• New swimmers may pay for the first trial session individually to see how they get on. If you’d like to continue after your initial trial lesson, you’ll receive another email to confirm the balance due. This will include the payment due for the rest of the current month and a month upfront (paid by bank transfer). Going forward every time your DD takes a payment it will be for the month ahead. 
• All pools run lessons over term times only, apart from Laura’s Swim Academy (in Coleshill). Where they run all year part from the whole of August and the x2 week Christmas break.

Please refer to the T&C’s page where you will find more information regarding the payment set-up.

Swimmers should own their own costume and towel – any other accessories such as; swim caps, ear plugs/bands, flip flops, nose plugs etc are optional. Goggles are advised which we sell.

Laura’s Swim Academy do not use armbands, we use float belts. If you own one, feel free to bring it along. Float belts and other accessories can be purchased from Laura’s Swim Academy upon request.

Children with long hair will need to tie their hair back and please remove jewellery so that no injuries occur during their lesson.

Swimmers should be dressed and showered on poolside 5 minutes before the lesson begins. Pre changing at home is advised as changing rooms can get busy.

As every child’s strengths and weaknesses are different, the progression rate can vary. Our lessons involve strength and confidence-building exercises to ensure natural development is in place. We will never push your child into doing something they truly fear, but encourage them to gradually tackle that fear to ensure they can progress.

Our groups are categorised into their ability level, where lesson aims and objectives are similar or the same. All lessons focus on confidence, swimming competently with and without floats and water safety. Upon completing the basic front and back paddle, we look into stroke work and correct breathing. For more detailed information of what goes on in our lessons, please refer to the Lessons page, where you can read about the different levels.

Laura’s Swim Academy ensure each child is placed in the correct ability class so all of our students can progress quickly. By keeping our lessons in ability order and not age order, our children develop naturally and efficiently. Before joining our lessons, you will be asked if your child has had any experience. Let us know what you’re child is capable of and we will find a group which is similar to your child’s ability. If after the lesson the child is not suitable for that group, we will offer you an alternative lesson which is more beneficial for your child.

Underwater swimming improves fitness and stamina incredibly, therefore we encourage it as the progression rate tends to be a lot quicker. Not only is it hugely beneficial for health, but for safety also – for example, if they ever fall in the water accidentally, they need to be confident to ensure they can return to safety competently. Your child does not have to be able to swim underwater, but we will help your child to find the confidence and encourage them to do so. Underwater becomes a necessity when learning strokes, as the majority of it is performed with the face in the water.

Many children refuse to go underwater as they are scared of doing so or drinking the water and choking; before actually going underwater we always start with blowing bubbles. You can practice this with them in the bath or the sink – starting off with just the mouth in, gradually trying to encourage putting their nose in whilst blowing. Once they are confident with blowing bubbles and seeing that they do not choke, you can try wearing some goggles and putting their faces in. Owning their own pair of goggles is a great incentive too! You can also try sinking toys, where your child has to go underwater and retrieve the objects.

We recommend eating lightly before your lesson no less than an hour before swimming; this is to prevent any feeling of sickness as swimming involves a lot of movement.

The majority of the pools that we teach at have back-to-back lessons, so usually the pool is unavailable to play in after. If you are a member of any of the facilities which do have available sections to swim in, as long as you are in the water with your child or supervising them then you are more than welcome to stay as long as you like.

All of the pools we teach at do not allow food and drink on poolside/changing rooms due to hygiene reasons – if there is a cafe on site, clients are permitted to use these.

Laura’s Swim Academy are proud member of the STA, where we follow The International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP) which is an exciting, motivational, interlinking and progressive Awards Programme that engages children at every stage of their development. All levels have clearly defined standards, teaching objectives and learning outcomes, and all levels have incentives and rewards with colourful badges and certificates. Levels are; Octopus, Goldfish, Angelfish, and Shark – All have 3 stages within. Bronze, Silver & Gold levels for advanced swimmers.

You can view your child’s progress in your symphony account upon signing up to lessons with us.

Colds are a common illness for children as they grow and strengthen their immune systems, however, they come and go throughout the year and are generally non-significant. If your child feels fine within themselves and you feel that they’re able to participate, then it’s fine to go ahead and carry on. You can also let your child’s instructor know that they are feeling a bit under the weather, so we are aware and can amend the lesson accordingly. If you are unsure, please refer to your local Doctor.

If you or your child have any significant illnesses, including Covid-19, ear infections, chicken pox, vomiting or diarrhoea, then please stay at home.

From newborn up to 4 years. All classes have a guardian/parent in the water apart from the preschool classes. For the parentless preschool classes, children need to be confident in the water and also be able to swim independently with a float belt on.

Would need a float belt to be able to swim front & back paddle. Also learning underwater swimming once confident, floating & starting some basic breaststroke after the front & back paddle are stronger.

5 to 10m of front & back paddle, breaststroke & back crawl without floats. Just learning front crawl.

10m to 20m of front crawl, back crawl & breaststroke without floats.

20 to 50m of all strokes & learning correct breathing.

50m to 100m in all strokes with correct breathing. Diving & correct transitions.

Longer distances for all strokes. Working on fitness, stamina & speed training.

If you are unsure which ability level your child would come under. Then please either state this in the enquiry form, under ‘additional information’ with a bit about your child’s level and we will get back to you.