Starfish Plus

Infant Aquatic Familiarisation Class with Parent

• Age:s 12-24 mths
• Class Ratio 1:8
• Class Duration: 30 mins

The Starfish Plus class focus is on water familiarisation and skill enhancement for the older infant. This class continues on from the Starfish lesson rationale providing new and extension skill set from the previous level. More expansive skills are taught in this class with a focus on increased breath control and independent swimming. Further stimulation is provided by the participation in small aquatic circuits including such activities as the ‘platform crawl’ and ‘fun mat safety roll’. Gradual separation and detachment of infant and parent will be fostered in this class as guided by the instructor. This activity is essential in the preparation of the infant for the next stage of independent swimming where parents are not in the water with the child. As in the early years Starfish class, lessons are conducted in a happy, fun, relaxed and nurturing environment with game and song playing a leading role in the lesson structure with trigger words still being utilised when practicing advanced submersion drills and swims.

Starfish Transition

Infant Aquatic Familiarisation Class with Parent

Ages: 24ths+

Class Ration: 1:3

Class Duration: 30 minutes

Starfish “Transition” will focus on transitioning students into independent swimming classes where parents are not in the water with their child. Under the swimming teachers’ direct supervision, students will perform set aquatic drills & activities with decreased parental involvement. This is a gradual process in which student/parent ‘detachment’ is monitored and assessed by the swimming teacher during each class. At the end of the Starfish Transition level students are happy and confident to work under the instruction of the swimming teacher with parents having minimal class involvement. This is essential criteria for students to progress to the independent swimming level of Mini Octopus.

Mini Octopus

Toddler/Preschool Aquatic Confidence & Self Preservation Class

• Ages: under 5yrs
• Class Ratio 1:3
• Class Duration: 30 mins

The Mini Octopus class focus on developing water confidence and independent range of propulsive movements. The class aims to teach the basics of aquatic safety & survival with a focus on breath control (blowing bubbles), submersion, kicking, paddling and floating on the back in a fun, relaxed and happy environment.  The child will learn safe entry and exits and be introduced to basic self-preservation survival skills. At the end of the Mini Octopus level the child will display confidence in the water and follow instructor directions as well as demonstrating a basic range of unassisted skills such as full face submersion, perform floating techniques and monkey wall walk as well as independent propulsive swimming from instructor to steps and or platform up to a distance 1.5-2M. Students will need to display sound ‘Self-Preservation’ skills to progress into Level 1 of the Learn to Swim Program.

Mini Seahorse

LEVEL 1 – Preschool Self Propulsion & Learner Class

• Ages: under 5yrs
• Class Ratio 1:4
• Class Duration: 30 mins

The Mini Seahorse class focus on further development of water confidence and have a basic awareness of water safety. The aim is for the progression of skills acquired in the introduction levels whilst performing regular kicking with the use of a kick board or pool noodle to achieve an improved body position. Less vertical and an improved horizontal body position during their unassisted freestyle & backstroke with regular practice of freestyle combined with a strong kick from a well performed push and glide off the wall/platform over a 3-4M distance. The child has a greater awareness of exhaling air through their mouth and nose through improved submersion skills and demonstrates front and back floating techniques confidently. The child will also practice safe pool entry and exits. The instructor will further educate the student on safety within the swimming facility and other aquatic environments. The class will continue to strengthen basic survival skills for self-preservation in an aquatic environment.

Mini Turtle

LEVEL 2 – Pre School Kick/Stroke Class

• Ages: under 5yrs
• Class Ratio 1:4
• Class Duration: 30 mins

The Mini Turtle class will focus on the further development of improved body position, a streamlined freestyle kick and glide propulsion, increased freestyle and backstroke kicking endurance as with demonstrating a greater awareness of water safety. The aim is for progression of skills acquired in the Learner level, introduction to side breathing freestyle with emphasis on big arms, increased backstroke endurance and the introduction of breaststroke kick. The child demonstrates good breath control through submersion based drills using flutter kick, breaststroke kick and ‘wiggly worm’ dolphin kick. The child confidently performs controlled back floating techniques as part of the self-preservation component and practices safe pool entry and exits. The child demonstrates improved body position during their unassisted freestyle with an effective kick and consistently well performed push and glide off the wall/platform. The child performs unassisted backstroke and freestyle over an 7-8M distance. The instructor will further educate the child on safety within various aquatic environments and the child demonstrates a range of survival skills for self-preservation.