FAQs

Progress in swimming, like learning any new skill, varies from child to child and depends largely on how much time is dedicated to practice. Because swimming requires a specific environment, opportunities to practise are often limited, which naturally means it can take longer to learn in comparison to other activities. However, consistency is key. The more time a child spends in the water, especially outside of lessons in a fun, relaxed setting, the faster their confidence and skills are likely to grow. More lessons or regular pool visits alongside lessons can make a real difference in how quickly they progress.

Children are typically introduced to structured swimming lessons around the age of 3.5 - 5yrs old. However, some programs offer earlier introductory aquatic experiences for babies and young children with an adult present. The earlier that a child experiences being in and around water the easier they will find it to develop their aquatic skills

The choice really depends on your personal circumstances and what you want to achieve from the lessons.

1:1 lessons

Are more expensive but offer a highly tailored experience. They focus entirely on the individual swimmer, with no distractions or downtime, making them ideal for building confidence in anxious swimmers or working on specific skills.

Group lessons

Are a more budget-friendly op:on making them more accessible for most families. They offer the added benefit of social interaction, allowing swimmers to learn from and with their peers. To ensure a quality learning experience, our group sizes are capped according to the swimmers’ ability levels.

Both formats have their strengths—it’s about finding what’s right for your child.

It’s very common and completely normal for a child to cry or feel afraid when starting something new, especially when it involves going into the water without mum or dad and being guided by someone they’ve never met before. Swimming aside, this can feel like a big step.

Our teachers are experienced in supporting even the most nervous swimmers, and there’s always someone on hand to help if needed. Some children may cry for several weeks, but patience, consistency, and plenty of praise go a long way. Trust the process, it gets easier with time.

If your child is hesitant to get into the pool, please let us know. We’re happy to assist and would love to hear anything that might help us connect with your child, whether it’s their favourite toy, a special song, or a hero they look up to.

To help ease their transition, we recommend visiting the pool as often as possible. The more familiar they are with the environment, the more comfortable they’ll feel when it’s time to start learning new skills.

The simple answer - swim more! Even if you are not a strong swimmer just taking your child to the pool and playing and having fun in the water will help them develop their confidence and enjoy the positive experiences that the water can bring them. Like any skill, the more time spent practising, the faster the progress and the earlier that a child becomes familiar with the environment and being in and around water the better. But learning to swim is unique. Unlike other activities that can be practised almost anywhere, swimming requires a very specific environment - water.

You can’t learn to float by lying on a bed, or master breathing techniques by running around a park or dance hall. To truly develop swimming skills, your child needs to be in the water, moving, and receiving that essential sensory feedback. This is one of the main reasons why learning to swim can take time as access to the water and opportunities to practise are limited. The more frequently your child can get in the pool, the quicker and more confidently they’ll progress.

“Waves” are the names used to identify the different class levels or grades of ability throughout our swim programme, e.g., Wave 1, Wave 2, Wave 3, and so on. Lessons start at Wave 1 for complete beginners and progress up to Wave 8, which represents a confident and competent swimmer.

Every learner is different, some progress quicker, some slower also some classes are more demanding than others, but on average with regular and consistent attendance we find it take between 3-4 school terms to complete each wave. Approximately between 21-27 hours of practice.

To be considered a competent swimmer, in line with national governing body guidance, we encourage all learners to progress through and complete at least Wave 7 or higher

Unfortunately, we don’t offer sibling discounts. However, we do provide savings on longer booking durations and run special offers throughout the year, such as referral rewards and early booking discounts for our holiday Crash Courses. These are shared via our social media channels and Customer Announcement Group

Although some of our instructors are Welsh language speakers and happy to conduct lessons bi-lingually if requested, we do not strictly advertise Welsh language lessons as we cannot guarantee consistent availability of a Welsh speaking instructor.

Use your best judgement but to help prevent the spread of illness, please do not attend lessons if you/your child is unwell with any contagious condition such as an ear infection, flu, vomiting, diarrhoea, chicken pox, impetigo, conjunctivitis, or a heavy cold. Please wait until your doctor has given the all clear before attending the pool.

In cases of vomiting or diarrhoea, you/your child must be symptom-free for at least 48 hours before attending. If diagnosed with cryptosporidium or another gastrointestinal bug, they should not return to the pool for at least 14 days after symptoms have cleared.Swimmers with athlete’s foot are not permitted in the pool or surrounding areas unless the feet are fully covered. Verruca socks must be worn if your child has a verruca.

