Babies and Pre-school
Programme Levels
Babies & Pre-school Skills and Progressions
At Kings Swim School, we believe that learning to swim is a journey that begins with the very youngest of learners.
Our Babies & Pre-School Programme is designed to introduce children to the water in a safe, supportive, and fun environment, laying the foundation for lifelong water confidence and essential swimming skills.
In this programme, we focus on age-appropriate techniques tailored to each developmental stage. From building trust and familiarity with the water to learning fundamental swimming movements, our expert instructors work closely with children and their parents to ensure every lesson is a positive and enriching experience.
Explore the detailed breakdown of our Babies & Pre-School Programme below to see how we nurture water safety, skill progression, and a love for swimming from the very start.
Not sure what level class your child should join?
Answer these few questions and find out.
Cuddlefish Level
Age: Babies from 3 months – 1 year. Parent required in the water.
Skills we are working towards in Cuddlefish:
- Safe entries and exits
- Intro to bubbles and spurting (breath control)
- Kicking, reaching and holding onto pool edge
- Water safety
- + more
Wigglefish Level
Age: Babies from 1 – 2 years.
Parent required in the water.
Skills we are working towards in Wigglefish:
- Safe entries and exits
- Encouraging bubbles and spurting (breath control)
- Kicking, reaching and holding onto pool edge
- Introduction to back floating
- + more
Pufferfish Level
Age: Toddlers from 2 – 3 years.
Parent required in the water.
Skills we are working towards in Pufferfish:
- Safe entries and exits
- Introduction to diving for underwater objects
- Kicking, reaching and holding pool edge
- Bubbles and breath control
- Kicking on the front
- + more
Bubblefish
Age: 2 years 10 months/3 years – 4 years 10 months/5 years. Parent required in the water.
Skills we are working towards in Pufferfish:
- Safe entries and exits
- Introduction to diving for underwater objects
- Kicking, reaching and holding pool edge
- Bubbles and breath control
- Kicking on the front
- + more
Clownfish
Age: 3 years – 4 years 10 months/5 years. Parent required in the water.
Skills we are working towards in Pufferfish:
- Safe entries and exits
- Introduction to diving for underwater objects
- Kicking, reaching and holding pool edge
- Bubbles and breath control
- Kicking on the front
- + more
Seahorse
Age: 4 – 5 years. No parent in the water.
Skills we are working towards in Pufferfish:
- Safe entries and exits
- Introduction to diving for underwater objects
- Kicking, reaching and holding pool edge
- Bubbles and breath control
- Kicking on the front
- + more
Nemo
Age: 4 – 5 years.
No parent in the water.
Skills we are working towards in the Nemo Level:
Safe entry
Developing circle arms with kicks
Kicking with kickboard
Starfish on back (with minimal support)
Starfish on front
Retrieving dive sticks from the bottom of the pool
Rolling from front to back (with support as required)
Developing independence
Wiggly worm
Sculling hands on back
any skills achieved in the previous level will be extended upon
Tiddlers
Age: 3.5 – 4 years 10 months/5 years.
No parent in the water.
Skills we are working towards in the Tiddlers Level:
- Safe entry
- Independent kick on back (5m)
- Rolling front to back by self
- Push-off and glide on back and front 2-3m
- Sculling hands with kicking, front and back
- Sitting dive
- Push-off and streamline underwater on front
- Single arm freestyle: 4 arm strokes and kicking with aid
- Fly kick or wiggly worm
- Forward roll
Tiddlers are our advanced preschool swimmers therefore we extend children in this level to the next stage/s as required.
Certificates
We love celebrating our swimmers’ hard work and progress!
Certificates and stickers are awarded at every level to recognise the effort and dedication it takes to move up a level. It’s our way of encouraging and celebrating each swimmer’s achievements as they grow in confidence and skill.
