Children's Swimming Lessons in SW London - 2mins of your time please? Post Reply

[putneybridge]

Hi NVNers
Could I get your help please by asking you a three short questions about kids swimming lessons? I'm helping a friend set up their new swim school website and want to make sure it really appeals.

1) What are you looking for in kids' swimming lessons?

2) What have been your biggest frustrations in finding or attending kids' swimming lessons?

3) How do you find and choose a kids' swimming school or class?

Anything else you'd like to share about swimming lessons would be useful. The more complaints/problems you've encountered the better. His business wants to offer something different from what the rest of the market is providing right now. So I'm keen to learn what's not working.

Thanks so much in advance! x

[NightingaleMum]

Bit late so don't know if you still want info (but as I'm currently searching for a class, I came across your post!)

1) What are you looking for in kids' swimming lessons? Good timing (toddlers who nap can't do early afternoon, older kids at nursery can't do before 4pm really)

2) What have been your biggest frustrations in finding or attending kids' swimming lessons?
Finding them! Then when you do, the rubbish way the companies are managed, you honestly get the feeling when you're put on a waiting list that they pretend to take your details and then never contact you.
Would be great to be able to log in and notify the school if you can't make a lesson and sort a catch up out online there and then.

3) How do you find and choose a kids' swimming school or class?
I've tried out a couple by paying for a taster class (usually with some extortionate admin fee/joining fee) and just evaluating if the class was a fit.

[Emma79]

I'm really keen to start my baby swimming ASAP - not sure what the earliest age is that classes will be from. Classes have seen are generally for older babies/toddlers (mine is currently only 11 days). So that's what I would be keen on as babies have a natural reflex to swim underwater.
Thanks!

[pie81]

Here's what I'm looking for:

- Timing, as NightingaleMum said. Mid morning is great for babies, in between naps. Afternoon for preschoolers, 3 or 3.30 onwards ideally.
- Reasonable changing facilities
- Short terms so you can change times as your child's schedule changes, and also so if your baby hates it you haven't signed over too much cash! A trial facility and ability to do catch up lessons would be good.

My frustrations:

- Finding the swimming companies in the first place. They seem to be incredibly hard to find on the web, I don't know why.
- Lack of timetable information on the websites. This is my number 1 gripe. I will only be interested in your lessons if they are at the right time for the right age so please tell me these things on the website and save me emailing you! Please put the age/stage as well as the time. And if you know it, the availability or waiting list situation for each lesson.

How do you find and choose:
- Depends almost entirely on location and timetable, i.e. can I get there and get changed in time, bearing in mind the baby's naps/feeds/lunchtime etc.

good luck to your friend!

Emma79 - I believe most companies say from when they have had their vaccines. The dive reflex lasts until 15-18 months I believe so you have time!

[Emma79]

Thanks Pie81 - yes I figured I can't plan to do anything til some sort of routine is established for feeding so looking at doing a spring term. Useful to read everything else now nevertheless!

[Emma79]

Thanks Pie81 - yes I figured I can't plan to do anything til some sort of routine is established for feeding so looking at doing a spring term. Useful to read everything else now nevertheless!

[LP73]

It's all about the timings and it's easy to get to along with a warm pool.
A course that continues and toy can follow. Aquatots is great for following different levels yet their timings for one year plus are shocking.

Babies are OK to do various times although I appreciate new mums can find it hard to get out on a morning so best to have babies late morning.
Babies 12 months plus early mornings and afternoons after 3. So many classes on between 1100 and 1400 which is crazy as babies from one year onwards tend to be in a routine so lunch around 12 then nap time.
Best of luck with the project.