At the end of each term we assess the children's swimming technique to allow us to place them in the correct ability class for the following term. The assessments are completed from week 8 of the course. These assessments also determine which Seals award the children are tested on during the award session. The testing for the awards will be completed during the last lesson of term (week 12).

The awards include elements of water skills and all of the award citeria must be passed to gain the award. Therefore the swimming assessment may differ from the award given. If a child cannot complete certain parts of the award they will tested on a distance award. No child will go home from an award session empty handed. For example; If a child is assessed as a Level 5 swimmer but is unable to complete a handstand they may receive a Seals 4 award (if all criteria passed and they do not already have this) or a distance award.

Please find a list of the awards and their criteria below;

Seals Pup 1 - NNS - 2 bouyancy aids may be used.

• Blow bubbles on the surface of the pool
• Splash legs on the front
• Float on the front
• Rotate 360 degrees (2 aids)
• Kick 3 metres on the front

Seals Pup 2 - NNS - 2 bouyancy aids may be used

• Blow bubbles with the mouth under water
• Lie with the ears in the water
• Float on the back and sit up
• Splash legs on the back
• Kick 3 metres on the back

Seals Pup 3 - NNS/NS - 1 bouyancy aid may be used

• Hum through the nose on the water
• Float on the back for 5 seconds
• Push and glide on the front
• Kick 3 metres on the back
• Swim 3 metres on the front using arms and legs

Seals Pup 4 - NS - 1 bouyancy aid may be used

• Blow bubbles with the face in the water
• Rotate 360 degrees (1 aid)
• Push and glide on the back
• Kick 6 metres on the back
• Swim 6 metres on the front

Seals Pup 5 - NS/L1 - no bouyancy aids

• Submerge completely
• Pick up an odject from shallow water
• Star float for 5 seconds
• Kick legs 1-3 metres on the back
• Swim 1-3 metres arms and legs on front

Seals Level 1 Swimmer

• Push and Glide on the back
• Push and Glide on the front
• Mushroom float for 5 seconds
• Swim 3-6 metres using leg kick on the back
• Swim 3-6 metres using arms and legs on the front

Seals Level 2 Swimmer

• Tread water for 5 seconds
• Submerge and blow bubbles for 3 seconds
• Push and Glide on the front for 2 metres
• Swim 6 metres back paddle
• Swim 3 metres front crawl

Seals Level 3 Swimmer

• Jump in and collect an object, swim back to the side
• Push and Glide on the back for 2 metres
• Submerge completely for 5 seconds
• Swim 6 metres Back crawl
• Swim 6 metres Front crawl

Seals Level 4 Swimmer

• Pick up an object from the bottom of the pool 0.9m-1.2m
• Mushroom float for 10 seconds
• Star float on the back for 10 seconds
• Swim 10 metres rotating from Front crawl to Back crawl
• Swim 10m of good Back crawl with arms over the water
• Swim 10m of 1 arm Front crawl breathing with a float

Seals Level 5 Swimmer

• Hold a Push and Glide for 5 seconds
• Handstand on the bottom of the pool
• Swim underwater for 3m through a hoop
• Swim 15 metres of good Back crawl with controlled arms
• Swim 10 metres of good Front crawl with breathing
• Swim 10 metres on the back using Breast stroke legs with the feet turned out

Seals Level 6 Swimmer

• Complete a forward roll
• Kick 10 metres Front crawl leg kick with arms extended
• Swim 25 metres of efficient Back crawl
• Swim 15 metres of efficient Front crawl breathing
• Swim 15 metres of good Breaststroke legs on the front with a float using regular breathing
• Complete 10m Dolphin kick

Seals Level 7 Swimmer

• Swim underwater for 5 metres to a brick, return to the side on backs with the brick held to the chest
• Complete a backward roll in the water
• Kick 10m Back crawl legs with the arms extended
• Swim 25 metres of effective Front crawl
• Swim 25 metres of effective Breaststroke
• Swim 20 metres of effective Dolphin kick