Learning to swim at Selby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub

Lesson one
Stage by stage
Frequently asked questions
Our teachers and lessons
Direct debit - frequently asked questions

Lesson one - all you need to know

Please try and arrive for your session approximately 10 to 15 minutes before your start rime to give you time to get your child ready for their session. Once ready, proceed onto poolside just before the session is about to start. Before the lesson, help them get their bag ready!

Things to pack:

swimming costume or tight fitting trunks
towel
shampoo, shower gel and hair brush
a healthy snack and a drink for after the lesson

And remember:

please remove all jewellery
long hair should be tied back or a swimming cap worn
do not eat before a lesson but do shower and use the toilet before getting into the water

Top tips for parents of children going to swimming lessons for the first time:

keep it simple - do not force the issue
they are going to have fun and build confidence, take them when they are ready
most children love water, talk about how much fun they can have
do not focus on the lesson part, they learn through having fun
talk about any siblings who have already learnt to swim
do not worry if you cannot swim, parents only watch, they do not have to get in the water

How you can support your child during their lesson:

watch them while they are in the water but please do not shout instructions to them, they need to learn to listen to the teacher
please appreciate that being corrected by the teacher is part of their learning process
enjoy watching them grow in confidence and make new friends
make a fuss when they achieve an award, especially their first one, it is a huge achievement for them!

Stage by stage

We teach the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework which means, as a parent, you can easily understand the progress made by your child in the pool.

Below is a guide to the various Swim England Learn to Swim stages.

Stage 1	Swimmers will develop basic movement skills, water confidence and safety awareness. Do not forget the swimmers will be able to use aids such as arm bands and floats to help complete all outcomes at this stage.
Stage 2	Swimmers will develop safe entries into the water including jumping in, floating practices, rotation skills and be able to travel over a distance of 5m in the water on their front and back without the use of aids.
Stage 3	Swimmers will work towards being able to swim 10 metres on their front and back and will be able to fully submerge to pick up objects from the bottom of the pool. Rotation skill and water safety knowledge will also be developed.
Stage 4	Swimmers will develop a better understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking techniques for all four strokes and swimming 10 metres on one stroke to a given standard as directed by Swim England.
Stage 5	Swimmers will focus on swimming all four strokes to the Swim England expected standards over a distance of 10 metres. Swimmers will also develop skills in sculling, treading water and complete rotation.
Stage 6	Swimmers will focus on developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing for all four strokes, water safety and an understanding of how to prepare for exercise.
Stage 7	By the end of this stage swimmers will have developed quality stroke techniques up to 100 metres, incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout Stages 1 to 7.
Stages 8 to 10	Once your child has mastered the basics which allow them to be competent and confident in the water there are plenty of reasons why they should keep developing their swimming skills into adulthood. Why? Because it is a great way to keep fit, improve performance in other sports and even get a job.

Frequently asked questions

Should my child wear goggles?

Children are discouraged from wearing googles initially until they develop water confidence and are able to submerge into water. Goggles can be worn at a later stage if required to assist and develop stroke technique.

What should I do if my child is unable to attend the lessons due to sickness?

Please contact us if your child unwell due to illness. For sickness and diarrhoea your child will need to be 48 hours clear of illness before returning to lessons.

My child is making little progress, what can I do?

Some children become stuck on a particular skill and cannot fully complete the stage. When this happens, teachers will have an idea of how to move things on. Speak to our swimming coordinator to see if there is anything that you can do in family swim time that will help. Contact us for more information.

Can I watch the lesson?

Yes. Our swimming pool has a viewing area.

Do I need to go into the water with my child?

There is no need for you to enter the water, there is a seating area close to the poolside for you to view the swimming lessons.

Should I speak to someone if I am not happy about my child's swimming lesson progress?

Yes! Customer feedback is very important. Talk to us immediately if you have any concerns.

Where should I drop off and pick up my child?

Please use the Changing Village entrance to the poolside to drop your child off for their swimming lesson. To the righthand side of the entrance there are waiting areas for each stage for children to sit and wait until their teacher collects them. All children should arrive on poolside no more than five minutes before their lesson begins.

