Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects communication and social interaction, making traditional group sports a challenge. However, for many autistic children, the water is a place of calm, focus, and vital safety training.
A landmark study highlighted that children with autism are 160 times more likely to experience drowning incidents compared to the general population. At Blue Wave Swim School, we treat swimming lessons not just as a sport, but as a top-priority safety intervention.
Individual sports like swimming, cycling, and gymnastics allow children to develop endurance and improve their physical co-ordination without challenging their social skills. In the water, children with autism often experience:
Expert advice from our founder on adapting lessons for sensory needs.
As the founder of Blue Wave Swim School, I have dedicated years to learning from global experts. My journey included representing the UK at the first European ‘Swimming with Autism’ conference, where I trained with renowned specialists like Tammy Anderson-Lee (Aqua Pros, USA) to refine our 1:1 teaching methods.
We offer dedicated private swimming lessons for children with autism at our Wimbledon location. Our 1:1 format ensures a quiet, focused environment where your child can build a bond of trust with their teacher.
Spaces for our specialised 1:1 sessions are very limited. Secure your child’s spot for the upcoming Easter or Summer term.
At what age should an autistic child start lessons?
As early as possible. Introducing skills between ages 2 and 5 helps desensitise sensory triggers before they become fixed behaviours.
Do you offer lessons for non-verbal children?
Yes. Our instructors use visual cues and physical demonstrations to communicate effectively without relying solely on speech.
What type of lesson format do you offer for autistic children?
We offer 1:1 Lessons. With more than 10 years of experience, we believe only a 1:1 format allows ASD children to truly benefit and feel secure.
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A good swim school with professional staff
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
Great
My daughter loves swimming! Since attending Blue Wave Swim School lessons her water confidence is high and that gives us peace of mind when she is playing near water. The staff are fantastic and the lessons are fun!
August 23, 2019, www.yell.com
Want to enquire about swimming lessons for my 2 boys with asd
please send us a message through our contact us page.
Thank you for the amazing blog post!