11 May 2023
Assessment Week Details
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 each of the sessions they attend throughout the month. They then prioritise the last lesson of the month to formally assess the swimmers within their Group Lessons and ensure their appDot accounts are updated to ensure the participants are in the correct class.
More information can be seen below about our assessments, why we do them, how we assess the swimmers and where you can find the progress report for your swimmer.
Best Way To See Progress
Although our tutor’s assessments are important, the best way to see your swimmer’s performance is by watching their lesson on a regular basis.
Sadly, we often see that swimming lessons are used to have a break from childcare however, we have found one of the most important parts for the swimmer is to show 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 the lesson and celebrate achieved goals with their swimmer(s).
When We Do Our Assessments - Group Lessons
We announce our Assessment Weeks on our monthly calendar, we use the lesson during this week to focus on parts of the stage criteria. This also allows our tutors to action things that are not usually completed within a lesson. We also believe that this stops children from being taught to pass a stage and instead allows them to learn to swim as there are some important things that aren’t specifically in the stage criteria.
Please see our Learn to Swim Pathway for the criteria of your current Learn to Swim stage.
When We Don’t Do Assessments - Group Lessons
Due to the short two weeks break at Easter, Summer and Christmas, we refrain from completing an assessment as most swimmer’s plateau or slightly decrease in confidence over these periods. To prevent an inaccurate score, or a decrease in assessment, we usually skip the month with a two-week break to give everyone a chance to settle back into their lesson.
If your swimmer is ready for the next stage before assessment week, then their tutor will update their progress on appDot to move up. Our move ups are not solely completed within our assessment weeks and can be done at any point throughout the month.
Private Lesson Assessments
Our Private Lessons do not require continual assessment, as these sessions are already finely tuned to aid the participant and their development. Also, our Private Lessons prevent the need to swap tutors when they reach a certain ability.
Those participating in Private Lessons are welcome to ‘request an assessment’ via appDot which will notify their instructor to complete an assessment as and when required.
If you would like the lesson to be dedicated to reaching a particular award, please kindly ask your tutor before the lesson to ensure details are passed correctly.
Requests To Parents
We kindly ask parents not to chase or request our tutors to complete their assessments early, as we have this procedure in place to support them and get them completed. This method ensures nobody is missed and takes the pressure off children to have improved their percentage each week, we know everyone has an off day!
Our tutors have classes back-to-back and we want to ensure every swimmer gets their valuable swimming time, so verbal feedback is not possible. We kindly ask parents to email us directly with any concerns or to look on appDot for their reports.
To view updates and monitor your swimmers progress, login here, or create an appDot account.
