OUR PROGRAMME

The Giggle’N’Splash Programme follows the STA International Learn to Swim Programme (ILSP) and brings the gentle principles of the Birthlight approach to the pool, thus providing the children and their parents with a nurturing and respectful environment where confidence and safe practices are promoted even with the tiniest of our swimmers.

Children are grouped according to age and the lessons are designed specifically to match each age group’s developmental skills.  However, within each age group we tailor the activities to match each child’s individual skill level.

Infant Class (3 – 6 months):

This is the first level of Parent & Child Aquatics classes.  This stage introduces basic water confidence practices to babies at a slow and nurturing pace. The emphasis is upon trust and instilling a close bond between parent and baby. We introduce and teach each parent the correct holds and support techniques for their baby while in the pool environment.

Trust and a sense of relaxation is achieved by understanding your baby’s needs and being in tune and responsive to their achievements while also being aware of potential signs of anxiety. Through preparation and repetition the infants soon begin to enjoy the weightlessness in the water and the feeling of free movement to kick, splash and float. It’s amazing watching what they can do, even at this young age!

For infants younger than 3 months please have a look at the BATH BABIES programme on our main menu.

Babies Class (6 – 18 months): 

Baby is getting stronger and more responsive. He has good head control and is starting to sit up and even to stand up and cruise.  If baby has previously been attending the Infant Class he should have built a good foundation and acquaintance with the water. He has previously experienced a slow gentle approach to the swimming pool environment through nursery rhymes, changes of position and floating techniques. His confidence levels should be good.  At this stage we introduce games in the pool which involve group interaction and cooperation, and age appropriate activities such as colour matching, and action songs.

 Younger Toddlers Class (1.5 – 2.5 years):

The younger toddler learns through play. His gross and fine motor skills are developing well which means the activities within the pool will need to be fun, challenging and all efforts must be positively reinforced.

Water safety practices are particularly important to instill at this age, and must be learnt!

In this stage we are using a variety of activities through song and play to aid development.  Jumping, submerging, floating, kicking, gliding, stretching, blowing bubbles……

 Older Toddlers Class (2.5 – 3.5 years):

We are now an excitable little bunch!  The older toddler still wants to learn through play and vary activities regularly as his attention span is still short. He needs a little more emphasis on structured play and encouragement is key as is praise!

We work with the the older toddler to reach a level where he is happy to paddle, kick, change position at different speeds, have good breath control and float with/without assistance.

By the end of this stage, confidence levels should be very good in the water so we can put more emphasis on building independence in the water by decreasing support from the parent.  Once the older toddler has learnt to float, lift his head from the water to breath and independently move arms and legs to create propulsion, then free movement leading to swimming should be encouraged and the child will be ready to move on to our Toddler Transition Class.

Toddler Transition Class (3 – 4 years):

This is NOT a Parent & Child class.  The little ones are not so little anymore!  They have completed the Parent & Child programme, or are very confident in the water, and are ready to move on to a more challenging class which will prepare them for the ‘big kids’ classes.

The Toddler Transition Class is a 10-week programme where parents accompany their child in the water only on ALTERNATE WEEKS.  In this way each child gradually becomes accustomed to following the teacher’s instructions without having their parent there to guide them.  The fun element is still there, but the focus now shifts on to developing those swimming skills more intensely.

Lessons are 40-minutes long to build the child’s stamina.  By the end of the 10-week programme children will be physically and emotionally ready to move on to formal swimming lessons where the parent does not enter the water at all.