Learn to Swim at Sidmouth Swimming Pool
Essential. Experienced. Swim England Approved
We offer a comprehensive range of swimming lessons and sessions for all abilities and age groups
Our Swim school team aim to offer a friendly and supportive environment with quality teaching and coaching, enabling everyone to achieve their potential through learning to swim
Swimming lessons run for a steady 50 weeks to ensure continuous improvement throughout the year. Lessons range from 30 minutes to 1 hour and are for children from 6 months all the way through to adults
We currently follow the Swim England National Teaching plan, which comprises of:
- Skill Development
- Stroke Development
- Understanding, awareness and fun
Swim school members are given the opportunity to pursue their goals in the sport of swimming to whatever level they aspire and are capable of achieving. Swimmers are supported and valued whatever their level from novice to national
Beyond mastering skills and achieving physical fitness, our swimmers will gain confidence, sportsmanship, discipline, commitment and an understanding that success results from hard work and goal setting.
Swim School Stages
Following the Swim England guidelines, LED's Swim School works to the following stages
| Group | Age Range | What You Will Learn |
| Discovery Ducklings | 4 to 36 months | An introduction to water, accompanied by parent or guardian, helping you to develop your child’s confidence and the basic skills necessary for learning to swim |
| Ducklings | 3 years to school age teachers assessment | Encourages further water confidence and independence without the parent or guardian in the water |
| Stage 1 | 4 years + | Encouraging water confidence, moving independently, floating, body position and submerging |
| Stage 2 | 4 years + | Encourages further water confidence, movement through the water both with and without the use of floatation aids as well as introducing aquatic breathing |
| Stage 3 | Once passed Stage 2 | Developing movement on both the front and the back for a distance of 10 meters. Also introducing children to the water safety code |
| Stage 4 | Once passed Stage 3 | This group has a strong emphasis on buoyancy and floating in the water. It requires kicking over 10 metres for front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly |
| Stage 5 | Once passed Stage 4 | This group is to improve and develop deep-water work as well as demonstrating the action for getting help and treading water whilst out of depth. It also covers the arm technique for all four swimming strokes |
| Stage 6 | Once passed Stage 5 | Continued development in all four strokes with more emphasis on technique and breathing. Also teaches children to swim with clothes on and how to perform a shout and signal rescue |
| Stage 7 | Once passed Stage 6 | Water skills and correct stroke technique on all strokes over a distance of 50 meters. Also incorporating a sequence of skills including sculling, floating, rotations and treading water. After Stage 7 of the Swim England NPTS you can choose to continue on the teaching plan to either Competitive Swimming or Rookie Lifeguarding stages 8,9 & 10 |
| Stage 8, 9 and 10 | Once passed Stage 7 | Further development in water skills and stamina in all four strokes. Participants will learn the correct turns for all the strokes as well as learning to use the pace clock. Stage 8 includes swimming distances of up to 400m, leading up to Stage 10 where participants will be striving to achieve continuous swimming of up to 1600m. Competitive Swimming also includes refining starts, medley’s and relay swimming |
| Mini Polo | Once completed Stage 7 | Mini Polo teaches the basics of the game of water polo to young players. Mini Polo will build overall motor skills, increasing speed, power and endurance through fun and games. It is also an introduction to simple rules and the ethics of sport |
| Lifesaving Bronze, Silver and Gold | Once completed Stage 7 | Lifesaving Society UK are the leading provider for water safety education, rescue techniques and resuscitation. There are three stages; Bronze, Silver and Gold and each stage is subdivided into 3 levels. Each stage can be completed in roughly 16 weeks and a pupil can progress at their own rate |
| Adult | 18 years plus, beginners and intermediate | Learn to swim or to improve your technique on a particular stroke |
All of our swim teachers are Swim England qualified, will be wearing correct uniform so that can be easily identified, be working to the Swim England national teaching plan and have a valid CRB
Summer intensives
Throughout August, we'll also be offering intensive 30 minute swimming classes
Swimmers Progress Report
During the term your child will be continually assessed on their progress.
Pupils involved in the swim school set up are able to log on to our website and view their child’s progress online through the LED HomeHub.
How to Join
You can either contact us directly or pop in the centre and have a chat with a member of the team. If you are unsure of your child’s ability we can arrange for them to have an assessment. Once the child has been assessed we can see what availability we have during the week and get your child started on our swimming programme!
Payments
Swimming lessons are payable monthly by direct debit or a recurring card payment (with the exception of Discovery Ducklings). Discovery Ducklings lessons (children under 3) are payable in 10 week blocks.
Direct Debit is an on-going payment, which will continue until cancelled by the payer. With our Direct Debit price for Swim School, the child will be entitled to free public swimming during public sessions as well as their swimming lessons. Direct Debit guarantee’s your child a place in the swimming lesson program each week.
You can sign up to the swimming lesson programme at any time.
Terms and Conditions
All activities are subject to availability and LED reserve the right to cancel, amend, suspend or withdraw classes at any time. Priority booking is given to those already on the Swim School programme. It is possible to enrol at any time, where places are available. Places will only be guaranteed when payment has been received.
I never learnt to swim as a child, and finally plucked up the courage as an adult to visit my local swimming pool. Immediately help was on hand as I was booked onto an adult beginner class. There was me thinking that I was the only adult in this situation. My instructor made life very easy from the start, taking one small step at a time. Two years later & I am now confident in my ability to swim, have an LED AQUA Membership & swim at least three times every week. I never thought in a million years that I would now class swimming as my favourite hobby!