If in doubt, always seek medical advice.

Our Customer Announcement WhatsApp community is like a digital noticeboard, designed to keep you up to date with essential information straight to your phone. From special offers, Award Week notices, important date reminders or anything that requires providing immediate notice to customers. it’s the quickest way for us to reach you.

To ensure you don’t miss out on essential information all active Sink or Swim customers should join the group. You can find the link on our Customer Hub page.

The Learn to Swim Wales Framework is the nationally recommended programme for teaching swimming. Devised by Swim Wales, it covers all essential skills needed for safe and confident participation in aquatic activities, from early water confidence in Adult and Child classes, to the foundations of competitive swimming and lifelong fitness.

The programme includes FUNdamental movement and aquatic skills, all four strokes, personal survival, and water safety. Its goal is to ensure that every child, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to learn to swim and enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle through aquatic activities.

Swim Wales is the national governing body for aquatics in Wales and whom devise the Learn to Swim Wales (LTSW) framework that our lessons are based upon. Originally formed in 1897 as the Welsh Amateur Swimming Association (WASA) they adopted the trading name of Swim Wales in 2003.

We understand that at first glance, our lessons may appear to cost more than alternatives. However, when you look beyond the numbers, you'll discover that our program delivers exceptional value that truly sets us apart.

What Makes Our Lessons Worth More:

Superior Lesson Experience
- Guaranteed small class ratios
- Usually half the capacity but not twice the price. Ensuring swimmers get the most from every lesson
- In-water instructors
- Hands-on guidance providing support and inspiring confidence
- Viewing spaces
- Watch the smiles on your swimmers faces as they learn to love the water
- Extensive instructor expertise
- Benefiting from years of specialised training and experience

Unmatched Program Flexibility
- Convenient class scheduling
- Designed to accommodate siblings and support busy parents
- Adaptable booking options
- You're never tied in, always accommodating your changing needs
- Replacement Sessions
- Saving you money and maintaining consistency for when you need to miss a class
- Responsive management
- We’re always ready to address your unique concerns

We recognise that the process of learning to swim is not a "one size fits all" endeavour for either the parent of the learner. That's why we've deliberately chosen a different approach that prioritises quality, personalisation, and results over volume.

We hear this a lot and understand that most parents aren’t enrolling their children into swimming lessons for them to become olympic swimmers! ‘Learn to Swim’ is a long way from olympic preparation. As a completed and learnt stroke we agree that butterfly is generally only associated with competitive swimming, however the process of learning Butterfly offers major benefits for all young swimmers.

Learning Butterfly requires a unique combination of movement, coordination, rhythm and timing, which helps develop physical literacy in a way few other strokes do. It builds significant strength in the back, shoulders, and core, improves breath control, and teaches swimmers how to apply power effectively in the water. These skills not only have positive attributes across all four strokes but also contribute to overall athletic development in activities beyond the pool.

There are four recognised swimming strokes, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, and teaching children all four is essential for building a well-rounded swimming skillset. Each stroke engages different muscle groups, helping to improve overall strength, coordination, and technique, and earning multiple strokes also boosts water confidence and helps children develop a better understanding of how their bodies move in the water.

Importantly, knowing all four strokes, along with basic self-rescue techniques, enhances water safety. It ensures swimmers are better prepared for a variety of situations and helps demonstrate true competency and confidence in the water. While some strokes may come more naturally than others, learning them all is key to becoming a safe, strong and capable swimmer.

Any lost property collected at the pool will be posted to the ‘Lost Property’ group within our Customer Announcement Community and stored in our equipment box for collection up until the end of term. Any uncollected items remaining following the end of term with either be discarded for donated to charity.

Typically, children are ready to start our lessons at around 3.5 to 4 years old. We follow the Learn to Swim Wales (LTSW) framework, which is designed for children aged 4 and up. However, we o?en find that slightly younger children, especially those who’ve been part of an early years program or have had regular water exposure are ready to begin lessons a little earlier.

We hope so. There is a very broad spectrum to disability and although our lessons are considered mainstream and not specifically tailored to support learners with additional needs, we are more than happy to adapt and try to be as inclusive as possible. Over the years, we’ve welcomed and supported many swimmers with a diverse range of both physical and learning needs of which most have thrived within our lessons, however we do recognise at times there may be limitations for some learners who would better benefit from more tailored support or bespoke lessons.

