Early years teaching reaches new level

Swim England and Water Babies have collaborated to produce their most advanced teaching qualification ever for pre-school swimming.

The Level 3 Teaching Pre-School Swimming (Advanced) qualification is set for immediate roll-out. It provides a blueprint for teaching early years swimmers from birth to four years old.

Water Babies teacher courses will now consist of Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) qualification and Level 2 Teaching Pre-School Swimming before moving onto the new Level 3.

New qualification elevates current standards

The course includes six weeks of e-learning, one week’s residential, post-course e-learning and a further 22 mentored and assessed lessons. This adds up to the highest level qualification available in early years’ swimming. The qualification will only be available via Water Babies courses.

Hannah Smith, Head of Aquatics, Water Babies said: “Water Babies prides itself on the quality of our teaching. Parents and carers expect the very best teaching for their babies and toddlers. This is what we and Swim England strive for and deliver.

“Alongside Swim England, we have a reputation for the highest standards of teaching, not just in the UK, but globally. This means that these new qualifications will be rolled out right across our network, ensuring the highest quality of early years lessons possible are delivered in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, China and Germany.

Simon Stevens, Swim England’s ASA Awarding Body Responsible Officer, said: “Our aim is to provide teachers with high quality training that enables them to deliver the best possible swimming lessons. As such, we continually review our qualifications to ensure they are of the highest quality and reflect the latest industry standards.

“This new qualification elevates our current standards. By collaborating with Water Babies, it ensures those who are teaching our youngest swimmers are properly equipped to do so.”