At what age should my child learn to swim?

The earlier that a child experiences being in and around water the easier they will find it to develop their aquatic skills. The great thing about swimming is that you can introduce a baby to the water, and once they have developed their skills they can continue to access swimming for the rest of their life.

How long will it take for my child to learn to swim?

Like any new skill that we learn, different people take different amounts of time, and find some skills easier to learn than others. If your child experiences more time in the swimming pool environment outside of lessons, then there is a high probability that they will progress much quicker, as they will have additional opportunities to practice. In the early phase, their confidence can also be greatly increased by being surrounded by friends and family in the water.

What does my child need to wear for swimming lessons?

Your child will need appropriate swimwear - for girls ideally a one piece costume is recommended; tank top swim costumes can be used but swimwear with tie ups should be avoided. For boys ideally trunks or tight fitting shorts. Board shorts can actually make it a lot harder for children to learn to swim as they increase the resistance in the water.

Should my child wear goggles?

Goggles are optional. Some children may prefer to wear goggles in the pool, and for other children, if they have prescription goggles or wear contacts, it is essential. If goggles are worn please ensure your child can safely put them on themselves.

Does my child need to wear a swimming cap?

It is not compulsory to wear a swim cap in our Swim School lessons, but it can be beneficial and can improve your child's swimming experience. Long hair is heavy, and can make swimming more difficult and if your child is working on breathing and head rotation, it can make it very difficult for them to take a breath. We recommend that you braid long hair or pull the hair back into a ponytail if not wearing a swim cap.

What about equipment?

Wadebridge Swim School will provide any equipment required during the lessons such as buoyancy aids, toys and floats.

Can my child eat before swimming?

Just like any other exercise, you wouldn't want to feed your child a large meal just before getting into the water. It's fine to have a small snack before class, as long as they have had at least 20 minutes to digest it.

What if my child cries or is afraid?

It's very common for a child to cry or be afraid when starting something new. All teachers will be trained to deal with the most fearful of students, and there should always be someone on hand to assist if necessary. We recommend the use of simple distraction techniques; toys, songs and games to help calm and reassure them, and we will never dunk a new swimmer under the water. A child may cry for several weeks in a row, but please be patient. Consistency and praise are key in your child's progress. If you need help getting your child into the pool, please ask our staff for assistance and be sure to let us know any information in advance, that will help us get to know your child better. 

We would recommend that you take your child to the pool where they are having lessons prior to the lesson so that they are familiar with the environment and the more often you can take them to the pool before commencing lessons, the easier they will find the transition into learning new skills. In the worst case scenario where your child doesn’t seem to settle, a credit for the remaining number of lessons will be credited to your child’s account to use in a future term.

What should my child do to get ready for their session?

Before their session they should change into their swimwear using the appropriate changing facilities, go to the toilet, remove any jewellery and have a shower to rinse off any dirt on their body – remember, the swimming pool is to be enjoyed by many people and all users need to display high levels of personal hygiene whilst using the facility. Ideally children should be familiar with the environment, know where their lesson will be taking place, and also where the accompanying adult will be during the lesson for reassurance. Parents of children under the age of 8 years must remain in the building throughout the lessons. Children should only come onto the poolside 5 minutes before the start of their class and parents should be waiting to collect their children 5 mins before the end of the lessons at the entrance onto the poolside, or in the changing rooms.  It's important for parents to be visual so children can easily locate their parent/guardian after their swimming lesson.

What if my child is unwell?

Use your best judgement, but if your child has flu-like symptoms such as a fever, vomiting or has stomach or digestion problems, you should not bring them to class. We are unable to offer refunds or credits for any lessons missed unless a medical note is provided. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform / update the centre of any medical conditions that the child may have, which would affect the child’s performance whilst attending swimming lessons.

How is my child assessed?

Each stage in the Learn to Swim pathway has around ten goals. Your child will need to perform each of these goals three times so that the teacher is confident in their abilities. The teacher will record what your child has achieved each week.

How is my child rewarded?

The Learn to Swim Framework outcomes should be continually assessed as your child attends lessons. There should not be a final assessment, however in order to progress into the next level, all outcomes need to be achieved competently and consistently. As your child progresses through the programme, their achievements will be rewarded with different awards in the form of badges and certificates, which can be purchased at reception.

Private or group lessons?

Wadebridge Sports & Leisure Centre offers group lessons as well as individual one to one lessons. It is up to you which option you choose, but there will be differences in price.  It will also depend on your child as to what method of delivery will enable them to thrive.

• Group lessons offer children another opportunity to increase their social interaction with different children that they do not necessarily go to school with and to learn and develop from.
• One to one lessons can be useful where there is a specific skill or outcome that they are finding difficult.

How many children will be in the group?

The recommendation for non-swimmers and beginners, young children, (normally of primary school age) or adults learning to swim is that a pupil: teacher ratio should not exceed 12:1. This is taken from the ASA Safe Supervision for Teaching and Coaching swimming document.  Wadebridge Learn to swim ratios are:

• Parent & Baby = 1:8           
• Toddlers = 2:6                  
• Stage 1 = 2:8 (less confident swimmers) or 2:10 (more confident swimmers)
• Stages 2 & 3 = 1:8            
• Stages 4/7 = 1:10            

As you can see our ratios are below recommendation, ensuring our pupils get maximum potential out of our lessons.

Disability inclusion

Lessons can be adapted as necessary to help all children achieve their potential. If your child has specific needs, please discuss them with the Centre Manager so the best decision can be made to meet your child’s needs.