Children’s Handbook

Building Confidence for Life

Holistic Swimming Education

1. Welcome, Swimmers!

Welcome to Melissa Corby’s Learn to Swim.

We are so happy that you are here.

Learning to swim is an amazing journey. Swimming helps you become safer, stronger and more confident in and around the water.

At our swim school, we know that everybody learns differently.

Some things might feel easy.

Some things might take a little longer.

Sometimes you might need to practise something many times before you can do it.

And that is completely okay.

We don't expect you to be perfect.

We want you to:

Have a go.

Keep trying.

Listen to your teacher.

Be kind.

Believe in yourself.

And enjoy learning to swim.

Every lesson is another step forward.

2. Your Swimming Journey

Every swimmer has their own journey.

You don't move through our swimming levels just because you have completed a certain number of lessons or reached a certain age.

You progress when you are ready.

Your teacher will help you develop your:

Water confidence

Water safety

Independence

Breathing

Floating

Swimming skills

Stroke technique

Strength

Endurance

Some skills will happen quickly.

Other skills will take more time and practice.

We celebrate them all.

3. Our Swimming Levels

Carers & Babies

Our youngest swimmers begin discovering the water with their parent or carer.

Lessons introduce the water through gentle movement, play and positive experiences.

We begin developing comfort, trust, confidence and early water-safety skills.

Confidence Builders

This is where our young swimmers begin developing more independence in the water.

We work gently on confidence, safe entries and exits, floating, breathing, movement through the water and returning safely to the pool edge.

There is no need to rush.

Confidence comes first.

Level 1 — Foundations

Now we begin building strong swimming foundations.

You will work on skills such as:

Water confidence

Breath control

Floating

Body position

Kicking

Safe entries and exits

Returning safely to the wall

Independent movement through the water

Strong foundations will help you as your swimming develops.

Level 2 — Beginners

Now we begin putting those important foundation skills together.

You will work on becoming more independent in the water while developing your swimming distance, breathing, coordination and early stroke skills.

Your teacher will help you practise each skill until you are ready for the next challenge.

Level 3 — Stroke Correction

Now it's time to refine your swimming.

You will begin focusing more closely on:

Technique

Body position

Breathing

Stroke efficiency

Coordination

Strength

Endurance

Swimming further is great, but swimming with good technique is even more important.

Level 4 — Advanced

Our advanced swimmers continue developing strong, efficient swimming across the recognised swimming strokes.

Lessons may include stroke refinement, endurance, fitness, advanced water-safety skills and more challenging swimming activities.

Our goal is to help you become a capable, confident and responsible swimmer.

4. Water Safety Is Part of Every Lesson

Learning to swim and learning to be safe around water belong together.

During your swimming journey, you may learn how to:

Enter and exit the water safely

Return safely to the pool edge

Float

Recover from floating

Control your breathing

Tread water

Survival swim

Recognise dangers around water

Understand your own swimming ability

Develop basic rescue awareness

Remember, being a strong swimmer doesn't mean you never need to be careful.

We always respect the water.

5. Before Your Swimming Lesson

Being prepared helps you have a happy and successful swimming lesson.

Before your lesson:

Have a shower before entering the swimming pool.

Go to the toilet before your lesson begins. Please ensure you were you swim nappy if under 5

Make sure you have eaten a small amount 1/2 before, of food so you have energy for swimming

Do not come swimming if you are unwell.

Wear your swimming clothes and bring any equipment you need, and be wearing your equipment if needed

Arrive with enough time to get ready without rushing.

When you're ready and organised, you can concentrate on enjoying your swimming lesson and doing your best.

6. Our Pool Rules

Our pool rules help keep everybody safe and happy.

When you come to swimming:

Listen to your teacher and follow their instructions.

Walk around the swimming pool — never run.

Wait for your teacher before entering the water.

Be respectful to your teacher and the other swimmers.

Keep your hands to yourself.

Wait for your turn.

Use swimming equipment correctly.

Try your best.

Be kind and encouraging to other swimmers.

Always respect the water.

And remember to enjoy your lesson.

7. It's Okay to Find Something Difficult

Sometimes your teacher might ask you to try something that feels difficult.

