Lessons and development
As swimmers learn and develop we encourage and mark their progress in both swimming skills and distances using Swim England, RLSS and STA national awards. This framework provides a comprehensive lesson development guide for our teachers.
Each swimmer receives an individual record card to mark his or her own progress — we want swimmers to feel pleased with their development as well as having fun while they learn.
Read our National Plan for Teaching Swimming parental guide. See our syllabus for badges.
We start our classes with Adult & Child (following first inoculations) called Adult and Child in our weekly timetable. Once children are happy to let their carers go, we are happy to have the children swimming without their carers in the water, and then take individual swimmers and non-swimmers from approaching four years old.
At the beginner level we have in-water assistant helpers in water shallow enough to stand in, before moving on to deep widths. At this stage, we emphasise swimming technique and water confidence rather than distance.
Once swimmers have good technique and strength, we move them on to lengths classes.
As the learning progresses, we begin to introduce other aquatic activities in class, like water polo, synchronised swimming, diving and lifesaving.
IS there any literature I can read on the NPTS?
- A Parents Guide specific to the NPTS is available. Visit the ASA website www.britishswimming.org
I’ve just come back from our first swim and I am absolutely blown away!
Dhilan, who has been so anxious about swimming he has been waking up in the middle of the night in tears begging not to have to go and having nightmares about drowning, has come home happy and asking when his next lesson will be. I am still completely shocked at his confidence and progress in just one lesson. I honestly cannot put into the words how grateful I am to the amazing team at today’s lesson, particularly the young lady who looked after him today.
Equally, Nikhil came out of the pool out of breath having swam for the duration of the lesson (a new but positive experience for him and for me!). He too is excited for his next lesson.
Once again, thank you so so much – I only wish I had contacted you sooner!!
Just wanted to say thank you for all of the measures you are putting into place at Warlingham for swimming. It is really clearly set out and we feel very safe attending lessons. My two kids were a bit nervous about coming back to swimming. We are hoping that Moorhouse opens soon but until that point, Warlingham has been fab. Thanks as well for finding space for them so they could continue.
My boys love swimming with Aquarius! My oldest started as an absolute beginner, petrified of swimming, he’s doing lifesaving now. I highly recommend them. They’re brilliant.
Just to say a big thank you for the last few weeks. Clara has settled into swim lessons with no problem and your team is very professional with their setup and engagement. So thank you!
Thank you to you all, the standard of teaching is second to none and each and every individual involved in this club needs to be very proud of themselves.
So pleased with the persistence and patience of the teachers at Warlingham pool. My 6 year old has confidence in the water and enjoys going to class each week!
We just returned from our first class and it was absolutely fantastic! The children really enjoyed it, despite being very nervous to try somewhere new. I’d love to sign them up for the term.
As I have said, James’ swimming has improved so much in the last year, but more so his enjoyment which as much as anything has made it worth the while taking him. Thank you for this.
Can I just say, we have been to a few different swim schools with varying standards however I found Aquarius to be really well run and it was so refreshing to have a higher ratio of staff to kids who were all attentive and engaged with the kids!
I just wanted to say how impressed I was with the teachers, they were so good with the children. In particular, Lisa was lovely with Robin while she was assessing if the classes would be suitable for him. Both boys would like to continue with the swimming lessons.
Brilliant swimming club! Lisa is fantastic with my children, I highly recommend.