Primary School Teacher Certificate for the Teaching of Swimming

Qualified School Teacher status

To equip a qualified teacher to develop a range of aquatic skills

Objectives

1. To equip the teacher with basic technical knowledge

Syllabus
- Fundamental principles of flotation, resistance, propulsion and rotation
- Acquisition of skill
- The four recognised strokes
- Principles and practice of skill analysis
- Development of technique through the use of progressive practices appropriate to a variety of activities
- Teaching beginner
- Identification of faults, causes and corrections
- Water Safety
- Skills to be covered in addition to the four recognised strokes:
Entries, exits, floating, breathing, sculling, regaining the standing position, treading water, transition to deep water, HELP and Huddle, surface dives, straddle jump

2. To equip the teacher with knowledge of Health and Safety in the pool environment

Syllabus
- Roles and responsibilities
- Legal requirements
- NOPs and EAPs
- Knowledge of types and location of rescue equipment
- Health and fitness benefits of swimming

3. To assist the teacher to transfer existing skills into the pool environment

Syllabus
- Management of the swimming environment
- Positioning on the poolsid
- Visual communication
- Working with a group
- Working with different abilities, including the more advanced swimmers
- Lesson formatting
- Assessment - including the use of incentive awards 
 

4. To familiarise teachers with the TOP Sport Swimming programme

Syllabus
- The use of the TOP Sport swimming cards within a swimming programme
- The TOP Sports swimming cards and their relationship to the National Curriculum Resource Pack

5. To make teachers aware of the ASA National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS)

6. To assist teachers to develop swimming and water safety within their own school

Syllabus
- Planning an effective school programme
- School/Club links
- Role of the ESSA/ASA/RLSS

Method of Assessment

Each teacher will be continuously assessed within the practical context

Time Allocation

Nine hours theoretical content

Two hours TOP Sport Swimming

Six hours practical to include:
- TOP Sport Swimming
- Practical application of Health and Safety provision
- Development of those skills included in the syllabus
- Working with a group
- Working with different abilities
- A lesson demonstration given by the Tutor illustrating a mixed ability lesson

Throughout the course there should be a gradual increase in the number of pupils taught from a small group e.g 4 to a large group of 10+ 

Course Administration

Each course will normally comprise a maximum of 12 candidates per tutor

All administration will be through the ASA Workforce Development Office

All tutors must be registered with the ASA

Please note that there is a fee for PESSCL funded courses which are under capacity, to encourage full utilisation of the free resources. There is a charge of  £10 per candidate below the recommended number of candidates for the course, e.g a course of 10 will be charged £20. 

Level of Responsibility

This certificate will equip a qualified school teacher to take a group of children without additional supervision. (This does not include appropriate life guarding provision.)

Supplementary Notes

Each candidate will receive a pre course study pack covering:

Course outline
Safe supervision document
Brief introduction to four recognised strokes
fundamentals
Brief introduction to water safety
General information covering
ASA Award Scheme
Rescue Test syllabus
Link to ASA Education Programme
Useful contacts
National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NTPS)
ASA Policy Statements - jumping into shallow water
Teaching Diving
Teaching from the poolside
Where to go from here?

Introduction to Swimming Teaching and Coaching (ASA)
Rookie Lifesaver (RLSS UK)

Delivery of the course syllabus will be planned by the tutor in consultation with the LEA/LA Course Organiser (eg. Number of sessions, allocation of Practical and Theory sessions, etc.)