Application
How to Apply
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Head to our website and tell us a bit about yourself, your interests, ambitions, hobbies, and why you’d like to join the team.
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Use the Join the Team button to submit your enquiry.
Purpose of This Stage
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Helps us get to know who you are beyond school and activities.
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Gives us an idea of your motivation and what role might suit you.
What We’re Looking For
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Enthusiasm and willingness to learn
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Clear communication
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A genuine interest in working with children and developing new skills
Interview
What This Call Covers
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A friendly, informal chat with one of the Stepping Stones management team.
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An intro to who we are, what we do, and how the Young Workforce programme works.
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A chance for you to ask questions about the role and expectations.
Getting to Know You
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We’ll chat about your background, school, interests, and any previous experiences you’ve had — not necessarily work-related.
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We’re looking for confidence, communication, and how you interact with others.
Scenario Questions
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Simple, guided questions to help us understand how you think and respond in everyday situations.
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Examples may include:
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“Tell us about a time you helped someone.”
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“What would you do if a child seemed nervous during a lesson?”
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“How do you stay calm when things don’t go to plan?”
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Purpose of This Interview
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To make sure the programme is a good fit for you.
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To help us understand your strengths and where we can support your development.
Mentor – Guided In Water Experience
PVG Application
What Happens Here
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Once you join the programme, we’ll support you through your PVG application.
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When your PVG clears, you’re ready to begin supervised in-water experience.
Why This Matters
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It ensures the safety of our swimmers and gives you official permission to work with children.
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It’s a key step in becoming part of the team.
Hands-On Experience in the Water
What You’ll Be Doing
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You’ll work alongside one of our qualified teaching team during real lessons.
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This is practical, in-water experience where you learn by doing — supporting swimmers, practising demonstrations, and getting a feel for the role.
What We Focus On
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How to safely support swimmers
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Basic teaching cues
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Encouragement, communication and building rapport
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Understanding different ability levels
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Observing how a lesson flows from start to finish
Guided Mentorship
Support You’ll Receive
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A Stepping Stones teacher will mentor you through the do’s and don’ts of great teaching.
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They’ll show you helpful tips, small tricks that make lessons smoother, and strategies for building trust with young swimmers.
How Mentorship Works
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You’re encouraged to ask questions at any time.
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Your mentor will guide you gently, letting you try things in a safe, supported way.
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You’ll never be put in a situation where you’re expected to lead before you’re ready.
Online Support & Technical Knowledge
What You Get Access To
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Stepping Stones’ online resources, technical videos and teaching guides.
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Bite-sized learning that helps strengthen what you’re practising in the pool.
Purpose of the Online Learning
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Builds your technical understanding
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Helps you connect theory to real teaching situations
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Keeps your growth steady between sessions
A No-Pressure Learning Zone
Our Approach
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At this stage, there is no pressure and no expectations.
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This is your chance to learn, make mistakes, grow your confidence, and understand what kind of teacher you want to be.
What We Want for You
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To feel supported
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To enjoy the experience
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To grow both personally and professionally
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To build the foundations of becoming an amazing swimming teacher
Qualifications
Becoming a Nationally Recognised Swimming Teacher
Your Pathway to Official Teaching Qualifications
Once you’ve completed your volunteer mentoring hours, Stepping Stones will fully support and fully fund your training towards nationally recognised teaching qualifications. These awards give you the skills, confidence, and official status to teach across the UK.
This is where your journey moves from “learning alongside us” to becoming a qualified professional.
STA Safety Award for Teachers (Age 14+)
A great first step for younger volunteers
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Can be completed from age 14, giving you a recognised qualification early in your development.
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Covers essential safety, rescue skills and emergency procedures around the pool.
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Prepares you for real-world teaching environments and boosts confidence before moving into teaching qualifications.
Why It’s Valuable
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Many employers look for this as a baseline safety qualification.
