Swimming Teachers Association (STA) is re-launching its International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP) in September 2013 with an exciting range of new award certificates that have been specifically designed to appeal to children progressing through the scheme.

The new format, which will be officially unveiled at Leisure Industry Week (LIW) 2013, aims to make the scheme user-friendly and flexible for different teaching pool environments, and to build on knowledge and skill development at each level.

Theo Millward, operations director for the STA, said although the core values of the ILSP – to develop learners’ movement, swimming, survival and lifesaving skills within one programme, and to build on their stroke technique and stamina – remain the same, there have been some changes made to the learning outcomes at each award stage to reflect changes in pool design over recent years.

The renewed scheme will enable learners in all types of pool, including those that are 1.2m depth, to complete the progressive award scheme from baby learners to advanced swimmers.

Millward said: “The last time we made any major changes to the ILSP was over 12 years ago and it is testament to its popularity and the rigorous standards we imposed that it has remained the same.”

“However, with changes in pool design over the years, feedback from swimming teachers suggested that some learning outcomes couldn’t be completed because of the types of pools they teach in.”

The main difference is the increase of learning outcomes to ten for each of the STAnley awards, which are aimed at children aged two to five, to maintain consistency.

There is also a new STAnley Star award, which can be attempted on completion of the STAnley series, celebrating the culmination of learners’ achievements.

The launch is supported by new teaching resource materials. The STA’s Success Tracker, which has been designed to help parents track their child’s success through the ILSP, has also been updated to reflect the changes.