Swimming lessons
Swimming is an important life skill for everyone. Swimming lessons are the perfect way to ensure you and your children are confident and safe in the water throughout your lives. Swimming is also one of the safest and most popular forms of exercise!
We offer swimming lessons from 6 weeks to adulthood. By learning to swim and getting the essentials right you are more likely to enjoy swimming opportunities in the future:
- at your local pool
- on holiday
- at the beach
Learning to swim also opens up many sports opportunities. Water polo, diving, canoeing, sailing, and snorkelling are just a few examples of fun activities based in and around water.
We are an STA approved centre, and all of our swimming lessons are run by fully qualified Swimming Teachers (on occasions there may be trainee swim teachers delivering overseen by a qualified teacher and tutor).
Our Teachers hold a minimum level 2 swim teaching qualification and receive ongoing continuous professional development. We pride ourselves on delivering swimming lessons of the highest quality.
We deliver the national Swim England Learn to Swim Pathway. This is an all-inclusive programme designed to develop children’s skills to achieve their fullest potential.
Making sure your child learns to swim could not only save their life but can open up a world of opportunities for social and health benefits.
Swimming lessons we offer
Baby and Toddler Lessons (6 months to 3 years)
Introduce babies and toddlers to the water. Games-based learning environment with adult support.
(Children must be accompanied in the pool with an adult.)
Pre-school Lessons (3 years to 4 years)
FUNdamental movement through water and more independence. Aim to engage your child through the enjoyment of water-based games.
(Children must be accompanied in the pool with an adult.)
Junior Learn to Swim Programme (For children 5 years+ or learners that have completed our pre-school programme)
Stage 1
Working towards:
- developing basic safety awareness, the 'class' scenario
- basic movement skills and water confidence skills
Swimmers may use armbands and floats for extra help.
Stage 2
Beginner Swimmers are those who are mobile in the water but who would not be safe out of their depth without buoyancy equipment.
Working towards:
- developing safe entries into the water (including jumping in and basic floating)
- travel 5 metres and rotation unaided to regain upright positions
Improver Swimmer
Improver Swimmers are those who can swim 10 metres on their front and back. Working through Swim England's Learn to swim programme, stages 3 to 7.
Stage 3
Working towards:
- developing safe entries (including submersion)
- travel up to 10 metres on the front and back
- progress rotation skills
- water safety knowledge
Stage 4
Working towards:
- developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills
- refining kicking technique for all strokes (over a distance of least 10 metres)
Stage 5
Working towards:
- developing 'watermanship' through sculling and treading water skills, and complete rotation
- performing all four strokes over a distance of at least 10 metres
Stage 6
Working towards:
- developing effective swimming skills (including coordinated breathing)
- developing the water safety aspects and understanding of preparation for exercise
Stage 7
Working towards:
- developing quality stroke techniques up to 100 metres
- incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine
- complete an obstacle course using a variety of skills accomplished throughout stages 1 to 7
Junior Lifeguard Academy
(learners must be able to swim 50 metres continuously unaided)
The fun-packed programme offers something for everyone; from lifeguarding skills and first aid, to boogie boarding, ocean awareness, distance, sports skills and health and wellbeing.
For more information visit the STA junior lifeguard website.
Adult Swimming Lessons
In our 'beginners' lessons, you will receive individual tuition in small classes of 6.
Lessons are for adults who are:
- non-swimmers
- lack water confidence
We will provide all the necessary equipment for your sessions.
SEND Support Swimming Lessons
Junior SEND swimming lessons support children with special educational needs or disabilities.
What’s different?
- lower than normal class sizes
- parent/guardian required in the water to support the swimmer
- quiet pool times
The SEND support lessons do work towards Swim England Learn to Swim Programme.
To enrol or for more information please email aquatics@wakefield.gov.uk.