While we’re not specialists in this field, we assess suitability on an individual basis to ensure we can provide a safe and positive experience for your child. If you’d like to discuss your child’s needs, we’re more than happy to talk through what we can offer and see how we can help.

These terms represent the key learning phases that swimmers progress through on their journey to becoming confident, competent, and safe in the water. Each phase includes specific Wave levels and adopts our bespoke teaching approach tailored to that stage of development:

Foundation - Wave 1, 2 & 3
30-minute width-based classes with guaranteed small group ratios and in-water support. These lessons allow for more time per pupil and focus on building water confidence and the core skills that form the foundation of learning to swim.

Development - Wave 4, 5 & 6
30/45-minute lessons that introduce more independent swimming, recognised technique across all four strokes, and the early development of stamina, particularly in Wave 6, where swimmers move to 25-metre laned swimming.

Endurance - Wave 7 & 8
Extended 45-minute length-based classes designed to build strength, and stamina while refining technique. The focus is on maintaining good stroke form over longer distances and improving overall aquatic endurance and ul:mately safety.

CLUB
For swimmers who have completed the core Learn to Swim programme but want to keep progressing. Club sessions run twice a week for 1 hour and include more advanced skills such as diving, turns, transitions, and further endurance training.

You can find a brief overview of each Wave along with guidance notes on our ‘Lessons’ page. If you’re still unsure which class is the best fit for your child, we’re happy to help, just get in touch so that we can help guide you.

To ensure that both you and your child have the best possible first experience of our lessons, it’s helpful if you can share a little about their previous swimming experience, current ability, and confidence in the water. This allows us to recommend the most suitable starting Wave for them.

Our unique three-phase approach, Foundation, Development and Endurance, uses tailored class sizes and durations to ensure the most effective learning environment at each stage:

30 Minute Classes

Foundation - Wave 1, 2 & 3 classes accept up to a maximum of 4 swimmers per class.

Development - Wave 4 & 5 classes accept up to a maximum of 6 swimmers per class.

45 Minute Classes

Development - Wave 6 classes accept up to 8 swimmers per lane.

Endurance - Wave 7 & 8 classes accept up to 8 swimmers per lane.

1 hour - CLUB sessions accept up to 10 swimmers per lane

No, our lessons are designed as the next step beyond early years adult-and-child classes. Parents do not participate in the water, instead our instructors lead the sessions while parents observe from designated viewing areas

For all Foundation Wave 1, 2 & 3 classes, our instructors teach from in the water to provide hands-on support and help build confidence in early learners. For higher levels, instructors generally teach from the poolside to encourage swimmer independence. However, they have the freedom to enter the water when needed for example, to assist a swimmer or demonstrate a skill.

We recognise how important a consistent instructor is for building trust, motivation, and steady progress in lessons, which is why maintaining instructor consistency is one of our top priori:es. We’re proud to have minimal instructor turnover and have never had to cancel a class due to a lack of an instructor. That said, instructors are entitled to time off, and unexpected situations such as illness can arise. While we always do our best to keep things consistent, for these reason we unfortunately can’t guarantee the same instructor for every lesson.

Yes, but not the traditional kind. We choose not to use worn aids like armbands, belts, or swim jackets, as these are more buoyancy aids than teaching tools. They can reduce a learners feel for the water and often encourage incorrect body positioning. Instead, we take a more hands-on approach, offering tailored support based on each swimmer’s individual needs. We also use endorsed swimming aids called Aquaplanes, as well as more versatile traditional tools such as kick floats and noodles, to help develop proper technique and confidence in the water.

You might notice your child playing games or moving in different ways during their lesson, and that’s intentional! The Learn to Swim Wales Framework encourages a learning through play approach, which has been proven through research to be one of the most effective ways children learn.

By making lessons fun and engaging, teachers help build a positive connection with swimming. Rather than focusing solely on traditional lengths or widths, instructors use creative games, activities, and scenarios to teach key skills. This playful approach not only keeps children motivated, but also challenges them in new ways, often helping them achieve skills without even realising it. The result? A more enjoyable, effective, and rewarding lesson experience.

