Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a specific question that isn’t covered here, please contact us or give us a call on 01604 830405.

General FAQs

Classes from birth are age based, and from 4+ years onwards we follow the skills-based STA programmes so your child can develop at their own pace.

Please remember when browsing our FAQ that we are not medical professionals. If you have any medical questions, you should always seek advice before bringing your child swimming as every child is unique.

Here’s a summary of classes in order of age/ability.

Up to the age of 4 years old our classes are split by age group as follows:
Baby: 0-4 months, 4-8 months, 8-12 months
Toddler: 1-2 years
Pre-School: 2-3 years
Pre-School: 3-4 years

From 4 years old, swimmers are split by skills and distance ability:
Junior Swimming:
4yrs+ Beginners Stanley 1-3 with Parent in Water
4yrs+ Stanley 3-5 with Parent in Water (at this stage swimmers are working towards achieving their 5 metres badge for independent swimming)

Once a swimmer has their Stanley 5 and their 5 metres badge, they are considered newly independent and can move to a Stanley 6 class without their parent in the water: Stanley 6 – Star (these classes are split by distance achievements so you will see a Stanley 6 – Star 5m, Stanley 6 – Star 10m, Stanley 6 – Star 15m classes available).

Once a swimmer has their Stanley 7/Star and 20 metres badge, they qualify for a Goldfish 1 class:
Goldfish 1 (swimmers in this class must have achieved at least 20 metres)
Goldfish 2
Goldfish 3

Once a swimmer has their 100m badge, they can move to an Angelfish class:
Angelfish 1
Angelfish 2
Angelfish 3

Once a swimmer is consistently swimming 600m they move to Sharks classes:
Sharks 1
Sharks 2
Sharks 3

After these classes we have Squad classes that are coached by our competition-focused teaching team (some of whom have swum competitively at an international level!):
Squad Swimming

We have a range of competition opportunities within our Squads and we offer excellent Junior Lifeguarding courses for those interested in working in the sector.
Pricing of lessons is dependent upon the type of class and type of pool. Our 10 week terms break down as follows:
Beehive & Fairfields Hydrotherapy Pools: £14.35 per lesson (£143.50 for a 10 week course) – all 0-12 month baby swimming is held at our hydrotherapy pools
Dependent swimmers at other pools with a parent in water: £13.35 per lesson (£133.50 for a 10 week course)
Independent swimmers without a parent in the water: £122 (£12.20 a lesson)

For first time enrollers, there is also a one-off registration fee of £19.99 to cover our administration, enrolment, and system set-up costs. If you are enrolling more than one child, the second enrolment fee is £14.99.

Newly enrolled swimmers will each receive a welcome pack of an Aqualight swim bag and either a reusable Happy Nappyâ„¢ Swim Nappy or a sustainably produced water bottle.
Each term lasts for 10 weeks. However, we would love you to continue beyond just one term. We aim for a lifetime of love and enjoyment of the water. Guided by research in child development, we structure our programmes to suit the age and ability of your child. Our full programme runs from birth to teens in stages of 0-4 months, 4-8 months, 8-12 months, 12-24 months, 2-3 years, 3-4 years, then into our Junior Swimming programme which is structured according to ability. We also run swimming experiences such as Aqua Sensory and Mermaids.
We have two options for payment:
1. Termly Payment
If you would like to attend on a term by term basis and see how you go, you will:
– Pay a £35 deposit to secure your place on the course; and
– Pay the full cost of the course prior to the first lesson.
At the end of the 10 week term, it is up to you whether you continue your child’s swimming journey with us. You will need to re-enrol onto a suitable course with space when we open the new term for re-enrolment.
2. Monthly Payment by Standing Order
If you would like to attend swimming lessons with a longer commitment, you will:
– Set up a standing order for a monthly payment (we will send instructions on how to do this if you opt for this).
The cost per lesson is the same, but paying by standing order comes with the benefit of having a guaranteed place on a suitable course. At the end of each term we will re-enrol your child according to their age and/or skill level. Standing Order swimmers receive priority re-enrolment over Termly swimmers or new customers.
Parents are required in the water with their child until they can independently swim 5 metres on their front and back without any floatation aids. Our experience shows that children learn to swim more effectively and with far more confidence when their parent is alongside them. As a supporting parent – you will act as a dynamic support in the water. Children learning to swim without a parent, as seen in other swim schools, spend a significant part of the lesson holding onto the side waiting for their turn with a float or with the teacher assisting them.
In most cases, yes. The detailed answer to this question will, however, depend on your child’s age, ability, and level of additional need. For babies up to 4 years old, children with additional needs can, in most circumstances, be accommodated with no specific adjustments needed as they are always with the parent in the water for the class. We do recommend getting in touch with us before booking a place. For older children, we may need to recommend specific classes at specific venues. Either way, get in touch with us first and we can talk through options. We always recommend contacting your GP in the first instance for advice.
If you have missed one of your usual lessons or you have booked a future absence for a lesson where you know you will be away, you can book a catch-up lesson. Catch-up lessons can be booked throughout weeks 3-10 of the term. (We close catch-ups during the first couple of weeks of the term to allow new enrolments to register and settle in where there are spaces available). If you have a logged absence on your account you can schedule a catch-up class as soon as you know you are going to miss one. This allows spaces to be available for others who would like to book the class for the day you will be away. We can offer a maximum of two catch-up sessions per term where we have spaces. Here is a quick video that will show you how easy this is to use: Submit an Absence/Schedule a Make-Up Login to our Parent Portal: Parent Portal

