Here at Dorking we believe swimming is a vital skill for everyone to learn at whatever age you are. Whether you are just starting out or looking to improve on something specific we have a class to suit you.
Our SWIMBIES classes are designed to guide you through those first holds and splashes to their first paddle. From 3 months to 5 years we'll have a class for you.
Swimming is a vital life skill and it is important to help keep children safe in and around the water through fun and varied lessons following a team teaching approach to help your child individually.
Whether you are starting out or looking to improve our teachers are there to help. Through a monthly direct debit for ease or a drop in session we have a class to suit you.
Our Swimbies programme offers classes tailored to children between 3 months and 5 years, from that first dip with you until they are ready to jump in alone. Our learning programme prepares your little ones for a lifetime of fun in the water.
The classes take part in our warmer teaching pool where our instructors guide the classes from the water.
What can you expect?
A class to introduce your baby to the water and give you the confidence to support them whilst providing an opportunity to bond with them.
Introducing being safe in the water and getting those first paddles.
Learning how to go solo with the confidience of you nearby.
Our Pre-school swim classes aim to build your child's water confidence teaching them an essential skill for safe solo swimming with a smaller class size and we have the option of our teacher supporting them in the water while you watch from the viewing gallery or your joining your little one in the water for their lesson.
At Dorking sports centre, we are passionate about the safety of children in and around water and recognise how important it is to make such an essential life skill accessible for all. We appreciate that every child has a unique learning pace and level of comfort in the water. Our wonderful and highly experienced teachers are there to encourage and support your child in their lessons ensuring they acquire the important skill of staying safe in and around the water. Our development classes take place in the main pool and our foundation classes are between the main and small pool. Non- swimmers are in the small pool and will be supported by the teacher in the water. Lessons run throughout the year, running 52 weeks and lasting 30 minutes each week.
Foundation classes (ages 4+) Our foundation classes teach children the essential swimming skills to ensure they learn to be safe in and around water. They will learn the basic techniques for all four swim strokes; achieving 10- metre front crawl and back stroke by the end of their foundation. Our Foundation red and ambers take place in the teaching pool and then they progress into the shallow end of our main pool for foundation green.
Our experienced swimming teachers use a team-teaching method, this means that pupils will join classes based on their abilities of their stroke and skill being taught that day so a change in teacher may not be uncommon, this allows us to help your children individually improve.
Our development classes teach pupils advanced swimming skills, developing their techniques of all four strokes to create efficient and effective swimmers. Lessons focus on a wide range of skills across all aquatic sports including basic water survival and rescue skills.
These lessons are based in our main pool and consist of bronze, silver and gold. Our experienced swimming teachers use a team-teaching method, this means that pupils will join classes based on their abilities of their stroke and skill being taught that day so a change in teacher may not be uncommon, this allows us to help your children individually improve.
Our academy classes are 45 minutes and are the final level of our children's swimming lessons, aimed at empowering them to achieve their personal goals in the pool such as, challenge awards. in-fitness swimming, personal survival, junior lifesaving and other aquatic sports.
These classes are for children over four years of age with additional needs and disabilities to be supported in the water with a parent or carer. Our qualitied teacher will cover water confidence and stroke technique in these lessons alongside the essential swimming skills to ensure they learn to be safe in and around water, catering to each need and ability.
Better's Adult Swimming Lessons are designed for all swimming levels so everyone can be comfortable in the water. Whether you want to learn to swim for the first time, are training for an event or simply want to improve your technique, our highly qualified teachers will help you get to where you want to be. You can join a specific lesson which also gives you the option to swim for free to practice your newly learnt skills. Or for a more flexible option you can book any of our Adult Swimming Lessons.
These classes are 45 minutes and are aimed at those who are new to swimming or looking to brush up and enhance your skills. We have two instructors to help you with your individual needs.
These classes are 1 hour in length and are for swimmers with a range of abilities; recreational swimmers wishing to improve their technique and fitness to more experience swimmers looking for a more challenging programme to increase speed/ endurance in a fun and friendly environment. Participants should have the stamina to complete at least two lengths and have the confidence to put their face in the water. It is not necessary to be able to swim all four strokes to join this class but a basic competency in front crawl is an advantage.
For those who would like a more bespoke swimming experience at a time and day to suit them. We have either 121 or 221 options, please contact dorking@gll.org to check availability or join our waiting list.
Here at Dorking we work in partnership with level water. Level water fund lessons for children:
Unfortunately we are not currently able to support children with other disabilities.
How does it work? We provide our teachers with specialist disability training. They deliver your lessons and level water provide funding so that together, we can offer you 1:1 lessons for the same price as a standard group lesson. Level Water to apply.
