School Age Program
Swimming is an important life skill and an essential skill to acquire as a child living in and around Newcastle and its beautiful water ways and many swimming locations. At ELSC we are passionate about teaching children the wonderful art of swimming in conjunction with aquatic survival skills in all of our school age learn to swim and stroke refinement levels.
The school age program operates each weekday afternoon and Saturday mornings. The school age program begins at the water confidence level for those children with little to no swimming experience or confidence then progressing into six learn to swim and stroke refinement levels. We do not teach with flotation aids such as back bubbles, arm bands or buoyancy vests however kick boards and water noodles are used in the school age program.
Maximum class numbers are based on level ability with class size increasing as children work their way through the ELSC school age progressive levels. Safety is a core element of the school age lesson plan and all lessons are structured around ELSC’s safe practice code.
School Age Progression Chart
School Age Aquatic Confidence & Self Preservation Class
OCTOPUS
School Age Aquatic Confidence & Self Preservation Class
- Ratio 1:3
- Class Duration: 30 Minutes
The Octopus class will focus on developing water confidence and self-preservation survival skills. This class will introduce students to kicking movements, paddling and big arms, breath control, floating techniques (front & back) and submersion skills. The aim of the Octopus class is to have the child competently & confidently complete skills and be able to paddle up to 3M unassisted. The child will practise safe entry and exit techniques. This is a water confidence and self-preservation class and all students are required to meet the Seahorse entry criteria before moving into the first level of Learn to Swim at ELSC.
SEAHORSE
LEVEL 1 – School Age Self Propulsion & Learner Class
- Ratio 1:4
- Class Duration: 30 Minutes
The Seahorse class will build on child’s water confidence and basic awareness of water safety. The aim is to progress on the skills acquired in the introduction levels whilst introducing regular kicking with the use of swimming aids such as kick boards and water noodles to assist in the development of good body position. Students will display a less vertical and improved horizontal body position during their freestyle and backstroke with regular practice of freestyle combined with a strong kick from a well performed push and glide off wall/platform over a 5M distance. The child has a greater awareness of exhaling their air from their mouth and nose, improved submersion skills and demonstrates good front and back floating techniques as with safe entry and exit skills. The instructor will further educate the child on safety within the facility, aquatic environment and develop further their basic survival skills for self-preservation.
TURTLE
LEVEL 2 – School Age Kicking & Stroke Class
- Class Ratio 1:5
- Class Duration: 30 Minutes
The Turtle class will focus on 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 and an introduction to side breathing in freestyle working on a relaxed and correct head position with an emphasis on big arms in freestyle, increased backstroke endurance and an introduction to breaststroke kick. The child demonstrates good breath control through submersion based skills using flutter kick, breaststroke kick & ‘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 and backstroke with an effective kick and consistently well performed push and glide off the wall and or platform. The child performs an unassisted backstroke and freestyle swim over an 8-10M 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.
STINGRAY
LEVEL 3 – School Age Kicking, Breathing & Stroke Class
- Ratio: 1:6
- Class Duration: 30 Minutes
The Stingray class will focus on further development of kicking endurance, reinforcement of correct body position and streamlined swimming. Students can demonstrate long axis freestyle and backstroke over increased distances of up to 12.5-15M. Further development of breaststroke kick and the introduction of breaststroke arms and the teaching of formal butterfly kick will occur in the Stingray level. Students will strengthen their already establish breathing pattern in freestyle, working with a 2 to 4 stroke breathing pattern. Students with an already established bilateral breathing pattern will continue to refine their breathing pattern with focus on correct head positioning and relaxed head turning control. Basic tumble turns drills are introduced as is diving practice. Students will also learn underwater streamline push off from wall on front and back using a dolphin kick action. Stingray students will consistently display safe pool entry and exits. The Stingray level will continue with water safety education with constant reinforcement of aquatic safety and survival skills in different aquatic environments.
DOLPHIN
LEVEL 4 – School Age Complete Stroke Timing Class
- Ratio 1:8
- Class Duration: 30 Minutes
The Dolphin class will focus on the further development and reinforcement of skills learned in the Stingray level. Reinforcement of streamlining off the wall with correct kick with & without a kick board. We aim for your child to be able to swim 15-20M freestyle performing correct technique, displaying a comfortable breathing pattern and good body position. Students will also complete 10-15M of backstroke with correct body position and good stroke timing. Further refinement and timing of breaststroke and butterfly kick will be furthered strengthened in the Dolphin level. Butterfly arms will be introduced when butterfly kick is well established. Underwater streamline push off with dolphin kick action in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly will be further developed. Students will be introduced to freestyle tumble turns in their most basic form. Dive practice will continue in this level. Instructors will continue to educate the students on water safety and introduce basic aquatic rescue procedures as part of our water safety component.
ORCA SQUAD
LEVEL 5 – School Age Advanced Stroke & Refinement Class
- Ratio 1:10
- Class Duration: 45 Minutes
- Multi Session Package Available (1-2 or 3+)
The Orca class will focus on the further development and reinforcement of skills learned in the Dolphins level. Reinforcement of streamlining off the wall and correct kick with & without a kick board. We aim for your child to be able to swim 25M freestyle, demonstrating correct stroke, breathing and body position. Students will also complete 25M backstroke swim with correct body position and stroke timing. Further stroke correction and refinement of breaststroke and butterfly will continue in this level. A focus on extended tumble turn drills will continue leading into a well performed tumble turn on exit from the Orca level. All starts, turns and wall push offs will see an underwater streamlined dolphin kick action performed in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Dives and finishes will also be an element of focus in this level. The pace clock will be introduced in readiness for entry in the next level of Marlin. Orca will continue aquatic safety education with aquatic rescues being performed using equipment typically found in the aquatic environment.
MARLIN SQUAD
LEVEL 6 – School Age Stroke Refinement & Pre-Squad Class
- Ratio 1:12
- Class Duration: 60 Minutes
- Multi Session Package Available (1-2 or 3+)
The Marlin class will focus on the mechanics of all four swimming strokes. Swimming technique is refined and swimmers prepare for entry into squad swimming. Further development of the students swimming endurance is strengthened with continual lap swimming. The student has an understanding of interval and set training under pace clock control. Swimmers display positive participation in the class under instruction from the Marlin coach. Swimmers further develop their dive, start and turn skills and regular timed swims all form part of the transition of the Marlin swimmer into the next level of squad. Marlin students are encouraged to attend up to two sessions per week in preparation for entry into Mini Squad.
