As a lead awarding body for swimming teaching in the UK, STA believes that there can often be confusion and a lack of understanding with regards to what regulations, legislation or recommendations swimming teachers should and should not follow.

In response, STA has launched a free Swimming Teaching Code of Practice today (11th April 2016) designed to support and clarify every aspect of what their 9,000+ members need to know when teaching swimming – from safeguarding, qualification competencies, teaching in the water, teaching ratios, lifesaving cover, pool temperature and lots more.

Kaylë Burgham, STA’s Technical Manager for Aquatics says they are extremely proud to have launched this Code of Practice today.

As an organisation committed to supporting our members, we want to ensure that our swimming teachers are delivering high quality swimming lessons and that they are insured and protected when doing so.

This document creates clarity and un-shades the grey areas surrounding the legislation requirements for members qualified to teach STA’s Level 2 Baby and Pre-School, Disability and Award and Certificate Swimming Teaching qualifications, confirmed Kaylë.

Uniquely, the 56-page document, which is colour-coded by chapter and by teaching qualification, brings together all the current policies and procedures that teachers should already be implementing, into one user-friendly reference guide. The only new changes are updates to the baby swimming policy in line with STA’s ongoing partnership with Birthlight.

To download a free copy of STA’s Swimming Teaching Code of Practice just click the button below to log in to your STA Online account!

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Industry comments in response to STA’s Swimming Teaching Code of Practice

The STA Code of Practice is a must-have document for all those teaching under the STA banner. This document, clearly and concisely, sets out what all STA swimming teachers are permitted to teach and also the current recommended guidelines to ensure that teaching is carried out in a professional and safe manner.

Philomena Geary, Director at 1st Swim School Ltd

At last! A policy document that is clear and concise and contains all the information a swim teacher needs in one place. I also like the colour-coded sections which make it easy to look up the areas that are most relevant to our swim school lessons. Every swim school should want to have their participants best interest at heart, this document will now provide us all with the best practice information that we all need.

Jo Wilson, Director of Little Splashers/Swim Works

The STA Code of Practice is an invaluable resource for all STA swimming teachers. It is extremely important to understand what is expected of you as a swimming teacher within each discipline so to have it documented in an easy-to-read code of practice such as this gives you all the reassurance you need. Whilst all the information has been available in the past, it hasn’t been brought together like this before and I am sure swimming schools will welcome this move.

We hope that swim schools will use this code of practice fully to ensure that they are teaching within their qualification to be able to deliver safe and compliant swimming lessons. Puddle Ducks is proud to adhere to this code of practice and to be associated with STA.

Ali Beckman, Technical Director at Puddle Ducks Franchising