School Age

Ability-based classes for swimmers aged 5 and up, designed to ensure constant movement and clear progression.

Swimmers are grouped according to their current ability, maximising swim time within small groups of up to six. All strokes are covered: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, with water safety skills integrated throughout the program.

And of course, we don’t forget the fun and positive social environment that makes learning to swim so enjoyable.

New Swimmers

In this level, swimmers build confidence in the water through relaxed submersion and comfortable floats on both their front and back. They also develop a basic understanding of kicking on their front and back as they begin creating consistent movement through the water.

Breathers One & Two

In Breathers One, swimmers are introduced to the fundamentals of breathing by learning to turn their head to breathe. Freestyle and Backstroke continue to be developed, with a focus on body position and consistent kicking.

In Breathers Two, swimmers build on their breathing and stroking skills with the goal of swimming 15 metres freestyle and 15 metres backstroke comfortably. They are also introduced to the foundations of breaststroke kick and butterfly kick as their technique and endurance continue to grow.

Improvers

In this level, breathing skills are consolidated and additional strokes are introduced, along with tumble turns. Distance continues to build, with swimmers working towards 2 x 15 metre laps.

Each term, a free Deep Water Night is included as part of the programme. This is run on a Tuesday evening between 7:00pm - 8:00pm in the Lloyd Elsmore Lap Pool. It is a fun and interactive way for swimmers to become more comfortable in deeper, cooler water as they prepare for the next level.

General Notes

• Howick offers a maximum of 5 swimmers per class in 30 minute lessons

• Lloyd Elsmore, Ōtara and Papatoetoe offer a maximum of 6 swimmers per class in 30 minute lessons

• Term and holiday block courses are available to support consistent progress

• All lessons are held in a warm, comfortable teaching pool

• All instructors are fully qualified and trained to deliver structured, skill based lessons

• Teen classes are available for swimmers at all levels

• Sticker charts are given at the start of each programme, with stickers awarded as skills are achieved to celebrate progress along the way.

  Graduates from the School Age programme have an independent assessment in the Lap Pool to ensure they have the skills to move to Mini Squads. Some swimmers will need 2 attempts to move forward.

Kids Swim Programmes