Skip to content ↓
Summerhill School

Summerhill School

Childrens Lessons and Courses

Children's Lessons

Our swimming lessons are based on The Swim England Learn to Swim Programme . This is the leading national syllabus for delivering safe and effective swimming lessons for all ages.  It has been developed by swimming experts to engage and motivate learners of all ages and ability. Fun lesson content and clear, structured stages helps to build confidence and competence in the water from their first splash to gaining their enhanced aquatic skills. 

All our lessons are grouped based with the number of children in each group relative to the teacher ratios advised by Swim England.  We do not offer any 1:1 lessons.

The first two classes we offer are based on the age of the swimmer.  Adult and Child from 2 1/2 years of age and Pre-School from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years.  Swimmers 4 1/2 years and over are in classes according to their ability.  Please see the descriptors below for the requirements for each Stage. 

If you are unsure which class would be suitable for your child please do not hesitate to contact the Pathways Office.  We will happily advise you on class requirements and can offer a swimming assessment if necessary. 

Our lessons run during term time on weekday evenings and during the daytime on a weekend. 

How to apply for a place:

If you would like to apply for a place for your child please click on the link below which will take you to our New Applicant Enquiry Form.  Please complete and submit the form.  Once we have received it we will contact you when a place becomes available that suits your requirements.  We do have a short waiting list for some of our classes.

New Applicant Enquiry 


Stage Descriptors

Adult and Child

Children must be accompanied in the water by an adult. Children must be 2 1/2 years of age to join this class. The aim of the class is to introduce children to water and to develop basic water confidence.

Pre-School

Children must be 3 1/2 years of age before joining this class. The aim of the class is to develop basic watermanship skills and confidence in the water.

Stage 1

Children must be 4 1/2 years of age before joining this class. The class is for non-swimmers who need buoyancy aids in the water. The aim of this class is to develop independent movement in the water, basic watermanship skills and confidence.

Stage 2

This class is for children who need a reduce amount of buoyancy aids, they need to be able to move forwards, backwards & sideways confidently in the water for 5m. Children should be at ease with the water on their faces and showered over head. The aim of the class is to continue to develop water confidence, watermanship skills and independent movement. Children need to have completed their NPTS Stage 1 Award.

Stage 3

For children who can swim a minimum of 5m unaided on both their front and back using an alternating leg action and a paddle arm action. Children need to have completed their Stage 2 Award.

Stage 4

For children who can swim 10m on their front and back using an extended arm action on their front and a back paddle arm action on their backs. Children need to have completed their Stage 3 Award and need to be confident in deep water. The aim of this class is to develop a strong leg action in all four strokes. It will also develop watermanship skills.

Stage 5

Children must be able to swim a minimum of 10m on any stroke. They must also be able to kick 10m Frontcrawl with their face in the water and 10m Backcrawl using a sculling arm action. Children also need to be able to kick 10m Breaststroke and 10m Butterfly. They need to have completed their Stage 4. Children will be developing stroke technique and deep water watermanship skills in this group. Diving will be introduced.

Stage 6

Children must be able to swim 10m Frontcrawl, Backcrawl, Breaststroke and Butterfly in good style and have completed their Stage 5. The aim of this group is to continue to establish good stroke technique on all strokes. Children in this class work in lengths and will aim to develop their endurance as well as furthering their stroke technique. 

Stage 7

Children must be able to swim 25m Frontcrawl, Backcrawl and Breaststroke and 15m Butterfly in good style. Swimmers should have obtained Stage 6.

Once the swimmer has developed the core range of skills required to be confident, competent and safe in the water through Stages 1 to 7, the swimmer may then have the choice to take part in different aquatic disciplines.

At Summerhill we are able to offer:

Stages 8, 9 & 10 Rookie Lifeguard

Rookie Lifeguard is a RLSS scheme to introduce young people to lifesaving. Children can progress through Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. To join this group chidren must be able to swim 2 lengths on Frontcrawl, Backcrawl and Breaststroke and 1 length Butterfly and have obtained their Stage 7. In this stage children will continue to develop their endurance and swimming techniques as well as learning a whole range of skills linked to personal safety and the safety of others.

Survive & Save

Survive & Save is a high-level lifesaving award that trains you how to react in an emergency either on land or in the water. Swimmers must be at least 12 years of age and should be able to swim 100m in four minutes.