Some useful information for you all about swimming!

FINDING THE POOL AT COLINDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL

• The barrier to the school car park is open on Saturdays so you can park there. If there are no spaces then you can park on Clovelly Avenue.
• Find the swimming pool by walking in the main school entrance on Clovelly Avenue. On the left you will see the “Swimming Pool” door. Walk down this corridor, past the toilets, and the changing rooms are through the last door on the right. 
  
• Unfortunately there are no toilets in the changing rooms, so please make sure your child uses the toilet in the corridor before swimming.
  
• It is also advised to make sure your child blows their nose before swimming!
  
• The poolside will be warm/hot, so you might want to wear layers in colder weather.​​

before your child's first lesson

• It is a good idea to have taken your child swimming before their first ever swimming lesson so that they know what a swimming pool looks like. It can be daunting to a child to see a gigantic tub of water for the first time!
  
• Talk to them and make sure they know that they will be with a friendly teacher who will look after them.
  
• They are more than likely going to be using armbands and floats, so get them used to the idea of putting armbands on their arms and settle them saying something fun such as “they will make you float like a boat”.
  
• Get them used to splashing and water as much as possible during bath/shower time at home. Don’t be afraid to get their hair or face wet.
  

Your child's first swimming lesson

Before your child’s first swimming lesson, prepare their bag! They will need:

• Well-fitted swimming costume /trunks
• If your child is not potty-trained, they will need a swimming nappy on under their swimsuit
  
• Swimming hat – only if their hair will get in their eyes when swimming
• Goggles – test they fit around their eyes and there are no gaps before their lesson
• Towel
• Flip-flops/ sandals for your child
• Flip flops/ sandals for you (no outdoor shoes are allowed)
• Washing products if you want them to shower after swimming

​Make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before the lesson to allow adequate time to toilet/change.

why is it important to learn to swim?

There are many reasons why it is great to learn to swim:

• Learning to swim is part of the school curriculum. By the time children leave year 6 they should be able to swim 25m confidently and competently, as well as know how to keep themselves safe around water. However, there are still 40% of children in the UK who don’t achieve this.
• Swimming is a great form of exercise that increases confidence, coordination, and can help you keep fit.
• “Drowning in the UK accounts for more accidental fatalities annually than fire deaths in the home or cycling deaths on the road” (National Water Safety Forum)
• The earlier your child learns to swim, the less likely it is that a fear of swimming will set in.

how long does it take to learn to swim?

• There is no definitive answer for this, though it does depend on what exactly you are looking to achieve out of swimming.
• ​If you are just wanting your child/you to be safe in water then this does take less time than if you want to be a technically sound and strong swimmer.
• It is unrealistic to expect your child to learn to swim in one term. If they do learn that quickly – it is a rarity!
  
• ​You will find that teachers all have different approaches to teaching a child to swim, just as class teachers do not all teach in the same style. It does of course help if your child is responsive to their teacher and can understand what is being asked of them.
• In short: it can range from several months to several years!
  

is it too late to learn to swim?

It is never too late to learn to swim. Just with any skill, it is practice and persistence that enable it to be learnt and become a habit. It is recommended that the earlier you get your child into swimming, the better.

It is also never too late for adults to learn to swim. As you get older, motivation to learn to swim comes from different places. Teaching adults is something Pure Swim are trying to fit in to their programme. If you want lessons, please do let Leanne know so she can put your name down on the waiting list.

Certificates / AWARDS

At Pure Swim, we follow the Learn to Swim Programme, in line with Swim England. We are also Swim England registered. 

Children work through the core Stages in the programme, which go up to Stage 10. Assessment is carried out every term and once your child has passed everything in a stage they will receive that certificate and badge.

Children do not typically pass a Stage every term – sometimes it can take 2 or 3 terms to achieve a Stage. Each child’s rate of progress is always unique to them. So do not worry if it takes a while for your child to pass a Stage! Their teacher will always be working on helping them and be positive and supportive, which is why our groups are so small to allow this to happen more.

