Welcome to Bedford Borough Council

Swimming Lessons

Kempston Swimming Pool

Lessons at Kempston Pool offer you the opportunity to learn to swim at your own pace in a friendly atmosphere, with experienced and dedicated teaching staff.

Parent and Toddler

An ideal session for parents who wish to introduce their under 5’s to the water. Once your child has received their triple vaccination why not introduce them to the fun of swimming.

Qualified staff are on hand to provide help and advise on all matters related to introducing your child to the water, the aids to use and how to develop your child’s ability and confidence.

Equipment is provided during this session so why not try out various swim aids to find the best one suited to your child. Toys are provided to ensure an enjoyable time is had by all.

During this session 1 adult may supervise up to 2 children under the age of 5. Please ensure your children wear recognised swim nappies

Duckling Lessons    

If your child is 2 and ready for a more structured lesson then Ducklings 1 is the next stage. A parent or guardian accompanies the child in the lesson. A fully qualified teacher will guide the adults to help their child gain confidence and basic water skills. The introduction of simple pulling and kicking skills will provide the basics for later stroke development.

Once your child reaches 3 and has the confidence to take part in a class without you in the water with them they can progress to Ducklings 2. This class prepares them for enrolment on the junior lesson programme. Skills will be taught with an emphasis on safety and fun.

Junior Lessons

Children from the age of three can enrol onto our ever-popular junior ‘learn-to-swim’ programme.

Classes are available for all levels, they include:

Adult Lessons           

If your over 18 and can’t swim then why not join our adult lessons. Small friendly classes for complete beginners, improvers and advanced. Please see below for details of courses. Please click here for the lesson timetable.

Crash Courses         

An ideal way to introduce your children to the water or improve their technique throughout the school holidays. Please ask for details of our crash courses, availability and booking information.

Junior Timetable

 Adult Timetable     

* these lessons run term time only

 

Oasis Swimming Pool

Intro

Learning to swim doesn’t have to be all about tears and fears! Here at the Oasis Beach Pool we make learning fun.  With the help from our fully qualified swimming teacher, using various different techniques, skills and games, your child will not even realise they are learning to swim!  Sure enough however, you will see your child develop water confidence and skills that will benefit them for the task in hand – learning to swim.

What will be taught?

Pre school swimming lessons are based around water confidence and safety.  Pre-swimming techniques are taught, such as; how to enter and exit the pool safely, hold their breath, blow bubbles and put their face in the water. They will learn to experience buoyancy and movement in water with comfort.  Correct kicking, gliding and body position is also introduced.

Working with the ASA

Our teaching scheme adheres to guidelines set by swimming national governing body, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA).  We currently follow their most up to date syllabus, ASA National Plan for Teaching Swimming.  

The professional and committed swimming teacher that we employ is ASA qualified and attends regular training courses as part of continued professional development.  This means that she is always striving to continually improve and keep up to date with all aspects of swimming teaching.

Awards / Achievements

As we follow the ASA National Plan for Teaching Swimming, we can reward your children’s new skills and confidence through certificates and badges.  As your children pass certain tasks they will obtain their ASA Duckling awards (certificates and badges).  For any children that do not achieve the Duckling awards, they will receive a certificate of achievement for the skills they have learnt.

The Duckling awards come in four stages.  Some of the skills needed to obtain these awards are as follows:

Duckling Grade 1

1. Make a supervised safe entry with adult support
2. Kick 2m on the back with adult support
3. Float on the back with adult support behind the head
4. Blow bubbles at the water surface
5. Wet the head without submersion
6. Travel without assistance 2m to a floating object. (It is recommended that a baby seat or other appropriate buoyancy aid be used)

Duckling Grade 2

1. Make a sitting entry with adult support
2. Blow an object for a distance of 2m
3. Using a baby seat or other buoyancy aid, rotate through 180 degrees without assistance
4. Move 5m along the rail or wall without assistance
5. Travel 3m using arms and/or legs without assistance
6. Submerge the face with confidence

Duckling Grade 3

1. Make a supervised jump to an adult with or without support
2. Kick 5m on the front holding a float (the adult may hold the other end of the float)
3. Blow bubbles with the mouth underwater
4. Float on front OR back without adult support
5. Travel 5m on the front to the side of the pool
6. Show a torpedo shape on front or back when pushed to a partner

Duckling Grade 4

1. Jump unaided, but supervised, into the water
2. Submerge completely
3. Rotate through 360 degrees either horizontally or vertically
4. Show a mushroom OR a star float
5. Travel without assistance 10m on the front OR the back
6. Climb out of the water with assistance if required 

When & how much are our swimming lessons? 

