The Swimming Teachers Association (STA) has formed a new partnership with Swimtime, provider of swimming lessons for children.

The agreement will mean that youngsters who learn to swim with Swimtime will benefit from STA's International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP).

Swimtime delivers 12,000 lessons every week through a nationwide network of franchisees.

STA's ILSP has been designed specifically for swimming teachers and is supported by a range of awards that develop skills for life.

The incentive-based programme, which promotes the importance of water safety, consists of five levels to provide babies, infants and children of all ages, a structured, progressive and transparent swimming and water safety scheme.

All Swimtime teachers will also now be trained using STA's Level 2 swimming teaching qualifications.

The qualifications sit on the QCF framework at Level 2 with Ofqual, which ensures their quality and provides teachers will all the skills and knowledge required to professionally teach swimming to people of all ages.