Pre-school swim program

Please refer to the Safe Supervision for Teaching and Coaching Swimming document for the full overview. It is recommended that pre-school swimming is delivered in an Adult and Child setting with a ratio of 1 adult : 1 child swimmer, with an ASA Level 2 Teacher teaching from pool side.

If a teacher chooses to enter the water, a full risk assessment needs to be conducted. Teachers must remember it is harder to see all swimmers when they are water based so a ratio of no more than is recommended in this scenario. Infants can start swimming from birth. However babies chill easily and water temperature needs to be considered if this is to happen.

It is recommended that teachers attend the Adult and Child training before delivering the Pre-School Framework. For teachers using the Alpha Step Awards and working with swimmers with disabilities, there are also a range of other CPDs depending on the needs of the swimmers. As this is an Adult and Child environment it is important that teachers are comfortable working with adults in the pool and that they have some experience of how to deal with pre-school children.

New teachers may benefit from shadowing more experienced teachers if they have not worked with pre-school groups before. The Discovery Duckling and Duckling Awards are very much designed for pre-school aged children, but every child is different and will progress at different speeds.

However, not all swimmers are mature enough and able to concentrate enough to be moved away from the Adult and Child setting. A teacher can introduce the next stages of the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework to pre-school children if appropriate, but caution should be exercised before moving them into a class of school aged children.

Firstly it is important that you have the right changing and pool facilities to cater for the swimmers and a teacher with the right skills to be able to deliver. Why is this? Many children go through a phase where they may be clingy or nervous prior to activities in groups. This is very normal. The important thing is to nurture your child back into the water and support them as best as you can until they have overcome this phase.

Your swimming teacher will be able to offer you advice too. Lots of practice in the pool during family sessions and in the bath at home should help. It is easier to introduce young children to water at an early age when they can be fully supported and enjoy close skin to skin contact with their parent or carer.

However, sometimes older children will refuse to get in. Get your child ready for swimming as normal and encourage them to move to a safe position on poolside. Then follow the instructions of the swimming teacher. It is important that you stay calm and be patient.

Remember that any opportunity to go swimming as a family in addition to attending swimming lessons will be a big help. Many swimming nappies have a double layer, so do not worry or feel embarrassed, it is perfectly normal for children who are not fully toilet trained to need to use nappies when they go swimming. If your child is toilet trained, do not hesitate to leave the class if your child needs the toilet. Your teacher will be very experienced in dealing with children of this age and will not be concerned.

Swim England offers Awards for every step of the way, including special Awards for the first time your child achieves new things. Ask your swimming teacher which Awards they offer at your pool and the programme you will follow. They should be able to give you full details to help you understand each step of the way. We recommend each child should receive a minimum of three Awards a year. This will keep them motivated throughout their swimming journey. This depends on the age of your child.

If your child is not yet supporting his or her own head, you will need to continue to do this for them. The water will help support and balance your baby. Your swimming teacher will show you the safest way to get in and out and different ways of holding your baby to help them enjoy the water.

Learning to swim significantly reduces the risk of drowning. Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury death for children under 14, with the highest rates among children ages Whether or not you plan to head to the pool, water is all around us - in rivers, lakes, drainage ditches, bathtubs, and even large puddles. By equipping your child with the lifesaving skill of swimming you'll be opening doors to a lifetime of fun, fitness, and even employment opportunities!

And did you know, children can participate in swimming lessons before they can walk? Due to the limited space available in each session and class, a registration waitlist will be maintained. Those who register for a class and do not attend the first class in their session will lose their spot to a student on the waitlist. Become a Jr. Guard ages at the Calypso Cove. Work with the lifeguards and learn what the lifeguards do as well as valuable lifesaving skills.