Occasionally, usually due to staffing shortages, it may be necessary to combine classes to ensure your lessons can continue. When this happens, we only ever combine swimmers of the same ability level and always aim to maintain our promised class ratios. In some cases, we may merge Wave 4 and Wave 5 classes, especially if one has low attendance (e.g. only one swimmer) as the lesson content is similar. While we can’t offer one-to-one tuition at group rates, combining classes helps avoid cancellations and ensures all swimmers still receive a high-quality learning experience.

Dependant on the level and type of class, our lessons vary between 30-minutes, 45-minutes and 1 hour long lessons.

To keep things simple, our lessons follow the school term calendar. We run three terms each year: Spring (Jan–April), Summer (May–July), and Autumn (Sept–Dec). Lessons continue as normal during half-term periods but pause during the longer end-of-term holiday breaks over Easter, Summer and Christmas. For full term dates and our annual class schedule, please visit the Customer Hub page.

Yes! While our schedule aligns with school terms, our lessons run on a continuous basis. This means your child can join at any point in time, even mid-term. Booking simply flow continuously from one term to the next, regardless of any scheduled breaks.

No we don’t operate a waiting list. All available spaces are offered on a first come, first served basis to keep things simple and fair for everyone.

Prices vary depending on the type of class you’re booking. Factors such as class dura:on, guaranteed ratios, and whether it’s a group or 1:1 session all influence the cost. For full details, please visit our class booking pages.

If by trial you mean a free one-off session, then unfortunately no. However, we do treat the first 6 sessions for every new swimmer as a trial period. While upfront booking and payment are required to start, you’re free to cancel at any point during those first 6 sessions with no notice needed, and we’ll refund the value of any unused lessons. You’re never tied in.

Lessons continue as normal during school half terms, but we pause over the main Easter, Summer, and Christmas breaks. We also do not run lessons on public bank holidays, as the schools are closed. You won’t be charged for any paused or cancelled sessions, your booking will simply roll over to the next scheduled class.

No. Enrolment is only necessary when you first join our lessons. From this point onwards you simply need to keep your swimmers account topped-up in order to continue your lessons for as long as you wish.

As your place in the class is reserved regardless of attendance, we’re unable to offer refunds or credits for missed sessions, these are considered lost lessons. However, if you know in advance that you’ll be unable to attend (for example, due to a holiday or birthday), you’re entitled to book up to 3 Planned Absences and Replacement Sessions each term. For full details on how these work, please refer to your booking confirmation email or see the question below: What is a Planned Absence / Replacement Session?

In the rare event that we need to cancel a class, for example due to an unscheduled pool closure, you will not be charged for the lesson and your booking will simply roll over to the next scheduled class. If your cancelled lesson was a one-off ‘Replacement Session’ the value of the cancelled session will be automatically credited against your swimmers account and will deduct from your next class top-up.

Wearing a swim cap isn’t compulsory, but it can make a big difference to your child’s swimming experience, especially for those with long hair. Long hair can get heavy in the water and may interfere with breathing and head rotation, making it harder to swim comfortably and effectively. For swimmers not wearing a cap we recommend to either braid the hair or tie it back into a ponytail. A well-fitted swim cap can also help to keep hair mostly dry making getting out of and leaving the pool much quicker and easier.

We offer our own 100% silicone, hypoallergenic swim caps for purchase. If you’d like to order one, please use our Contact Us page or email us at hello@sinkorswimcardiff.com.

We follow a continuous assessment approach, meaning there’s no single assessment day or end-of-term test. Instead, instructors assess swimmers periodically throughout the term, based on the focus of each lesson and their overall scheme of work.

This doesn’t mean swimmers are assessed every week - in fact, we discourage it. Weekly assessments can take away valuable teaching :me, and there’s o?en not enough progress to evaluate from one 30-minute session to the next. On average, we expect progress updates every 3–5 lessons.

You can track your child’s progress anytime by logging into your HomePortal account, selecting their class, and clicking ‘View all competencies.’ Once all competencies for their current class have been passed, you’ll receive an email confirming their move to the next Wave and details on how to request their badge and certificate award to celebrate their achievement.

There are no firm rules as to when instructors are expected to update swimmers progress reports, however we expect to see updates approximately every 3-5 sessions. This equates to roughly between 1.5-3.5hrs, usually enough time to introduce a new skill, provide time to practice, and reach a level where it can be fairly assessed.

