Learn to Swim Pathway
Our Learn to Swim Pathway
At Young Talent Swim School, our pathway is designed to develop confident, competent and safe swimmers through a structured programme based on Scottish Swimming’s Learn to swim programme. Every swimmer progresses at their own pace, with our teachers focusing on building strong technique, confidence and water safety skills at every stage. The pathway and outcomes below are based on the standards used throughout our programme
Pre-School
Our Pre-School stage focuses on building confidence, independence and safety in the water.
Swimmers learn to:
- Enter and exit the pool safely
- Fully submerge and confidently control their breathing
- Float on both front and back
- Travel independently through the water
- Jump into the pool safely
- Develop the foundations for future stroke development
Swim Skills 1A
Swimmers begin developing independent movement and the foundations of the four competitive strokes.
Key outcomes include:
- Independent floating and gliding
- Front crawl and back crawl over short distances
- Kicking techniques on front and back
- Bilateral breathing foundations
- Improved body position and balance
- Increased confidence in the water
Swim Skills 1B
At this stage, swimmers develop greater independence and control in the water.
Key outcomes include:
- Front crawl and back crawl over 10 metres
- Streamlined push and glides
- Independent kicking without floats
- Sculling and water movement skills
- Rotation and body control
- Underwater confidence and object retrieval
Swim Skills 2
Swimmers begin refining technique and building endurance.
Key outcomes include:
- Front crawl and back crawl over longer distances
- Consistent bilateral breathing
- Breaststroke kick development
- Improved streamlining and efficiency
- Surface diving and underwater confidence
- Water safety skills, including swimming without goggles
Swim Skills 3
This is an important milestone within the YTSS pathway and is the level at which we generally consider a swimmer to be competent and confident in the water.
Key outcomes include:
- 25m front crawl with consistent technique
- 25m back crawl with consistent technique
- Breaststroke coordination
- Basic butterfly technique
- Treading water for 30 seconds
- Sculling for 25m
- Deep water confidence and self-rescue skills
- Aquatic breathing, body control and water safety awareness
Swim Skills 4
Swimmers continue developing all four competitive strokes while improving endurance, efficiency and advanced water skills.
Key outcomes include
- 50m front crawl
- 50m back crawl
- 50m breaststroke
- 15m butterfly
- Diving and underwater skills
- Advanced treading water
- Preparation for club swimming and competitive pathways
Club-Ready
The final stage of our pathway prepares swimmers for club swimming and more advanced aquatic participation.
Key outcomes include:
- 100m front crawl
- 100m back crawl
- 50m breaststroke
- 25m butterfly
- Introduction to race skills and turns
- Individual medley foundations
- Lane discipline and swimming etiquette
- Readiness for progression into competitive swimming clubs where appropriate
Typical Progression Times
Every swimmer progresses at a different pace depending on factors such as age, confidence, attendance and practice outside lessons. The timescales below are averages and intended as a guide only.
- Pre-School: 18 months
- Swim Skills 1A: 18 months
- Swim Skills 1B: 12 months
- Swim Skills 2: 6–9 months
- Swim Skills 3: 6–9 months
- Swim Skills 4: 4–6 months
- Club-Ready: 4–6 months
Our teachers focus on fully embedding skills before progression, ensuring swimmers build strong technique, confidence and water safety skills for life.