Swimming classes for a toddler 'first-timer'?

[Daisyonok]

Never quite got round to getting swimming lessons sorted for my daughter when she was tiny and, now that I've tried to get some booked as a Christmas present for my husband (for him to take her at the weekends), it seems that, at the ripe old age of 18 months, she has missed the boat! Most of the places I have spoken to only take them up to 12 months (obviously there are classes for older children too, but if they haven't been initiated in their programme before they're one, they can't then join it). I'm waiting to hear back from the London Swim School, which looks from the website as though they might be different, and there's one that allows you to join a separate Foundation course to bring them up to the right level, but they're in Surrey, which seems a bit of a commitment every week for 9 weeks... Does anyone know what the situation is at Peckham Pulse? Just spoke to them, but they didn't know what the form of the course would be in January yet, apparently, so I didn't get much detail out of them...

We're in Herne Hill/North Dulwich -- anyone have any advice or suggestions to give?

Thank you

Daisy

[Fuschia]

Superkids swim school - try them

[Pickle]

Have you tried the Crystal Palace Sports Centre? My kids go there, I'm pretty sure the lessons are run by the London Swim School, and they do all levels.

[dutchestatefamily]

Have you tried JAGS sports centre - entrance on Red Post Hill?

[JulieP]

Peckham pulse runs swimming lessons in 10 week terms.

If your child is 18 months they will need to go to the adult and baby 2 class.

Those who are already on a course or moving up from a lower class get priority booking for the two weeks before it is open to the public. The next term will start on 7th January. You should be able to go in from 3rd December to try and book onto the course. It is better to go there in person as they don't always answer the phone. Whether there are a lot of people waiting in front of you and whether you get a place in my experience is a bit down to luck. Perhaps with it coming up to Christmas people will be too busy to think about booking swimming lessons.

[JAGS Sports Club Team]

Afternoon,

We run Parent and Toddler swimming lessons here at JAGS Sports Club on a Saturday and Sunday morning at 9am.

We are currently coming to the end of our Autumn term here with the next term due to start week commencing 7th January 2013.

For more information please drop me an email at [email protected]

Many thanks

[Daisyonok]

Ah, brilliant, thank you all. Definitely some better leads for me to try there.

Thanks so much, JulieP, for the detailed explanation of the Peckham Pulse arrangement -- that's really helpful.

[Carbonara]

One of the swimmming teachers at JAGS? they are really skilled. ?20 for half an hour private lesson. Might have gone up now - we booked lessons there about 3 years ago.

[oimissus]

do you need to do lessons? Miss Oi is nearly 3 and we never have, we just go the the Peckham Pulse where you get an hour for ?4.20, and she has a great time, very confident in the water and is starting to get the hang if what she's meant to do to actually swim. She would be pretty vexed if she was hoicked out after half an hour!

[Daisyonok]

Yeah, it's just I was going to get a course of lessons for my husband's Christmas present, as I know he'd love to get to take her at weekends. If it works out, we may do that for a term then and then freestyle it at Peckham Pulse once she's got the hang of it!

[oimissus]

that's probably a good idea for the weekends, as I think the parent & toddler sessions can get pretty chocka then!

[RenF]

I just phoned Peckham Pulse to find out about swimming lessons for my daughter who is nearly one. Bit disappointed that they only have lessons during the day on weekdays- nothing at weekends (not for her age range anyway)... thats us working parents out then!

I'm going to have google for swimming lessons elsewhere on Saturdays/Sundays, but if anybody knows of any offhand I'd love to hear about them...

thanks!

[njc97]

We used to go to Deptford for sunday lessons, but they are on hold until they re-open the leisure pool in the new year. (we're holding out as the teacher there was really good)

[Fuschia]

Dolphin swim school in Mitcham is great

[Jo'sEnglish]

Aquatots run classes at Lewisham hospital on a Sunday. I think you can start up to 18 months...

[RenF]

Thanks all- will look into.