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Gentle, playful and child-led parent and baby/ parent & child swimming lessons.
These classes have parent in the water.
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Pool Introduction Classes - Classes designed to introduce you and your baby to the pool, teaching you the first holds and moves to get comfortable in the water and begin your swimming journey (2 adults can attend).
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Sensory Swimming - gentle introductions to the pool through to swimming lessons, all with fun themes to keep little ones (and big ones) entertained and learning through play.
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Sensory swimming for older children - classes for pre-school and school age children who are not ready to be in the pool without a parent.
These classes run in Wombwell, Athersley & Redbrook.
Max 6 in a class
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Independent swimming lessons for school age children, focusing on skill and technique in a fun and engaging way.
These classes do not have parent in the water.
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Absolute beginners (Grade 1) -New to lessons, may be nervous, May be able to move in the water but no developed technique
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Confident Beginners (Grade 2) -May be new to lessons but are confident in the water, may have previously had some beginner lessons. Happy having water on face/ putting face in etc. Are able to swim on front and back for 5m with armbands+
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Beginners Plus (Grade 3) - Can swim 5m + without flotation aids on front and back, Basic breaststroke, front crawl, dolphin and backstroke ability
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Intermediate (Grade 4+): Can swim 10m + without flotation aids front and back, Are able to confidently swim all 4 strokes
These classes run in Athersley & Redbrook.
Max 4 in a class.
Swimming Pathway
Why swim with us?
Whether you are looking for a one-off term of bonding or fun, or want to lay a solid learn-to-swim foundation, you are in the right place!
Classes usually run term time only, with some specials and short terms throughout the holidays.
There are so many reasons to choose us for your swimming, but the most important one is that we put your child first. Everything is planned with their development and enjoyment in mind, and we absolutely do not force any activity. We believe a love of the water is born from freedom to play and explore and feeling safe and secure with their caregiver and teacher.
We should also mention that our small group of teachers are all highly trained baby and pre-school and learn to swim specialist teachers, with a range of other child-centred qualifications between them so are super qualified to work with babies and pre-schoolers.
We split the classes by age as children will learn swimming skills usually to coincide with certain stages of development linked to age. Simply select an age group to suit at the time of booking and then every time you re-enrol, we will ensure your child is in a group with others the closest age.
Our classes are booked termly (a term is usually between 5-8 weeks in line with school terms). There may sometimes be options to come to a one-off class if there is space available once term has started,
Pool Introduction Classes (30mins) £13.50 per class
Min 2 months, Max 8 months
This is your first port of call for baby and parent to explore the pool together! We use 'Waters Touch,' which is a specially adapted programme of nurturing touch which is built upon the principles of baby massage. There is lots of gentle touch and soft hands with some slow songs and activities which support tummy time, building core strength and water confidence. This is a lovely slow introduction to the pool for young babies and their grown ups. We recommend this for babies who are new to the pool. Once they are older or already familiar with the water they are usually ready for the next stage (Sensory Splashtime)
Sensory Swimming Classes (30mins) £13.50 per class
Min 5 months, Max 8 years
In the next stage we start working on your little ones swimming skills combined with all the fun of Sensory classes. We use music, singing, activities and play which support their swim journey; Whether you are looking for a fun introduction to the pool, getting a little water confidence before a holiday, a fun activity for maternity/paternity leave, or a firm foundation for learning to swim, these classes have something for everyone.
Once your little one is a little older we start to work more on independent swimming skills to help get them moving in the water. Still using all the fun of music and themed play to help them continue to develop their foundation swimming skills ready for independent classes. If you have a child who is a little older but still not ready for independent swimming, we have options for those too.
Classes are always grouped so that the children closest in age are together, so when booking just look for the age which suits your child best at the venue you require.
More than just a swimming lesson....
Throughout all our younger classes we have a range of activities and age appropriate toys and equipment which support building core strength, water confidence, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive skills, and speech and language development. But as fun as it is, we are still learning to swim and developing our foundation swimming skills throughout:
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Safety skills such as holding on, floating, climbing out, rotating
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Jumping in/ returning to the side
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Pushing off from the wall
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Using arms and legs to kick, paddle, move forwards/ backwards
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Being comfortable dipping in own face/ going under the water (all child led and dependent upon their own preferences)
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Progressing to swimming by themselves without adult assistance (when they are ready)
We use a variety of floats and aids for swimming but don't want children to become reliant on armbands; we want them to be able to understand their own buoyancy so include lots of activity without.
Although skill repetition is essential for learning, each term is different and has lots of themed play so your little one (and you) won't get bored! There is lots of child led water play in these sessions as well as lots of gentle encouragement to explore and enjoy the water and every activity is mindful of the childs preference and likes, with no forced activity.
Independent Swimming Classes (30mins) £13.50 per class
Min 4 years, Max 10 years
Once your child is ready for independent swimming they join our Bubbles and Beyond programme. These are structured classes which work on the four main strokes; front crawl, breast stroke, back stroke and butterfly, as well as learning important safety skills. The learning is organic; we prioritise the ability to swim to the side and get safety out of the pool without any floats before then developing and improving technique.
Our Bubbles and Beyond swimmers work towards the STA's Grade Programme and are grouped as follows:
Absolute beginners (Grade 1):
This still has very much a 'fun' focus to work on those important confidence skills. This is for children who:
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May be new to lessons
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Could be nervous or worried about lessons*
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May or may not be able to move in the water but have no developed technique
Confident Beginners (Grade 2):
This is for children who may or may not have had any previous lessons but who:
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Are confident in the water,
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May not have any or much stroke technique
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Are happy having water on face/ putting face in etc
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Are generally able to swim on front and back for 5m with armbands+
Beginners Plus (Grade 3)
This is for children who are developing stroke technique and can:
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Swim 5m + without flotation aids on front and back
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Perform basic breaststroke, front crawl, dolphin and backstroke
Intermediate (Grade 4+)
These are for children who are improving stroke technique and can:
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Can swim 10m + without flotation aids front and back
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Confidently swim all 4 strokes
All our Bubbles and beyond classes still prioritise classes being fun and engaging and are kept small so each child can have proper support to progress.
