Childrens Lessons

Children's Lessons

From the first gentle splash to confident swimmer, Shirley Swimming Pool provides an excellent environment to learn to swim. Our unique swim centre provides a class for every age and ability, gently encouraging progression through the learning stages.

Swimming lessons run all year round except on public holidays, so they run right through the summer. Crash course lessons are also available in the half term and end of term holidays

School Age Lessons

lessons for children at school take place Monday to Friday every half hour between 4.00p.m. - 6.00p.m (7pm on Tuesdays). On a Saturday the lessons are between 9.00a.m-12 noon.
All stroke teaching lessons last half an hour.

There is always a ASA Qualified Teacher in the water with the children. No more than eight in a class, often less.

Depending on the age of the child progress can be rapid.
You can join the classes at any time, just book in on a suitable day where there is space for a free trial.
The children are constantly assessed to see if they are ready to progress to the next level. Badge testing takes place every six weeks if their teacher feels they are ready. ‘Flipper Day’ follows badge week.

To assess which class will be most suitable for your child, please read on. If you would like to discuss things further or to book your Free Trial, please contact a member of staff on 023 8078 1901
Click here for booking details

Children’s Beginners

30 minute lessons in the small, warm pool.
From getting started in the water the aim is for the children to get comfortable face down, floating and gliding.
Working through the Duckling Awards, Water Skills 1 and 5 meters.
Once Water skills 1 is achieved the children move on to the main pool.

You are able to take and collect the children from the pool as long as you take your shoes off!
A remote camera relays the small pool lessons to reception where you can watch without being seen.

Advanced beginners

Here the children reinforce their underwater skills.
They are introduced to a whole range of water skills from early diving practices to a basic back crawl.
The main aim is to learn enough technique to complete 50m swimming backstroke and attain Water Skills 2.
Backstroke is the simplest stroke to learn in its most basic form, so children progress quickly to the next level of learning.
Being able to turn and swim on their back enables them to breathe and recover to the edge should they fall into deep water.

Improvers

Now they can swim backstroke and are confident underwater the front crawl is introduced.
Once again, simple basic stroke technique is used, rolling onto the back to breath.
The emphasis here is correct breathing pattern that will last a lifetime.
Later in the lesson program, the children learn just to turn on their side to breathe rather that right over onto their backs.
These small progressive steps make learning easier and more enjoyable.
The test to see if they have really learnt the breathing is the 100m badge, which they must swim 25m front crawl and 75m back crawl.
Every six week the children have the opportunity to try for a badge, if the teacher thinks they are ready.
Jumping into the deep section will have become a regular activity in the previous class.
Now they start to learn treading water and diving.
Through handstands, somersaults and gliding in the shallow end they move onto “penguin dives”
The children also work towards Water Skills 3.

Advanced Improvers Level 1

With Water Skills three and the first two basic strokes under their belts, the children start breaststroke.
This is the most complex of the four strokes and takes longer to master.
The children still practice the other strokes at the start of every lesson, though the main theme is the breaststroke leg action.

Penguin dives now lead onto standing pike dives.
All the practice at underwater and somersaults pays dividends now as they try for the water skills 4 award.
When the teacher can see that the leg kick is correct you move into…

Advanced Improvers Level 2

Adding breathing, arms and timing to the leg action takes time and patience. Timing is everything
The end result is a breaststroke that will last.
With this group they try butterfly with flippers on and a more advanced technique on the other two strokes, whilst still progressing with their diving.