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Dive in early – why now is the best time to start your children swimming

For parents looking to give their children a head start in life, enrolling them in a swimming programme is one of the best moves you can make. Not only is swimming a vital life skill, it also builds confidence, coordination, and a lifelong love for the water.

 

And there’s never been a better moment to begin, swimming lesson bookings are now open for children as young as three, starting from Swim England’s Duckling 1 stage.

 

Start young, swim strong

 

Children are eligible to join our swimming programme from the term after they turn three years old. At this age, children absorb new experiences like sponges (no pun intended), and swimming helps foster body awareness, balance, and confidence. Early water familiarity promotes safety and reduces the risk of fear around water later in life.

 

Even more importantly, it’s fun. Little ones love splashing around, and our lessons are packed with play-based learning that keeps them engaged and excited.

What are the Duckling Stages?

 

Our Duckling 1–4 classes are perfect for beginners and are specially tailored to young children. With caring, qualified instructors and a gentle, welcoming approach, children are introduced to the water through games, songs, and simple movement skills.

 

Here’s a peek at what your child will experience:
• Floating and gliding with support
• Safe entry and exit from the pool
• Blowing bubbles, submerging face, and collecting toys from shallow depths
• Developing independence and trust in the water

 

Each child progresses at their own pace, and Duckling awards mark every milestone, keeping motivation high and achievements tangible.

 

We know how busy life can be—and that sometimes the usual peak-hour activities just don’t fit. That’s why we’re spotlighting new Duckling spaces available during weekday afternoons between 2–4pm. It’s a magical window in the day—when your child can learn and play, and you can enjoy a gentler schedule.

The path beyond

Swimming success doesn’t stop at Duckling 4. Once children complete their initial stages, they can graduate to Swim England’s nationally recognised Learn to Swim Framework, which includes ten progressive levels:

Stages 1–4: Build on water confidence, introduce floating, gliding, breathing control, and basic stroke technique.
Stages 5–7: Focus on refining strokes (front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly) and improving stamina, coordination, and deep-water skills.
Stages 8–10: Prepare young swimmers for club-level training, with advanced techniques, diving, personal survival, and aquatic sports skills.

Whether your child dreams of mastering all four strokes, joining a club, or simply being a confident swimmer, our path is here to support that journey. We have spaces available at all levels in the programme.

FAQs
Q: What do I need to bring? A swimming costume, towel, and a smile! We also recommend swim nappies for the little ones.
Q: How can I support my child’s progress? Cheer them on! Encourage water play outside of lessons and celebrate their achievements—no matter how small.
Q: What safety measures are in place? All instructors are qualified and DBS-checked. Our pool meets our strict hygiene and safety standards, and we maintain appropriate class sizes for close supervision.

Hurry – enrol today
Spaces for our afternoon Duckling classes are limited and filling fast. If you’ve been considering swim lessons, now’s the perfect time to dive in. Give your child the gift of confidence, safety, and joy in the water.

Ready to take the plunge? Contact sue.wilson@roehamptonclub.co.uk to reserve your spot. Let’s make this the start of something wonderful!