Yes! We award a badge and certificate for every Wave class successfully completed. These are available in both English and Welsh and can be purchased throughout the term during our regular ‘Awards Weeks’. To help swimmers celebrate their achievements, we also offer our exclusive SOS Towelling Ponchos, specially designed for attaching your swimmers hard earned badges and wearing them with pride. If you’d like to order one of our awesome poncho’s, just get in touch!

As we don’t have a facility to store badges and certificates on-site, we hold dedicated ‘Awards weeks’ periodically throughout each term. During these weeks you can order badge and certificate awards for any Wave class your swimmer has completed. Keep an eye on our Customer Announcement Community for notice of when the next Awards Week is coming up.

Each Wave class is designed to build upon the skills taught in the previous one, so it’s essential that all competencies are consistently achieved before moving on. Every swimmer learns at their own pace, and the time it takes to master these skills can vary from child to child. If, by the end of your booking or term, your child hasn’t confidently completed all the required elements of their current Wave, they’ll need to remain at that level until they’re ready to progress. This ensures a solid foundation and supports progressive long-term success in their swimming journey.

Unfortunately, no. In accordance with child protection guidance, to protect the safety, privacy, and wellbeing of all swimmers and attendees, photography and videography are strictly prohibited at all our pools.

Club is our next step for swimmers who have completed Waves 1–8 of the Learn to Swim framework but aren’t looking to move into the often intense world of competitive swimming. It offers a pathway for swimmers to continue swimming for the social, health and wellbeing benefits, while also learning and developing more advanced skills like diving, tumble turns, and correct underwater phases, typically taught in a competitive club setting, while continuing to build overall competency and endurance in the water. Club offers all the progression, without the pressure or commitment of a competitive swim club.

A crash course is an intensive, short-term program designed to increase the frequency of lessons over a condensed period to accelerate learning. It’s like a learning boost! Our group crash courses offer one-hour lessons each day for 5 consecutive days, packing 10 weeks of traditional course content into just 5 days. We also offer intensive one-to-one lessons for a more enhanced approach that adapts to your child’s unique learning style and specific swimming needs, as well as short focussed masterclass courses that focus on specific skills such as individual strokes, water safety, or advanced techniques such as diving and turns. Visit our crash courses page to see the full schedule and course options.

Both our pool are located in Cardiff. Our lessons operate from the pools within Howells pool in Llandaff and the new Fitzalan High School in Leckwith. For more details on each venue, please visit our dedicated ‘Venues’ page.

Yes. Both our facilities offer onsite parking.

Yes. Howells Pool offers mixed changing cubicles and poolside rinse showers, though it has a more dated layout. Fitzalan, on the other hand is a modern facility with a spacious changing area, offering both open bench changing and private cubicles, as well as a mix of rinse showers and private shower rooms.

Yes, and we actively encourage it. Both of our pools have designated areas for parents to observe. At Howells, viewing is directly from the poolside, giving you an unobstructed view of the entire pool. However, it can get quite warm and humid and for safety reasons, customers must remain seated as there’s no barrier between the viewing area and the water. At Fitzalan, you can watch from a separate lobby overlooking the shallow end or from the pool entrance, offering a more comfortable and secure op:on, especially if you’re having to wrangle younger siblings while the lessons are taking place.

Both of our pools feature a gradual depth increase from the shallow to the deep end, though each has a slightly different depth profile:

Howells Pool
- Starts with a large shallow shelf at 0.9m, dropping to 1.7m around the middle, and continuing gradually to a maximum depth of 2.8m.

Fitzalan Pool
- Begins at 1m in the shallow end and gradually deepens to 2m at the deep end.

In short, no. Both of our pools are kept at a comfortable 28–30°C, typically a degree or two warmer than most leisure centres. Occasionally, parents of younger swimmers at Howells mention the water feels a little cooler. This is usually a result of customers leaving the pool doors open when entering or exiting the pool, which lets warm air escape and can make the shallow end feel cooler, particularly for children who spend more time with their bodies above the water.

Yes, both of our pools are accessible, though there are

- Fitzalan is the more modern facility and offers a more comfortable experience for those with additional needs. It has wider
spaces, designated disabled parking, and specific areas designed for accessible changing.

