The ASA Learn to Swim Pathway is the national syllabus to assist and support the delivery of swimming lessons.

Used in more than 1,000 swimming programmes nationwide, as well as overseas, it is the most successful sports programme of its kind and has taught millions of children to swim. Supported by the ASA Awards, the Pathway continues to be by far the most successful grass-roots programme in British sport.

The Pathway takes children on a journey from their first splash to developing confidence and competence in the water and consists of four frameworks:

• ASA Foundation Framework - to develop basic skills and introduce babies and toddlers to the pool.
• ASA Learn to Swim Framework - the core framework encompassing seven stages.
• ASA Aquatic Skills Framework - to learn the basics of water polo, diving and synchro.
• ASA Adult Swimming Framework - for adults of all abilities from beginners to advanced.

The journey through aquatics starts with the Foundation Framework to develop basic skills and water confidence through fun and games, before progressing onto the Learn to Swim Framework to further develop aquatic skills.

The final part of the journey is the Aquatic Skills Framework which gives children the opportunity to learn the basics of water polo, diving and synchronised swimming. There is also an Adult Swimming Framework for adults looking to learn or improve their skills in the pool.

Following the Pathway increases the likelihood of lifelong participation in swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle. Swimming is not only one of the safest and most popular forms of exercise, it’s a life skill and it is vital that young people learn to swim for their own safety.

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