Lesson Programme
Please find information on your weekly lesson programme. Every instructor follows this programme across all pools, and it is planned and delivered in line with the National Teaching Plan.
| SUMMER 2024 TERM | Stroke | Water skills focus |
|---|---|---|
| WEEK 1
(15/04-21/04) |
FRONT CRAWL | Streamlining
Streamlining is important at all stages of the learn-to-swim programme. Your instructor may have planned diving or streamlining practices for higher-ability swimmers through hoops or submerged objects. Your instructor may focus on ‘zooms’ or streamlining the body position through floating practices for Duckling swimmers and lower stages. |
| WEEK 2
(22/04-28/04) |
FRONT CRAWL | Submersions
Swimmers will be taught how to submerge based on their ability to do so safely. For advanced swimmers, the focus will be on breath control for longer periods, whilst beginner swimmers will build water confidence with toys and equipment. |
| WEEK 3
(29/04-05/05) |
BACKSTROKE | Floatations
Ahead of changing direction lessons, swimmers will receive floatation tuition. For swimmers up to Stage 2, we will develop a flat floating body position, and more advanced swimmers will learn skills such as treading water, skulling and synchronised swimming. |
| WEEK 4 (06/05-12/05) |
BACKSTROKE | Rotations
Following your floatation lesson, the team will focus on rotation to help aid your swimmer’s lessons in changing directions next week. Beginner swimmers will focus on flipping and floating; for our more advanced swimmers, this may focus on forward somersaults. |
| WEEK 5 (13/05-19/05) |
BREASTSTROKE (Stage 2 and above) FRONT CRAWL (Stage 1 and below, including Ducklings) |
Changing direction
As part of your swimming journey, your swimmer will be taught to change direction and body position as part of personal water safety and general water skills practices. For advanced swimmers, we may introduce forward rolls, tumble turns and log rolls, for beginner and intermediate swimmers (Duckling and up to Stage 2), we introduce ‘flip and float’, a personal water safety skill ahead of our water safety lesson. |
| WEEK 6 (20/05-26/05) |
BREASTSTROKE (Stage 2 and above) FRONT CRAWL (Stage 1 and below, including Ducklings) |
Jumping, diving and changing directions
We will be focusing on the following water skills during your lessons as below: The Beach and Woldingham – Jumping and Diving Thomas More – Jumping St Giles, Keston and The Hayes – Changing directions |
| BREAK
(27/05-02/06 |
HALF TERM – No swimming lessons | There are no weekly lessons during this week. We are instead running the May half-term Fast Track Course as follows:
Dates: Tuesday 28th – Friday 31st May 2024 (4 days) Location: Thomas More Catholic School, Purley Time: 9:00-11:30 am (30-minute allocated session) Please get in touch with the team at fast-track-courses@greatwaves.co.uk for more information on our upcoming courses. |
| WEEK 7 (03/06-09/06) |
BUTTERFLY (Stage 3 and above) FRONT CRAWL (Stage 2 and below, including Ducklings) |
Aquatic breathing
Aquatic breathing is fundamental to helping every swimmer towards their first steps of independent swimming. Beginners will focus on blowing bubbles, and our advanced swimmers will focus more on breath control and swimming short distances underwater. |
| WEEK 8 (10/06-16/06) |
BACKSTROKE | Water Safety
This week’s lesson will introduce water safety skills for Drowning Prevention Week next week. This will be delivered in an age and ability-appropriate manner. |
| WEEK 9 (17/06-23/06) |
BACKSTROKE | Water Safety – Drowning Prevention Week (Monday 17th – Sunday 23rd June 2024)
This week’s lesson will focus on water safety skills; every swimmer will receive a lesson focused on staying safe around water. This will be delivered in an age and ability-appropriate manner. |
| WEEK 10 (24/06-30/06) |
BREASTSTROKE (Stage 2 and above) FRONT CRAWL (Stage 1 and below, including Ducklings) |
Submersions
Swimmers will be taught how to submerge based on their ability to do so safely. For advanced swimmers, the focus will be on breath control for longer periods, whilst beginner swimmers will build water confidence with toys and equipment. |
| WEEK 11 (01/07-07/07) |
BUTTERFLY (Stage 3 and above) FRONT CRAWL (Stage 2 and below, including Ducklings) |
Jumping, diving and changing directions
We will be focusing on the following water skills during your lessons: The Beach and Woldingham – Jumping and Diving Thomas More – Jumping St Giles, Keston and The Hayes – Changing directions |
| WEEK 12 (08/07-14/07) |
BACKSTROKE | Floatations
Ahead of changing direction lessons, swimmers will receive floatation tuition. For swimmers up to Stage 2, we will develop a flat floating body position, and more advanced swimmers will learn skills such as treading water, skulling and synchronised swimming. |
| WEEK 13 (15/07-21/07) |
BACKSTROKE | Water Skills – Summer End-of-Term Circuits
This is the final week of swimming before the summer break, swimmers will swim for 15 minutes followed by a pool circuit of water skills activities to finish the term! |
| BREAK | SUMMER HOLIDAYS – No term-time swimming lessons | There are no weekly lessons until September 2024. We are instead running our Summer Fast Track Courses as follows:
Week 1: Monday 29th July – Friday 2nd August 2024 (5 days) Week 2: Monday 5th – Friday 9th August 2024 (5 days) Week 3: Monday 12th – Friday 16th August 2024 (5 days) Location: Thomas More Catholic School, Purley Time: 11:30 am-1:30 pm (30-minute allocated session) Don’t hesitate to contact the team at fast-track-courses@greatwaves.co.uk for more information on our upcoming courses. |
