Our 33oC pool has a state of the art UV filtration system which significantly reduces the need for harmful chemicals, which is great news for babies, and our water pump exchange replaces the entire volume of our pool every six hours. We digitally monitor everything from chemicals, pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness to ensure that you and your little ones are in the safest and cleanest possible environment.
Our entire centre has been designed with you and your child’s needs in mind. There are ample changing tables in the changing rooms. Our wet room areas all have non-slip surfaces for safety and there are plenty of lockers to safely store your belongings.
We are delighted to offer a 10% discount for the second sibling using our classes. This is automatically discounted from your final price when you add the second sibling.
Not at all. The water depth in our pool is only 1.2m (just under 4ft) so all you need to do is stand with your child during the sessions. We have worked with many parents who cannot swim. Just let us know at the front desk and our instructors will make sure it’s not an issue.
Unfortunately toddlers who are 4 years and older cannot join the Aquatots classes as these classes are for children aged 2 – 3 yrs old. If your toddler is currently 3 yrs old and is due to turn 4 during the middle of the next Aquatot swim term then you will not be able to enrol them for that final term.
We really hope you are all doing well and receiving the care and support you deserve. We recommend you talk with your GP who can advise you on a plan that suits you and your baby’s needs. Your postnatal check offers the ideal opportunity to discuss any medical concerns you may have about putting your baby in water. We’ve worked with lots of babies who arrived early or who had medical complications at birth. It doesn’t mean your baby won’t attend swimming. It just means water introduction needs to be timed appropriately so that it’s supportive of your baby’s individual needs.
Our swimming classes welcome babies both before and after they have been vaccinated. Some parents prefer to wait for their baby to be immunised before they go swimming but it isn’t a health requirement. We’ve worked with lots of babies in the pool who’ve not yet been vaccinated. Once again we encourage you to follow the advice you’re most comfortable with keeping your child in mind. Please discuss any concerns you may have with your GP.
We offer 2 free catch-up lessons per term for any notified absence whether it’s sickness or a planned holiday. Catch up classes cannot be carried over into a new swim term and can only be offered on classes that have space.
Actually, it’s not just your child that needs to be illness free, but also you. If you or your child have any illness then you should not attend your class in case you pass this on to others. These include ear or chest infections, fever, measles, chicken pox, vomitting or diarrhoea. You should be symptom free for at least 48 hours before joining a lesson. We are not worried about the sniffles as babies often get these and can still swim but if in doubt, please contact your GP.
First Swim operates a strict double nappy system for all babies and toddlers until they are fully toilet trained. Your baby must wear a disposable swim nappy or reusable Splash About swim pants as their FIRST layer of protection. Over this, they will wear a reusable neoprene Splash About swim nappy for the SECOND layer of protection. This should be a snug fit around your child’s waist and thighs. We all know accidents can happen when you least expect it, but in a pool it’s a much bigger deal as we have to stop all classes and do a thorough clean and full rinse of the system. All baby & toddler swimwear is available to purchase in our centre and on the online shop.
Yes. All toddlers must wear the Splash About Jammer Shorts for safety and to help with their swim technique. These have elasticated waist and thighs preventing air pockets during the swim. Toddlers who are not yet toilet trained must wear disposable or re-usable swim pants underneath the Jammer Shorts. These are available on our website shop.
We also recommend that all toddlers wear a swim cap and swim goggles.
It’s perfectly safe for your child to work towards water submersion. Once again this is not an activity that we rush or force. We spend a lot of time building up your little person’s strength, developing their breathing technique and cultivating water confidence. We insist your baby demonstrates a readiness for underwater work. Our qualified and experienced instructors are meticulous in how they share the essential safety techniques involved.
We recommend that you arrive at First Swim at least 15 mins before your allotted class time. This will give you the time you need to park your buggy, get changed and be poolside with your group. You will enter the pool as soon as the previous class finishes.
Little Dippers: 8
Kickstarter: 7
Aquatots: 7
It is one parent per child in the pool. Those with twins would need a second parent or guardian in the pool to satisfy this ratio requirement.
We love our swimming lessons in First Swim. Didier is our teacher and he’s brilliant. The pace of the class is great, he differentiates as needed to meet the needs of all the children in the class…
We love our swimming lessons in First Swim. Didier is our teacher and he’s brilliant. The pace of the class is great, he differentiates as needed to meet the needs of all the children in the class, the lessons are well paced, clear instructions and lots of fun. We’ve met Katie, Chloe and Grace in the pool other days and they were all fantastic too. The facilities for changing are ideal from individual cubicles with plenty of room and a wall hung changing table in all, to the travel cot in the middle, hair dryers, child friendly low music and everything in between. I’m delighted we found First Swim. We started when my son was 3 years and it’s been fantastic for his age as well as for babies. Thanks so much
We’ve been taking our 4-month-old to First Swim classes and it’s been such a lovely experience. The facilities are spotless and perfectly set up for babies, with warm water, comfortable changing areas…
We’ve been taking our 4-month-old to First Swim classes and it’s been such a lovely experience. The facilities are spotless and perfectly set up for babies, with warm water, comfortable changing areas, and everything you need right on hand. The instructors are fantastic. Each class is calm, fun, and really helps build our baby’s confidence in the water. I’ve noticed such a difference already in just a few weeks! Also, she has the best naps afterwards!
We’ve been with First Swim in Sandyford since the very beginning, when our first son, started learning to swim shortly after they launched. Now, over three years later, his younger brother is there too…
We’ve been with First Swim in Sandyford since the very beginning, when our first son, started learning to swim shortly after they launched. Now, over three years later, his younger brother is there too, and absolutely flying it! From day one, it’s been clear that the owners and founders, have created something genuinely special. The place is modern, pristinely clean, and designed with such care and thought for families. Everything from the layout to the facilities makes the experience so comfortable and enjoyable, not just for the kids, but for parents too. The instructors and staff are incredible, professional, kind, patient, and full of enthusiasm. The education and confidence our boys have gained in the water are amazing to see. It’s also been a lovely social hub, especially for new parents with little ones from newborn to four years old. We’ll be genuinely sad when our boys age out of the program, but we couldn’t recommend FirstSwim highly enough. It’s been such a positive and memorable part of our family’s journey.
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