New
New
All years

Swim safe outdoors

I can swim in a pool and replicate the techniques and knowledge necessary for swimming safely outdoors while demonstrating and understanding of the water safety code.

New
New
All years

Swim safe outdoors

I can swim in a pool and replicate the techniques and knowledge necessary for swimming safely outdoors while demonstrating and understanding of the water safety code.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: the heat escape lessening position involves keeping the head up and hugging bent legs with your arms.
  2. Move: survival strokes are often swum with the head up and slowly to conserve energy.
  3. Think: the second message of the water safety code is ‘stay together - within arm's reach’.
  4. Feel: floating on your back for long periods of time requires focus and control.
  5. Connect: in a group rescue position it is important to support injured or weaker swimmers.

Keywords

  • Red beach flag - dangerous conditions, do not enter the water

  • Cold water - waters around the UK that are cold enough to induce the cold shock effects, even in high summer

Common misconception

Cold water shock only occurs in the winter.

Cold water shock can occur all year round in waters around the UK.


To help you plan your all years physical education lesson on: Swim safe outdoors, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Activities can be made harder by getting pupils to create turbulent water by pushing vertical floats through the water.
Teacher tip

Equipment

noodles; personal floatation devices

Content guidance

  • Additional qualification required
  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What do you need to swim repetitive swimming sets?
Correct answer: self-motivation
empathy
trust
Q2.
How should you finish a breaststroke race?
one handed
on your back
Correct answer: two handed
Q3.
How do you signal for help in water?
waving
splashing
Correct answer: straight arm and shouting
Q4.
When might you need to swim head up breaststroke?
Correct answer: turbulent water
shallow water
hot water

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What can occur if swimming in cold water?
speed
Correct answer: shock
slow breathing
Q2.
Who may need extra support in a group rescue scenario?
Correct answer: injured swimmer
strong swimmer
adult swimmer
Q3.
What is the second message of the water safety code?
call 999
float
Correct answer: stay together
Q4.
What position can be used to reduce heat loss in cold water?
Correct answer: HELP
SAFE
PELP