Children's Swimming Lessons

Build Your Child’s Confidence at Charlton Lido’s Outdoor Better Swim School!
Give your child the gift of confidence and fun with our Better Swim School at Charlton Lido. We offer affordable and flexible swimming lessons and courses, ensuring every child can learn this essential life skill.

Why Choose Us?

- Classes available for ages 3 months – 5 years+
- Our three-stage junior programme guides your child every step of the way on their swimming journey
- Expert instructors in a safe, supportive environment

Start your child’s swimming adventure today!

Foundation – aged 4 and over

Foundation Swimming Lessons – Perfect for Beginners!
Our Foundation swimming lessons are designed for school-aged children who are beginners or completely new to swimming. These lessons focus on teaching water safety and building confidence in and around water.

What will they learn?

Foundation classes consist of 3 levels

- Helping swimmers Introduce water confidence
- Develop essential swimming skills
- Master stroke development techniques

We believe every child should learn to swim, no matter their age. That’s why we offer Foundation classes for older beginners (starting from age 9)
Special Foundation lessons for teens.

Start your child’s swimming journey today!

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Development – ages 5+

Development Swimming Lessons – Take Your Skills to the Next Level!
Our Development classes are perfect for children who already have a solid foundation in swimming and can swim 15m unaided. These lessons build on the skills learned in Foundation classes, ensuring every child feels confident and challenged.

What will they learn?

- Advanced technique across all four strokes
- Introduction to aquatic sports
- Basic water survival and rescue skills

As your child progresses, they’ll work towards achieving their Bronze, Silver, and Gold milestone awards, celebrating their swimming success!

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Academy – children who are able to swim more than 200m

Academy Swimming Lessons – The Final Stage of Progression!
Our Academy classes are the ultimate level of our children’s swimming programme, designed to help your child develop further and achieve their personal goals in the pool.

What will they learn?

- Focus on self-led progression and personal targets
- Advanced water safety techniques
- Junior lifesaving and personal survival skills

We also work closely with partner clubs to assess your child’s ability and support progression into talent pathways, such as diving or other aquatic sports.

Help your child become a confident, independent swimmer and take their skills to the next level!

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Holiday Short Courses

Help your kids stay active and learn a new life skill over the holidays with our Swim School Holiday Courses. These courses are great for children who are new to swimming or for those wanting to improve on their existing water skills. Our lessons are suitable for children 4 years and over. Teaching the essential swimming skills to ensure they learn to be safe in and around water. These courses cover basic techniques for all 4 strokes if you’re a beginner or improving.

Lessons run daily from Monday to Friday*.

To find and book a Swim School holiday short course:

Go to https://betterflow.courseprogress.co.uk
Find and click on your preferred location to be taken to the available courses.
Select 'Swim School Holiday courses' in the left-hand filter

*days and times will be confirmed as you select your booking

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Swimming Lessons

Children's Swimming Lessons

Our engaging children's swimming lessons take place on Monday afternoons and Saturday mornings for all ages and abilities, at affordable prices at Charlton Lido. Not only that, our Swim School helps your child gain confidence and independence in the water while having fun. We also run holiday short courses where children can either learn a new skill, or practice existing ones.

Class	Day	Time	Price
Foundation 4 years & over	Tuesday Saturday	17:00-17:30 11:15-11:45 11:45-12:15	£31 per Month
Development 15 metres plus	Tuesday Saturday	16:30-17:00 10:00-10:30	£31 per month
Academy (100m plus, for under 18 years)	Saturday	10:30-11:15	£49 per month

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Adult Swim Coaching

Better's Adult swimming lessons is the swimming programme that caters for all. Whether you want to learn to swim, improve your technique, fitness or train for an event, our Swim Doctors will help make the most of your time in the pool in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Group and 1 to 1 adult swim lessons are also available.

Best for: Confident swimmers looking to improve their fitness

These adult swimming fitness classes are focused on improving your swimming technique to help you stay healthy. Whether you’re training for an event or just want to improve your overall health, these series of drills will help improve your performance and meet new people. Adult Swimming Coaching is currently available for Better members who can book drop-in sessions via the app or Better website.

Best for: Swimming beginners and improvers

Whether you are getting in the pool for the first time or refreshing and improving your swimming skills, come and learn with one of our swim coaches. Our adult swimming lessons are available for members or you can book a drop-in session. Ideal for beginners, with all the basics covered giving you a great foundation for improvement

Pay As You Go Prices

Charlton Lido HFUK & Corporate Member - FREE

Charlton Lido Senior & Swim UK Member - £3.50

Non Member - £13.50

Monthly Membership - £46 This is a direct debit wich allows 1 lesson a week on either Fridays or Saturday and includes swimming at Charlton only. Members on this membership do not need to book for their Adult Swimming lesson.

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