Learn to Swim
TERM 4 2025 ENROLMENT INFORMATION:
Term 4 starts on Monday 6 October
RE-ENROLMENTS: For students who are currently enrolled in Term 3 lessons
- Monday 15 September - Friday 19 September, 12pm - 5pm daily
- Students must be re-enrolled to secure their place in Term 4 lessons. Enrolments are not carried over between terms.
NEW ENROLMENTS:
- All new school-age enrolments must have a short assessment prior to enrolling so they can be placed in the correct level; please come prepared for your child to get in the pool.
- Preschool-aged children aren’t required to be assessed in the water prior to enrolling as these classes are based on age, not ability.
- Term 4 2025 starts - check back soon
*All term lesson fees must be paid upon enrolment.* Fees are non-refundable.
Please email any enquiries to learntoswim@tcdc.govt.nz.
Swimming is a lifelong skill that opens up a world of incredible experiences.
Babies and pre-schoolers
Through our ‘Swim Cool Swim School’ we encourage babies and children to develop and enjoy vital skills while becoming confident, capable and safer in the aquatic environment.
Lessons are available for babies from 6 months of age to 5 years. Our instructors use a range of techniques to engage and teach babies and preschoolers. There are 10 lessons per term and lessons last for 25 minutes. A parent/guardian is required to be in the pool with the child during the lesson. Preschool lessons are run in Terms 1, 2 and 4. Lessons in Term 3 are weather dependent, and this is communicated accordingly when known. No assessment of ability prior to enrolment is necessary for preschoolers.
School-age children
Our ‘Learn to Swim’ lessons are available to children aged 5 years and older. The lessons take your child through every step of the process. Lessons last for 30 minutes. Levels with an instructor in the water are capped at five students per class, and levels with an instructor out of the water are capped at six students per class to optimise learning. There are 10 lessons per term, 1 per week, which aligns with the primary school term timetable. Lessons run year-round.
By the time students are ready to graduate from our Learn to Swim programme they will have gained vital water safety skills to be competent in any water environment, as well as have the technical skills to progress into the swimming club environment should they choose to do so.
Our Learn to Swim lessons cater for all ages and abilities, as well as having the option of one-on-one lessons for children and adults at a beginner level, or whose needs don't suit being in a group class.
Lesson requirements
- Please ensure your child arrives in plenty of time for their lesson. Late arrivals cause disruption for the class.
- Firm-fitting swimwear, goggles and caps are to be worn during lessons. (Goggles and caps can be purchased from the kiosk if required).
- Please do not let children swim before their lesson as concentration is more difficult when tired.
- Children under the age of 10 must be actively supervised by a parent or guardian the entire time they are at the facility, including during their lessons. Lifeguards reserve the right to remove children from the water if they are unsupervised.
- Please let the teachers know of any health problems or disabilities (such as hearing problems) when enrolling in lessons.
- Payment of lessons must be received in full before the first lesson.
- Lessons are held during school terms.
- Please phone in all absences before the start time on 07 8688441 or 027 276 2548. Leave a message if there is no answer.
- Undisciplined or disruptive behaviour is not acceptable. Please do not be offended if your child/ren is/are removed from their lesson for a time.
- Please note: instructors will need to have contact with children in the water to aid and correct their technique. Please do not be offended by this.
We do not generally give credits for missed lessons. Under special circumstances (such as a serious illness or a broken limb) a credit may be given for the next term.
There are no make-up lessons held for classes cancelled due to extreme weather or other unforeseen 'acts of God', e.g. thunder and lightning storm.
* Please note: No lessons are held on public holidays.
For all Learn to Swim enquiries email: learntoswim@tcdc.govt.nz
Preschool Learn to Swim Stages
Jellyfish
- Age 6 months – 1 year with parent/caregiver in water
- Intro to aquatic environment
- Sensory stimulation
- Games/Songs/Fun
- Parent/child bonding
Seahorse
- Age 1 year – 2 years with parent/caregiver in water
- Intro to aquatic environment
- Sensory stimulation
- Games/Songs/Fun
- Parent/child bonding
Turtle
- Age 2 years – 3 years with parent/caregiver in water
- Water confidence
- Games/songs/fun
- Developing fundamental aquatic skills i.e. Floating, bubbles, kicking and submerging
Dolphin
- Age 3 years – 4 years with parent/caregiver in water
- Developing independence
- Extending fundamental aquatic skills i.e. Floating, bubbles, kicking and submerging
Whale
- Age 4 years – 5 years without a parent/caregiver in water
- Independence
- Intro into basic strokes
- Extending skills
School-age Learn to Swim Stages
Pipi (30 min)
- Unassisted safe entry and exit
- Independently move in the water
- Float on front and back with a buoyant aid
- Submerge and exhale in water
- Kick on front with a buoyant aid
- Safety of self and others around water
Eels (30 min)
- Float with everyday object
- Float on front and back
- Streamline glide on front and back
- Horizontal rotation with a buoyant aid
- Kick on front and back with a buoyant aid
- Dolphin kick on front
- Breastroke kick with a buoyant aid
Octopus (30 min)
- Fall-in entry
- Float on back
- Kick on front and back
- Dolphin kick on front
- Freestyle arms 7m
- Breastroke kick
- Horizontal glide and roll
Snapper (30 min)
- Seated dive
- Breastroke arms
- Dolphin kick on front
- Freestyle arms with breathing
- Backstroke 10m
- Sculling
- Survival backstroke kick
Tuna (30 mins)
- Compact jump
- Seated dive
- Dolphin kick on front and back
- 12.5m freestyle with breathing
- 12.5m backstroke
- Sculling
- Tumble turns
- Survival backstroke
- Reach rescue
Kingfish (30 min)
- Stride entry
- Kneeling dive
- 15m freestyle
- 15m backstroke
- 15m breaststroke
- Tumble turns
- Float, scull or tread water wearing a lifejacket
- Throw rescue
- 15m survival backstroke
Marlin (30 min)
- Standing dive
- 25m freestyle
- 25m backstroke
- 25m breaststroke
- 25m front and back sculling
- Float, scull or tread water for 2 minutes
- 25m survival backstroke
- 5m survival side stroke
- Survival sequence