Award Scheme
A child’s first learn to swim experience is one of the most important in terms of capturing and retaining their interest.
TTP Swim School focus on teaching essential skills, promoting water safety and potential lifesaving skills through the teaching of swimming, lifesaving and survival techniques in a fun, friendly way.
We also offer an awards scheme designed by the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) called the Learn to Swim programme. The (LSP) is a progressive pathway for participants of all ages helping them develop from their first aquatic experience through to becoming safe proficient swimmers.
While we are not the most award/certificate focused Swim School, progress tracking in the form of an award /certificate can act as a great incentive for some swimmers and allows them to chart their achievements away from the pool.
With TTP Swim School Ltd, each certificated achievement is earned with the teacher considering how the skill/stroke is performed and if it is performed with consistency. Each Grade builds on knowledge and skill development from the previous Grade with a focus on stroke development, water safety, rescue skills, diving, and other swimming skills to ensure participants are competent within all aquatic skills to create well rounded swimmers.
Within each Grade there is an alternative series of awards which may be used to incentivise swimmers who need more attempts to complete all learning outcomes for their current Grade.
The STAnley First Steps Series is an exciting series of awards used by TTP Swim School for swimmers in the Cygnet Classes. These easily achieved awards provide fun incentives to swimmers in the early stages of their swimming journey.
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.
Theses STAnley awards are tyically achieved using buoyancy aids
STAnley 1 Learning Outcomes
Identify the teacher- Enter the water safely
- Splash feet at water’s surface while supported by wall/ woggle/adult and then return to a 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, turn around and move back to start position
- Move through the water for 2 metres on the back, roll to regain feet.
- Blow a small object across the pool for 2 metres
- Travel under a woggle bridge and through a shower created by a watering can
- Push and glide on the front
- Exit pool safely
Swimming teacher or assistant in water is optional. Buoyancy aids may be used.
STAnley 2 Learning Outcomes
Show an understanding of poolside safety- Enter the water safely from the poolside
- Blow bubbles into the water, with mouth or nose and mouth submerged
- Move through the water for 2 metres on the front while blowing bubbles, return to an upright/standing position
- Move through the water for 2 metres on the back using an alternating leg action, ears in water and return to an upright/standing position
- Perform a star floating position on front or back
- Use front paddle action to move a ball across the pool
- Push and glide on the back
- Roll from front to back, looking at the ceiling
- Climb out of the pool safely
Swimming teacher or assistant in water is optional. Buoyancy aids may be used.
STAnley 3 Learning Outcomes
Answer a question on poolside safety rules- Enter the water from poolside, move forward 1 metre, then return and exit the pool unassisted
- Blow bubbles into the water with face submerged
- Perform a star float while on the back and regain the feet
- Move through the water while on the back, using an alternating leg action for 5 metres
- Move through the water 5 metres on the front, using front paddle action
- Complete a 360° turntable with feet off the pool floor
- Roll from back to front and return onto the back
- Jump or step into the water from poolside with hand support from a swimming teacher or assistant
- Show treading water action with legs on woggle – (seahorses)
Please note that buoyancy aids are typically use to achieve the paddle & floating learning outcomes for all elements of this award.
To PROGRESS TO A GRADE 2 CLASS, SWIMMERS MUST BE ABLE TO TRAVEL 2 METRES ON BOTH FRONT & BACK UNAIDED AND COMFORTABLY SUBMERGE
‘Buoyancy aids may be used unless stated’.
- Answer two water safety questions about the pool rules
- Enter the pool safely
- Move through the water confidently in different ways
- Swim 5m using front paddle and 5m using back paddle
- Attempt a treading water action with the legs
- Travel through a shower of water
- Blow bubbles in the water
- Push and glide on the front and back
- Perform a star float on the back and front
- Exit the pool safely.
