Is your little one splashing around and ready for more structured swimming lessons? Around preschool or reception year, many UK parents start exploring options. But with terms like “swim school” and “swimming club” floating around, it can get confusing! This blog breaks down the key differences to help you make the best choice for your child for booking swimming lessons.
For some parents, finding the right place to book lessons is more than the nearest place. If you are a parent and you are also looking into different options and trying to figure out the best ways for your child to learn to swim well, please keep reading.
Swim Schools: Building a Strong FoundationImagine “swimming” as a house. Swim schools lay the foundation. They focus on the fundamentals, taking children from complete beginners to confident swimmers in 2-4 years. A good swim school teaches:
Many swim schools, like Blue Wave Swim School, follow the Swim England National Teaching Plan, which has 8 stages. By Stage 8, children can swim 100 meters continuously using different strokes.
What to Expect at a Swim School:
In our swim school, we follow the Swim England National Teaching Plan for teaching swimming which has 7 stages for learning to swim. Stage 1 is a complete beginner and after completing stage 7, children are confident and competent swimmers.
Swim clubs are all about competitive swimming and athletic development.
What to Expect at a Swim Club:
Swim Clubs and Learn-to-Swim Programs
Some swim clubs have “learn-to-swim” programs (often called “cadet,” “development,” or “academy” sections). These are essentially swim schools within the club. However, they may have larger class sizes and utilize their teenage swimmers as instructors, who might lack teaching experience.
Making the Right Choice
While a swim club might seem appealing, consider whether your child is ready for the competitive environment and demanding training schedule. For beginners and intermediates, a swim school normally offers a more nurturing environment with focused attention and experienced instructors.
Key Considerations:
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your child’s individual needs and goals. If your child thrives in a competitive environment and is already a competent swimmer, a swim club might be a good fit. But if they’re just starting or your child still needs to learn the main strokes with decent technique, a swim school provides the strong foundation they need to succeed in the water, whether they pursue competitive swimming or simply enjoy a lifetime of safe and confident swimming
Choosing the right place for your child to learn to swim can be tricky. While both swim schools and swim clubs offer lessons, there are some important differences to consider.
Swim Schools: Focused on FoundationsSwim schools prioritize building a strong foundation for swimming. They typically have:
Swim clubs focus on competitive swimming and often have:
Teaching swimming, especially to beginners, requires specific skills and experience. Keeping children engaged and motivated while teaching proper technique is crucial, and experienced teachers excel at this.
Quality over Quantity
While your child might get more pool time at a swim club, consider the quality of instruction. In a large class with less experienced teachers, your child may not progress as quickly.
Swim Clubs with “Learn-to-Swim” Programs
Some swim clubs offer “learn-to-swim” programs, but these are essentially swim schools within the club. They might still have larger class sizes and less experienced teachers.
Making the Best Decision
If your child is a complete beginner, a swim school is often the best place to start. They provide a nurturing environment with focused attention and experienced instructors.
Think about your child’s needs and goals:
Blue Wave Swim’s Approach
At our swim school, we prioritise quality instruction and individualized attention.
We have experienced teachers who are passionate about teaching swimming to all ages and abilities, including children who need special support. Once our swimmers master the fundamentals, we help them transition to swim clubs if they wish to pursue competitive swimming.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your child. Choose a provider that offers quality lessons and a supportive environment where your child can thrive and develop a love for swimming.
A good swim school with professional staff
My girls have been going to Blue Wave Swim School for over 2 years, they have been looking forward to each lesson and keep practicing the swimming tricks even in a bath. All teachers and an owner of the school has been friendly, very professional. They found unique approach and made kids happy, but most importantly show them how to swim and have fun. Thank you very much from our family to Blue Wave Swim School.
April 19, 2021, www.yell.com
Easter 2021 Crash Course
Various lockdowns have held back my daughter’s swimming development so we opted for a crash 4 day course over Easter and she has come away from it much more confident and with a recognisable stroke as opposed to doggy paddle!
April 19, 2021, www.yell.com
Although I have only attended two lessons, Marjan’s bubbly personality makes you feel instantly at ease. During the lessons, the pool was not very busy which is a good thing (as opposed to public pools) for those who are anxious.
I would strongly recommend to adults who have experienced trauma with water at a certain time in their lives.
November 24, 2020, www.yell.com
My son has been going to swimming lessons at Blue Wave in Wimbledon for a few years now and thoroughly enjoys it. The teaching is great and the lessons well run. Helps to prepare him for when we finally get to go on holiday again!
September 26, 2020, www.yell.com
Highly Recommended
My son went to improve his swimming technique and found his instructor very helpful, very kind and patient. The school itself is very welcoming and feels safe for all the children who go there. I would highly recommend it.
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Excellent results
My son is 4 years-old and we were looking for weekend swimming classes in a nice environment that could bring good results. After some research we chose Blue Wave Swim. Our son has been having private lessons since the end of 2018 and he is progressing very well. We believe the professionalism of the team, the clean and tidy infrastructure, and the good care of the management are contributing for his development and confidence in the water. Thank you very much Blue Wave Swim!
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Awesome!
I am grateful to Marjan and her team at Blue Wave Swim for their hard work and for promoting happiness and enjoyment in swimming. It is amazing to watch the lessons, see the attention, the encouragement and the support the children receive. I have been impressed with my daughters’ progress and the fact that they love attending their classes and learning a vital life skill. Thank you very much. Great job!
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Superb Swimming School in Wimbledon
My daughter, who is now 7 years old, started with blue wave two years back and we have been very happy with her progress at the school. Initially we started with group lessons but once she got comfortable in water we moved her to semi private lessons, which made a lot of difference in her ability to learn swimming. As part of the smaller group she is better bonded with other children in the group and gets more attention from the swimming instructor, which is helping her advance her swimming skills. During her 2 years with blue wave, swimming instructors for my daughter have changed and while continuity in learning was maintained, I think this could have been managed better. Needless to say, she still goes and enjoys her time here and looks forward to her class every week. Overall we are very pleased with Blue Wave and would recommend them without any hesitation.
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Highly recommend
Highly recommend this swimming school. My daughter has been attending since she was 1 years old and she loves it. The teachers are very good with children and my daughter, who is now 4 years old is very confident in the water.
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