Baby, Toddler & Pre-School FAQs

Water has a special sensory element that land based exercise cannot offer.

Please remember when browsing our FAQ that we are not medical professionals. If you have any medical questions, you should always seek advice before bringing baby swimming as every baby is different.

You can take baby from birth as long as their cord is healed. Mothers coming into the water must have finished post-birth bleeding before they can come in. Usually around 6 weeks old you can start. You no longer have to wait until they have had their immunisations, however any concerns should be discussed with your health practitioner. Our teachers are highly trained in baby communication and development.
Not at all – we help you to gain confidence in the water and all the pools we use are approximately chest height or lower. Many parents have conquered their own fears of the water by taking their baby swimming, and watching you grow into a confident swimming family is a fantastic experience for all involved. Just remember to stay relaxed and have fun, your baby will do the rest.
Yes. We use a double nappy system to prevent any waste from polluting the water. The inner nappy can be bought from most supermarkets – they are called “Little Swimmers”, although we recommend using a reusable inner nappy. Over the top of the inner nappy you will need a tight-fitting, neoprene outer swim nappy. All swimmers need this until they are reliably potty trained.

We now include the outer nappy as a free gift when you first enrol with us. Reusable inner nappies can be bought from us for £8.99 – just let us know you would like one when you enrol and we can add this to your account and send it to the pool ready for your first lesson.
Yes, most of the time. The water has a special sensory element that land-based exercise cannot offer. It will be specific to your baby but most children with a variety of special needs are able to learn to swim. Even if you child cannot move independently on land, they have more freedom in the water to move as they wish. If you need more specific advice please call us to discuss needs, or contact your GP for advice.
Yes you are both welcome to come, but there must only be one adult in the water at a time and the other can spectate. We ask that you speak to the lifeguard or your teacher prior to the lesson to see how many are in the session before you both come in as some pools are very tight on space poolside.
No. We have a strict no phones/cameras policy at all of our pools in order to safeguard our swimmers. We may, at times, run a specific session for photography where all participants have given special permission to film/photograph.
Babies need to feed regularly so in the pool is fine. 🙂 If your baby is on solids, try to feed your baby approximately 1 hour before you come to your lesson. You can feed again straight after swimming.

4+ Years to Teens FAQs

Classes from birth are age based, and from 4 years onwards, we follow the skills based STA programmes so your child can develop at their own pace.

Please remember when browsing our FAQ that we are not medical professionals. If you have any medical questions, you should always seek advice before bringing your child swimming as every child is unique.

Boys should wear tight shorts/trunks with no pockets and should be no longer than thigh length. Baggy, knee length, or Bermuda shorts are not acceptable because they will create drag in the water and inhibit learning correct techniques. Girls should wear a one-piece swim suit. No bikinis please!

Swimmers at Goldfish level and above who have hair longer than eyebrow-length are required to wear a swimming hat. This keeps their face free from hair and distractions whilst swimming at a higher level.
Yes! Aqualight follows a combination of the the STA International Learn to Swim Programme and the STA Distance Series. We focus on a different series each term so that your child receives a well-rounded swimming education. A combination of these curricula form the entry criteria for each of our classes from 4+ years and upwards. As your child learns new skills, teachers will assess them for badges as they progress through the curriculum. The purchase of achieved STA badges are entirely optional. More information on awards and badges can be found on our Awards & Badges page.
Yes you are welcome to watch your child swim.
At the moment, we don’t have older beginners group lessons. Our beginners classes start at 4 years old and require the parent in the water. A 10 year old might feel a bit out of place and find the curriculum is aimed at younger learners with songs and games incorporated into the learning. For this reason, we recommend joining our waiting list for Private 1:1 and 1:2 lessons. These are currently oversubscribed with a long waiting list unfortunately.