Since the very beginning, our Assessment Weeks have become an incredibly valuable and key part of the way we operate here at SafelySwim. Our tutors continually evaluate each swimmer during their sessions throughout the month. They then dedicate the last lesson of the month to formally assess swimmers within their Group Lessons and ensure their appDot accounts are updated, confirming that participants are in the correct class and progressing well.

Best Way To See Progress

Although our tutors’ assessments are important, the very best way to see your swimmer’s progress is by watching their lessons regularly.

Swimming lessons can sometimes be treated as a break from childcare, but we’ve found that one of the most important parts of the swimmer’s experience is showing their spectator what they can do. The swimmers are always very proud of their achievements.

We kindly ask families who take part in regular group or private lessons to spectate and celebrate achievements with their swimmer(s).

When We Do Our Assessments - Group Lessons

Assessment Weeks are announced on our monthly calendar. During this week, tutors focus on the stage criteria while also addressing important skills that may not usually be covered in a standard lesson. This ensures children are not just taught to pass a stage but to genuinely learn to swim, building valuable water skills that may sit outside the framework.

Please allow up to 10 days for our tutors to make the relevant updates to your swimmers report.

Learn more about our Learn to Swim Pathway for the criteria of your current stage.

When We Don’t Do Assessments - Group Lessons

During Easter, Summer, and Christmas breaks (two weeks each), we do not carry out assessments. Many swimmers plateau or lose a little confidence over a break, and skipping these assessments helps avoid inaccurate results. This also allows everyone time to settle back into lessons first.

If your swimmer is ready to move up before the next Assessment Week, their tutor will update appDot straight away. Move-ups are not limited to Assessment Weeks – they can happen at any time.

Private Lesson Assessments

Private Lessons do not require continual assessment, as these sessions are already finely tuned to the swimmer’s individual development. Instructors remain with the swimmer throughout their journey, preventing the need for a tutor change as they progress.

If desired, parents can request an assessment through appDot, which notifies the instructor. If you would like a lesson to be dedicated towards reaching a particular award, please let your tutor know in advance.

Requests To Parents

We kindly ask parents not to chase or request early assessments. Our procedure ensures consistency, fairness, and reduces pressure on children to improve their report each week.

Our tutors run back-to-back classes, so verbal feedback is not possible during lessons. Please email us directly with any concerns, or check appDot for assessment reports. To view updates and monitor progress, visit appDot.

Quick Fire Reminders for Parents

• Swimmers moving from SafelySwim Endless to Stage 1+ at DOYRMS: Swimmers must swim the full width on both front and back to progress forwards.
• Stage 1+: To move to Stage 2, swimmers must confidently swim a width in deep water at DOYRMS on all 4 strokes.
• Seahorses: Children may progress to Stage 1 from age 4, though instructors may advise staying longer to build confidence. Able and confident 3-year-olds may also move up if their instructor feels they are ready, you will be notified when ready to move.
• Stage Move-Ups: Each stage is taught in a different part of the pool, requiring different distances, techniques, and abilities. Our instructors carefully assess readiness. If a swimmer is not yet ready, they will remain in their current stage until they are.
• Awards and Records: Please note that we do not keep records of who has achieved which awards. If a swimmer meets the distance or activity for an award but their assessment shows criteria not passed, this means the technical skills are not yet at the standard required to progress to the next stage.
• On average, due to the criteria in our stages, we expect swimmers to remain in a stage for roughly 10-14 months before progressing forwards (this is depending on attendance).

To view updates and monitor your swimmers progress, login here, or create an appDot account.