Assessment and tracking progress

Assessment and tracking progress

We teach our lessons alongside the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework. Swim England is the National Governing Body for swimming and the framework they have created takes the non-swimmer from his or her first splash to developing confidence and competence in the water. Our swim teachers train regularly to ensure they work within these guidelines and children progress through the stages.

Track your child's progress online

Our online swimming portal allows you to track your child's progress. The system allows you to view each specific competency required for your child to progress to the next level, and how well they are performing in these areas. The system is updated by our instructors after each session. To gain access to the system please speak to a member of St Luke's Sports Centre staff.

Assessment criteria (Swim England LTS Framework)

  1. Enter the water safely with support
  2. Float comfortably on the back with support
  3. Blow bubbles at the water surface
  4. Wet the head without submersion
  5. Travel without assistance 2m to a floating object
  1. Sitting entry without support
  2. Blow an object for a distance of 2m
  3. Move 5m along wall without assistance
  4. Swim 3m using arms and legs without assistance, floating aids maybe used
  5. Submerge face with confidence
  1. Make a supervised jump to an adult with/without support
  2. Kick 5m on the front holding a float
  3. Blow bubbles with mouth under the water
  4. Float on the front or back without support
  5. Show a torpedo shape on front or back when pushed to a partner
  1. Jump unaided, but supervised, into the water
  2. Submerge completely
  3. Rotate through 360° vertically or horizontally
  4. Show a mushroom or a star float
  5. Travel without assistance 5m on front or back (floating aids may be used)
  6. Climb out of the water with or without assistance
  1. Enter the water safely
  2. Move forwards for a distance of 5 metres
  3. Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres
  4. Move sideways for distance of 5 metres
  5. Scoop the water and wash face
  6. Be at ease with water showered from overhead
  7. Move into a stretched floating position using aids, equipment or support
  8. Regain an upright position from on the back with support
  9. Regain an upright position from on the front with support
  10. Push and glide in a horizontal position to or from a wall
  11. Take part in a teacher-led partner orientated game
  12. Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules
  13. Exit the water safely
  1. Jump in from poolside safely
  2. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically with nose and mouth submerged
  3. Regain upright position from the back without support
  4. Regain an upright position from the front without support
  5. Push from wall and glide on the back
  6. Push from wall and glide on the front
  7. Travel on the back for 5 metres, aids or equipment may be used
  8. Travel on the front for 5 metres, aids or equipment may be used
  9. Perform a rotation from the front to the back to gain an upright position
  10. Perform a rotation from the back to the front to gain an upright position

Extra skill: Ensure swimmer is confident swimming across the width of the pool in the deep end, without adult support

  1. Jump in from poolside and submerge (min depth 0.9m)
  2. Sink, push away from wall on side and maintain a streamlined position
  3. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back
  4. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front
  5. Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back.
  6. Fully submerge to pick up an object
  7. Answer correctly three questions on the Water Safety Code
  8. Push and glide and travel 10m on the back
  9. Push and glide and travel 10m on the front
  10. Perform a tuck float and hold for 3 seconds
  11. Exit the water without using steps
  1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating at the surface
  2. Push and glide from the wall to the pool floor
  3. Kick 10m backstroke (one item of equipment optional)
  4. Kick 10m front crawl (one item of equipment optional)
  5. Kick 10m butterfly on the front or on the back
  6. Kick 10m breaststroke on the front (equipment optional)
  7. Perform on the back a head first sculling action for 5m in a flat position
  8. Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front
  9. Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back
  10. Swim 10m, choice of stroke is optional
  1. Perform a flat stationary scull on the back
  2. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres whilst horizontal on the back
  3. Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation
  4. Tread water for 30 seconds
  5. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water
  6. Swim 10m backstroke (refer to the Swim England expected stroke standards sheet)
  7. Swim 10m front crawl face in the water (refer to the Swim England expected stroke standards sheet)
  8. Swim 10m breaststroke (refer to the Swim England expected stroke standards sheet)
  9. Swim 10m butterfly (refer to the Swim England expected stroke standards sheet)
  10. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds
  11. Perform a forward somersault, tucked, in the water
  12. Demonstrate an action for getting help
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise
  2. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke
  3. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl
  4. Swim 10m wearing clothes
  5. Swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths
  6. Swim breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths
  7. Swim butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths
  8. Swim 25m, choice of stroke is optional
  9. Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue
  10. Perform a surface dive
  11. Exit the water without using steps

To view a video demonstration please visit our YouTube channel.

  1. Swim 25m backstroke
  2. Swim 25m front crawl
  3. Swim 25m breaststroke
  4. Swim 25m butterfly
  5. Perform a movement sequence of 1 minute duration, in a group of three or more, incorporating a number of the following skills:
    • Sculling: head first, feet first
    • Rotation: forward/backward somersault, log roll
    • Floating: star on the front/on the back, tuck float, create own
    • Eggbeater: moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water link skills with strokes and sculls
  6. Perform a sitting dive or dive
  7. Swim 50 metres continuously using one stroke
  8. Swim 100 metres, using a minimum of three different strokes
  9. Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds
  10. Complete an obstacle course (using minimum of four objects) with feet off the pool floor throughout
  1. Complete a set lasting 400m (e.g. 16m x 25m) on a specific turn around time set by the coach (e.g. 1 minute for each 25m)
  2. Swim 400m continuously using one stroke
  3. Kick 25m backstroke with/without using a board
  4. Kick 25m breaststroke with/without using a board
  5. Kick 25m butterfly without using a board
  6. Kick 25m front crawl with/without using a board
  7. Perform a backstroke turn from 10m in to 15m out
  8. Perform a breaststroke turn from 10m in to 15m out
  9. Perform a butterfly turn from 10m in to 15m out
  10. Perform a front crawl turn from 10m in to 15m out
  1. Complete a set lasting 800m (either 16 x 50m; 8 x 100m; 4 x 200m) on a specific turn-around time set by the coach e.g. 1.30min for 50m; 2.45min for 100m; 6.00min for 200m
  2. Swim 800m continuously using one stroke
  3. Swim a continuous 100m Individual Medley using legal turns
  4. Perform a 15m underwater kick on front in a streamlined position
  5. Perform a backstroke start then butterfly kick in a streamlined position underwater until 10m from the start point (wall), transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m
  6. Perform a front crawl start, underwater kick in a streamlined position until a minimum of 10m from the start point (wall) is completed, transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m
  7. Perform a butterfly start, kick in a streamlined position until a minimum of 10m from the start point (wall) is completed, transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m
  8. Perform a breaststroke start, perform a 1½ pull under water, transfer into stroke and complete the remainder of the 25m
  1. Complete a set lasting 1600m (either 16 x 100m; 8 x 200m; 4 x 400m) on a specific timed turn around set by the coach (e.g. 2.30min for 100m; 5.30min for 200m; 12min for 400m)
  2. Swim 1500m continuously using one stroke
  3. Perform a continuous 100m Individual Medley kick without using a kick board
  4. Swim a continuous 200m Individual Medley using legal turns
  5. Perform a 15m under water butterfly kick on back or front in a streamlined position
  6. Perform a front crawl relay take over: - as an incoming swimmer
  7. Perform a front crawl relay take over: - as an outgoing swimmer

Grading System

We operate continuous assessment here at St Luke’s, meaning that teachers are marking swimmers’ progress during each lesson. Once the swimmer has achieved the required skills consistently, they will be eligible to move up. The grading system we use can be viewed in the Grading system PDF.

The grading system enables consistent assessment between all of our teachers, so that if a teacher is absent one week then their lessons can still be assessed by a cover teacher thanks to the thoroughness of the grading system.