FAQS

There are many different course levels for juniors, adults, as well as parent and child. If you are unsure which level you or your child should be on, please contact your local centre for further help and advice.

Each level is continually assessed against the Swim England Learn to Swim Pathway. This is a nationally recognised standard for the teaching of swimming.

To move onto the next stage each student is required to pass all the appropriate criteria. After completing each level all students will obtain a badge and certificate in recognition their achievements.

Please see a guide to the swim levels below and to help you determine the correct level for your swimming ability.

For further details please see the Swim England Learn to swim programme PDF.

To book you or your child on to a swimming lesson, you can enquire by either:

• Contacting your local leisure centre, the team will be able to provide detailed information on availability of classes and help you select the correct level for your ability.
• Complete the enquiry form, a member of our team will be in contact to discuss your requirements and find the right stage for you or your child.
• Visit the centre, the Customer Relations Team are on hand to help you with your enquiry and discuss your needs.

We look forward to helping you with all your swimming goals, where it be learn to swim or develop your existing technique.

The Learn to Swim Pathway starts with FOUNDATION a programme for developing early years water confidence encouraged through sessions such as 'Parent and Baby', 'Parent and Toddler' and 'Pre-School'. The emphasis is on the development of basic skills and an introduction to water and the swimming environment through fun and games.

• Parent and Baby (upto 18 month)
• Parent and Toddler (18 months - 3 years)
• Pre-School Classes (3-5 years)

Please note: the age ranges for the classes are a guide only. Children will be put into the best class for their ability. This is generally with children of similar age.

We will continually access the children and recommend which class they should be in to help them progress with their swimming ability.

Sometimes other children need to stay in classes with their parents for longer, while other are happy to progress into classes independently. We will always aim to ensure that the child is in the best class for them.

For Parent and Baby and Parent and Toddler swimming an adult is required to be in the water for lesson. (this does not need to be the parent of the child, but the adult must take full responsibility for the child).

The Learn to Swim Pathway goes on to set out stages of learning from 1-7 that teach students FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS from basic water safety at stage 1 to developing a quality stroke technique for 100 metres at stage 7. Whilst our swimming lessons are open to people of all ages, these 7 stages have been developed by the Swim England with an emphasis on learning through fun.

Stages 8-10 are more specialist development classes to progress the swimmers ability further.

At some centres these classes are delivered by the local swimming club.

We offer lessons for adult beginners and improvers.

• Beginner classes are for non-swimmers with little or no water confidence, aiming to improve confidence in the water and swimming front and back crawl.
• Improver classes develop technique on front and back with further focus on different strokes and improving stamina.
• Advanced classes help the swimmer to really develop their ability in the water.
• Some centres will also offer Women Only Swimming Lessons and 50+ Swimming Lessons.

We offer One to One swimming lessons for both adults and juniors. All lessons are taught by one of our experienced Swimming Teachers.

Swimming lesson times are arranged on an individual basis.

For more information, please contact the Swim School team at your local centre

The Swim England Learn to Swim Pathway consists of four frameworks:

1. Swim England Foundation Framework
2. Swim England Learn to Swim Framework (Stages 1-7)
3. Swim England Aquatic Skills Framework (Stages 8-10)
4. Swim England Adult Swimming Framework

The Pathway is an all-inclusive programme which takes the non swimmer from his or her first splash to developing confidence and competence in the water.

Swimmers move up to the next group when they have passed an Learn to Swim Pathway stage.

The Swimming Teachers will make the pupil ready to move when they have completed all of the assessment criteria of that Stage and then we'll arrange for your child to move up to the next Stage.

You will be signposted to local clubs and local initiatives that offer progression opportunities.

This will vary with every swimmer.

If a child has the experience of Pre-School Classes then he / she may move faster initially through the Learn to Swim Pathway stages 1 & 2 as they will be familiar with the environment and possibly confident in the water.

Swimmers must be competent in all outcomes at each stage. Stages have multiple elements to be assessed so it does take time for swimmers to progress to the next stage.

Through games, swimmers have FUN and learn important skills. If swimmers are having FUN they enjoy what they are doing and often learn faster.

Information is also available on the Swim England's website www.swimming.org.

You can read our full terms & conditions here.