Our Learn to Swim Programme
We follow the STA Learn to Swim Programme.
Swimmers in all our classes have the opportunity to work through a series of progressive awards to earn badges and certificates in all stages. Our programme is designed to help swimmers develop their skills and achieve their goals in a fun and supportive environment.
Join us today and start your child's journey towards becoming a confident and skilled swimmer!
Our Parent & Child Classes
Why choose Swim Bedminster?
Child Led Approach - we nurture and encourage our swimmers, but will never force an activity if they are not entirely happy, we want each and every swimmer to flourish and feel super confident in the water.
Small class sizes - we like to keep our class sizes smaller than most other swim schools to ensure each swimmer gains as much valuable time and attention from our teachers.
Child Development - we have extensive knowledge of baby and child development which underpins all of our activities. Each activity is designed to allow swimmers to flourish at their own pace
Gentle and Supportive Environment - we want all of our swimmers and their parents to feel at ease in our classes
Benefits of swimming early:
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Enhance the parent and child bond with quality time in the pool.
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Meet and socialise with other parents with new babies of a similar age.
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Early socialisation for baby
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Improved sleeping pattern and appetite
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Help build and develop muscles in a gentle way with the water supporting their body
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Improve coordination and balance
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Improves parent and child confidence in the water
Starfish
Starfish 1, 2 and 3 give you and your baby an introduction to the water, guide you through gentle moves and holds to allow your baby to get a feel for the water with the correct support. We introduce core skills like kicking and reaching arms whilst also learning water safety skills such as floating and holding on and rotations.
Starfish 4, 5 and 6 helps you to encourage baby to gently submerge in the water in a gentle baby led way. We develop water safety skills by teaching little ones to move around the pool themselves, turn around, hold onto poolside and climb out by themselves (if they have the physical ability).
Our STARFISH parent & child classes are designed for babies from birth up to 5 years old to be in the pool with parental support.
(Level 1 - Level 5 classes)
On completion of the Starfish 6 award, your child can graduate into a class without a parent/carer.
The STAnley awards are aimed at our non-swimmers and beginner swimmers.
(Pre-School, Stage 1 and Stage 2 classes)
On completion of the STAnley 7, your child will move on up to the Goldfish Awards.
STAnley Awards
STAnley 1 and 2 introduce your child to the teacher and their role in keeping them safe, entering and exiting the pool safely, kicking actions and moving through the water in different directions. We master blowing bubbles into the water with nose and mouth submerged, learn how to float and return to standing from swimming or floating.
STAnley 3 and 4 are where your child will really start gaining their confidence in the water and swimming completely unaided.
We cover vital water safety skills like independent star floating, jumping in and returning to the wall to climb out unaided and rolling onto backs to breathe. Your child be able to swim through the water for 5 metres on their front and back.
STAnley 5 looks a little more in depth at the breathing and technique needed for front and back crawl. Once completed children will also be able to retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool, tread water and push and glide into front and back crawl.
STAnley 6 and 7 are the last award in the series, your child will be swimming with confidence now in a range of strokes and have knowledge of personal survival skills such as sculling, treading water, floating. They will be able to use all skills learned previously and apply them to their 10 metre front and back stroke as well as 5 metre breaststroke.
Our Pre-School and Stage Swimming Classes
Pre-School Independent
Classes specifically designed for pre-schoolers (2.5 to 5 years old) to swim with parents/ carers able to sit on poolside and watch
Stage 3
Classes for children able to swim 5 metres unaided. We introduce stroke technique for all 4 swimming stokes.
Stage 1
Classes for non-swimmers to develop their water confidence and introduce basic swimming skills.
Stage 4
Classes for children able to swim 5 metres unaided. We introduce stroke technique for all 4 swimming stokes.
Stage 2
For children confident to put their face in the water and those who are just starting to swim a few metres unaided.
Private Lessons
Private
1 to 1 and 2 to 1
lessons are available
where we can tailor to suit the needs of the individual
Why choose Swim Bedminster?
Small Class Sizes - we have small class sizes, maximum 4 non-swimmers per teacher, this increases to only 6 confident/advanced swimmers per teacher in the higher stages
Teachers in the Water - our teachers are in the water with the children which helps them to develop a good rapport and allows our teachers to offer hands on support when required and demonstrate skills properly for those who are visual learners
Gentle and Supportive Environment - we want all of our swimmers and their parents to feel at ease in our classes
Octopus Awards
The Octopus awards are aimed at non-swimmers and beginner swimmers over the age of 5 years old.
This enables older children to access the Learn to Swim pathway and develop their confidence, knowledge and skills.
On completion of the Octopus series, learners can progress through the Learn to Swim journey and move on to the Goldfish, Angelfish and Shark series. A child’s first learn to swim experience is one of the most important in terms of capturing and retaining their interest.
Goldfish Awards
Goldfish 1, 2 and 3 swimmers work on learning good stroke technique which will allow them to swim beautifully over a 10-15 metre distance. We focus on breathing techniques to allow for stamina building, Your child will continue to work on all 4 core strokes as well as learning lifesaving skills and water safety.
On completion of Goldfish 3, our swimmers can comfortably swim 10-20 metres of each of the 4 main strokes.
Angelfish Awards
Angelfish 1, 2 and 3 swimmers are now learning the ins and outs of a competition standard correct swimming stroke - focusing on correct breathing techniques as well as introducing the correct starts and finishes of the 4 main strokes.
We also work on lifesaving strokes and rescue skills throughout these classes.
On completion of the Angelfish 3 level, our swimmers are able to comfortably swim 50-100 metres of front crawl, back crawl, 25-50 metres breaststroke and butterfly.