Swim Program
Learn to Swim Program Overview
Branksome Hall Asia’s Learn to Swim Program has been developed in progressive stages for our Junior School students. It allows each child to develop essential aquatic skills needed in order to be confident, competent, and safe in the water whilst having fun with their teachers and classmates.
We have developed clear outcomes for each of our Learn to Swim levels that we aim for all children to complete; starting in Level 1 by gaining basic movement skills and water confidence, we lead into the development of kicking, on both front and back. By Level 3, our swimmers learn to perfect their leg kicks for various strokes and further develop their pushing and gliding technique. By Level 5, students will have developed an efficient technique for all four strokes with coordinated breathing, improved diving skills, and hopefully a lifelong love of swimming.
Swim to Survive Program Overview
At Branksome Hall Asia we also offer a survival swim program which has been developed similarly to the Ontario (Canadian) Lifesaving Society Swim2Survive Program. This is not a swimming class; these lessons are designed to teach essential skills that could help your child survive an unexpected fall into deep water. Our program has been split into five levels, beginning with basic assisted treading and water entry building to Level 5 where students learn to fall into deep water, tread for one minute and then swim 50 meters to safety (using any stroke). We also teach students how to rescue tow a passive victim for 25 meters with a buoyant device (noodle) and swim to safety wearing clothing.
Level 1 Objectives
Level 1 Learn to Swim Objectives:
Enter the water safely.
Move forward unassisted for a distance of 5 meters (any stroke).
Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically with nose and mouth submerged.
Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.
Find sunken treasure on the pool platform.
Begin forward propulsion, 5 meters freestyle and backstroke kicking (assisted with a kick board).
Push and glide streamline on the front from a wall.
Push and glide streamline on the back from a wall.
Demonstrate an understanding of buoyancy; perform a starfish assisted.
Give examples of two pool rules.
Exit the water safely using the steps.
Level 1 Swim to Survive Objectives:
Roll into deep water (with goggles).
Tread water for 30 seconds (with noodle).
Swim 15 meters (with kick board).
Understand how to call for help.
Level 2 Objectives
Level 2 Learn to Swim Objectives:
Jump in from the poolside and submerge.
Perform a sitting dive.
Swim freestyle and backstroke with a kick board for 15 meters.
Sink, push away from the wall on side, and maintain a streamlined position through a hoop underwater.
Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.
Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.
Fully submerge to pick up an object from the pool floor assisted.
Push, glide, and travel 10 meters on the front.
Push, glide, and travel 10 meters on the back.
Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.
Perform a starfish unassisted.
Exit the water without using steps.
Demonstrate an understanding of pool rules.
Level 2 Swim to Survive Objectives:
Roll into deep water (with goggles).
Tread water for 30 seconds (with noodle).
Swim 15 meters (unassisted with any stroke).
Level 3 Objectives
Level 3 Learn to Swim Objectives:
Perform a kneeling dive.
Fully submerge to pick up an object from the pool floor.
Push, glide, and swim 15 meters (any stroke).
Understand the key elements of all four swim strokes.
Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front.
Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back.
Kick 25 meters as a pair using a pool noodle.
Begin working as a team in relay games.
Fully submerge to pick up an object from the pool floor unassisted.
Level 3 Swim to Survive Objectives:
Roll into deep water (no goggles).
Tread water for 30 seconds (unassisted).
Swim 25 meters (unassisted with any stroke).
Level 4 Objectives
Level 4 Learn to Swim Objectives:
Perform a standing dive.
Demonstrate an understanding of preparation for exercise (how to stretch before/after swimming).
Perform a forward somersault, tucked, in the water.
Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.
Push, glide, and swim 25 meters (any stroke).
Push, glide, and swim 15 meters backstroke.
Push, glide, and swim 15 meters front crawl.
Push, glide, and swim 15 meters breaststroke.
Push, glide, and swim 15 meters butterfly.
Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
Perform a forward somersault.
Demonstrate an action for getting help.
Begin learning basic rules of water polo.
Level 4 Swim to Survive Objectives:
Roll into deep water (no goggles).
Tread water for 45 seconds (unassisted).
Swim 50 meters (any stroke).
Level 5 Objectives
Level 5 Learn to Swim Objectives:
Perform a block dive.
Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick, and rotate into backstroke.
Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick, and rotate into front crawl.
Push, glide, and swim 50 meters (any stroke).
Push, glide, and swim 25 meters front crawl.
Push, glide, and swim 25 meters backstroke.
Push, glide, and swim 25 meters breaststroke.
Push, glide, and swim 25 meters butterfly.
Develop a sidestroke kick.
Perform a tumble turn.
Level 5 Swim to Survive Objectives:
Roll into deep water, tread water for one minute, and then exit (unassisted).
Swim 50 meters (any stroke).
Rescue tow a passive victim for 25 meters with a buoyant device (noodle).
Surface dive and swim 10 meters wearing clothes.
SK LEVEL VIDEO.mp4Grade 1 Swim Highlights 2020.mp4