Learning Outcomes
Please note that buoyancy aids are typically use to achieve the paddle & floating learning outcomes for all elements of this award with the exception of item numbers ‘ 6 & 9’
To PROGRESS TO A GRADE 3 CLASS, SWIMMERS MUST BE ABLE TO SWIM METRES ON BOTH FRONT & BACK USING AN OVERARM ACTION UNAIDED
‘Buoyancy aids may be used unless stated’
- Answer two water safety questions about the pool environment
- Enter the water, turn around and return to poolside
- Push and glide and swim front paddle for 10m
- Push and glide and swim back paddle for 10m
- Attempt breaststroke legs on front or back
- Attempt an undulating movement on front or back for 2m
- Submerge face and blow bubbles
- Perform a float on the back and log roll to the front
- Swim forward 2m, log roll, swim on back for 2m, roll to vertical position
- Perform treading water for 10 seconds.
Learning Outcomes
‘Buoyancy aids must NOT be used unless stated’
- Understand the water safety code
- Enter with a slide in entry and tread water for 10 seconds
- Push and glide into either front crawl or breaststroke for 10m, participant’s first choice
- Push and glide into back crawl for 10m
- Push and glide into either front crawl or breaststroke for 5m, participant’s second choice
- Push and glide and perform dolphin leg action on the front or back for 5m
- Submerge underwater and retrieve an object
- Scull head or feet first for 2m
- Enter with a step or jump entry, swim 5m on front, rotate to the back and swim back to starting point
- Perform a mushroom float and hold for 5 seconds, extend to a front float and return to vertical position.
Learning Outcomes
‘Buoyancy aids must NOT be used unless stated’
- Take part in a rescue with a reaching aid
- Enter with a slide in entry, tread water for 20 seconds, swim to poolside and climb out
- Push and glide into front crawl or breaststroke for 15m, participant’s first choice
- Push and glide into back crawl for 15m
- Push and glide into front crawl or breaststroke for 10m, participant’s second choice
- Perform dolphin leg action on the front for 10m
- Attempt a handstand with both hands on pool floor
- Scull head first for 5m and feet first for 5m
- Push and glide to pool floor, retrieve an object, tuck and resurface
- Swim 10m of lifesaving backstroke or sidestroke.
Learning Outcomes
‘Buoyancy aids must NOT be used unless stated’
- Take part in a rescue with a buoyant aid or rope
- Perform a step / straddle entry, tread water for 30 seconds, perform a 360° turn in a vertical position whilst wearing a t-shirt, remove t-shirt and climb out
- Push and glide into either front crawl or breaststroke for 25m, participant’s first choice with correct finish
- Push and glide into back crawl for 25m, with correct finish
- Push and glide into either front crawl or breaststroke for 20m, participant’s second choice with correct finish
- Push and glide and attempt butterfly arms for 10m
- Perform a head first and feet first surface dive
- Scull head first for 15m and feet first for 15m
- Perform a backwards / forwards somersault
- Swim 25m of lifesaving backstroke or sidestroke.
Learning Outcomes
‘Buoyancy aids must NOT be used unless stated’
- Perform a shout and signal rescue to a weak swimmer 5m away
- Perform a lifesaving sequence – Step in entry, swim 10 metres in clothing, tread water for 1 minute, remove clothing and climb out unassisted
- Push and glide into either front crawl or breaststroke for 50m, with correct finish
- Push and glide into back crawl for 50m, with correct finish
- Swim 75m, performing 3 recognised strokes with a smooth transition
- Perform an undulating movement underwater through a submerged hoop
- Push and glide into a forwards somersault
- Tread water using eggbeater leg kick for 30 seconds
- Perform a kneeling dive
- Swim 5m of a recognised front stroke, perform a feet first or head first surface dive and swim 5m underwater.
Learning Outcomes
‘Buoyancy aids must NOT be used unless stated’
- Swim with a rescue tube for 5m
- Perform an advanced lifesaving sequence – step in / straddle entry, swim 25 metres in clothing, tread water for 1 minute using eggbeater action, surface dive, swim underwater for 3 metres, resurface, remove clothing and climb out unassisted
- Swim either front crawl or breaststroke for 100m, participant’s first choice
- Swim back crawl for 100m
- Swim either front crawl or breaststroke for 50m, participant’s second choice
- Swim butterfly for 25m
- Perform a head first surface dive, pick up a sinkable from the pool floor, resurface, tread water for 1 minutes whilst waving one arm
- Throw a ball to a target point, swim head up front crawl to the ball, tread water for 20 seconds whilst holding the ball out of the water, bring ball to the side using polo crawl
- Perform a plunge dive
- Swim 50m of lifesaving backstroke or sidestroke.
