Swimming – Torfaen Leisure Trust

Join our Nofio Swim Academy from home

Torfaen Leisure Trust's Nofio Swim Academy offers swimming lessons for children aged 4 months and up. Watch your child progress with our viewing weeks.

No more waiting lists! Join our swimming lessons, move classes, and track progress easily through our Home Joining Portal.

finding the perfect Swim Class

‍We have created this simple guide to help you determine the best swimming class for your child. By assessing their current abilities, you can ensure they are placed in a class that is both challenging and enjoyable.

Go Swim Ability Checker

Under 5's Lessons

Children can be introduced to the pool at approximately 4 months of age, before this age we recommend you concentrate on enjoying bath time with fun toys and activities with your child.

Under 5's Pathway

Nofio Awards

Build water confidence, skills and aquatic ability through our Swimming Academy.
Here are the outcomes for each Nofio to help your child know exactly what they are working towards to get through to the next stage.

Nofio 1

Nofio Un Outcomes

Enter and exit the water safely without assistance
Float on the front, with aids if needed, and move to an upright position in the water
Float on the back, with aids if needed, and move to an upright position in the water
Scoop and splash water onto the face and demonstrate confidence when water is showered over the head without goggles
On the front with face in the water or on your back, push off from the wall and hold a glide position, with aids if needed
Swim Backstroke or back paddle for 5 metres, with aids if needed
Participate in a discussion about the pool and lesson rules
Take part in a teacher lead aquatic game
Demonstrate a sculling action in a vertical position, with aids if needed
Swim Frontcrawl or front paddle for 5 metres, with aids if needed
Attempt Breaststroke or Butterfly for 5 metres, with aids if needed. A simultaneous paddle is acceptable

Nofio 2

Nofio Dau Outcomes

Swim 2-3 metres Breaststroke without assistance
Participate in a discussion and answer questions about water safety
Push and glide from the wall, arms extended with face in the water
Push and glide on back with arms extended
Swim 5 metres Frontcrawl without assistance
Without goggles safely jump into the water and exit unassisted. Minimum depth 1 metre
Whilst kicking with equipment, blow bubbles with face in the water 4 times
Swim 2-3 metres Butterfly without assistance
Swim 5 metres Backstroke without assistance
From a float on the back, rotate to a float on the front and regain a vertical position
Float on the back unassisted and regain a vertical position
Demonstrate a head first sculling action on the back for 5 metres, with aids if needed

Nofio 3

Nofio Tri Outcomes

Without goggles safely jump into water of a minimum depth of 1 metre, tread water for 15 seconds and exit the water without using the steps
Swim 10 metres Frontcrawl attempting to breathe to the side
Swim 10 metres Backstroke with a continuous over water arm action
Push from the wall on the front in a streamlined position, hold position for 5 seconds, perform a longitudinal rotation onto the back and hold for 5 seconds
Demonstrate a feet first sculling action on the back for 5 metres, with aids if needed
Swim 5 metres Breaststroke
Swim 5 metres Butterfly
Fully submerge to collect an object from the pool floor
Correctly identify the 4 key water safety messages and beach flags
Perform a push and glide from the wall on the front, swim 5 metres, tuck and rotate onto the back and swim to the wall
Demonstrate 3 floating shapes (star, tuck, log)

Nofio 4

Nofio Pedwar Outcomes

Swim 10 metres Frontcrawl
Demonstrate 10 metres Backstroke kick in a streamlined position
Swim 10 metres Breaststroke or Butterfly
Demonstrate 10 metres Butterfly kick on the front
Swim 8-10 metres Butterfly
Demonstrate the HELP position
Demonstrate 10 metres Breaststroke kick on the front
Demonstrate 10 metres Frontcrawl kick in a streamlined position
Correctly identify the 4 key water safety messages and beach flags
In a team, demonstrate a series of skills including 5 different skills, such as sculling, rotation, floating and treading water
Swim 10 metres Backstroke
Swim 10 metres choice of stroke optional with clothes on

