Splashtastic Swim School Tel.07966 787557Kids Swimming Lessons   Swimming lessons for children in the Braintree and Halstead area

Swim the finest pools in Essex - Xpect Health & Leisure - Essex Golf & Country Club

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How big are your classes? - How many kids are in each class?
  • What is your pupil teacher ratio?
  • What qualifications do your teachers hold?
  • What teaching methods do you use?
  • Are your prices competitive?
  • My child is extremely frightened and will not want to leave me!
  • Adults - do you teach adults to swim?
  • Will my child need to retake a badge obtained from another school?
  • When will my child move up to the more advanced level?
  • Goggles - are they allowed?
  • My child has conjunctivitis/itchy eyes - shall I still bring them?
  • My child has had chicken pox - when can I bring them?


  • How big are your classes? - How many kids are in each class?
    Each class is strictly limited to a maximum of EIGHT pupils.
     
  • What is your Pupil Teacher ratio?
    Our ratio is 4:1 - Each class of 8 children is taught by TWO swimming instructors. Not only does this ratio improve the rate at which children progress, because we always have teacher and pupil working together in the pool, the more concentrated attention available with theses smaller class sizes provide an improved level of safety, and represent excellent value for money. We are unaware of any other swim school providing this level of commitment to teaching your children to swim.
     
  • What qualifications do your teachers hold?
    You are in safe and experienced hands at Splashtastic Swim School. ALL our swimming teachers are Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) Approved, hold a current Life Saving Qualification, and hold a current First Aid Certificate.

    Our Owner and Principle Instructor, Alexis Meechan; an experienced County and International swimmer, has been teaching children to swim for over 22yrs. The swimming school was formally set up in 2001, and the majority of our swimming teachers have been with us for over 5yrs.
     
  • What teaching methods do you use?
    All our swimming teachers are Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) Approved, and we adhere strictly to ASA guidelines. We are therefore a stroke based swim school.

    We strongly believe swimming instructors should get wet! Teaching children to swim by barking instructions from a poolside is about as effective as learning to fly by listening to an air traffic controller. This is why each of our classes 'always' involve the child and teacher working together in the pool.
     
  • Are your prices competitive?
    Yes - we believe so. Although we are certainly not the cheapest, our pricing is adjusted annually to ensure we remain competitive. For example. We are told you could save around £20/yr locally, using an instructor (qualifications unknown) giving pool-side instruction, and operating with a pupil teacher ratio of around 10:1.

    We firmly believe our teaching methods, staff qualifications, experience and results; together with our 4:1 pupil teacher ratio, represents the most Cost Effective Swimming Lessons currently available in Essex.

    EasyPay Options:
    £7.68 per session at the Essex, payable at £32pm by standing order.
    £8.00 per session at Xpect, payable termly by Cash/Cheque.
    Intensive Swimming Courses are £40 per five day course.

    For further details or to discuss your requirements, please Contact us.

     
  • My child is extremely frightened and will not want to leave me!
    This understandable and normal reaction is something we see frequently. Because our teachers are in the water with the children, a trust relationship is quickly formed. Within a few lessons, this usually ceases to be an issue for child and parent.

    A few tips which may help: Out of ear-shot of the child, feel free to discuss your child's worries with the teacher. Because familiarity helps calm a child, please attend lesson regularly and do not arrive too early; a few minutes before start time is ideal, and stay calm and relaxed when you say your good bye's as you leave the pool-side. Please be assured that if the need arises, we will certainly call and ask you to return.
     
  • Adults - Do you teach adults to swim?
    Yes. We do offer swimming lessons for adults. Whether your a beginner or a professional athlete, we will tailor swimming lessons to your specific requirements. For example, our senior coach; themselves a county and international level swimmer, is often called upon for guidance and advice, especially with respect to speed and stamina issues for endurance type events. For a confidential discussion about your requirements, please call us on Tel: 07966 787557.
      
  • Will my child need to retake a badge obtained at another swim school?
    Being Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) approved, we adhere strictly to ASA Guidelines. For example, to receive a 5m - 25m ASA Award requires the distance to be swum on both Front AND Back, and for 50m and above "...swum in a recognizable style". Consequently, we are a stroke-based swim school.

    When considering a child for an ASA award, it never ceases to amaze us how many are unable to swim the distance in a style for which they have already obtained an award elsewhere. Please note: We will not put a child forward for a distance award until we believe it is something they can achieve.
     
  • When will my child move up to the more advanced level?
    Please discuss your concerns with the teacher. Wherever possible and appropriate, we will try to accommodate your child in a more advanced class. However, unless a child is exceptionally more advanced than the rest of the class, our experience suggests children prefer to stay with their classmates, and progress together as a whole group.
     
  • Goggles - are they allowed?
    Because the ASA states a child should be "...proficient without goggles", we discourage their use. Goggles can also cause time delays and distractions at the start of lessons if they are lost, or more commonly, because children fiddle with them when they should be paying attention to the teacher. However, if you feel goggles would be beneficial to your child, please discuss this with the swimming teacher.
     
  • My child has conjunctivitis/itchy eyes - shall I still bring them?
    NO. The child will not be permitted to swim. This is an extremely contagious condition which is readily spread in water.
     
  • My child has had chicken pox - when can I bring them?
    When the last spot has scabbed, the children can come back. It does not matter if spots are still visible so as long as they have all dried up.