Lesson Types

  • 30 min Small Group Lessons

    Our half hour group classes for Ducklings (Pre-schoolers) and swimmers in Stages 1 – 4 have a maximum of three swimmers in a class and a maximum of 3 classes in the pool at any time. Our small classes ensure that teachers have plenty of time to spend with each individual swimmer and can adapt the lesson around the individual needs of each swimmer. Swimmers spend less time sat waiting their turn, more time swimming and as a result progress much faster!

  • Private 1:1 & 1:2 Lessons

    Our private 1:1 and 1:2 lessons are tailored around the specific needs of each swimmer. Whether they are swimming on their own or with a sibling/friend, the teacher will design their lessons around the individual goals of each swimmer and work at their pace. These classes are on offer for Ducklings (Pre-schoolers) and Stages 1 – 5.

  • Adult & Child Lessons

    Our baby and toddler classes are run with a max of 5 babies or toddlers accompanied in the water by their parents or carers, making sure each swimmer has a chance to bond with their parent or carer and build a relationship of trust. We take our little ones through from their first experiences of feeling the sensation and texture of water, to their first submersion and eventually swimming independently. We group our classes by the age of swimmer newborn -1yr, 1-2yrs & 2-3yrs.

  • 1 hour Group Lessons

    Our 1 hour length classes are for swimmers in Stages 3, 4 & 5. There are a maximum of 4 swimmers in a class and only two lessons running in the pool at the same time. A combination of small class sizes and long session times mean that swimmers progress and gain stamina quickly.

  • 1 hour Rookie Lifeguard Training

    The Rookie Lifeguard Programme is a fun and exciting lifesaving awards scheme for young children, teaching self-rescue, survival, rescue and lifesaving sport skills.

    Built into the programme are lessons in valuable survival, rescue and sports skills…all delivered in an exciting way that will get children involved and motivated. The course will also develop and enhance their swimming skills.

    The scheme begins with Stage 1 of the Bronze Award and progresses to Stage 3 of the Gold Award, progressing to the level where our Rookie Lifeguards perform impressive lifesaving tows.

    Rookie Lifeguard is part of the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme. The Rookie Lifeguard programme fulfils all of the Key Stage 2 water safety elements of the National Curriculum and is taught by RLSS UK approved instructors.

  • Sensory Adult & Child Lessons

    Our sensory Adult & Child lessons are held in our Hydro Pool and are for children under 6 months old. The pool is kept at 31 degrees to ensure our swimmers stay warm and comfortable. There is a maximum of 3 swimmers to a class so swimmers get plenty of 1:1 time with the teacher and the teacher can tailor the lesson around the swimmers individual needs. Our teachers use lights, projectors, music and sensory toys to put our swimmers at ease and instill a life long love of swimming.

A male Standen Academy swimming instructor is dressed as a jungle explorer with a snake around his neck as he explains to a boy and a girl what swimming technique they are going to practise next. The children are both wearing goggles.
A female swimming instructor weaing a high vis jacket and a hard hat to represent the theme of COnstruction in balancing foam building bricks onto a young boys stomach as he practises the skill of floating on his back in a star shape in a pool
Two boys wearing inflatable crowns are clutching foam shields with medieval images. They are very excited to be having a Standen Swim Academy lesson.

Float like a butterfly, swim like a… dinosaur?

We believe that children learn best when they’re engaged and having fun. Each of our weeks has a theme with props and activities (sometimes outfits as well!) tailored to suit.

From pirates to jungle, construction to creepy-crawlies, your children will always be entertained as they learn.

A male swimming teacher is dressed in a flinstones overall and demonstrating a swimming skill with the use of plastic bones. Three children watch him, learning what they have to do in the pool.
It's superheros week at the swimming pool and the male instructor is dressed as spiderman. He and his three young students are punching their fists into the air in triamph as they jump off a platform into the water.
A young boy floats on his back, practising a core swimming skill, he is folding a foam present to help him balance, the theme of the swimming lesson is CHristmas. His swimming teacher supports his head as he floats.
A young girl with a big grin on her face sits inside an inflatable pirate ship. The ship is being pushed through a swimming pool by her instructor. A great reward for a top lesson at the Standen Swim Academy