The Advanced Swimmer Series consists of three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold; each award has a badge and certificate. This series develops swimming technique, speed, stamina and water polo or synchronised swimming skills.
Learning Outcomes
Swim 200 metres within 6 minutes, using a recognised competitive stroke- Swim 50 metres in 70 seconds
- Swim 6 widths, performing front and back tumble turns
- Swim 3 widths of breaststroke, performing two-handed turns and a finish
- Swim 3 widths of butterfly, performing two-handed turns and a finish
- Swim 4 x 3 widths individual medley with correct turns and finishes
- Perform a front and a back somersault
- Scull 15 metres head first and 15 metres feet first
- Tread water, using eggbeater leg action, for 1 minute
- Swim 25 metres of polo crawl with a ball, showing control, keeping the ball just in front of the head or synchronising with another, swim 10 metres of breaststroke and 10 metres of back crawl
Learners may work towards the 200 metre Distance award.
Learning Outcomes
Swim 400 metres within 10 minutes, using a recognised competitive stroke- Swim 100 metres in 2 minutes
- Swim 4 x 50 metres of individual medley with correct turns and finishes
- Perform a tucked back somersault from a back layout and finish with a back layout
- Perform a tucked front somersault from a front layout and finish with a front layout
- Scull 15 metres head first, support scull for 5 seconds and 15 metres feet first
- Tread water, using eggbeater leg action, for 90 seconds (45 seconds x 2 directions)
- Tread water, catch a ball, swim 25 metres of polo crawl showing 3 changes in direction then pass the ball to another person OR synchronising with another, swim 10 metres of front crawl, change direction and swim 10 metres of back crawl, change direction and swim 10 metres of breaststroke
- Glide swim 10 metres underwater in the prone position from a front push
- Glide swim 10 metres underwater in the supine position from a back push
Learners may work towards the 400 metre Distance award.
Learning Outcomes
Swim 400 metres within 10 minutes, using a recognised competitive stroke- Swim 100 metres in 2 minutes
- Swim 4 x 50 metres of individual medley with correct turns and finishes
- Perform a tucked back somersault from a back layout and finish with a back layout
- Perform a tucked front somersault from a front layout and finish with a front layout
- Scull 15 metres head first, support scull for 5 seconds and 15 metres feet first
- Tread water, using eggbeater leg action, for 90 seconds (45 seconds x 2 directions)
- Tread water, catch a ball, swim 25 metres of polo crawl showing 3 changes in direction then pass the ball to another person OR synchronising with another, swim 10 metres of front crawl, change direction and swim 10 metres of back crawl, change direction and swim 10 metres of breaststroke
- Glide swim 10 metres underwater in the prone position from a front push
- Glide swim 10 metres underwater in the supine position from a back push
Learners may work towards the 600 metre Distance award.
Swim England Swimming Challenge Awards are for young people working towards the latter stages of Learn to Swim Stages 1-7 or Learn to Swim Stages 8-10 of the Aquatic Skills Framework, with Bronze, Silver, Gold and Honours Awards available.
Your children will be challenged to develop a wide range of skills and stamina in order to achieve the Awards, with a focus on good stroke style.
Stroke style for the Swim England Swimming Challenge Awards doesn’t have to comply with ASA law, but strokes must be co-ordinated, smooth and efficient.
Together with four certificates and accompanying badges, the Awards also come with a metal lapel badge with butterfly fastener as an optional extra.
Objectives for the Swimming Challenge Awards
Swimming Challenge Awards – Bronze
For the following grades Sections A and B may be completed on two different occasions, but each section must be completed without pause and in the order listed. This group of skills test the pupil’s ability:
Section A
- Jump into water of at least full reach depth.*
- Swim 10 metres, followed by a surface dive into water of at least full reach depth* and underwater swim for a distance of 5 metres.
- Tread water in a vertical position for three minutes.
