We teach children aged 3 and above.
Wednesday lessons are run at Keech Hospice pool, Great Bramingham Lane, Luton, LU3 3NT. Click here for a map. There is onsite parking available.
Friday lessons are run at Lealands school, Sundon Park Road, Luton, LU3 3AL. Click here for a map. There is onsite parking available.
| Wednesdays | Fridays | |
| Lesson start times | 5.00, 5.30, 6.00 | 5.00, 5.30, 6.00, 6.30, 7.00 |
Lesson Booking and Availability
Lessons are booked termly (usually 12 weeks). Lessons run alongside the school term, usually with a week off for half term. Towards the end of a term you will be given the opportunity to reenrol for the following term. The termly price is adjusted depending on the number of weeks (12 weeks is £87).
Wednesdays – Summer timetable – All our classes are fully booked – please contact us to be added to our waiting list.
- 5.00pm– Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 4
- 5.30pm- Stage 3, Stage 4, 2:1 lesson
- 6.00pm– Ducklings, Stage 2, Stage 4
Fridays – Summer timetable – All our classes are fully booked – please contact us to be added to our waiting list.
- 5.00pm– Ducklings, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4
- 5.30pm– Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4
- 6.00pm- Stage 1, Stage 3, Stage 4, Advanced
- 6.30pm– Ducklings, Stage 2, Stage 4, Advanced 1
- 7.00pm– Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Advanced
For further information about which class your child would be best suited to or for any other questions, please contact us. If your child has any physical or educational needs we can often still accommodate them in a small group lesson providing they are able to follow simple instructions. However please do contact us to discuss in as much detail as possible the specific needs of your child before booking, to ensure we allocate them the most suitable class and make their swimming experience as happy and safe as possible.
Which class is suitable for your child?
Our swimmer pathway meets our aim of creating swimmers who are confident and safe in a variety of water situations. Lessons follow the Swim England scheme with non swimmers and beginners starting either working towards their Duckling awards or Stage 1. (Younger swimmers, aged 3-4, start on the Duckling awards to develop their confidence in the water and to practise following instructions. Once they are confident they begin to work on the skills needed to complete Stage 1). Children continue to progress through the stages to Stage 4. Once they have completed Stage 4 we start to work on Water Skills and Water Safety awards to give your child the skills they need to stay safe in and around water, rather than solely focusing on perfecting each stroke.
For more information on our swimmer pathway please see here: BSS swimmer pathway
If you child has already achieved some Learn to Swim awards, contact us to find the most suitable class for them.
What happens in a lesson?
All children’s lessons are 30 minutes. We teach the children water confidence, skills and strokes. We use (and provide) flotation aids including armbands, floats and noodles to ensure that children are confident in the water and are able to practise the different aspects of a stroke. Children spend most of the lesson practising a certain stroke- either front paddle, progressing to front crawl, backstroke or breaststroke and in the later stages dolphin progressing to butterfly. Lessons also include skills which develop water safety and confidence. We continually assess the children and in the second half of the term we award children who have passed a stage. See below for an idea of what is expected in each stage- this is just a summary and not an exhaustive list but gives you some ideas of what to work on if you want to take your child to the pool to practise!
(Below aids are defined as armbands, noodles and floats, and support is any support given by an adult to assist the child).
Ducklings (aids and support can be used): Blow bubbles, kick on the back, float on the back, travel to an object, blow an object, swim on the front without support, submerge, jump in, enter and exit safely.
Stage 1 (aids and support can be used): Move forwards, backwards and sideways, wash face and be showered, float and regain standing, push and glide, discuss the pool rules.
Stage 2 (aids can be used for skills only): Blow bubbles rhythmically, push and glide on front and back, float on front and back and regain standing without support, rotate from front to back and vice versa in a tucked position and as a log roll, swim 5m on front and back using the correct leg kick without aids or equipment.
Stage 3 (without aids or support): Jump in and submerge, exit the pool without using the steps, push and glide and log roll, submerge and push and glide, travel 10m on front and back unaided and discuss the water safety code. To pass Stage 3 children need to start becoming confident swimming in deep water as stages 4 and above are always taught in the deep end.
Stage 4 (without aids or support): Front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and dolphin kick, perform a sculling action, perform a sequence of changing shapes, push and glide towards the floor and swim 10m choice of stroke.
Water Skills 4 (without aids or support): Jump in and swim 25m continuously, tread water followed by a 25m swim, swim backstroke, breaststroke and front crawl showing good technique, perform a surface dive, a forward somersault and a correct turn.
Water Skills 5 (without aids or support): Tread water, then swim 25m including through a submerged hoop, swim 50m in 90 seconds, perform a backward somersault, perform a surface dive and swim underwater for 5m, dive in and swim 25m front crawl, start to develop a front crawl tumble turn, swim butterfly, swim 25m whilst controlling a ball.
Water Skills 6 (without aids or support): Swim 75m in 2 minutes using 3 strokes with good technique, perform a sequence of skills including sculling, demonstrate correct front crawl, backstroke and breaststroke turns, control a ball including 2 changes of direction, dive in and tread water.
Water Safety 1 (without aids, support, or goggles): Jump in and return to the side, float on the back for 30 seconds, tread water, log roll from front to back, fully submerge and exhale, signal for help, show an understanding of water safety, exit the water safely without support.
Water Safety 2 (without aids, support or goggles whilst wearing light clothing): Float on back for 60 seconds and explain why this is important, rotate 360 degrees whilst treading water, signal for help whilst treading water, complete sequences including swimming on front, log rolling, floating and returning, swim using survival stroke, demonstrate the HELP position, know four key water safety messages.
Water Safety 3 (without aids, support or goggles whilst in full length clothing): Perform a straddle entry, tread water for 2 minutes, float for 90 seconds in simulated rough or moving water, swim 200m, swim 50m to a floating object, perform the HELP position for 3 minutes, perform the Huddle position with other swimmers and signal for help, exit without assistance, show understanding of cold water shock and how to deal with it, give examples of 2 local hazards and how to stay safe around them.