We ask that you also collect your children from the Changing Village entrance, please arrive promptly to allow the smooth running of our lessons as children are not allowed to leave poolside until they are collected by a parent or guardian. Due to our safeguarding guidelines, if you wish to wait with your child, please wait near the pool entrance and let the teacher know you are there.

is there anything else I should do.

Please help us to help you by following the below dos and don'ts to keep our pool and changing facilities safe for everyone.

Do:

use the lockers provided to keep our spaces clear of trip hazards and allow others to use our cubicles
remove outdoor shoes at the entrance to the changing facilities. This helps us keep the floor clean and safe by massively reducing the risk of infection

Do not:

use your mobile phone in the changing facilities, this is for safeguarding reasons
take your child onto the poolside more than five minutes before their lesson start time. Our teachers will not be able to safely monitor your child as well as the class they are taking

Thank you for your cooperation and support!

Our teachers and lessons

All of our teachers are fully qualified to Level 2 and are professional, passionate and pupil focused. Our experienced, qualified teachers follow the Swim England framework and go through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for your peace of mind and safety of your children.

Teachers also have Continual Professional Development to keep them up to date with the latest aquatic developments.

With the focus on fun and enjoyment, swimmers progress faster, with greater confidence and with increased self-belief.

Good swimming lessons are made up of five key elements:

the Swim England Learn to Swim Pathway - this ensures your children are receiving the best possible instruction with qualified teachers
qualified knowledgeable teachers - ask about the Swim England qualifications your child's teacher holds
the seven Learn to Swim stages - good swimming lessons will use the Swim England Learn to Swim Pathway seven stages. Each stage carefully takes your child from learner to competent swimmer by Key Stage 2
fun and games - a good swimming lesson will take a games-based approach. If it is not enjoyable, your child is less likely to learn
water skills and awareness - teachers should be aware of your child developing water skills such as buoyancy and moving around in the water. They should also stress the need to understand swimming as fitness and a way to keep fit

As a parent you will want as much information as possible to ensure your swimming lessons provider is good. As well as the five elements, here are a few more basic facts about good swimming lessons:

most lessons last around 30 minutes and children should be as active as possible throughout the lesson. All children should be having fun
swimming strokes should be introduced gradually once your child has acquired the basic skills. These should not be introduced immediately
under no circumstances should teachers force children into activities. Children have to understand why they are doing it to be able to consistently carry out the skill

Direct debit - frequently asked questions

How long is the membership agreement for?

The agreement is for a minimum of three months, along with an up-front, pro-rata payment. Please ensure that you have read the terms and conditions before you agree.

What happens after the three month period?

Payments will continue to be taken from your bank account until we receive written or email confirmation that you wish to cancel your direct debit. Please allow a month's notice for cancellation.

Are there any additional benefits to paying be direct debit?

Yes. It's hassle free and your child will be entitled to free swimming during casual and family swim times.

How do I get free swimming for my child?

Once your direct debit has been set up you can book free swimming sessions through our app using your child's customer ID. Simply click "apply membership discounts" when prompted. See our page about downloading our app.

Do lessons take place during holiday periods?

We currently run a 50 week learn to swim programme. Lessons continue during all school and bank holidays with the exception of a two-week break over the Christmas period.

What happens if lessons are cancelled?

We aim to deliver 50 lessons per year, however you will only pay for 48. You will therefore be entitled to a pro-rata refund if more than two lessons are cancelled in a year. Even if lessons are cancelled, your child will continue to be able to access pool sessions for free.

What happens if my child is unable to attend swimming lessons due to injury or illness?

A pro-rata refund payment would be made for any injury or illness supported by a doctor's note that prevents your child from attending lessons for a period longer than two weeks. This must be requested at the beginning of your child's illness or injury.

Can I change the date or time of my child's lesson?

Yes, just contact us and they will be able to advise you on availability. If a convenient day or time cannot be arranged immediately, you will be placed on a priority waiting list and contacted as soon as a space becomes available.

What happens if I miss a payment?

You will be informed by our direct debit provider that a payment has been missed and a late payment fee will be issued. Failure to make payment after being notified will result in your child being removed from the programme. It is your responsibility to ensure that contact details are kept up to date.

How do I cancel my direct debit?

Cancellation requests must be sent in writing to us, providing one month's notice. Contact us, including your child's full name and our team will be in touch to confirm this with you.

Active North Yorkshire - 1 September