- Scull head-first on the back for 15 metres with the feet at, or near, the surface throughout.
Section B
- Swim 400 metres using two strokes. (Changes of stroke can only occur at the completion of a length of the pool. A minimum of 100 metres is to be swum with each stroke.)
- Climb out at the deep end without assistance.
* Full reach depth is the distance from feet to finger tips of hands reaching above the head.
Swimming Challenge Awards – Silver
By completing this Award, you will have shown your ability to complete each of the following sections in the order listed without pause:
Section A
- Plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth.*
- Swim 100 metres in less than three minutes using any stroke. A change of stroke may only occur at the completion of a length of the pool.
- Tread water for two minutes with one hand behind the back.
- Swim 10 metres, followed immediately by two surface dives into water of full reach depth*, one head first and one feet first, bringing an object to the surface on each occasion.
- Scull head first on the back for 10 metres and return by sculling 10 metres feet first. A horizontal position must be maintained throughout.
Section B
- Swim 800 metres: 400 metres on the front and 400 metres on the back. A change of stroke may only occur every 50 metres.
- Climb out at the deep end without assistance.
* Full reach depth is the distance from feet to finger tips of hands reaching above the head.
Swimming Challenge Awards – Gold
By completing this Award, you will have shown your ability to complete each of the following sections in the order listed without pause:
Section A
- Plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth* and swim 100 metres in two minutes 30 seconds or less, using two different strokes, 50 metres of each.
- Tread water for three minutes with one hand remaining above the head throughout. The arm raised may be changed no more than five times.
- Scull head first on the back for 10 metres, move into a tucked position and turn through 360 degrees keeping the head above water. Return to the starting point by sculling feet first with the feet at or near the surface throughout and the hands close to the hips.
- Swim 10 metres, perform a forward somersault without touching the pool bottom and continue to swim in the same direction for a further 10 metres.
Section B
- Swim 800 metres using three of the following strokes: front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, English backstroke or sidestroke for a minimum distance of 200 metres per stroke. A change of stroke may only occur every 100 metres. This swim to be completed in 25 minutes.
- Climb out at the deep end without assistance.
* Full reach depth is the distance from feet to finger tips of hands reaching above the head.
Swimming Challenge Awards – Honours
By completing this Award, you will have shown your ability to complete each of the following sections in the order listed without pause:
Section A
- Make a straddle entry into water of at least full reach depth*, swim 5 metres into a piked surface dive to retrieve an object weighing approximately 2kg from water of full reach depth*; carry the object using a backstroke or sidestroke for a distance of 20 metres, to place it on the poolside.
- Scull 10 metres head first on the back; complete a back somersault finishing in a back layout position; perform a roll to take up a front layout position; carry out a front somersault finishing in a front layout position; tuck and rotate backwards into a back layout position and continue to scull feet first for 15 metres. Throughout all sculling and layout positions, the hands must remain close to the hips and the feet must be kept together on or near the surface of the water.
Section B
Complete the following in a total time of 20 minutes without a pause:
- Swim 200 metres front crawl, 200 metres backstroke and either 100 metres breaststroke or 50 metres butterfly. A change of stroke may only occur every 100 metres (except for butterfly).
- Swim 500 metres freestyle during which surface dive twice head first and twice feet first; on each surface dive, swim through two hoops 4 metres apart without surfacing. The tops of the hoops are to be at least 1 metre below the surface of the water.
* Full reach depth is the distance from feet to finger tips of hands reaching above the head.
The Rockhopper series is an exciting programme consisting of 9 awards which introduce learners with disabilities to the joy of water. The series develops water confidence and water skills as well as increasing water safety awareness and knowledge.
Complementing the Rockhopper Series of disabilities awards, the Emperor Series of distance awards enable the swimmer to increase their strength and stamina by swimming in their own style, using adapted strokes, from 5 metres to 400 metres. Each award has its own full colour A4 certificate and woven badge.
The Distance Series comprises a range of 20 awards that reward distance and stamina over distances from 5 metres to 5,000 metres and can be used as additional incentives throughout the International Learn to Swim Programme and Junior Lifeguard Academy.