FAQ
What days are the lessons?
Mondays 13:00 - 18:00
Tuesdays 9:30 - 10:30
Wednesdays 13:00 - 15:00
Thursdays 9:30 - 12:00
Do you offer lessons on weekends?
-Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you lessons on weekends.
What age can my baby start lessons?
-Your little one can start swimming at any time from birth, but we recommend starting from 6 weeks to allow your baby to develop a strong enough immune system to stay fit and healthy. Before this age we are more than happy to suggest useful exercises for you and your baby in the bath at home.
My baby hasn’t had all the immunisations yet. Is it safe to swim?
-“You can take your baby swimming at any age, both before and after they have been vaccinated. It does not matter if they have not yet completed their course of vaccinations. Babies sometimes experience side effects after a vaccination. These are generally quite mild and should not stop you taking your baby swimming.”
NHS website
How long is a lesson?
-Our lessons last 30 minutes and start on the hour and half hour i.e. 13:00, 13:30, etc.
What are the term dates and prices?
-Usually 4 terms per year with 10 lessons in each term. There will be some break weeks which will be confirmed at the commencement of your term.
The price of one term containing 10 lessons is £140.
What happens to my space after the term?
-Existing swimmers always get their spaces guaranteed in the next term. During your term you will be contacted by email asking if you want to continue and given the deadline for when you must pay. Spaces are offered to the waiting list only if a swimmer doesn’t wish to continue or doesn’t pay in time.
If you want to carry on but you get paid shortly after the deadline you should get in touch and we will happily extend your deadline by a few days.
Do you have changing facilities?
-There are five individual changing cubicles available for use.
How can I prepare my baby and myself for the first lesson?
-Coming to the pool for the first time could be a little daunting for your little one as it is a new environment with unfamiliar sounds and faces. To get the most out of your little one’s lessons it is vital that you are in a calm, stress free mood before and when you enter the pool. Babies are extremely perceptive. They can sense your current mood, body language and the kind of energy you are emanating. If you are confident and positive your baby will be confident and positive. Patience and persistence is key. Usually your little one will become acclimated by lesson 4 so do not be deterred if there are a few tears on your first visit.
What should my baby wear to lessons?
-All babies and toddlers who are not potty trained need to wear our double nappy system: either reusable cotton nappy or a disposable swim nappy, with a “Happy Nappy” made of a neoprene on top which looks like a pair of swimming shorts but is fitted on the tummy and legs to ensure that soil does not escape and contaminate the pool and we will not have to cancel lessons for everyone else.
Babies wearing any other attire, including wetsuits or warmers, etc. must still wear a Happy Nappy or Neo Nappy and disposable swim nappy or cotton nappy. Ideas to find neoprene nappy: twobarefeet.co.uk, splashabout.com, second hand be found on Marketplace, Vinted and Ebay.
What should I wear to lessons?
-We advise you to wear suitable supportive swimwear which is comfortable for you.
Is it necessary to wear a swimming hat?
-All adults and children over the age of 2 years are required to wear a swimming hat to their lessons.
The main reason for the mandatory swimming hat is of course the maintenance of the hygiene of the pools, the health and their well-being of the customers. Swimming hats help keep the pool drains, filters, and pumps clear of hair. Keeping your hair out of your eyes and mouth.
My experience is the children are fine with wearing one since they can see you and other children wearing one.
We try to impart on our children from early years how to make correct choices - manners, eating healthy and being kind to others. So we want to impart good habits on our swimmers from the early years.
Don't forget there are many different types of swimming hats on the market for you and your child.
My child definitely won't wear a swimming hat. What can I do?
-As I mentioned above, if your little one sees you and other children wearing one, most of the time they are fine with it even when they say a big no for it first.
What can I expect at your first lesson?
-We will give you lots of support and guidance, starting with the basics - helping you get into and out of the pool safely with your baby. We will help you feel confident by showing you lots of different ways to hold and support your baby in the water.
What should I do if my little one is unwell?
-If your little one has a runny nose they will still be able to participate in swimming lessons - no problem.
However, if they are suffering from any major illness such as diarrhoea, vomiting, ear infection, chicken pox, impetigo, conjunctivitis, a severe cold, etc. please do not attend until your little one is 100% fit and symptoms have cleared for 48 hours. Attending lessons in this state could not only make your little one feel worse, but they could also spread their illness to others in the class.
What happens if I go on holiday or my child is feeling poorly?
-If you are unable to attend due to illnesses, family events, holidays please do let us know and we can offer you a catch up lesson on another date and time.
For each paid term we will be able to reschedule a maximum of one lesson.
Do parents have to get in the water?
-The simple answer to this is: “yes”.
Will my partner/another adult be able to join in with lessons?
-We do welcome both parents and any other family members to attend the lesson, although only one adult can get in the water, the other is welcome to watch from the poolside. Some parents take it in turns each week to get in the pool, but obviously this is down to your preference.
We do offer private lessons where both parents can attend. For more information please contact us.
I can’t swim, can I still participate?
-Yes, absolutely. Around 10% of our parents cannot swim or cannot swim very well and they want their little ones not to be the same. The depth of the pool is 1.2 metres, which means that you will be comfortably able to stand. The lessons will improve both your and your little one’s confidence in the water.
My baby can not blow bubbles or can not kick his legs like his classmates. Do I need to worry?
-Every child is different. One might start walking at 10 months, and another at 15 months. Some might say their first words before taking their first steps, while others do the opposite. A very good rule is to not compare your little one to others. All children develop at their own pace, in their own special way, depending on their genetics, personalities, and preferences.
Do I get discounts for multiple children booking on?
-Yes. We can offer you £10 off of your second and/or third child’s payments.
Why should you not ignore the “Please take your shoes off” sign?
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To improve hygiene and maintenance
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To provide and enjoy a cleaner changing environment
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Taking your footwear off will prevent dirt from being transferred onto the changing room floor and then into the pool area
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Babies can not change on the bench for safety reasons so they must be changed on the floor on a changing mat. We hope you can appreciate that this step has been taken for the comfort of all our customers
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Please do understand, if you come in with shoes/boots/sandals/flip-flops then our next customer who will use the changing area after you, would not enjoy changing in a contaminated, unclean environment.