Swimming Lessons & Courses

Swimming is a vital life skill which everyone should learn, whatever their age. Whether you have never been swimming before, or your goal is to improve technique, Stonyhurst Sports Centre offers swimming lessons for all abilities.

Framework

Here at Stonyhurst we follow The Swim England Learn to Swim Programme which is the national syllabus used to help teachers deliver swimming lessons. It ensures swimming lessons for all ages are delivered to a high and consistent standard.

Swim England Learn to Swim Framework Stages 1-7

The Swim England Learn to Swim framework is about developing confident and competent swimmers through fun and enjoyment and Learn to Swim Stages 1-7 are at the heart of the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme.

It is the most widely known part of swimming lessons for children and is the backbone of swimming lessons for primary school aged children. Each of the seven stages of the Swim England Learn to Swim framework has a clear set of targets for the pupil to meet so they can get to the next stage

Fun and Games with the Learn to Swim Framework

The easiest way for a child to learn a new skill is through fun and games. This framework still has a high focus on having fun and enjoying being in the water.

It takes a games-led approach to learning to swim and gives the core aquatic skills needed to become competent swimmers. By learning and then mixing together these skills, a child will be able to understand the processes needed to swim all of the four strokes: front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.

Prices

Group Lessons	£7.00 per child per lesson
Block of 7 lessons	£49.00 per child
Block of 10 lessons	£70.00 per child

Lessons are delivered on a rolling programme and payment must be made in full at the start of each block.

Please contact us using the Swimming Lessons Form to enquire about availability.

Individual Lessons

Private lessons are available on a 1-1 basis for all abilities and ages. Led by our Stonyhurst Swim instructors, the individual lessons are designed to meet your specific needs whether that is stroke improvement, training goals or developing confidence in the water. Individual lessons are available for 1hr or 30 minutes sessions.

For more information or to enquires about pricing and block bookings, please speak to our Swimming Co-ordinator (swimminglessons@stonyhurst.ac.uk)

Crash Courses

Stonyhurst Sports Centre offers crash courses in swimming. The courses are designed for children who need a boost to reach the next level, improve their swimming skills and increase their confidence.

The crash courses are available during the holidays over consecutive weekday mornings. Half-hour tuition gives ample time for one-to-one attention, explanation, demonstration and repetitive practice.

The results seen in children attending the crash courses are excellent, with clear progress.

The skills learnt are tested against the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework (Levels 1-7) through the week. The children are presented with a commemorative certificate at the end of the course.

For more information or to enquires about pricing and Crash Course dates, please speak to our Swimming Co-ordinator (swimminglessons@stonyhurst.ac.uk)

Enquire

T&Cs for Swimming Lessons & Memberships

All Swimming Teachers are Swim England/STA qualified and complete all relevant enhanced DBS checks before being allowed to teach.

Swimming Teachers will take responsibility for pupils during their swimming lessons. However, parents/guardians are required to remain nearby (poolside viewing or designated viewing gallery) so that if required the parent / guardian can deal with toilet breaks or any behavioural issues. Stonyhurst staff will NOT take pupils to the toilet.

The parent/guardian of any child under 8 years of age must accompany their children to lessons and remain in the building. Parents/Guardians must be responsible for their own children in the changing rooms. Please note that the changing rooms may also be used by adult members.

Please make your child’s teacher aware of any illnesses or disabilities.

It is imperative that parents/ guardians remain on the premises whilst the pupil is attending their swimming lessons, in case of a medical emergency, building evacuation or other emergency. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to supervise their child to and from their teaching station ensuring a prompt pick up at the end of the lesson.

Parents/guardians must never distract the teacher during a lesson and should direct all communication through Reception or the Swim School Coordinator. Parents/guardians should not speak with a teacher whilst the lessons are in progress as it is dangerous and will distract the teacher from the supervision of the pupils in their lesson.

Pupils can be refused entry to the lesson if they are more than 5 minutes late for a class, as it disrupts the lesson for the other pupils.

It is strongly recommended that children wear hats to lessons and/or long hair is tied up properly, so as to not hamper progression. This may not be suitable for those with some medical conditions.

Parents/guardians are not permitted on poolside but must sit in the pool viewing areas. Where pool viewing is on poolside, parents must not interfere with the lessons or distract the Swimming Teachers.

We do ask that all spectators remain in the seating area in order to prevent any unnecessary distractions for the teachers. Our changing rooms and poolside are a ‘Shoe Free Zone’ and all footwear is to be removed and/or shoe covers must be worn.

It is difficult for the teaching staff to gain full attention from their pupils if they are being distracted; progress can be affected if children are not able to concentrate.

We do not allow any photography or filming of children in this building.