- Howells also accommodates wheelchair access, but due to its older layout, the space can feel more restricted. Changing cubicles are smaller, and overall navigation around the facility may be slightly more challenging. However, parking is plentiful at this site.

If you have specific accessibility needs, feel free to get in touch and we’ll be happy to advise which location might suit you best

All class bookings are made online through our customer HomePortal. You can access this via the ‘Book Now’ button found at the top of this page or for a simpler, more user friendly experience you can view the availability for the specific Wave class you require via the options found on our ‘Term-Time Lessons’ page.

Top Tip: When viewing class availability please remember to use the filter menu to narrow your search by location, Wave level or day. If you experience any difficulties finding your desired class then please get in touch at Hello@sinkorswimcardiff.com.

We’re happy to help.

All lessons are paid for at the time of booking through our secure online payment system. To book a new class, simply choose your preferred lesson and complete the online checkout. For top-ups, follow the link in your top-up email or access it directly through your HomePortal.

HomePortal is your online parent dashboard, designed to help you easily monitor and manage your child’s swimming lessons. Through HomePortal, you can:

- View your child’s current class details including their current Wave level, day and time
- Check how many lessons remain of your current booked period, along with the dates of your next and final scheduled classes.
- Track your child’s class history and see any badges they’ve been awarded
- Monitor your child’s progress by viewing the competencies linked to their current class.
- Add a new swimmer and book additional classes.

It's a simple and convenient way to stay on top off your child’s swimming journey.

Absolutely! Consistency is key, and we believe all children should be swimming at least twice a week as a standard. If you’d like to add more sessions, you can easily book extra weekly lessons through the ‘Book Classes’ option in your HomePortal.

Adding additional swimmers is easy through your customer HomePortal. Simply log in, and below your existing swimmers, you’ll see an option to ‘Add a member’.

Absolutely. You are free to change your booking at any time, whether that means switching your lessons to a different day, time, venue, or even moving between groups and one-to-one lessons. You're welcome to make changes as often as needed, subject to class availability.

To request a change, please first check the class availability via our booking pages, then either submit your change request via our Contact Us form or email your request to hello@sinkorswimcardiff.com

We don’t lock customers into fixed-term bookings. Regardless of the duration initially booked, you have the right to cancel your class at any time, subject to the following conditions:

New customer cancellation
As a new customer of Sink or Swim, we treat your first 6-session period as a trial booking. If you wish to cancel for any reason during this initial period, no notice is required, your booking will be cancelled immediately, and you’ll receive a refund for the value of any remaining sessions. After your first 6 sessions, all cancellations must adhere to the General Cancellation terms outlined below.

New booking / Top-up cancellation
If you’ve booked in error or your circumstances change unexpectedly, you have the right to cancel any new booking or top-up within 3 days of purchase, providing the booked period hasn’t started. In this case, you’ll receive a full refund for the value of the booking. After 3 days or once the booked period has begun, any cancellation must adhere to the General Cancellation terms outlined below.

General cancellation
You have the freedom to cancel your class booking at any time without cause upon receipt of 14 days written notice. All scheduled lessons during the notice period may still be attended, and we will refund the value of any paid lessons remaining.

Prolonged medical absence
In the case of an extended absence due to medical reasons, such as a broken limb, we’re happy to cancel your booking with immediate effect. The value of any remaining paid lessons will be held as credit on your swimmer’s account, which does not expire and can be later used to rebook once they’re fit to return.

For full terms regarding our cancellation policies please see our Terms & Conditions document linked on your booking confirmation email or found on our website.

Unfortunately we’re unable to pause or hold lessons without payment. However, you may be able to use our Planned Absences / Replacement Sessions service to reschedule any lessons you’ll miss, provided the required conditions are met. Please refer to the conditions found on the ‘Request a Planned Absence’ contact form for full details.

While we can’t accommodate last-minute or unplanned absences, we do offer a Planned Absence service for known or scheduled absences such as upcoming holidays or birthdays. This provides customer with the option to reschedule a one-off class in advance.

Once a Planned Absence is requested, you have the ability to book a Replacement Session at any alternate available time, day, or venue, either up to 14 days before or 14 days after the date of absence, as long as it falls within the same termly period and is within your current booked period of lessons. You can even upgrade the replacement to a one-to-one lesson if you wish. Each child is entitled to up to 3 Planned Absences per term, and all requests are subject to the booking conditions outlined on our ‘Request a Planned Absence’ contact form. Please review these conditions carefully before submitting your request.

