Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Swimming Lessons Progress Chart: Free Printable Chart for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Swimming Lessons Progress Chart is a free printable chart for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7) in Key Stage 1. Children tick each skill as they learn it, add the date, and see their progress build up on the page. Page 2 gives the grown up notes on using the chart, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet is a simple chart with three columns: Skill, Date done and Tick. After a swimming lesson, children look at the skills listed, tick the ones they have learned and add the date. They can colour in their progress and talk about what they would like to work on next. The chart stays with the child, so progress is easy to see from one lesson to the next.
- Skill
- Date done
- Tick
Ways to use the chart across a term
Fill it in after each lesson
Keep the chart somewhere easy to find, such as the kitchen table. Fill it in soon after each lesson, while your child still remembers what went well.
Make it a short chat
Ask your child which skill they are proudest of. Let them point to it on the chart and say why. Keep the conversation light and positive.
Pick one next goal
Choose just one thing to work towards before the next lesson. One clear goal feels more doable than a long list.
Look back together
At the end of a block of lessons, look at the whole chart. Count the ticks and the dates and talk about how much has changed.
Why track swimming progress?
Swimming is a skill that children build up slowly, over many lessons. Some days feel like a big step forward and others feel like standing still. A progress chart makes small gains visible. When a child can see a tick and a date, they have clear proof that they are getting better, even if the last lesson felt tricky.
Swimming and water safety is part of the PE curriculum in England, and it is taught in Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2. Schools and clubs plan lessons in different ways, so children often learn skills at different speeds. A personal chart lets each child compare themselves with their own earlier efforts, not with the child in the next lane.
Always swim with a grown up watching. Children should never swim alone. This chart is for recording progress and does not replace teaching from a qualified swimming teacher or lifeguard.
Fun facts about swimming
- Swimming uses muscles in your arms, legs and tummy all at once.
- Water pushes up on your body. This helps people float.
- When you breathe out slowly under water, you make bubbles.
- Some swimming strokes have names, such as front crawl and backstroke.
- Many people learn to swim as children and keep the skill for life.
Skills and curriculum link
- Goal setting
- Self assessment
- Tracking progress
- Water skills
- Reflecting on learning
What children will be able to do
- I can say what I can do in the water.
- I can colour in my progress.
- I can set a goal for my next lesson.
Helping your child with swimming progress
- Celebrate effortPraise trying, listening and keeping going. Progress in the water often comes in small steps, and effort is something every child can control.
- Keep goals smallOne clear goal at a time is easier to remember and easier to feel proud of than a long list of things to fix.
- Let your child leadAsk your child to tell you what they can do now. Hearing themselves say it builds confidence.
- Stay positive about paceChildren learn at different speeds. A slower week does not mean a lost skill. Come back to the chart and keep going.
Key words
- SkillSomething you can do well because you have practised it.
- ProgressGetting better at something over time.
- GoalSomething you want to do next and are working towards.
- LessonA time when a teacher helps you learn something new.
- PractiseDo something again and again so that you improve.
- ConfidenceFeeling sure that you can try something and do well.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is the chart for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown up.
- Look at the chart together the first time. Read the skills listed in the Skill column and talk about what each one means.
- After a swimming lesson, let your child tick the skills they have learned and add the date in the Date done column.
- Ask your child to colour in their progress and choose a goal for the next lesson. Check the notes on page 2 for ideas.
- Come back to the chart after each lesson. Repeating the routine builds confidence and shows how far your child has come.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Celebrate every tick with a high five. If your child feels they have not learned much yet, ask what they enjoyed in the water. Start with one skill they feel good about, then choose one small thing to try next time.
To stretch confident children
Write your next goal on the back of the chart. Then add one sentence about how you will work on it, such as what you will practise or who you will ask for help. Read it again at the next lesson.
Make it a game
Draw your own badge for each stage you reach. Use bright colours and give each badge a name. Cut them out and stick them around the chart, or collect them in an envelope to show family.
Talk about it
- What can you do in the water now that you could not do before?
- Which skill felt hardest at first? How does it feel now?
- What would you like to practise next?
- How could you work on that goal in your next lesson?
- What advice would you give a friend who is just starting to learn to swim?
- How did it feel to tick a skill for the first time?
Take it off the page
Design a badge
Draw and colour a swimming badge on paper. Give it a name and a motto, such as Brave Beginner. Stick it on a wall or your bedroom door.
Goal poster
Make a small poster showing your next swimming goal. Add a drawing of yourself doing it. Put it where you will see it each day.
Swimming story
Read a book about swimming or the seaside together, or make up your own short story about learning to swim. Talk about how the character feels as they improve.
Who it is for
Parents
Fill in the chart together after each lesson, then let your child take the lead. Keep the chat short and kind. Ask what they are proud of and what they would like to try next. Always swim with a grown up watching.
Teachers
Use it alongside swimming lessons as a quick self assessment, or in PE as a reflection task. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for a mixed ability group.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider PE plan. It pairs well with outdoor play, books about swimming and everyday talk about goals. You can print it again for brothers and sisters so each child has their own chart.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before using a progress chart, children often spend time getting used to water and learning to feel safe and happy in it. They also learn to listen to a teacher and follow simple instructions. Those habits make it easier to talk about what they can do.
After this, children can use the same idea of tick, date and next goal for other sports and activities. Later in primary school, swimming and water safety continue to build, and children can look back at their chart to see how much they have grown in confidence.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What can you do now that you could not do before?
- What would you like to practise next?
- How will you work on that goal?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is the Swimming Lessons Progress Chart for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7) in Key Stage 1. Children in other year groups can use it too, as long as they enjoy ticking off skills and setting simple goals.
- How do I use the chart?
Fill it in after each swimming lesson. Children tick each skill they have learned and add the date. Always swim with a grown up watching. Talk about what went well and choose one goal for next time.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters or for a new block of lessons.
- Does this replace swimming lessons?
No. It is a chart for recording progress and does not teach swimming. Children should learn in the water with a qualified teacher, and a grown up should always be watching.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a self assessment task, a plenary or a PE reflection activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper and a pencil. Children can also colour in their progress, which makes it a calm activity after a swim.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add their own colour by colouring in their progress with pencils or pens.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.