Parents accept that their child is under the supervision, control and care of the Swimming Teacher, during the lesson. Should the behaviour of the child be deemed unsatisfactory, and/or the class is being disrupted, the Swimming Teacher has the right to remove the pupil from the class.

The Teacher may employ reasonable measures as are necessary to maintain the smooth delivery of the class. We reserve the right to request that your child should be removed from class if they persistently disrupt or are seen to be putting themselves or anyone else at risk during the class. If a child is removed under these circumstances and suitable alternative arrangements cannot be made, no refund will be provided.

If your child is unwell, we recommend that you do not bring them to their swimming lesson.

If your child has been ill with diarrhoea, they should not attend their lesson. To protect others, they should not swim for at least a week after it has completely cleared up.

The majority of our Learn to Swim Programme classes are held over a 30- minute timeslot (some advanced and adult classes might be 45 or 60 minutes) which includes time to take registers and assessments.

All swimming teachers teach a recognised stroke from the outset.

All pupils on the Learn to Swim Programme work towards the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework.

Swimming Teachers continually assess all pupils’ progression.

Progression of all pupils will be at the judgment of the Swimming Teacher and in accordance with the progression within the criteria of the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework.

Pupils will be moved up to the next class when they meet the skills criteria required and if there is adequate room in the next stage class.

Upon completion of a stage, the parent/guardian will be contacted explaining that the child is ready to move up to the next stage via email/phone

Due to the continuous progressive nature of our programme, and the variety of ability levels within each session, we cannot guarantee a specific time slot on progression, as a space within the next Stage may not always be immediately available. Those waiting for spaces will be kept in their current Stage until a place becomes available.

Pupil to Teacher ratios are developed in line with Swim England Guidelines.

Stonyhurst reserves the right to combine classes at short notice if necessary, under the safe supervision guidelines for swimming lessons.

All children should wear appropriate fitting costumes/trunks and shorts specifically designed for swimming. Baggy costumes/trunks can hamper movement.

No jewellery should be worn during a swimming lesson. Religious or medical bracelets are allowed but should not distract the swimmer from their lesson.

The use of goggles is permitted but pupils will be asked to remove them if they are a distraction and when performing certain skills (unless there is a medical reason for goggles to be worn). We recommend the use of diopter corrective goggles for anyone with a visual impairment.

Booking and payments for the next block will take place two weeks before the block concludes. Pupils will be removed from classes once advance payment has expired.

Stonyhurst reserves the right to change the price of swimming lessons at any time.

No refunds will be given if lessons are missed or cancelled.

In exceptional circumstances, management may exercise discretion on refunds or credit notes but this would only be on production of a medical certificate or documentation from a medical centre, hospital or GP.

You may request a change of time, day or Swimming Teacher and we will try to accommodate your request, provided a space is available. If you cannot be accommodated at that time your child will be added to the movements list.

Swimming ability and speed of progression will vary depending upon the swimmer.

We will use reasonable endeavours to provide the same instructor for each lesson within a course. However, relief instructors may be used without prior notification.

We reserve the right to appoint a new teacher at any time and may, at times need to provide an alternative teacher for a class or classes due to illness or for any other unforeseen circumstances.

In the event a teacher is away for a long period of time we will try to keep the same cover teacher for the time period where possible.

If a teacher is absent, the Centre reserves the right to join classes together if considered appropriate and safe according to Swim England guidelines. We would always try to put a replacement teacher in place immediately however, if this is not manageable, we would merge the classes together in order to avoid the cancellation. This would be an extremely rare occurrence as additional teachers are usually available to cover any such eventualities.

In the event of a pool closure, we will make every attempt to contact our customers as soon as possible. Contact will be via email/phone.

In the event of a pool closure wherever possible, you will be offered an alternative class to accommodate your lesson.

Stonyhurst reserves the right to cancel classes should numbers fall below our minimum numbers per group (50% of class capacity). If this happens, you will be offered an alternative lesson of the same level, subject to availability.

We like to encourage communication and welcome issues to be raised with our staff.

If you have any questions regarding your child’s swimming lessons please speak to your child’s swimming teacher or directly to our swimming co-ordinator.

All parents/guardians are required to supply us with a valid email address and contact/mobile number for quick communication purposes. This is essential so that we can inform you when your child is ready to move up a stage or for any cancellations, or changes to operating procedures and lesson times.

Stonyhurst College only collects data for the purpose indicated on this form and will not distribute or share this information with any third party unless in case of a medical emergency, in which case, information may be shared with medical staff where appropriate.

For more information on how we look after your personal information, please read our Privacy Notice, which you can find on our website.

Changes to Terms & Conditions – Stonyhurst reserves the right to amend these Terms & Conditions. Reasonable notice will be provided to any changes and customers will be made aware of any changes.

Click here to see Membership T&Cs

Click here to see our Swimming Lesson T&C's

Swimming Lessons & Courses