Building Water-safe kids: How X Lab School Champions Singapore’s SwimSafer Program
Singapore’s National SwimSafer program is a cornerstone of water safety education for local kids, aiming to equip them with essential swimming skills and the confidence to stay safe in and around water. As a parent, you want the best for your child, and that’s where X Lab Swim School comes in. At X Lab, we’re passionate about nurturing young swimmers while ensuring they master the essential water safety skills similarly outlined in the SwimSafer program. Our curriculum is designed to align seamlessly with this nationwide initiative, helping your child build lifelong skills in a safe, supportive and fun environment. Ready to learn more about how we make a splash in water safety? Read on!
What is SwimSafer?
SwimSafer is a comprehensive six-stage program designed to equip children in Singapore with essential swimming and water safety skills. The program progresses from basic water confidence to advanced rescue techniques, ensuring that every child develops the competence and confidence needed to stay safe in and around water.
Stage 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Focuses on building water confidence, basic floatation and breath control. Kids learn to submerge their faces, forward and backward movement and practice safe entry and exit techniques. All learners are also introduced to swimming with clothing – swimwear, shorts and a t-shirt.
Stage 2: Fundamental Water Skills
Stage 2 introduces surface dives, sculling and water entry techniques. Basic strokes techniques are taught to achieve 15 metres of continuous swimming while clothed.
Stage 3: Personal & Stroke Development Skills
Principles of personal survival skills are introduced, including learning to put on life-saving equipment in the water. Ability to swim 25 metres clothed is required to pass this stage. Survival backstroke is also introduced.
Stage 4 Bronze: Personal Survival & Stroke Improvement Skills
More advanced survival skills are introduced and clothing is still required while performing throw rescues and water treading. Learners should be able to swim 25m of front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and survival backstroke.
Stage 5 Silver: Intermediate Personal Survival & Stroke Refinement Skills
Clothing is changed to long pants and a t-shirt, adding weight and restriction of everyday clothes in water emergencies. Learners must be able to swim for extended distance within a time limit and sidestroke is introduced.
Stage 6 Gold: Advance Personal Survival & Swimming Skill Proficiency
The most advanced stage, where learners are proficient in all 4 competitive strokes, sidestroke and survival backstroke. Advanced survival techniques include using clothing to create a flotation device.
Swimmers undergo a practical assessment to evaluate their swimming and safety skills in order to conclude each stage. Upon successful completion, they will receive a SwimSafer certificate, recognising their progress and readiness to move on to the next level.
What is X Lab’s Learn to Swim Block Plan?
At X Lab, we are proud to align our curriculum with the principles of Singapore’s SwimSafer program, ensuring that water safety remains at the heart of everything we teach. Our Learn to Swim Block Plan is tailored to build a strong foundation in swim techniques and is segregated into three main categories:
Preschool Program
The Preschool program is designed for children aged 3 to 4 and all classes have a smaller teaching ratio of 1:4. Emphasis is placed on building confidence and making children feel safe and comfortable around the pool while teaching them basic skills such as breath holding, blow bubbles and basic floating and kicking techniques.
Beginner Program
For age 5 and up, the Beginner program is introduced. The teaching ratio is adjusted to 1:6. Swimmers will be proficient in the 3 basic strokes, Front Crawl, Backstroke and Breaststroke, upon completion of the Beginner program.
Intermediate Program
Lastly, the intermediate program introduces competitive swimming skills with a teaching ratio of 1 instructor to eight kids. Advanced techniques and strokes are taught, including completed set distance in a stipulated time. The objective is to prepare children for competitive swimming.
X Lab’s program is 12 weeks for each term, learners are assessed at the end of the term to progress to the next level. It is possible to be assessed for double promotion, allowing progression to subsequent levels if your child is adept and a fast learner.
How does X Lab Learn to Swim Block Plan align with SwimSafer?
Our curriculum is aligned with the principles of Singapore’s SwimSafer program, ensuring that water safety skills are integrated in our teaching approach.
The Block Plan lessons mirror SwimSafer’s progressive stages, starting with building water confidence and basic survival skills, before advancing to basic swimming techniques and eventually stroke mastery. Each level emphasises safety-first practices, such as proper entry and exit techniques, and demonstration of water confidence whilst performing skills required.
Regular assessments are conducted on a 12 week basis, similar to SwimSafer’s six-stage framework. These evaluations ensure that your child is mastering key skills at each stage before progressing. By following this progression, we help your child build a strong foundation while celebrating their milestones with confidence-boosting recognitions in the form of certificates.
Both programs do not just teach kids how to stay safe in the water, it lays the foundation for a lifetime of swimming. The progressive stages build not only technical skills but also endurance, discipline and self-assurance. These qualities prepare children to transition smoothly into advanced swimming techniques, competitive training, and even lifesaving certifications.
Pegging levels*
| Beginner Level 4 | SwimSafer Stage 1 |
| Beginner Level 7 | SwimSafer Stage 2 |
| Intermediate Level 1 | SwimSafer Stage 3 |
| Intermediate Level 3 | SwimSafer Stage 4 Bronze |
| Intermediate Level 6 | SwimSafer Stage 5 Silver |
| Intermediate Level 8 | SwimSafer Stage 6 Gold |
*Do note that there are some survival/rescue skills not included in X Lab Learn to Swim Block Plan. Continue reading below for more. All estimates are conservative.
Differences between X Lab Learn to Swim Block Plan and SwimSafer
Whilst Swimsafer has a heavy emphasis on water survival skills involving clothing, X Lab’s Block Plan incorporates such skills through building proper techniques.
SwimSafer
SwimSafer requires the use of regular clothing over swimwear to complete distances and tasks such as creating a personal floatation device. The use of clothing adds drags and simulates sudden and unexpected water entry, building competence in handling emergencies.
X Lab Learn to Swim Block Plan
X Lab, on the other hand, builds proper swim techniques for all strokes to reduce drags, while increasing propulsion. Being able to move confidently and proficiently in the water increases water survivability. Water survival skills such as water treading are similarly included. Although clothing is not incorporated into our program, the usage of swim equipment such as pull buoys, fins and hand paddles also aid in building swimmers strength and adding drag in practices.
Our coaches provide ongoing feedback and practical tips, to empower you as a parent to play an active role in your child’s water safety and learning journey. Together, we’re not just teaching kids to swim – we’re equipping them with life-saving skills that will stay with them for years to come.
Why X Lab is your partner in SwimSafer Success
Water safety is a vital life skill and the SwimSafer Program sets the national standard in ensuring children across Singapore learn to navigate water safely and confidently. At X Lab, we go beyond water safety to teaching proper swim techniques working towards reducing drag and increasing propulsion.
The X Lab certification may not automatically exempt your child from the SwimSafer program, however, some parents have successfully used it for that purpose. Experiencing both programs in school and outside of school can help to develop a well-rounded skill set that prepares your child for all water-related emergencies and being well-equipped to handle any danger.
Your child deserves the confidence, skills and joy that come with mastering the water. Enroll your child in X Lab’s trial today and together let’s nurture their love for swimming while prioritising their safety and growth. Dive into their water-safe future with us!
