Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions answered about learning to swim and taking swimming classes with Cindy’s Swim School! Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a question that we haven’t answered. Keep us on our toes!
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Getting Started with Swimming Lessons
At what age can my child start swimming lessons?
Here at Cindy’s, babies and children can start swimming at any age. Mums are recommended to wait until after their 6-week postpartum check-up before swimming themselves. However Dads or another family member can take babies before then. Read our article on newborn swimming lessons for more information.
Do I need prior swimming experience to enroll in lessons?
No prior experience is necessary. Cindy’s Swim School offers lessons to all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to advanced.
How long does it take to learn how to swim?
The time it takes to learn to swim varies from person to person, depending on factors like age, lesson frequency, and comfort in the water. Basic skills can take up to three months to learn, while advanced strokes and endurance-building may require six months or more. Read more and discover some handy tips on how to learn to swim quickly.
What should I bring to the first swimming lesson?
The items you’ll need for your first swimming lesson depend on the type of class you’re attending.
Parent and Baby Lessons: Babies need neoprene swim shorts, a swim nappy, and a hooded towel. Parents should bring a swimsuit and towel as they also need to be in the pool.
Toddler Lessons – Toddlers need a swim nappy, swim nappy shorts, towel and older toddler can start wearing goggles.
Children (Stages 1–4): A swimsuit, goggles, towel, and a junior swim kit, which includes a swim bag, kickboard, sinker, and swim noodle.
Children (Stages 4+): A senior swim kit, consisting of a swim bag, kickboard, flippers, and a pull buoy.
Adults: A swimsuit, towel, and an adult swim kit (swim bag, kickboard, flippers, and pull buoy). Kits can be provided if needed.
St. Joseph’s College Lessons: A complete swim kit is required, which can be provided by Cindy’s Swim School.
You can find many of the items you’ll need in the Cindy Swim School Swim Shop
Make sure to check the specific requirements for your lesson and bring all necessary items to get the most out of your swimming session!
Do You Offer Swim Lessons for Adults?
Absolutely! We provide comprehensive swimming lessons for adults of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced swimmers. Our services include triathlon training and stroke improvement to help you achieve your goals. Find out more about our full range of adult swimming lessons
Do you offer water safety courses or survival swimming classes?
We are a water safety based swim school with a fundamental belief that everyone should be safe in the water. That’s why we incorporate water safety skills into our lessons for all ages, from babies to adults.
From Stage 4 onwards we teach the Royal Life Saving Society UK Rookie Lifeguard programme.
There are four different awards you can get in Rookie Lifesaving; Achievement, Bronze, Silver and Gold!
We teach Achievement 1 & 2 in Stage 4 lessons, and then cover Bronze, Silver and Gold 1, 2 & 3 in Stage 5+ lessons.
How can I prepare my child for their first swimming lesson?
Start by talking to your child about the experience to build excitement and ease any nerves. Show them videos or pictures of swimming to familiarize them with what to expect. Encourage a positive attitude by making water play fun at home.
You can help them practice splashing and getting used to water in the bath. A great activity is teaching them to blow bubbles, turning it into a fun game like “diving for treasure” with sterilized coins. Using goggles and getting their face wet in a playful setting will help them feel more confident and ready for their first lesson.
What Should My Child Wear for Swimming Lessons?
A comfortable swimsuit and a well-fitted pair of goggles are essential for every swimmer from stage 1 upwards. At Cindy’s Swim School, we provide each new swimmer with a complimentary swim cap.
For babies – a neoprene swim nappy should be worn over their reusable swim nappy for added security
For toddlers and young children – nappy swim shorts should be worn over a reusable swim nappy.
To make preparation easier, we’ve created a practical and stylish Baby Swim Bag which includes:
- A water-resistant tote bag: Snazzy and perfect for carrying essentials.
- Reusable swim nappy: Eco-friendly and easy to use.
- Neoprene swim over-nappy: Added protection and comfort.
