Oakham C of E Primary School, Burley Road, Oakham, LE15 6GY
The swimming pool at Oakham C of E School, Oakham is heated to a lovely 33 degrees. This pool environment is ideal for children to feel comfortable and relaxed in the water. We will support you in teaching various holds and learning to use various swimming aids to encourage confidence and independent swimming. These sessions are not only water introduction for your child but we also create an environment where we encourage you to enjoy the aquatic playground together, building on your special bond in a calm, supportive and non-competitive environment.
PARENT & BABY/TODDLER/PRE-SCHOOLERS
Our ‘Parent & Baby/Toddler/Pre-Schoolers’ sessions are designed for babies and children from 4 months up to 4 years old. Our group sessions run on a Tuesday morning between 09:15am and 12:15pm (term time only). We ensure your child is in the right group for their age and ability. Our sessions are small so that our skilled teachers can work with each child’s needs within a group environment. We are aware that each child works and develops at their own pace and therefore our sessions are not too rigid, children learn through repetition so we ensure our programme is flexible enough in order for you and your little one to learn through fun, play and meet new friends!
We always have a strong focus on teaching lifesaving skills from a young age, we help babies/toddlers/pre-schoolers to learn the skills they need to help keep them safe in and around water, until they are able to swim independently.
Our sessions are focused on reading and understanding each child’s cues and their willingness to join in everything that we do in the pool together. We work with their own individual milestones and introduce that in the water environment. The person they learn best from is you by observation and imitation. In order for your little one to feel confident and start to become independent in the water they need to be happy with water being on their face, over their head and in their ears, which is why there is an important focus on adults going under the water for their babies/toddlers/pre-schoolers to watch. It is then only a matter of time until they begin to imitate you, initially just by putting their faces in the water (or maybe even just a tongue) but before long they are joyfully putting themselves in and under the water by choice.
For any parents or carers who are unable to go under the water themselves for any reason, we will never put any pressure on you to do so, and we will stand in for you as the person who goes under the water for your child to watch. But we will also work with you to help you overcome your fears and teach you techniques to make it more comfortable, so that you both can discover the joy of the underwater world together.
PRICE
Our price for a group 30 mins session is £14. We do not operate on a ‘pay per class’ basis. Payment is required in advance of joining the sessions for the half-term block. Please arrive 10 mins before your swim splash class is due to begin to allow time for changing.
WHY US?
‘We have been swimming with Baby Swim Splash for 18 months. My son has progressed so much since starting, his confidence in the water has grown huge amounts as well as my own confidence in learning safe and fun techniques for swimming with a younger child. My son still lacks in confidence some sessions but we've never been made to feel under pressure or like we are doing anything wrong. Every session is different songs, themes, starting off fun and energetic and ending calm and close with your child. Carla, Jo and Alison are all so professional, very friendly and welcoming. We have loved our time here and will continue our sessions. Thank you Carla, Jo and Alison.” Jessica Lloyd - Jul’24
“Our daughter has been swimming with Carla on and off for about 6 months and she loves it! It has really built her confidence in water and is teaching her how to swim. The pool is always so warm, the changing rooms are spotless and there are only a very small number of children in each class, about 8. This means Carla gets to spend 1-1 time with each child as well as group activities. The classes are really well organised with lots of fun things for the babies to learn and play with, as well as lots of singing. It’s really relaxed and doesn’t feel rushed. Carla is a great instructor and is loved by the babies, as well as Jo & Alison who are there as well to support. We love bringing Minnie to the sessions and Will continue to until she is ready to swim on her own! .” Vic Hay - Jul’24
“We love our Tuesday morning swimming lessons. Every week they think of a different theme and have different props/toys for babies to play with in the water. My son absolutely loves it and it’s really built his confidence in and out of the water. All the staff are fantastic and have such passion for what they do and make every lesson so much fun. We initially started at a different swim school and are so glad we changed. The other mums are really lovely too.” Gemma Webster - Jan’24
2025 TERM DATES: Tues 7th Jan - Tues 11th Feb - (6 weeks block)
PRE-SCHOOL SWIMMERS
Our ‘Pre-school swimmers’ programme is aimed at 3 to 4 year olds who are beginning their journey to independent swimming. We still ask a parent to be in the water with their child as the pool water level is deep. We do not support the wearing of armbands as our ethos is to teach without restrictions and the loving support of the parent to guide their child to independent swimming.
