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Weekly classes · one free trial · leave any week
Every class here says what it's actually for, because "Otters" doesn't tell you anything.
Timetables get written by people who already know what the levels mean. This one translates them into things you can check at home this week, says what happens in the forty-five minutes, and tells you what we do when a child decides they've had enough — which is the commonest thing that happens and the thing nobody plans for.
What the class names actually mean
Tadpoles — 6 months to 2 years, you in the water — You're in the pool the whole time. Mostly it's about your child being comfortable with water on their face, and about you being comfortable holding them in it
Minnows — 2 to 4, you at the side — The first class without a parent in the water. Some children are ready at two and a half and some at four, and it has nothing to do with how well they'll swim later
Otters — 4 to 6, face already goes under — The one people misjudge most often. If your child won't put their face under at bath time, they will spend this class not putting their face under. Another term of Minnows costs less and works better
Pike — 6 to 9, a width unaided — A width, not a length, and not neatly. If they can get across without stopping or standing up, they're ready
Squad — 9 and up, by invitation — Which is a polite way of saying we'll suggest it and you can say no. Plenty of children who could do it would rather not, and that is a completely fine answer
How to tell without asking us — Every line above is something you can check at home this week. That's deliberate: children end up in the wrong class when the class is described by a level number instead of a thing they can do
Minnows — 2 to 4, you at the side — The first class without a parent in the water. Some children are ready at two and a half and some at four, and it has nothing to do with how well they'll swim later
Otters — 4 to 6, face already goes under — The one people misjudge most often. If your child won't put their face under at bath time, they will spend this class not putting their face under. Another term of Minnows costs less and works better
Pike — 6 to 9, a width unaided — A width, not a length, and not neatly. If they can get across without stopping or standing up, they're ready
Squad — 9 and up, by invitation — Which is a polite way of saying we'll suggest it and you can say no. Plenty of children who could do it would rather not, and that is a completely fine answer
How to tell without asking us — Every line above is something you can check at home this week. That's deliberate: children end up in the wrong class when the class is described by a level number instead of a thing they can do
The weekly timetable
Monday · 15:45 — Tadpoles — 6 months to 2 years, with you
Monday · 16:30 — Otters — 4 to 6
Tuesday · 16:00 — Minnows — 2 to 4
Tuesday · 16:45 — Pike — 6 to 9
Thursday · 16:00 — Otters — 4 to 6
Thursday · 16:45 — Squad — 9 and up, by invitation
Saturday · 09:00 to 11:30 — Every class, in half-hour slots. Busiest morning of the week and the first to fill
Monday · 16:30 — Otters — 4 to 6
Tuesday · 16:00 — Minnows — 2 to 4
Tuesday · 16:45 — Pike — 6 to 9
Thursday · 16:00 — Otters — 4 to 6
Thursday · 16:45 — Squad — 9 and up, by invitation
Saturday · 09:00 to 11:30 — Every class, in half-hour slots. Busiest morning of the week and the first to fill
4:1Children to a teacher, every class, no exceptions
45 minEvery class, in and out
11 weeksIn a term, paid a term at a time
1Free trial, before you pay for anything
What actually happens in forty-five minutes
The first five — Getting in, and the register. Some children need all five of those minutes and it's counted rather than rushed
Ten on last week's thing — So there is always something they can already do at the start. Confidence first, new thing second — it's the whole method really
Fifteen on the new thing — One skill, broken into three smaller ones. Nobody is moved on because the rest of the group moved on
Ten of a game — Which is teaching done sideways, and it's the part they'll tell you about in the car
The last five — Getting out, and one thing each said to you at the side. "She went under twice" is worth more than any certificate
What you'll be doing — Sitting on a bench in a room that is too warm. Read a book — nobody minds, and your child is not being marked on whether you watched
Ten on last week's thing — So there is always something they can already do at the start. Confidence first, new thing second — it's the whole method really
Fifteen on the new thing — One skill, broken into three smaller ones. Nobody is moved on because the rest of the group moved on
Ten of a game — Which is teaching done sideways, and it's the part they'll tell you about in the car
The last five — Getting out, and one thing each said to you at the side. "She went under twice" is worth more than any certificate
What you'll be doing — Sitting on a bench in a room that is too warm. Read a book — nobody minds, and your child is not being marked on whether you watched
If they decide they hate it
It happens, usually around week four — It is normal, it is not a sign of anything, and it is the point at which most families quietly lose the rest of a term's money somewhere
A refund for the weeks that are left — No notice, no reason, no form. Tell us at the poolside and it's done that week
We'll try three things first, if you want — A different teacher, a quieter class, or going back a level for a term. One of those fixes it more often than not and none of them costs anything extra
And then we'll agree it isn't working — A child who cries at the door every week is not learning to swim. Stopping for six months and coming back later is a real plan and it works more often than pushing on
Nobody gets chased — No "we've missed you" message, no re-enrolment sequence, no call in September. If you come back, you come back, and you'll be treated exactly the same
What we'd rather you didn't do — Push through a term because it's paid for. That's the situation this whole section exists to remove
A refund for the weeks that are left — No notice, no reason, no form. Tell us at the poolside and it's done that week
We'll try three things first, if you want — A different teacher, a quieter class, or going back a level for a term. One of those fixes it more often than not and none of them costs anything extra
And then we'll agree it isn't working — A child who cries at the door every week is not learning to swim. Stopping for six months and coming back later is a real plan and it works more often than pushing on
Nobody gets chased — No "we've missed you" message, no re-enrolment sequence, no call in September. If you come back, you come back, and you'll be treated exactly the same
What we'd rather you didn't do — Push through a term because it's paid for. That's the situation this whole section exists to remove
What to bring, and what not to buy
A towel and something to swim in — That's the whole list for the first term. Genuinely — everything else on this page is us telling you not to spend money
Goggles from about four — Any pair. The expensive ones fog exactly as much as the cheap ones and get lost exactly as often
No branded kit — We don't sell any and we don't require any, and no child is at a disadvantage without it. Where a class asks you to buy a badge in order to move up, it's worth asking what the badge is for
Swim nappies under three — Any brand, and there's a spare box by the door for the week you forget one. Nobody is ever turned away over it
Everything else is provided — Floats, woggles, the lot. Nothing on this page needs buying and nothing is upsold at the side of the pool
Certificates — Free, and only when something was actually done. We don't hand out one for attendance — children work out what those are worth faster than adults do
Goggles from about four — Any pair. The expensive ones fog exactly as much as the cheap ones and get lost exactly as often
No branded kit — We don't sell any and we don't require any, and no child is at a disadvantage without it. Where a class asks you to buy a badge in order to move up, it's worth asking what the badge is for
Swim nappies under three — Any brand, and there's a spare box by the door for the week you forget one. Nobody is ever turned away over it
Everything else is provided — Floats, woggles, the lot. Nothing on this page needs buying and nothing is upsold at the side of the pool
Certificates — Free, and only when something was actually done. We don't hand out one for attendance — children work out what those are worth faster than adults do
Term dates and when places open
- Tue, Aug 25 · 5:29 AMPlaces open for next term
Existing families first for a week, then everybody. Nothing is held back and there is no priority list to pay to join.
- Tue, Sep 15 · 5:29 AMNext term starts
Eleven weeks. Half term is off and it isn't charged.
- Tue, Nov 17 · 4:29 AMHoliday intensives📍 The same pool
Four mornings in a row, for children who make more progress in a burst than in a term. Not better, just different — and it suits some children far more.
Dates roll forward with the template, so this section is never out of date. Replace them with your real ones before publishing.
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