Use the guide below to find the perfect class for your swimmer. Need some help? No problem! Send an email to hello@paddlepod.co.uk or give us a call on 0191 281 7678.
To book, click on ‘see all classes’ below and use the filters to select the relevant class
Nemo Babies (0-18 months) & Nemo Toddlers (18-36)
0-9 months, 9-18 months, 18-30 months , 30-36 months.
Delivered in small group sessions with instructors who teach in the water alongside you. Our sessions are baby-led and see us use loads of songs, games and fun activities to teach important water safety. Our toddler swimming lessons see us carry on to teach these important water safety skills, and offer a supportive environment whereby children learn how to start moving around the pool on their own.
Nemo Pre-school (3-4 years) without a grown up
These classes see children start coming into the water without their grown-ups for the first time. Each class has up to eight children and there are always two instructors in the water with them.
Classes are grouped by ability -
Red (beginner) - this is where most Nemo Pre-school swimmers will start. In these classes, we support children who are transitioning from swimming with a grown-up to coming into the water on their own. We use lots of game-based activities to build their confidence and get them moving around the pool using a SwimFin.
Orange (advanced beginner) - these classes are for children who have swam previously and are confident moving through the water with a SwimFin or similar floatation aid (this may include children who have graduated from our Nemo Toddlers classes or who have moved from a different swim school).
Yellow (intermediate) - swimmers in these classes should be able to swim short distances without any floatation aids. They should also be swimming with their faces in the water and with a nice, flat Using the Stage descriptor below, match this to your child's ability and select the class that works for you!
Nemo Juniors - School Reception age +
Stage 1 - For those swimmers who have not had previous lessons and or are not yet moving in the pool independently on front and back.
Stage 2 - Swimmers who are confident in the water and can cover short distance without floats.
Stage 3 - Swimmers who can cover 5+ metres in the pool without aids on front and back with a flat body position.
Stage 4 - Those comfortably completing 10m front and back with overarm recovery.
Stage 5 - Swimmers who can complete correctly all 4 leg kicks and have an understanding of the arm movements related to each stroke.
Stage 6 - Swimmers who can comfortably complete 25m front and back and know how to time their arm actions into the strokes.
Stage 7 -Swimmers who can comfortably complete 50m front and back and know how to time their arm actions into the strokes
Stage 8 45minutes- Those comfortably swimming greater distances of all 4 strokes with good technique, and can swim 200m in one go.
Pre-competitive swimming (Stages 9 and 10) 1 hour - For swimmers who completed stage 8. The final two stages (9 and 10) make up our pre-competitive swimming stage, which we regard as the necessary preparation for the swimmers to move on to competitive swimming. Sessions last for one hour.
Junior SwimFit - 1 hour - For swimmers who have completed all stages 1 to 10 and want to continue swimming for fitness.