SEND | Wilddogfitness

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES

SEND Lessons

Adaptive lessons to enable your swimmer to thrive

We have experience of teaching swimmers with a variety of needs whether they be behavioural, emotional, social or physical.

Should you choose to use Wild Dog for your lessons you can always guarantee you will be coming into a judgement free environment where we will always endeavour to support your child to enable them to thrive.

Although we do not always have sole access to the pool where possible we will try and book lessons in the quieter times to allow space where needed.

The changing rooms and showers are fully accessible with private family changing available to use if desired.

We have access to a range of equipment to support swimmers and are always happy to get into the pool and deliver from the water if it suits a swimmer better.

Often all it takes to create a great lesson is patience, belief and an understanding that no two swimmers journeys are the same. We will work alongside caregivers to find out what works for the swimmer, and we do not need to see a diagnosis to implement methods that you or our team feel may help.

You will not hear our teachers raising their voices at the swimmers. We teach using positive methods and even when correcting technique always find a way to support swimmers with their learning journey so they are never made to feel less than enough.

Behaviour is communication. We will never label a child as naughty, we will always strive to find a way to help them communicate their needs to enable them to succeed.

If for any reason we do not feel we are the best fit, or are unable to successfully facilitate your childs needs within the environment we have access to we will always try to find you a different service that may be a better fit.

PLEASE NOTE - FOR ALL SEND LESSONS WE MAY ASK CAREGIVERS TO BE IN THE WATER TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE EITHER MANUALLY OR TO SUPPORT WITH BEHAVIOUR IF NECESSARY.

We would recommend dropping us an email if you are looking to book lessons for a child who needs additional support as we will always try to get a good picture of their needs in advance so we can try to ensure we set them up for success.

What to Expect

A range of activities chosen to support your child's all round development

At Wild Dog we follow the Swim England badge framework. Our lessons are based around not only swimming and the aquatic development, but the activities we chose, equipment we use and songs we sing combine a range of different aspects of child development to help your little one grow and learn.

Core Aquatic Skills

Entries - Learning how to safely enter the swimming pool in a variety of different ways

Exits - Learning how to get out of the water, for example climbing out or using the steps

Rotation and Orientation - turning and rolling in the water.

Buoyancy and Balance - Learning to float and stay still in the water

Streamlining - Being able to move smoothly through the water

Aquatic Breathing - Being comfortable with water in and around the face

(really helps with hair washing!)

Travel and Coordination - Moving in all directions on, under and through the water

Water Safety - Understanding how to stay safe in all aquatic environments

Health and Fitness - Understanding how swimming helps to keep you fit and healthy

Fundamental Movement Skills

These are skills which support your child's all round physical development and capabilities, and underpin not only swimming but every sport! They can be split into four categories:
Agility, balance, coordination

Running, jumping throwing

Kinesthetics, gliding, buoyancy, striking with an object

Catching, passing, kicking, striking with the body

SEND swimmers may fall anywhere along a huge spectrum with their support needs. Although we follow the Swim England pathway this can be adapted to suit the swimmers where possible, which can give everyone a chance to achieve and succeed.

Badges

Swimmers who need extra support in particular areas can achieve the standard range of badges from duckling through to Stage 7.

Water Skills and Water Safety badges can be awarded with accommodations made where necessary, and there is also an additional set of badges, Alpha Steps, which is designed with adaptive swimming in mind to ensure everyone gets the chance to succeed.

Stage 1

Enter the water safely.
Move forward for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
Move backwards for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
Move sideways for a distance of 5 metres, feet may be on or off the floor.
Scoop the water and wash the face.
Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.
Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.
Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing.
Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.
Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.
Give examples of two pool rules.
Exit the water safely.

Additional Criteria:

5m front paddle in a streamlined position

5m kick on back with arms by the side

Additional Badges:

Puffin

Stage 4

Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating on the surface and demonstrate an understanding of floating.
Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor.
Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).
Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).
Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.
Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).
Perform a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front.
Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back.
Push and glide and swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.