A top-up is an additional booking required to extend and continue your child’s swimming lessons beyond their current block. You’ll start receiving top-up reminder emails when you have 4, 3, 2, and 1 lesson remaining in your current booking period.

Our automated emails are sent from a no-reply address (noreply@coursepro.co.uk), which may be flagged as spam by some email providers and sent to your junk folder. To make sure you don’t miss any important updates about your booking, please add this address to your contacts or mark it as a VIP sender.

Progress is typically updated every 3–5 lessons (approximately every 1.5-3.5 hours of practice), although this can sometimes vary. If you notice that your child’s report hasn’t been updated within this timeframe, please don’t hesitate to speak to the pool manager who will be happy to arrange an update for you.

A swimmer is moved up once they have completed and shown consistency across all the required competencies for their Wave class. The next Wave will further build upon skills of the previous class and so it's essential that all elements are consistently completed before progressing. Regardless of your booking duration swimmers can move up a class at any point in time, as soon as the instructor deems them ready.

Generally just the usual swimming essentials, but here's a quick checklist to help you prepare:

Appropriate Swimwear
For girls, a one-piece costume is ideal; for boys trunks or tight fitting shorts work best. Fashion swimwear like board shorts, may look cool but can create drag, making it harder to swim. For hygiene reasons, underwear is not permitted as swimwear.

Goggles
Goggles will help your child feel more confident and comfortable putting their face in the water, which is a key foundational skill for learning to swim. Prescription goggles are available and recommended for swimmers who wear glasses or contact lenses.

Swimming Cap (Optional)
While not required, a swim cap can greatly improve your child’s swimming experience, especially for those with long hair. A well-fitted swim cap can also help to keep hair dry making leaving the pool much quicker and easier.

Towel
Remember a towel to get warm and dry after the lessons. In colder months we also recommended that a coat and hat are worn after swimming to keep the body temperature constant and prevent any illness developing.

Drinks Bottle
Even in the water, swimmers lose fluids through exertion. Staying hydrated helps maintains energy levels, prevent cramp and supports performance, especially for more advanced swimmers.

If it’s your first time with us, we recommend arriving around 15–20 minutes early. This gives us time to welcome you, show you around the facility, and allow your child a few moments to settle in and feel comfortable before joining the lessons.

Once you’re familiar with how everything works, arriving 10–15 minutes before your class is ideal. This helps reduce congestion around the poolside and in the changing areas, making for a smoother experience for everyone.

Once you arrive at the pool please make yourself know to the pool manager or a member of the teaching team, they’ll be happy to help. We will guide you to the changing and viewing areas, explain how the lessons work, and show you where your child’s class will take place. You’ll also be introduced to your child’s instructor before the lesson begins.

Before the lesson starts, please ensure your child is ready to go by:

- Changing into their swimwear
- Tying back any long hair
- Using the toilet
- Removing all jewellery
- Taking a quick shower to rinse off any dirt or products

Please remember that the pool is a shared space, so good personal hygiene is essential for all users. We also recommend avoiding large meals before swimming, as it can cause discomfort during the lesson.

We request that all parents remain in the facility whilst your lessons take place as you may be required to assist your child, for example to go to the toilet or if they become upset for any reason.

To avoid cramps, discomfort, or sickness during lessons, it’s generally recommended to wait at least 1 hour after a light snack or meal before swimming. If your child has had a larger or heavier meal, waiting up to 2 hours is ideal to allow time for proper digestion before engaging in physical activity.

Use your best judgement but to help prevent the spread of illness, please do not attend lessons if you/your child is unwell with any contagious condition such as an ear infection, flu, vomiting, diarrhoea, chicken pox, impetigo, conjunctivitis, or a heavy cold. Please wait un:l your doctor has given the all clear before attending the pool.

In cases of vomiting or diarrhoea, you/your child must be symptom-free for at least 48 hours before attending. If diagnosed with cryptosporidium or another gastrointestinal bug, they should not return to the pool for at least 14 days after symptoms have cleared.

Swimmers with athlete’s foot are not permitted in the pool or surrounding areas unless the feet are fully covered. Verruca socks must be worn if your child has a verruca.

If in doubt, always seek medical advice.