STA Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching - Baby and Pre-School

Baby and pre-school swimming teaching, with practical training and personal support

Start your journey into baby and pre-school swimming teaching with a supportive, practical qualification designed to build confidence, knowledge and real teaching skills.

This Level 2 Award in Aquatic Teaching - Baby and Pre-School will qualify you to teach aquatic activities, games, songs and early paddle strokes to babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers in a parent and child setting.

On successful completion, you will be able to teach your own class of up to 12 adult and child pairs independently.

This qualification can lead straight into paid teaching work, with baby and pre-school swimming lessons often running during the daytime and at weekends.

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for people who want to teach baby and pre-school swimming lessons in a parent and child setting.

It is ideal for:

·        people who want to become baby and pre-school swimming teachers

·        swimming teachers who want to expand into baby and pre-school lessons

·        swim school staff developing their teaching skills

·        people looking for daytime or weekend teaching opportunities

·        those who enjoy working with babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and parents

You do not need to have everything worked out before you start. If you are unsure whether this course is right for you, we are happy to help you talk through your options.

What will you learn?

You will learn how to plan and deliver safe, engaging and age-appropriate aquatic activities for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

This includes:

·        parent and child teaching approaches

·        aquatic games, songs and activities

·        early paddle strokes

·        supporting babies and young children in the water

·        planning suitable lessons

·        adapting activities for different ages and stages

·        helping parents and children feel confident, safe and supported

Our aim is to help you understand what you are teaching, why it matters and how to put it into practice with confidence.

What will the learning be like?

Your course includes online theory sessions, one-to-one support and face-to-face practical training.

Your tutor will train and support you throughout the course, sharing their experience in teaching baby and pre-school swimming lessons.

You will be guided through the qualification step by step, with support as you prepare for your written work, practical teaching and final assessment.

Expect clear teaching, practical guidance, encouragement and plenty of support along the way.

At The Skills Surgery, our learner support begins before your course and continues afterwards. From working through course requirements to discussing your next steps, we want you to feel supported as you develop your skills and career.

Support from start to finish

Your tutor, Lynn Goring-Crook, will guide you through the course with clear explanations, encouragement and constructive feedback.

At The Skills Surgery and The Swim Surgery, our learner support begins before your course and continues afterwards. From working through a question during your course to discussing your next steps, we want you to feel supported as you develop your skills and career.

Course details

Face to face dates: 30th November, 2nd Dec, 3rd Dec, 4th December 2026
Times: 9am – 3pm
Venue: Horizon Leisure, Havant,  PO9 2AY

Tutor: Lynn Goring-Crook

Please attend all required sessions in full to meet the qualification contact hours.

Your theory exam

Exam date: 4th December

You will complete your multiple-choice theory exam at the practical on paper, with 60 minutes to complete it. 

You will need a pen in blue or black ink to take the exam. The exam cannot be completed on a phone or tablet and you can not have notes or a manual with you. 

Your practical assessment

During the practical part of the course, learners will teach a range of baby and pre-school lessons to different age groups these will be assessed by the tutor

The final practical assessment will be on 4th December

·        An STA external assessor will be present to assess you teaching a 15minute baby and pre-school lesson to a pre selected age group of between 2-4 pairs.

·        You will be well prepared for the exam, including having time to write your lesson plan and receive feedback from the tutor before the exam

·        Our external assessor is Helen Bull

Learners will have guidance and opportunities to practise as they work towards demonstrating the required skills.

How will you be assessed?

To complete the qualification, learners will need to:

·        attend all required course dates and times

·        complete a multiple-choice theory exam

·        complete practical teaching across a range of baby and pre-school lessons

·        complete a final practical assessment

·        complete a portfolio of work products

Portfolio requirements may include:

·        3 lesson plans

·        1 scheme of work

·        1 evaluation

·        Revision questions

Entry requirements

Learners must:

·        be at least 18 years old by the date of assessment

·        hold a valid safeguarding certificate (within 3 years since certificate date)

·        You DO NOT need to be a qualified swimming teacher

Safeguarding details: STA Safeguarding CPD, Swim England Safeguarding CPD, Swim Ireland – Safeguarding Level 2, Swim Wales – Safeguarding & Protecting Children, UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children, Child Protection Training UK Training, FAA Level 1 Award in Awareness of Safeguarding. Kidscape Advanced Child Protection Course. Kidscape Basic Child Protection Course, Leisure Trust Safeguarding Courses, Local Authority Safeguarding Courses, NSPCC Basic Child Protection Training, NSPCC Designated Safeguarding Children Officer Training, NSPCC Educare Child Protection Awareness Online Courses, Private Operator Safeguarding Courses, Safechild Introduction to Child Protection, Safechild Leading on Child Safeguarding, Scotland – Child Wellbeing & Protection in Sport (CWPS), TDI Leisurewatch.

Please contact lynn@theswimsurgery.co.uk if you are unsure if your safeguarding certificate is a valid pre-requesties. Please note safeguarding training is different to holding a valid DBS. You do not need to hold a valid DBS to attend this course.

What you will need

To sign up for the course and to support your learning you will need:

Learners will need:

·        a computer, laptop, tablet or phone to access our google classroom

·        a suitable device to access to the course e-manual and online learning resources

·        a Gmail account or other required login to access Google Classroom or the course communication platform

·        a suitable device to access pre-course paperwork and communications

·        a suitable device to complete written work products using PDF or Word

·        pen, paper or a notebook as needed

For your practical sessions

Learners should bring:

·        swimwear

·        shorts and a T-shirt to wear in the pool

·        suitable poolside teaching clothing

·        towel and change of clothes

·        anything else needed to be comfortable during the practical session

For your theory exam

Learners may need:

·        a blue or black pen.

Access and reasonable adjustments

If you would like to discuss access to learning, the practical requirements or any reasonable adjustments, please contact us before booking.

We are here to support you before, during and after your course.

Contact: Lynn Goring-Crook, Director of Education, lynn@theswimsurgery.co.uk

Payment Plans

We want to make it easier for you to take your next step, so you can spread the cost of your qualification with a payment plan.

There is no application process. Simply pay a £150 non-refundable deposit, then agree a payment schedule with Jeremy that suits your circumstances. He will explain any payment deadlines, including amounts that need to be paid before an assessment or exam, so everything is clear from the start.

We don’t want the upfront cost to stand in the way of your learning. Email jeremy@theswimsurgery.co.uk for a friendly conversation about arranging your plan.