- An adorable hooded swim towel: Ideal for drying your baby after a swim.
- A mold-free toy: Cute, safe, and perfect for catching or teething fun!
Our baby swim kits are thoughtfully designed with everything you need for your baby’s first swim lesson and are available for purchase through Cindy’s Swim School. For added convenience, our customer service team can deliver it directly to your pool on your first day!
Can Parents Watch Their Child's Swimming Lessons?
Is Parent participation required in swimming lessons?
Safety and Health Concerns
Are the swimming pools safe and hygienic?
Yes. We follow all recommended safety and hygiene requirements including: water testing; following the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) code of practice; and regular cleaning around the pool and its facilities.
What safety precautions are in place for young children?
We prioritise safety by ensuring all our teachers are highly trained, hold up-to-date lifesaving qualifications, and undergo regular refresher training.
To maintain a safe and effective learning environment, class sizes for young children are kept small, allowing for close supervision and high-quality instruction.
Additionally, all children are closely monitored throughout their lessons. For baby lessons, parental presence is required to provide extra support and reassurance.
Is there any risk of my child developing an ear infection or other illnesses from swimming?
Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise for people of all ages, including children and babies. While it’s possible to pick up bugs in any environment—such as parks, schools, or pools—serious issues are uncommon. We also know that children are anti-fragile and they need to overcome everyday bugs to stay healthy. Without doubt, the benefits of swimming definitely outweigh any usual risks!
If your child is prone to ear infections or has specific concerns, it’s best to consult your GP for advice. There are special ear plugs you can use to help prevent water in the ear, and we also insist on children’s swimming caps, which can also help keep water out.
As with any activity, it’s important to avoid swimming if your child isn’t feeling well to allow for proper recovery.
Class Structure and Schedule
How long is each swimming lesson?
Our lessons usually range from 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the age group and program. Feel free to reach out to our friendly team to learn more about the different lesson options available!
How often should I or my child take swimming lessons?
We recommend taking lessons regularly, ideally at least once a week. To maintain progress and build confidence, we also encourage swimmers to join our half-term and holiday crash courses for an extra boost!
Are private lessons available?
Can I schedule catch-up classes if I miss a lesson?
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds, credits, or rescheduled lessons for non-attendance, as we still incur the costs of pool hire and the instructor’s time. However, there are exceptions and policies in place to accommodate specific situations:
Baby Lessons:
If your baby is unwell and unable to attend, you can request a catch-up session. Please notify us via email at least one hour before the lesson starts—no medical proof is required.Each child is eligible for up to two catch-up lessons per term. Missed lessons cannot be carried over to future terms.
Other Lessons:
For lessons beyond the baby classes, credits or catch-ups are generally not offered for the first two missed lessons, even with a medical note.
If three or more lessons are missed due to ongoing medical issues and a valid medical note is provided, we will offer a partial credit or catch-up.
Policy for missed lessons (with a medical note):
If three lessons are missed, one lesson will be credited or a catch-up provided.
If four or more lessons are missed, up to two lessons will be credited or catch-ups provided.
Lesson credits must be used within three months of the missed lesson date.
Please read our terms and conditions for more informations.
If you have further questions or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
What happens if a lesson is cancelled?
We work hard to avoid cancelling lessons, but sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise. While our swimming instructors are practically superheroes, they may occasionally fall ill, or pools may close unexpectedly due to factors beyond our control. In such cases, lesson dates, times, or instructors might need to change, and lessons may be relocated to an alternative venue.
Relocating lessons
If we can provide an alternative venue that we consider reasonable, credits will not be offered.
If no alternative venue is available
- We will offer alternative lesson dates.
- If you are unable to attend any of the offered dates, a credit will be applied to your invoice for the following term.
We appreciate your understanding as we strive to ensure lessons continue with minimal disruption.
Instructors and Teaching Methods
Who will be teaching my child to swim?
