Baby - 5yrs Swimming Lessons

This is our entry level programme offering swimming lessons designed for babies and children aged 6 weeks – 5 years.

The groups are split into the classes

Adult & Baby 6 weeks – 18 months

Adult & Toddler 18 months – 3 years

The above sessions provide an opportunity for children to develop water confidence through structured fun, games and activities and are a perfect start on a child’s swimming pathway. Children have the opportunity to gain the STA Starfish Awards.

Adult & Non-Swimmer 3-6years

These are perfect for those children who are preschool age or timid in the water and require additional support.

All of the above require adult support for your child in the water. The ratio for support is one adult to one child unless by prior agreement.

Preschool 1 & 2

Our pre-school lessons, are aimed at children aged 3-4 years old (includes during a child 4th year of birth until they turn 5). The emphasis is on developing water confidence through games and having fun. Adults are not required to enter the water during this class.

Preschool 1: 3-4 years will work towards Swim England Duckling 1-2 badges

Preschool 2: 3-4 years (able to swim small distances without floatation aids) will work towards Duckling 3-4 badges

If you feel your child is not ready for independent swimming we would recommend adult and non-swimmer.

These lessons run for 50 weeks per year and payment is by direct debit monthly.

Preparing for swimming lessons at home

Increasing confidence in the water

Parents can play an active role in increasing water confidence in babies and young children from an early stage. Bath time activities can help to introduce your child to a number of aquatic experiences in a warm and comfortable environment. Children should be encouraged and helped to wet their faces and tummies, splash, blow bubbles, sing and play in the bath to get them used to the water environment.

Our adult and child swimming lessons or our family swim sessions are another excellent way to engage your child in water activities in a fun environment and build water confidence.

Please find below some ideas for exercises and activities you can do with your child at home to get them used to being in and around water

Water on the Face

In the sink, encourage children to splash water onto their face and rub it in as though washing their face. Encourage them to gradually use more water, keeping their mouth and eyes closed whilst washing, hold for a second then breathe and open eyes.

Children could also practice the above in the bath by pouring a cup or sponge full of water over their face, or standing under the shower allowing water to run over their face. Children should close their mouth and eyes to start with, then breathe and open eyes once the water’s cleared. To progress this, keep the eyes open as the water runs down the face.

Eventually all of the above should be done without the hands wiping the eyes or touching the nose.

Aquatic Breathing

To swim properly a swimmer needs to be able to swim and breathe at the same time without breaking stroke. Often the face is in the water and has to be lifted close to the water in order to breathe and then be placed back into the water, this is known as “aquatic breathing”.

Children can try this activity to practice aquatic breathing: Place your chin onto the surface of water in a bath/skink/basin and blow onto the water. Keep the chin on the water and breathe in before blowing again. Progress this by blowing bubbles with your mouth under the water and raising your head out of water to breathe. Build this up until it can be done two or three tims without a pause. Move onto putting your nose and mouth under the water to blow bubbles before raising your head out of the water to breathe.

The perfect aquatic breathing is to completely submerge the face in the water and then blow out, lift face clear with chin on water to breathe in and repeat.

In the bath, children can try all the above but laid flat on their front resting on their forearms and elbows. They could also try blowing a small toy as the first introduction to aquatic breathing.

Spring Bank Half Term Junior Activities

Spring Bank Holiday Opening Hours 2025

Baby - 5yrs Swimming Lessons

Preparing for swimming lessons at home

Baby - 5yrs Swimming Lessons

Preparing for swimming lessons at home

Bath/Shower Time Actvities