ABOUT THE CURRENT NATIONAL PLAN FOR TEACHING SWIMMING
Please note that a review of the NPTS is currently being undertaken.
The NPTS has been developed by the ASA to provide a template for learn to swim schemes. It has been designed to assist qualified teachers whose own experience and training will enhance the implementation of the plan. The NPTS is a comprehensive, integrated, progressive teaching programme based upon sound technical and educational principles and provides a standard reference for those responsible for planning swimming programmes.
Set a national standard for performance - local schemes can equate to local standards. The NPTS aims to provide a degree of consistency throughout the country with regard to what we expect swimmers to do and how we expect them to do it.
Challenge lesson providers to structure the progress of swimmers based on achievement and not organisational convenience - progress through some learn to swim schemes is often based upon low interpretation of awards or criteria along with demands to move through the scheme as quickly as possible. Integral to the NPTS is a clear assessment process with progression through the scheme based on the achievement of clearly identified outcomes. Inevitably, therefore, some children will move through the scheme at a faster rate than others.
Develop a wide range of skills - the content of the NPTS prepares swimmers to participate in a variety of different disciplines and in so doing develops a more rounded and more skilful performer. This will increase the range of opportunities open to the swimmer in terms of future development whilst at the same time provides a sound skill basis for those wishing to progress to the competitive aspect of the sport.
Emphasise the importance of initial orientation - time devoted to initial orientation, to generating a feeling of being at ease in the water will enhance the development of more complex skills. Great emphasis is given, therefore, to water confidence activities particularly in the first two levels of the plan.
Develop high reliability through repetition, revision and consolidation - if you take the opportunity to look around a busy swimming pool, particularly if lanes have been allocated to allow for people to swim up and down, you could be excused for thinking that, whilst we may be a nation of swimmers, in reality we are a nation of poor swimmers. Incorrect head positions, poor body alignment, ineffective kicking and pulling and the sight of people fighting against the water are all too commonplace. The NPTS attempts to address this problem through improvements in the quality of learn to swim provision. Implicit in this is the raising of expectations of teachers, parents and swimmers. The NPTS aims to raise these expectations to a new level; to emphasise quality in stroke execution; to establish a situation whereby all children learn how to dive effectively; to have some awareness of other disciplines in which they might participate and to enhance their understanding of the benefits which swimming can add in terms of a healthy lifestyle.
Identify the correct standards of skill performance - for too long there has been ambiguity in respect of what constitutes the correct standard of performance over a range of aquatic skills. This is particularly the case in terms of the swimming strokes where the standard expected becomes very much that of the individual teacher and will, therefore, inevitably vary from teacher to teacher and from scheme to scheme. The NPTS identifies very clearly the standards expected at different levels of performance and will hopefully develop, over time, greater consistency in the application of standards.
Provide assessment against clearly identified outcomes - assessment is a critical aspect of the NPTS as this forms the basis for progression from one level to another. The outcomes are clearly stated and provide a reference point by which progression can be easily measured.
Provide a direct link to the ASA Awards Scheme - the ASA incentive Awards Scheme provides an excellent means of motivating swimmers of all abilities with a simple way of measuring progress. The development of the NPTS has provided the opportunity to produce twelve awards, the criteria for which match the outcome of the various levels of the Plan. The provision of the awards now becomes a logical consequence of the teaching process.
For additional information related to the content of the NPTS contact Jane Saddington at jane.saddington@swimming.org | 
