Learn to Swim

A guide to the Learn to Swim Programme

Duckling Awards

All Awards

Duckling Awards are the next step on from the Discovery Duckling Awards.

They are designed to help toddlers enjoy learning to swim with help from their parents or guardians.

With Duckling Awards your child can work towards four different colourful Awards. Each Award has its own certificate and badge.

Duckling 1 will see children start to move by themselves in the water.

By Duckling 4 they will be jumping in, going underwater, floating and travel 10 metres without support.

Duckling Awards are great at promoting increased independence and water confidence to help prepare for Stage 1 of the Learn to Swim Framework.

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Download the My Learn to Swim app to have all the Duckling Awards outcomes on your phone, plus unlock awesome rewards as your child progresses through their swimming journey.

Duckling 1

By completing this Award you should be able to:

  1. Make a supervised safe entry with adult support if required.
  2. Float on back with adult support behind the head without floatation equipment.
  3. Blow bubbles at the water surface.
  4. Wet the head without submersion.
  5. Kick 5 metres on back with adult support.
  6. Travel without adult support for 2 metres to a floating object.
  7. Enter the pool, rotate and return to the side with adult support.
  8. Exit the water safely with minimal adult support.

Duckling 2

By completing this Award you should be able to:

  1. Make a sitting entry with adult support if required.
  2. Rotate 180 degrees either using a log roll or an upright position, using floatation equipment and without adult support.
  3. Submerge the face with confidence and without force under adult supervision.
  4. Blow an object for a distance of 2 metres.
  5. Travel 3 metres using arms and/or legs without adult support.
  6. Move 5 metres along the rail or wall without adult support.
  7. Enter the pool, rotate and return to the side with minimal adult support.
  8. Exit the water safely with minimal adult support.

Duckling 3

By completing this Award you should be able to:

  1. Make a supervised jump to an adult with or without support.
  2. Float on the front or back without adult support.
  3. Push off on the front or back in a streamlined shape from a supporting adult.
  4. Blow bubbles with the mouth and nose underwater.
  5. Travel 5 metres on the front to the side of the pool without adult support.
  6. Kick 5 metres on the front holding a float (the adult may hold the other end of the float).
  7. Enter the pool, rotate and return to the side without adult support.
  8. Climb out of the water with adult support if required.

Duckling 4

By completing this Award you should be able to:

  1. Jump into the water unaided, but supervised.
  2. Perform a mushroom or star float.
  3. Rotate 360 degrees either using a log roll or an upright position.
  4. Push and glide achieving a streamlined position on the front or back.
  5. Submerge completely.
  6. Travel 10 metres on the front or back, without adult support.
  7. Jump into the water, turn around, swim back to the point of entry and hold on to the side or rail.
  8. Climb out of the water with adult support if required.
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