Each lesson is very focused and structured. We use a method called chaining, where what you learn today builds you up for what you will learn tomorrow. Your little one works hard in the 10 minutes and it is more than enough time to achieve the day's specific skill. We also want to ensure they don’t get overtired in the pool.

It is the daily attendance that enables the child to learn a complex skill in a relatively short period of time. We also feel it creates a nice routine, and helps settle the child so they start to enjoy being in the water.

For Group 1, they will be WaterSafe; they will be able to turn over and float, no matter how they land in the water. For Group 2, they will be Watersafe and be able to kick and move forward in the water and float. We do not start stroke work until they are closer to 4 years of age, when they are physically strong enough and coordinated enough to incorporate strokes into their swimming.

Of course this is individual to each child, but generally we start the stroke work when they are around 4 years of age - which is when most children are physically strong enough and coordinated enough to incorporate strokes into their swimming.

We start on day one working on breath control and getting their faces in the water – face down, legs up and a streamlined body position. This is usually a new experience for most of the children. Week one is always the toughest, and things usually get much easier thereafter. You can expect some tears as your child is being exposed to a new skill, a new environment and a new teacher. In the majority of cases the crying stops once they settle into the new routine, and they start to love the classes and their new skills and independence in the water. We have had children that don’t cry, we have had children that cry for the first few lessons, and in a very few cases children that have cried for the duration of the course. But at the end of the day, in spite of the tears, they have achieved WaterSafety.

No. Each class is one on one – just the instructor and your child in the pool. We teach this program on a one on one basis for safety reasons so that we have our full attention on your child during each lesson. It also allows us to cater to each child’s specific needs and WaterSafe targets. Although we have the targets, it is important to remember that each child progresses at their own pace. At the end of the course, we invite the parents to join us in the pool with their child so we can show you a few things to do with your little one when you go swimming together.

In our experience, we find it works better if the parents don’t watch for the first few lessons. We find they settle quicker, and it also allows the instructor to build up trust and a relationship with your child. Once your child is settled, you are very welcome to sit and watch the lessons – but we ask that you please sit in the chairs provided rather than stand by the side of the pool, as this can be distracting for your child. If at any time we feel that your child might concentrate better with you not being in sight, then we might ask you to kindly wait outside the tent that covers the pool. To make the course a success, the instructor, parent, caregiver and child need to form a perfect team. Each person on the team needs to fulfill a specific role to ensure the success of the child. We ask that even if your child is crying, please try to smile and be positive and encourage them, and TRUST the process.