There are other certificates that supplement the core Stages, so at the end of each term your child will always be rewarded for their hard work with a certificate. And if you don't want to receive the Swim England certificates, we have our own Pure Swim achievement certificates so that no one is left out.

Visit https://www.swimming.org/swimengland/learn-to-swim-programme/ for more information on the Learn to Swim Programme.

NERVES / ANXIETY

Being nervous or apprehensive about swimming is normal and nothing to worry about. What can you do to help ease your child's mind?

• Be positive about swimming, and reassure them they have nothing to worry about.
• Be sure to tell them that their swimming teacher is not going to make them do anything they don’t want to do. At Pure Swim we are very experienced with dealing with nervousness. We have several techniques for calming children who are crying or very nervous.
  
• ​If you have any worries yourself about swimming, try not to pass this worry onto your children.
  
• ​Praise them after their lesson! Little things such as “well done for blowing lots of bubbles today”

how you can boost your child's progress

It is great that you are booking your child on to have swimming lessons. However there are other things you can do to boost their swimming confidence and progression even more!

• When they have a bath/shower, make it fun and encourage them to get their face wet. You can even get them used to taking a breath before putting their face in water to reinforce the swimming breathing technique.
• Take them swimming for fun – to a local swimming pool or when they’re on holiday. But of course – never leave your child unattended around water no matter how competent they are, and use armbands, floatation vests and floats to keep them safe if needed.
• Show them videos on swimming so they can visually see what they will be working towards in their swimming lessons.
• If your child is showing a real interest in taking swimming further (swimming more often / competing) then you will want to look for a local swimming club. Speak to their swimming teacher if this is something you are considering; we are more than happy to help.
  

TAKING SWIMMING TO A COMPETITIVE LEVEL

Once your child has reached a certain level with their swimming, they may want to take it further and start competing. At this point you should start to look at local swimming clubs where they will be coached rather than taught. Swimming teachers’ number one priority is teaching people how to be safe in and around water and how to swim the four strokes in swimming. Swimming coaches enhance technique and build speed and endurance. Not all children become competitive swimmers. It is something you should speak to your child about and make sure they want to commit to training. Generally, when you join a swimming club, there will be 3-4 sessions a week on offer, so your child will be swimming a lot more than they were in their weekly swimming lesson.

5 things to help adults improve

1. If you are an adult who cannot swim do not worry! There are plenty of swim schools who offer group lessons or 1:1 lessons for adults of all levels. Book yourself on – it is great to give yourself a new challenge. You’ll definitely get hooked!
2. ​If you can already swim but have not swam in a long time then perhaps going swimming with family/friends to have a practice will help you regain your confidence. After that, use swimming as your cardio/endurance training. It’s one of the best forms of whole body exercises! There are plenty of apps or online programmes you can find and follow.
3. If you are a good swimmer, then have you thought about joining a Master’s swimming club? Sessions do tend to be later in the evening which suits busy family lifestyles. Most swimming clubs will offer you a free trial too. 
4. ​Why not give yourself a different challenge involving swimming and try a multi-sport event such as triathlon or aquathlon? There are always lots of events taking place. Just give it a google and enter on your own or even with a friend for that extra motivation.
5. Speak to one of the teachers at Pure Swim. We are friendly and approachable and are more than happy to offer advice!

keeping children safe on holiday

f you are going somewhere where there is water around then you must not take the dangers of drowning lightly. Shallow or deep water both have dangers, and even competent swimmers are not safe left alone. Tips for keeping safe from the RLSS:

• Know the depth of water before swimming
• Check for dangers
• Never let your child go swimming alone
• Wear appropriate swimming clothing and floatation aids if needed
• Follow the rules
• If swimming in the sea check the flags. Is it safe to go in the sea today?
• Is there a lifeguard where you are swimming?
• Never go on inflatable dinghies or lilos in the sea - you could be blown out to sea
• Understand the dangers of riptides