You can meet our fantastic team of CSS-qualified teachers on our website! We’re committed to providing top-notch instruction, so we invest in ongoing training for our teachers every term. This ensures your child receives the best possible swimming lessons.
To provide consistency for your child, we do our best to keep teachers on the same shifts each week, so they’ll see a familiar face every time.
My child is a bit nervous in the water. How do your instructors help them feel comfortable?
Our instructors are experts at building confidence in the water! They use gentle techniques and gradual exposure, creating a positive and supportive learning environment where children can overcome their fears at their own pace. Please read more in our article: Nervous swimmers – how to help a nervous child to swim.
What teaching methods are used for children?
We build trust through fun. Introducing children to water whilst distracting them with laughter and play.
• Our teaching programme is adaptable to help swimmers with different learning abilities and preferences.
• We use visual, audio, reading, kinesthetic (VARK) pedagogy techniques so we give our learners every opportunity to take on board each skill.
Have a look at our Swimming Stages and Certificates page for more information about what we teach at each step of the way.
Pricing and Payments
How much do swimming lessons cost?
Our pricing varies based on class size and duration. To make our continuous swimming lessons more affordable and accessible, we’re excited to introduce a monthly direct debit subscription.
This new payment option allows you to spread the cost evenly over 11 monthly installments, eliminating the need to pay for an entire term upfront.
Here are our monthly subscription fees:
• 1:1 lessons = £227
• 2:1 lessons = £113 or £99 depending on location
• 4:1 lessons = £85
• Parent and baby lessons = £85
• Squad lessons = range from £71 – £85 depending on ratio and length of lesson.
Do you offer any discounts or family packages?
Yes! From time to time we offer promotional discounts related to certain lessons, pools, holiday crash courses, early bookings and loyalty rewards.
We also have three ongoing schemes to help support our swimmers.
£30 off lessons for both you and a friend, when you introduce a new swimmer to us.
How it works: refer a friend and when they complete their booking form, they must enter your name as a reference. The £30 discount will be allocated once the new customer makes a first payment, and your reward will then be taken take off the following month’s payment. There is no limit to how many people you can refer and you’ll earn the same reward each time!
Family 3rd swimmer discount
How it works: When you have three or more swimmers from one family (living at the same address) attending continuous swimming lessons at Cindy’s Swim School, the ‘middle starter’ swimmer(s) will receive a 10% reduction in their monthly subscription.
E.g, Family A have three children aged 7, 5 and 2 attending weekly swimming lessons with Cindy’s. The 7-year old enrolled first, and the 2-year old started last, so the 5 year old gets the discount off their lessons.
E.g. Family B have two children aged 6 and 3 attending weekly lessons, plus Mum attends adult swimming lessons weekly. The 6 year old enrolled first, then Mum started swimming, then the 3-year old joined, so Mum gets a discount off her lessons.
Loyalty 10% discount for adult 1:1 private lessons
Adult 1:1 swimming lessons booked for a whole term block, or via recurring monthly direct debit will receive a 10% discount (compared to booking and paying for lessons in individual 4-week blocks).
How it works: Sign up or switch to recurring monthly direct debit or termly blocks and you’ll receive 10% off automatically.
What is your refund or cancellation policy?
To make swimming lessons as affordable and accessible as possible, we’re pleased to offer a monthly subscription which spreads the cost evenly over 11 months of the year.
To cancel your subscription, please give us 4 weeks’ in-term written notice, so we can your stop your payments in good time.
Please note that holiday weeks and half-term breaks do not count toward the notice period.
If you paid for the whole term in advance (not Direct Debit), in the event of cancellation, any remaining classes from your term booking AFTER the 4 weeks’ notice period will be refunded.
Example:
If you cancel after attending the 6th lesson of a 12-week term, your four-week notice period will conclude at the end of your 10th lesson. You would then receive a refund for the final two lessons of the term, along with any applicable missed lesson credits.
For full details, please refer to our terms and conditions.
