Childrens Swimming Lessons

Our children's swimming lessons are divided into 4 sections:

• Starfish Classes (4 months to 15 months old at enrolment)
• Duckling Classes (15 months - 3 years old at enrolment)
• Otter Classes (4 years + at enrolment)
• Shark Classes (6 years + at enrolment)
• **NEW** Rookie Lifeguard (7 years + at enrolment) **NEW**
  

If you have any questions about which of these classes would be most suitable for your child, please contact us to discuss this further.

Starfish Classes (Babies)

Age

Babies can start swimming lessons younger than you might think.  The current NHS advice is that babies do not need to wait to complete their immunisations before swimming, but please speak to your health visitor or GP if in doubt.

We feel that 6 months old is a good age to begin lessons, to maximise the benefit achieved by both baby and parent.  However we are happy to take babies from as young as 4 months old.

If babies are going to use submersion technqiues successfully then they need to begin these classes before they are 15 months old.

Aims

The aim of our Starfish classes is to introduce young children to the pool environment, to increase water confidence in both the babies and their parents and to introduce the basic water skills such as floating, jumping in and submerging.  Although we do not rely purely upon teaching baby submersion techniques, we do encourage some submersion as part of the development of water confidence.

At this level we are working towards the Starfish Awards.

Practicalities

These lessons are 30 minutes long with a parent in the water alongside the teacher.  Any appropriate adult may accompany your child, whether parent, grandparent or other familiar adult (we do require that they are over 18 years of age).

All Starfish lessons are held at the LivingWell club in Bromsgrove due to the warmer air and water temperature.

Starfish lessons have a maximum class size of 8 babies.

Wetsuits

As babies lose heat from their bodies much faster than adults we ask that  all babies wear wetsuits during their lessons.

Parents may chose to purchase wetsuits, or they are available to borrow from Swim Masters (we ask for a £20 deposit for all wet suits).  Please let us know at enrollment if you already have a suitable wetsuit for your child to wear.

Duckling Classes (Toddlers & Pre-schoolers)

Age

Children can join our Duckling classes from around 15 months old.

Some children will be starting classes at this level, while others are progressing through from Starfish lessons.

Aims

The aim of our Duckling classes is to introduce new children to the pool environment, and to continue increasing water confidence, to introduce the basic water skills such as floating, jumping in and submerging.  In addition to this, we place more emphasis at this level upon independent movement by the children.

At this stage we are working through the Duckling Awards.

Practicalities

These lessons are 30 minutes long with a parent in the water alongside the teacher.  Any appropriate adult may accompany your child, whether parent, grandparent or other familiar adult (we do require that they are over 18 years of age).

Duckling lessons are held at both the LivingWell club in Bromsgrove and Greens Health & Fitness in Rubery.

Toddler lessons have a maximum class size of 6 swimmers at the LivingWell club and a maximum class size of 4 swimmers at Greens Health & Fitness due to space restrictions.

Wetsuits

Some toddlers feel the cold more than others, so for toddler lessons we feel that most children will be more comfortable if they wear wetsuits during their lessons.  These are available to purchase or borrow.

In your early lessons we will be happy to lend out wetsuits at no charge, in order to let you have time to decide which option would suit you best in the long-run.

Otter Classes (4 years +)

Otters are 30 minute lessons which are suitable for children aged four years or older who are taught by a teacher who accompanies them in the water. We maintain small class sizes with Otters groups not exceeding 4 swimmers at any level.

Otters Classes are all held at Greens Health & Fitness in Rubery.

Groups are divided by their competance.  There are regular opportunities to move between groups as swimmers improve and develop their strokes and skills. All badges achieved are accompanied by a certificate and are included within the lesson fees.  Please see Awards for more detailed criteria for each badge.

Shark Classes (6 years +)

These 30 or 45 minute sessions cater for our stronger children who lean more towards competitive swimming. They enable us to stretch these advanced swimmers and teach in a more 'club-like' environment with teachers 'coaching' from the poolside.

All sharks sessions are held at Greens Health & Fitness in Rubery.

The coaching style used here encourages swimmers to develop a more responsible and mature attitude to their training while still falling under the watchful eye of familiar and experienced teachers in order to develop their strength and stamina as well as improving stroke efficiency.

Sharks work towards the higher stages of the National Plan Awards and are given regular opportunities to complete the longer distances available through the Rainbow Distance awards. Please see Awards for more detailed criteria for each badge.

Rookie Lifeguarding (7 years +) **NEW**

These sessions cater for our older swimmers who would like to work on their lifesaving skills.  Each 30 minute session costs £4 (paid for in half term batches).  The maximum class size for Rookies is 10 swimmers.

These sessions will combine water safety skills, rescue skills, basic life support and first aid.  Each swimmer will need to complete BOTH pool sessions and dry sessions to complete awards.  This can be done as two separate lessons each week, or can be completed as alternating terms of each.

Dry sessions will be held on Saturdays and Sundays from 4pm until 5pm (2 classes).  Children will NOT need swimming costumes with them for this lesson but should wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes (such as a track suit) as there is an element of physical turns and rolls.

Pool sessions will be held on Sundays from 3pm until 3.30pm and on Mondays from 4pm to 4.30pm. Children will need a full swimming kit as well as bringing clothes to wear in the pool.  Details of what clothes are required will be given in advance of each session.

Rookies work towards the RLSS Rookie Lifeguard Awards.  Please see Awards for more detailed criteria for each badge.