They will be taught by a qualified STA pre-school teacher who will be following the ‘STAnley First Steps’ series awards from 1-5. Once your child has achieved level 5 they will be able to enter the pool safely, swim 5 metre unassisted on their back and front, tread water then swim back to the bar and climb out safely. They will also be able to perform 3 different types of floating positions and collect objects from the floor. Your child is then ready to graduate from Baby Swim Splash and able to further progress into another swim school at the ASA learn to swim programme stage 1. Please see outcomes below:
Along side our STAnley awards programme we also follow The ‘Kangaroo Beach Programme’ which is a new water safety programme for pre-schoolers by our governing body the STA. The programme is based on the antics of four young animal friends who star in a pre-school TV series which is aired on Channel 5’s Milkshake programme. The four animated furry friends share an action packed summer of surf, fun and sand, all the time delivering water safety messages.
Kangaroo Beach Programme aims to deliver the following learning outcomes:
Neville - The hairy nosed wombat that loves to play- water safety rules certificate Frizzy - The fabulous koala bear that loves marine life- beginners water safety skill certificate Gemma - The energetic Platypus who loves the sea and it’s environment- Marine life certificate Pounce - The chief lifeguard who is very active and physical- advanced water safety skills certificate
Learning outcomes for the Kangaroo Beach programme (buoyancy aids may be used) & STAnley First Steps Series are as follows :
Learning Outcomes
Identify the teacher
Enter the water safely
Splash feet at water’s surface while supported by wall/ woggle/adult and then return to a standing position
Walk forwards, backwards and sideways through the water unaided for 5 metres.If in deeper water, unassisted walking actions may be substituted
Move through the water on the front for 2 metres with a buoyancy aid, turn around and move back to start position
Move through the water for 2 metres on the back with a buoyancy aid, roll to regain feet.
Blow a small object across the pool for 2 metres
Travel under a woggle bridge and through a shower created by a watering can
Push and glide on the front
Exit pool safely
Learning Outcomes
Show an understanding of poolside safety
Enter the water safely from the poolside
Blow bubbles into the water, with mouth or nose and mouth submerged
Move through the water for 2 metres on the front while blowing bubbles, return to an upright/standing position with a buoyancy aid
Move through the water for 2 metres on the back using an alternating leg action, ears in water and return to an upright/standing position with a buoyancy aid
Perform a star floating position on front or back unaided
Use front paddle action to move a ball across the pool with a woggle
Push and glide on the back
Roll from front to back, looking at the ceiling
Climb out of the pool safely
Learning Outcomes
Answer a question on poolside safety rules
Enter the water from poolside, move forward 1 metre, then return and exit the pool unassisted
Blow bubbles into the water with face submerged
Perform a star float while on the back and regain the feet
Move through the water while on the back, using an alternating leg action for 5 metres
Move through the water 5 metres on the front, using front paddle action
Complete a 360° turntable with feet off the pool floor
Roll from back to front and return onto the back
Jump or step into the water from poolside with hand support from a swimming teacher or assistant
Show treading water action with legs on woggle – (seahorses)
Learning Outcomes
Answer 2 questions on poolside safety
Swim 5 metres of front paddle, roll onto back and swim 5 metres on the back
Bob up and down, submerging the face 4 times, exhaling underwater
Pick up an object from below the water surface
Perform 2 float positions, which may be in a sequence and performed on the front or the back
Push and glide on back, tuck and roll forward to return to poolside
Tread water, using arms and legs
Attempt a circular action of either arms or legs
Jump or step into pool safely unaided
Climb out of pool safely unaided
Learning Outcomes
1. Answer 2 questions on poolside rules 2. Swim 2 metres of front paddle or back paddle, without support 3. Hold 3 different types of floating positions,each for 3 seconds 4. Breathe rhythmically for 4 cycles, either supported or moving 5. Jump or step in from poolside, tread water, turn and swim back to poolside 6. Push off on the back and kick with a simultaneous leg action for 5 metres using a woggle or float 7. Perform a push and glide on the front, keeping the face in the water and blowing bubbles 8. Retrieve an object from bottom of pool 9. Demonstrate front crawl arm action 10. Demonstrate back crawl arm action