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Helps you understand your role in keeping swimmers safe.
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Gives you an early advantage before you reach the minimum age for teacher training.
Scottish Swimming SSTQ (Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification)
Minimum age: 16 years
This is the nationally recognised qualification that allows you to independently teach swimming classes in Scotland and across the UK.
What SSTQ Includes
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Technical knowledge of all strokes
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Lesson planning and delivery
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Safe supervision
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Progression pathways
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Teaching both early stage and more advanced swimmers
How It Fits Into Your Journey
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Most young workforce volunteers reach SSTQ around 6–12 months after starting their mentoring stage.
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The hands-on experience you gain with us makes the course much easier and more enjoyable.
Why It Matters
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SSTQ is the industry standard in Scotland.
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Recognised by Scottish Swimming and widely accepted elsewhere.
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Opens the door to paid teaching roles and long-term career development.
NRASTC (National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers & Coaches)
Pool Safety & Rescue Qualification
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Provides practical rescue skills and emergency response knowledge.
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Often required for teachers working in pools without dedicated lifeguards.
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Complements the SSTQ and strengthens your employability.
Who It Benefits
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Volunteers preparing for teaching roles
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Anyone wanting a strong safety foundation
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Teachers working in community pools or smaller venues
Fully Funded by Stepping Stones
Once you complete your volunteer hours through the Young Workforce Programme:
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Your qualifications are fully funded
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You’ll receive support, coaching, and guidance throughout
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Our aim is to build you into a confident, capable and professionally recognised teacher
This investment reflects the commitment you’ve shown during your mentoring, and it marks your transition into becoming part of the next generation of swimming coaches.
What This Stage Represents
Your chance to gain real, recognised qualifications
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A launchpad into paid work, coaching pathways, and sports careers
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A professional development journey starting from as early as age 14
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Support every step of the way from Stepping Stones
Join The Team
Once you complete your qualifications and finish the Young Workforce mentoring stage, you’re ready to officially join the Stepping Stones team. From here, you’ll move through a supportive, flexible progression pathway designed to build confidence at your pace.
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A Safe & Supported Start: Newly Qualified / Support Teacher
This is your first step into paid teaching.
What this role looks like:
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You work alongside an experienced Class Lead.
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Your focus is delivering parts of the lesson, supporting swimmers, and building confidence.
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You’ll never be thrown into teaching alone before you’re ready.
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It’s a safety net designed to ease you into the role gradually.
Why this stage matters
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It lets you find your teaching style.
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You gain real experience without pressure.
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You start earning straight away — at a very competitive rate well above minimum wage, flexible and ideal alongside school, college or university.
Qualification unlock requirement:
✔ 70 hours of volunteering unlocks full funding for your SSTQ qualification.
Class Lead – Confident, Independent Teaching
You move into this role only when you feel ready.
For some this takes:
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A few weeks
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A few months
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Or sometimes closer to a year
Everyone progresses at their own pace, there is no pressure and no deadline.
What this role involves:
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Leading your own lessons
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Planning and delivering each stage
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Engaging with parents and swimmers
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Taking full ownership of your classes
This is where you really grow into your identity as a teacher.
Venue Lead – Supporting the Next Generation
For those who progress further, there is the opportunity to become a Venue Lead.
What Venue Leads do:
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Mentor support teachers and new workforce volunteers
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Help ensure lessons run smoothly
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Provide guidance and reassurance to developing teachers
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Act as a senior presence on poolside
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Support the wider Stepping Stones delivery team
This is a natural step for experienced, confident teachers who enjoy helping others grow.
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Flexible, Rewarding Work That Fits Around Your Life
Once qualified, you’ll enjoy:
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A great hourly rate from day one
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Hours that fit around school, university or other commitments
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A fun, active working environment
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The satisfaction of making a real impact on young swimmers
Many of our best teachers started in the Young Workforce Programme and have continued on for years while studying or establishing their careers.
