much more than a swim lesson
Helping more children learn to swim than anywhere else in the UK.
We've helped bring peace of mind to millions of families. Through our partnership with Swim England, we are the largest operator of swim lessons using the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework, which gives children the skills and confidence to enjoy water safely.
Develop skills beyond swimming
Learn the importance of water safety
Understanding how to behave in and around water helps children stay safe and build essential life skills.
Develop healthy habits that last a lifetime
Swimming is a brilliant form of exercise. It works the whole body in a way that's gentle on growing joints.
Build confidence beyond the swimming pool
As children master new skills and progress through stages, they develop a strong sense of achievement. This confidence grows with every badge earned and every challenge completed.
And so much more
Learning to swim is one of the most valuable life skills anyone can have. Hear from Everyone Active’s Director of Aquatics, Jacqui Tillman, on why swimming builds confidence, improves wellbeing and keeps people safe, and discover what makes our nationally recognised swim programme different.
Start where confidence grows and the fun begins
Our Swim England Learn to Swim pathway provides a clear progression from a child's first experience in the water through to becoming a confident, competent and safe swimmer. Each stage develops the skills, technique and water safety knowledge needed for lifelong enjoyment of aquatic activities.
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Adult and Child
A fun and engaging introduction to the water for babies and toddlers aged 4 to 36 months, with a parent or guardian in the pool to help build confidence, water familiarity, and early aquatic skills.
Key milestone: Young children gain confidence in the water while parents develop the skills to support them.
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Discovery Duckling Awards 1-4
Pre-school Stage 1
If your child is over the age of three, not in full time education and hasn’t swum before, then this is the stage for them. Builds water confidence through fun activities while introducing basic movement and water safety skills.
Key milestone: Build confidence in the water
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 1
Stage 1
For children in full time education who feel nervous in the water, builds water confidence through fun activities while introducing basic movement and water safety skills.
Key milestone: Build confidence in the water
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 1
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Stage 2
This stage is for children who are in full time education and are confident in the water but have had no swim lesson experience. Developing independence in the water through floating, gliding and rotation.
Key milestone: Swim independently for the first time
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 2 and the 5m award
Stage 2, 7 years+
This stage is for older children who are aged 7yrs+ and are less confident in the water with little or no swim lesson experience. Developing independence in the water through floating, gliding and rotation.
Key milestone: Swim independently for the first time
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 2 and the 5m award
Stage 3
For swimmers that can swim 5m unaided. Increasing confidence and control in the water while developing breathing techniques.
Key milestone: Develop core swimming skills
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 3 and the 10m award
Stage 4
For slightly more advanced children, develops the leg kick on all four strokes, treading water and swimming underwater.
Key milestone: Learn all four swimming strokes
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 4 and the 20m award
Stage 5
Refining stroke technique, improving efficiency and developing important aquatic and personal survival skills.
Key milestone: Refine technique and efficiency
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 5 and the 25m award
Stage 6
Building endurance and aquatic competence while refining all four strokes and developing advanced water safety skills.
Key milestone: Build endurance and survival skills
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 6 and the 50m & 100m award
Stage 7
Developing confident, competent and safe swimmers ready for lifelong participation in swimming and aquatic activities.
Key milestone: Become a confident and competent swimmer
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 7, 200m award and Bronze Challenge award.
Stage 8
Early stage of competitive swimming which develops stamina and stroke technique for those children already capable of competently swimming 200 metres using three different strokes
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stage 8, 400m award and Silver Challenge Award
Stages 9/10
Swimmers will further develop their endurance and speed across all four strokes.
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Swim Stages 9 and 10, 800m / 1500m awards and Gold / Honours Challenge awards
Additional Disciplines (available at certain centres)
Junior Fitness
For swimmers who have completed Stage 10, and would like to continue to swimming to maintain their fitness, and learn competitive swimming skills without the competitive environment of a swimming club.
Rookie Lifeguard
Designed for those that have completed Stage 7, the Rookie Lifeguard pool programme is a fun water safety and survival course designed by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). It teaches kids how to stay safe in the water, handle emergencies, and perform basic rescues.
Outcome: RLSS Bronze, Silver & Gold Awards
Diving
Open to participants who can swim 20m and are confident in deep water without goggles. Following the Swim England Learn to Dive Framework, these fun and engaging lessons develop confidence, coordination and diving skills in a safe environment.
Outcome: Swim England Learn to Dive Stages 1-7
Adult Lessons
Adult Lessons
Our adult swimming lessons cater for all abilities. From complete beginners, all the way to people who are confident in the water but want to improve their stroke technique, stamina and overall ability.
Outcome: Swim England Adult Learn to Swim awards
Over 3 million children have learned to swim with Everyone Active in the last 10 years
(And that's not all)
4,000+
75,000+
11,000+
Frequently asked questions
Children can begin lessons from four months old in dedicated adult-and-child sessions.
Parents or guardians of children under eight must stay in the building for the duration of the class.
All teachers hold recognised swimming teaching qualifications and have experience working with children.
Lessons usually run for around 30 minutes, including time for registers and handover.
Yes. Children can move to the next stage when they are ready and a space is available.
All sessions are overseen by qualified staff to ensure safety and encourage steady progress. Teachers support nervous swimmers and help them settle. If needed, children can transfer to a more suitable group.
Parents or guardians of children under eight must stay in the building for the duration of the class.
Ready to get your child started?
Give your child confidence that lasts a lifetime. Find a class at your local centre and book their first lesson today.