You might think:

"I can't do it."

But we want you to remember one very important little word:

YET.

"I can't do it YET."

Learning takes practice.

Your teacher is there to help you.

Every time you try, you're learning.

Every time you practise, you're improving.

And every time you overcome something that once felt difficult, your confidence grows.

8. We Don't Compare Swimmers

Everybody is different.

One swimmer might be fantastic at floating.

Another might love diving.

Someone else might be great at freestyle.

Another swimmer might be incredibly brave because today was the first time they put their face under the water.

Every achievement matters.

Your swimming journey belongs to you.

We don't need you to be better than somebody else.

We want you to become the best swimmer you can be.

9. Being Brave

Being brave doesn't mean you are never scared.

Sometimes being brave means trying something even when you feel a little nervous.

Your teacher doesn't expect you to suddenly know how to do everything.

We will teach you one step at a time.

As you practise, something that once felt scary can start to feel familiar.

Then one day you might suddenly realise:

"I CAN DO IT!"

Those are some of our favourite swimming moments.

10. Making Mistakes Is Part of Learning

Nobody gets everything right the first time.

Even great swimmers have had to practise their skills over and over again.

If something doesn't work the first time, that's okay.

Listen to your teacher.

Try again.

Make a little change.

And keep practising.

Mistakes help us learn.

What matters is that you keep trying.

11. Celebrate Your Achievements

Learning to swim is made up of lots of little achievements.

Your achievement might be:

Putting your face underwater for the first time.

Floating without help.

Swimming independently to your teacher.

Learning to breathe correctly.

Jumping safely into the water.

Returning safely to the wall.

Swimming your first whole lap.

Learning a new stroke.

Improving your technique.

Swimming further than you did before.

Or simply walking into your lesson feeling more confident than last time.

Every milestone deserves to be celebrated.

12. Be a Kind Swimming Friend

Swimming lessons aren't only about learning swimming skills.

They're also a place where we learn to respect and encourage each other.

Be happy when another swimmer achieves something.

Give other swimmers space to learn.

Listen while your teacher is helping somebody else.

Never laugh at another swimmer if they find something difficult.

Remember that everybody is learning.

A great swimmer isn't only someone who swims well.

A great swimmer is also kind.

13. What We Ask From You

We don't ask you to be the fastest swimmer.

We don't ask you to be perfect.

And we don't expect every lesson to be easy.

We simply ask you to:

TRY

Try your best and have a go.

LISTEN

Listen carefully to your teacher.

PRACTISE

Remember that new skills take time.

BE KIND

Encourage the swimmers around you.

BE SAFE

Always follow the pool rules and respect the water.

BELIEVE

Believe that you can learn.

14. Looking After Our Pool

Our swimming pool is a special place where lots of people come to learn, exercise and enjoy the water.

We all have a responsibility to look after it.

Always shower before entering the pool.

Put rubbish in the bin.

Look after swimming equipment.

Keep the pool and surrounding areas tidy.

Follow the rules of the swimming facility.

And always treat other people using the facility with respect.

15. When Your Lesson Is Finished

When your swimming lesson finishes, remember to listen to your teacher and exit the pool safely.

Collect your swimming equipment and belongings.

Your parent or carer will be waiting for you.

This is also a great time to think about something you achieved during your lesson.

Ask yourself:

What did I learn today?

What did I improve?

What would I like to practise next time?

Sometimes your biggest achievement might be something very small — but small achievements eventually become big ones.

16. Most Importantly

We want swimming to become something you can enjoy throughout your life.

The skills you're learning today can help keep you safer around swimming pools, beaches, rivers and other waterways.

But you're learning something else too.

You're learning how to practise.

You're learning how to listen.

You're learning how to keep trying.

You're learning how to overcome challenges.

You're learning how to become independent.

You're learning how to believe in yourself.

And you're discovering how wonderful it feels when you achieve something you once thought you couldn't do.

Every lesson.

Every little achievement.

Every new skill.

Every moment of courage.

They all help to build...

CONFIDENCE FOR LIFE

Melissa Corby’s Learn to Swim

Building Confidence for Life

Holistic Swimming Education