Nofio 5

Nofio Pump Outcomes

Without goggles, demonstrate 3 different shaped jumps, min 1.5 metre depth
Swim 15 metres Frontcrawl
Swim 15 metres Backstroke
Swim 10 metres Breaststroke
Swim 10 metres Butterfly
Swim 25 metres any stroke
Demonstrate a series of sculling movements for 30 seconds
Without goggles, demonstrate an action for attracting help/attention whilst treading water
Demonstrate a forward somersault in the water
Perform a handstand for 5 seconds in the water
Swim 15 metres, choice of stroke optional, with clothes on
Correctly identify the 4 key water safety messages and beach flags

Nofio 6

Nofio Chwech Outcomes

Demonstrate an underwater push and glide, with 3 dolphin kicks into 20 metres Frontcrawl
Demonstrate an underwater push and glide, with 3 dolphin kicks into 20 metres Backstroke
Swim 15 metres breaststroke including rhythmical breathing
Swim 15 metres butterfly including rhythmical breathing
Swim 50 metres: 25 metres Backstroke/Frontcrawl and 25 metres Breaststroke/Butterfly
In a team, pass and catch a ball whilst treading water (without goggles)
Demonstrate an effective throwing rescue from a distance of 5 metres and instruct a partner to kick to the pool edge
Perform a sitting dive, minimum depth 1.5 metres
Demonstrate a backwards somersault
Swim 25 metres with clothes on
Without goggles, tread water for 30 seconds whilst demonstrating an action for getting help and then move into the HUDDLE position with a partner or small group
Correctly identify the 4 key water safety messages and beach flags

Nofio 7

Nofio Saith Outcomes

Demonstrate an underwater push and glide with 3 dolphin kicks into 25 metres Frontcrawl
Demonstrate an underwater push and glide with 3 dolphin kicks into 25 metres Backstroke
Using the correct start, swim 25 metres Breaststroke including rhythmical breathing
Using the correct start, swim 25 metres butterfly including rhythmical breathing
Swim 100 metres Individual Medley continuous swim, 25 metres of each stroke in the following order Butterfly/Backstroke/Breaststroke/ Frontcrawl
Swim 200 metres using at least 3 different strokes
Perform a plunge dive minimum of 1.8 metre
Tread water using egg beater leg kick for 30 seconds, whilst passing and catching a ball
Swim 25 metres through an obstacle course but has a minimum of 4 challenges
In a small group demonstrate a series of skills, including sculling, rotation, floating and treading water for a minimum of 45 seconds.
Take part in a relay race
Correctly identify the 4 key water safety messages and beach flags

Nofio 8

Nofio Wyth Outcomes

Using a buoyancy aid hold the HELP position for 2 minutes
Swim 50 metres with clothes on
Demonstrate a plunge dive with 3 dolphin kicks into 50 meters Frontcrawl
Demonstrate an underwater push and glide with 3 dolphin kicks into 50 meters Backstroke
Demonstrate a plunge dive into 25 metres Breaststroke
Demonstrate a plunge dive with 3 dolphin kicks into 25 metres Butterfly
Pass a ball accurately with a partner using 1 hand to throw and 2 hands to catch over a 2 metre distance
Back layout sculling for support hold for 3 seconds
Stay vertical and static for 20 seconds using sculling hands and egg beater kick
Swim 5 metres on the front, surface dive and perform 3 Breaststrokes underwater
Demonstrate a tuck float to a stretch position
Demonstrate a push and glide on the front to a surface dive
Correctly identify the 4 key safety water safety messages and beach flags

Exit Route Pathway

For those swimmers who have progressed through the Nofio Academy there are further development routes available including;

- Rookie Lifesaving
- Multi Aquatics
- FitSwim

We work closely with our partner Swim Clubs to ensure that there is a pathway through to elite performance swimming, including a Disability Swimming Pathway.

‍We are currently running a FREE Club Link session where children who are at the further end of the Nofio Swim Academy to have the opportunity to book into a FREE session with the Club.
For young people interested in a more competitive development route contact our Clubs:

Please see our terms and conditions for our swimming lesson direct debits:

Terms and Conditions

Swimming with TLT

Improve your health and have fun at Torfaen Leisure Trust. Our pools offer a range of activities for all ages and abilities, including swimming lessons, aqua fitness classes, and open swimming.