We start children when they are 3 ½ years of age, we recommend children under 4 attend a crash course before starting weekly lessons.

Our teachers are experienced in dealing with a child who is worried or nervous and are happy to introduce your child slowly into the lesson environment. We would start by encouraging the pupil to sit on poolside and watch the lesson with a parent then slowly introduce them to the water by spending some time splashing their toes while we keep the other pupils involved in the class. If a teaching helper is available they will spend some time talking to the pupil and playing with toys to encourage them gently into the pool.We will continously give praise to the pupils and make the lessons as fun as possible. We are happy for a parent to sit close to the pool and would then encourage the parent to move further away as the pupil becomes more settled. We understand that the settling in period can be quite distressing for some and would encourage you to 'stick with it'.

We would encourage you to go swimming as a family and have fun in the pool to enable the pupil to show their newly acquired skills (however small) to other family members.

Young children who are finding the environment upsetting are given three weeks to settle, if there is no improvement we will ask you to take them out of the lessons. Credits for the remainder of the term will be given only if the child has previously attended a crash course.

 We are happy to discuss problems settling either via email or telephone, however we are unable to hold discussions at the pool during a lesson as we have the other pupils and lessons to consider.