FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Answers to our most frequently asked questions.
Why should my child learn to swim?
This is possibly the best question to ask. Quite simply, if a child cannot swim, their life is at risk. New Zealand is an island nation. A lot of our recreational activities are water-based and being able to swim will ensure that you or your child can safely be part of the fun. Swimming is one of the fundamental skills children can participate in to help develop their brains and will help with the development of skilled movement for activities in the future. Learning to swim also enhances the development of the vestibular system that is critical to balance in almost all sports.
What age can my baby begin swimming lessons?
We take babies from 3 months of age as more and more research is showing that the earlier you can get your baby into the water the better it is for them.
The water provides free movement for a young baby as there is little gravitational pull. It enables the baby to strengthen their muscles and it is also so important for their brain development as well as safety in the water. If your baby is generally well then enrol for a free trial lesson today and see what baby swimming is all about.
How do I enrol my child for swimming lessons?
If you are interested in enrolling your child for swimming lessons then simply click on the enrol here button. From there, we will be in contact with you as soon as we can to confirm a level best suited to your child and work with you to find a class time based on your preferred day and relative time indicated on the enrolment application form.
What size are your classes?
We have some of the smallest class sizes around and know our swimmers benefit hugely from having more opportunities for attention from the Instructor.
- Babies maximum 8 per class
- Preschool maximum 2 per class
- School Age maximum 4 per class
How many lessons are there a term?
Our terms coincide with the primary school terms. The number of lessons per term therefore depends on the length of the primary school terms. For example if Term 1 is 11 weeks long, there will be 11 swimming lessons, and if Term 3 is 10 weeks long, there will 10 lessons. The price will vary accordingly. If your lesson falls on a public holiday weekend we will not be open and your fees will have been adjusted prior to the commencement of the term.
What is the length of your classes?
Our Baby classes are 30 minutes in length with the last 5 minutes used for making our way to the ladders and safely hopping out of the pool. Our Pre School Classes are 20 minutes in length, the perfect amount of time for a child of this ages concentration span and with only 2 swimmers in the class we find this is the perfect arrangement for optimum swimming progress. Our School Age classes are 30 minutes in length with the last 5 minutes used to make our way to the ladders, communicate with parents and make notes on our swimmers progress during the lesson.
What is the length, depth and temperature of your pool?
The depth of our Casey Ave Pool is 0.9 meters. Our water temperature is kept between a lovely 32.5 and 33.5 degrees depending on the time of year. The length of our pool is 10 meters.
Your pool is only 10m long, is this long enough for my child?
We believe that technique at the early stages is very important. If a beginner swimmer swims a long distance poorly and without feedback they can begin to learn bad habits. Our pool length allows us to keep all of our swimmers close and easily stop swimmers so we can communicate with them and give them feedback on how to improve. Our higher level swimmers mostly swim in a circuit fashion allowing them to build up endurance when they are ready with constant monitoring due to our pool length.
What should my child wear for swimming lessons?
Girls can wear one-piece togs and boys can wear speedos or tight fitting shorts no longer than just above the knee and tight rash vests if desired. We request that no baggy clothing is worn, as this creates drag and adversely affects stroke technique.
Infants, and all children not yet toilet trained need to wear a swim nappy. Our office sells both disposable and reusable swim nappies in a variety of different sizes, if required.
Does my child need to wear goggles for lessons?
In the early stages children can learn without goggles so they get used to having water in there eyes. Goggles will be necessary once your child starts to go under the water for extended periods and swim lengths. We have a range of good quality goggles available to purchase in our swim school office.
Does my child need to wear a swimming cap for lessons?
Wearing a swim cap is preferred as it is not only hygienic but also stops water running into your child's eyes and mouth when their face is lifted out of the water. This makes concentrating easier which in turn helps your child's progress. 80% of body heat is lost through the head, therefore wearing a cap reduces heat loss. Swim caps also help maintain our water quality. We have a selection of fabric and silicon caps for sale in our swim school office.
Will my child have the same Instructor?
We try our very best to ensure your children have the same teacher each week for the term and try our best to not change our Instructors schedules during the year. However, sickness, university timetable changes, exams and important events do happen meaning that sometimes you may have a different Instructor. All of our staff are extremely capable, keep records and communicate well with each other and we will do our best to ensure that your child's swimming progress is not disrupted by any change.
Do you offer make-up lessons?
If a make-up lesson is needed for sickness, we do our best to fit this in if there is room in other classes of the same level. You must notify us of your absence prior to your scheduled lesson. The make up lesson if available must be used in the same term as the absence, with no more than 2 make up lessons per term.
What if my child is really unsure about swimming?
If you feel your child may be really nervous at their first lesson, please feel free to mention this at the time of making your booking and we will be more than happy to make a few helpful suggestions. Some children may suffer from separation anxiety, and this will ease as the child gets to know and trust the instructor. A fear of new places may also cause a few tears, and this will also go away with time. Being afraid of the water is not uncommon in younger beginners, but the instructor will help your child adjust to the water through basic skills such as blowing bubbles, songs and games. With time, your child will be happy and successful in the water. Please be patient and allow the instructors and staff to work their magic with your child. Our Office supervisor is also more than happy to help in these situations and it is so rewarding for everyone when the child over comes their fears.
How quickly will my child learn how to swim?
Each child is unique and many different factors determine how quickly children will learn to swim. Children's developmental stage, previous experience in and around the water, as well as the child’s ability to adjust to a new environment are all contributing factors. Please be patient and do not expect your child to make equal progress during each lesson. It is normal for a child’s learning to resemble a series of spikes and plateaus, please enjoy the journey as every child will ultimately learn to swim with proper instruction and continual support.
How do I book my child for the next term?
- Existing ACE students are automatically re-enrolled at the same day and time for the following term.
- A sign will go up in our waiting area and you will be issued with an invoice via email usually in Week 7 that will indicate the new terms lesson day, time and fees. If you DO NOT wish to re-enrol, we ask that you kindly notify us by email or in our office as soon as possible.
- To confirm your re-enrolment, your $40 deposit must be received within 7 days of receiving the booking confirmation email.
- If you do not advise us of your withdrawal and do not turn up to the lessons you will be liable for full fees.
When and how do I pay the swimming lesson for next term?
Payment can be made online using internet banking or our customer portal app. We also have eftpos and cash payment options in our swim school office. We do not accept Credit Cards, Paywave or Cheques.
When should my child stop swimming?
Water Safety NZ have recommended that every person in NZ should be able to confidently swim 200m continuously and competently. Swimming is an activity that needs continual practice until you have the technique mastered. If your child stops they may go backwards and lose the skills you have invested time and money into learning but once swimming 200 meters is mastered you will have the skills for life. An investment well worth it.