Swimming lessons are held on:

Tuesdays at 12noon, 12.30pm, 1pm or 1.30pm
Thursdays at 12noon, 12.30pm, 1pm or 1.30pm

Lessons run in term time only and are for children aged 2-5 years.

Swimming lesson bookings:

Children must be 2 when they start and finish at the end of the term they are 5.
Places are booked for the full term.
Payment:

Payment can be made by debit/credit card or cash

Under 3’s or Leisure Card Holders:

Each lesson costs £4.70 therefore a 10 week term will cost £47.00, 11 week term will cost £51.70 and a 12 week term will cost £56.40.

3 year olds and over:

Each lesson cost £5.30 therefore a 10 week term will cost £53.00 11 week term will cost £58.30 and a 12 week term will cost £63.60.

All lessons are payable for a full term, lessons cannot be booked or paid for individually.  Payment is due on booking (no reservations can be made).

Payment can be made by debit/credit card or by cash.

All lessons are payable for a full term, lessons cannot be booked or paid individually

Terms & Conditions apply

Our Swimming Teachers Are:

• Fully trained and qualified to teach swimming lessons.
• Easily identifiable by wearing uniforms.
• Helpful and caring to ensure that your child has an enjoyable visit.
• Police checked to ensure their suitability for working with children.
• Always aiming to help your child build confidence in the pool and learn to swim through play.

Our Promise

We promise that:

• Each swimming lesson will last ½ an hour.
• All swimming lesson sessions will be small groups and not exceed 8 children.
• Relevant insurances will be displayed.
• Parents will be contacted immediately should significant problems with a child arise. Parents must remain within the Facilities.
• We will regularly check and maintain all of our equipment to make sure it is safe to use.

 

Robinson Swimming Pool

Robinson Pool is renowned for its wide range of swimming lessons that cater for all ages and abilities. Our aim is to provide a high standard of swimming tuition in a safe environment.

Water Tots

Water Tots is aimed at children from 4 months to 3 years.  The main concept of water tots is to teach children how to swim through 'song and rhyme' within fun adult and child swimming sessions.  The actions are performed to familiar tunes that children enjoy and remain motivated.  The instructions use simple words with repetition for easy understanding and enjoyment and state the correct handling and support positioning of the child.  Please click here for more information.

Junior Lessons

Junior lessons are run throughout the year. There is a two-week break over Christmas, but lessons continue through all other school holidays (excluding Bank Holidays).

Classes are available for all levels. Click here for details.

Lesson Prices:  (monthly direct debit)

Monday Prices 30mins without leisure card £18.10
Monday Prices 30mins with leisure card £16.05
Monday Prices 45mins without leisure card £20.15
Monday Prices 45mins with leisure card £18.30

Lessons start at the beginning of each month, please call of visit the centre for class availability. Booking needs to be done in person at reception and the first month is payable by cash.

Download a copy of the Junior Lesson Enrolment Pack which you can complete and return to the pool when you book.

For more information, please call 01234 357157 or e-mail robinsonpool@bedford.gov.uk

Crash Courses

An ideal way to introduce your children to the water or improve their technique throughout the school holidays. Please ask for details of our crash courses, availability and booking information.

Junior Lesson Newsletter

We send a monthly email newsletter to keep swimming lesson customers up-to-date with the latest changes and information.

To receive the newsletter please email 'Add Me' to: robinsonlessons@bedford.gov.uk

Other Information

All teachers are fully qualified and have undergone rigorous police checks. All floats and aids are provided. A Robinson Pool Certificate is available free of charge for awards achieved or a badge and a certificate (ASA) can be purchased from reception for the cost of £3.50. For either option these are ordered at reception on the production of your badge slip which is given to you during parent/teacher consultation

All pupils participating in swimming lessons will be required to wear a hat, latex or cloth hats can be purchased from reception at a discounted price.

Adult Lessons

We run adult swimming courses for all levels, from complete beginners through to technique development and diving.   Click here for adult lesson details.

• Please click here for information on Diving Lessons
• Please click here for information on One to One Lessons
• Please click here to download the One to One Lessons Enquiry Form