Additional Criteria:

10m all 4 strokes full stroke

60 seconds treading water

Able to climb out of the pool

Additional Badges:

25m Rainbow Distance

Water Skills 3

Stage 3

Jump in from poolside and submerge.
Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position.
Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.
Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.
Travel 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return on the back.
Fully submerge to pick up an object.
Correctly identify three of the four key water safety messages.*
Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the back.
Push and glide and travel 10 metres on the front.
Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.
Exit the water without using steps.

Additional Criteria:

10m good attempt at all 4 strokes

Minimum 30 seconds treading water

Comfortable jumping in to and swimming in deep water

Additional Badges:

10m Rainbow Distance

Water Skills 2

Water Safety 1

Stage 2

Jump in from poolside safely.
Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with nose and mouth submerged.
Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without support.
Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without support.
Push from a wall and glide on the back – arms can be by the side or above the head.
Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.
Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
Travel using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for 5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back floating position, then return to standing.
Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front floating position, then return to standing.
Perform a log roll from the back to the front.
Perform a log roll from the front to the back.
Exit the water without support.

Additional Criteria:

Breaststroke feet turned out (with floats if needed)

5m all 4 strokes

Additional badges:

5m Rainbow Distance

Water Skills 1

Stage 7

Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating on the surface and demonstrate an understanding of floating.
Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor.
Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).
Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).
Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.
Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).
Perform a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
Travel on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto front.
Travel on front and log roll in one continuous movement onto back.
Push and glide and swim 10 metres, choice of stroke is optional.

Additional Badges:

200m Rainbow Distance

Water Safety 3

Stage 6

Give two examples of how to prepare for exercise and understand why it is important.
Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke.
Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl.
Swim 10 metres wearing clothes.
Push and glide and swim front crawl to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
Push and glide and swim breaststroke to include at least six rhythmical breaths.
Push and glide and swim butterfly to include at least three rhythmical breaths.
Push and glide and swim backstroke to include at least six regular breaths.
Push and glide and swim 25 metres, choice of stroke is optional (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Perform a ‘shout and signal’ rescue.
Perform a surface dive.

Additional Badges:

100m Rainbow Distance

Water Skills 5

Stage 5

Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.
Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
Perform a sculling sequence with a partner for 30-45 seconds to include a rotation.
Tread water for 30 seconds.
Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.
Push and glide and swim 10 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Push and glide and swim 10 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Push and glide and swim 10 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England expected standards).
Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
Perform a forward somersault.
Demonstrate an action for getting help.

Additional Badges:

50m Rainbow Distance

Water Skills 4

Water Safety 2

Alpha Steps

Alpha Steps reward the early stages of swimming skills. To achieve the awards you need to tick off a number of skills.

Alpha 1 - 6 out of 22 skills

Alpha 2 - 12 out of 22 skills

Alpha 3 - 17 out of 22 skills

The skills are as follows:

Entries

1. Enter the water safely with equipment or support.

2. Enter the water safely with minimal support.

3. Enter the water safely with no assistance or support.

Aquatic Breathing

1. Blow to move a floating object over 3 metres.

2. Tolerate face being (splashed) wet.

3. With mouth submerged, blow bubbles.

Spatial Awareness

1. On the spot move selected object around.

2. Whilst travelling, move objects in or through the water.

3. Move objects to or from a partner in various directions.

Rotation

1. Be rocked through the water with support.

2. Turn 360 degrees with minimal assistance.

3. Lie back and move to a vertical position with support.

Buoyancy

1. Float with support.

2. Float on front with support.

3. Float on back with support.

Co-ordination

1. Be towed (forwards, backwards and sideways) in a variety of directions.

2. Travel through the water using limbs with minimal support.

3. Travel 3 metres on front with or without floatation equipment.

4. Travel 3 metres on back with or without floatation equipment.

Exits

1. Exit the water safely with equipment or support.

2. Exit the water safely with minimal support.

3. Exit the water safely with no assistance or support.

WHAT DO OUR CLIENTS THINK?

Shelley has a fantastic, nurturing approach with the kids and would highly recommend swimming lessons with her to anyone who wants a fun and motivating swim experience!

BOOK HERE

Pop on to our booking page and see if there is any availability.

BOOKING PAGE

If you would like to book regular weekly sessions please add your details to our waiting list and we will be in touch when a space becomes available.

WAITING LIST