but also flexibility when used in conjunction with the ILSP Resource Manual. Whilst the ILSP is a complete and comprehensive scheme it also recognises that many organisations may already have their own scheme or have adopted the ASA National Plan. With this in mind, the ILSP has been designed to overlay other schemes. For example, it is easy to transfer onto the ILSP from the ASA National Plan.

Best Value

We believe that ILSP will quickly become established as the 'best value' package available to the industry.

For pool managers, it provides:

• High QA (Quality Assurance) standards
• The highest swimming and safety standards
• A greater range of awards - potentially providing more customers
• Excellent customer satisfaction
• And all this, at a lower cost than any other nationally recognised scheme.

For the swimming teacher, ILSP offers:

• A well structured, off-the-shelf resource pack
• The ability to use experience already gained to provide added variety without loss of standards

ILSP will also be more appealing to the pupil, as it provides:

• A scheme that is designed for all ages and abilities.
• An attractive badge and certificate as an incentive.
• Further challenges, thus retaining their interest for longer, including additional options to undertake further STA awards such as:
  • NaRS Cross series of lifesaving awards.
  • Student Teachers Certificate - an introduction to swimming teacher training.