Learn to Swim Programme

Learning to swim is a life skill and a skill for life. We deliver the Swim Wales Learn to Swim framework comprising the Bubbles, Splash and Wave programmes which introduce and develop the core aquatic skills and techniques to stay safe around water and enjoy the health benefits of aqua based activities.

Tracking progress of your child’s swimming

Upon registration onto the Learn to swim programme parents will be invited to register to the home parent portal where you can track your child’s progress each week. The online home portal is where parents or course attendees check their progress and see teacher feedback. Parents can manage multiple children with a single login.

Book in to a class

Click the buttons below to book in to learn to swim lessons online

Amman Valley Leisure Centre Carmarthen Leisure Centre Llandovery Leisure Centre Llanelli Leisure Centre

Bubbles

Bubbles provides a fully supported introduction to the aquatic environment for babies and young children with an accompanying adult, specifically aimed at children aged 3 months-3 years.

There are 4 levels of progression in Bubbles, with aquatic skills progressively developing throughout each level. Responsible adults are taught how to support and aid the child through games, songs and themed fun activities.

Key info:

Classes last 30 minutes.
Adult will need to enter the pool
Bilingual swimming lessons can be delivered, available on request.
A certificate is available for successfully completing each level.

Llanelli Leisure Centre

Bubbles 1 & 2 (0-18 months), Monday 1:00pm - 1:30pm

Bubbles 3 & 4 (19-36 months), Monday 1:40pm - 2:10pm

£19.80 a month

Carmarthen Leisure Centre

Bubbles 1 & 2 (0-24 months), Tuesday 1:00pm - 1:30pm

Bubbles 3 & 4 (25-36 months), Tuesday 1:30pm - 2:00pm

Bubbles 1 - 4 (0-36 months), Saturday 9:00am - 9:30am

£19.80 a month

Amman Valley Leisure Centre

Bubbles 1 (0-12 months), Wednesday 1:00pm - 1:30pm

Bubbles 2 (13-24 months), Wednesday 1:30pm - 2:00pm

Bubbles 3 & 4 (25-36 months), Wednesday 2:00pm - 2:30pm

Bubbles 1 (0-12 months), Saturday 10:30am - 11:00am

Bubbles 2 (13-24 months), Saturday 11:00am - 11:30am

Bubbles 3 & 4 (25-36 months), Saturday 11:30am - 12:00pm

£19.80 a month

Splash

The Splash framework encourages a young child’s increasingly independent and guided discovery of the aquatic environment to develop water confidence, specifically aimed at children aged 3+.

There are 6 levels of progression in Splash, with aquatic skills progressively developing throughout each level, with the child being increasingly independent in the water. Children will learn through guided discovery of the aquatic environment to develop water confidence.

Key info:

Classes last 30 minutes.
Bilingual swimming lessons can be delivered, available on request.
A certificate is available for successfully completing each level

Splash 1:

No previous swimming experience expected

Book your child into Splash 1

Splash 2:

Can your child,

Independently move 2 metres along the pool wall / rail in one direction and back again
Blow a floating object 2 metres whilst moving around the pool with aids
Perform 10 kicks on front and back with aids
Float on front and back with aids

If your child can complete the above, book them into Splash 2. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Splash 1.

Book your child into Splash 2

Splash 3:

Can your child,

Perform 20 kicks (10 simultaneous) on the front and back with aids
Move 3m on the front and back to the side of the pool with aids
Blow a floating object mouth in water 5 metres whilst moving around the pool with aids
Independently push away from the wall on the front in a streamlined body shape with aids

If your child can complete the above, book them into Splash 3. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Splash 2.

Book your child into Splash 3

Splash 4:

Can your child,

Kick on the front and back for 5 metres (alternating or simultaneous) with aids
Move 3 metres on the front and back to a floating object with aids
Float on the front and back with aids
Confidently put whole face in the water

If your child can complete the above, book them into Splash 4. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Splash 3.

Book your child into Splash 4

Splash 5:

Can your child,

Enter and exit the water safely without assistance.
Kick on the front (face in the water blowing bubbles) and back for 5 metres with aids
Move 3 metres on the front and back to the side of the pool with aids
Push and glide on front and back in a streamlined body shape with aids

If your child can complete the above, book them into Splash 5. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Splash 4.

Book your child into Splash 5

Splash 6:

Can your child,

Move 3 metres on the front (face in the water blowing bubbles) and back (with aids if required)
Float on the front and back (with aids if required)
Submerge whole body under the water (with aids if required)
Move 3 metres using simultaneous actions (with aids if required)

If your child can complete the above, book them into Splash 6. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Splash 5.

Book your child into Splash 6

To Book

Contact one of our leisure centres;

Amman Valley Leisure Centre - swimminglessonsAmmanford@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Carmarthen Leisure Centre - swimminglessonsCarmarthen@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Llanelli Leisure Centre - swimminglessonsLlanelli@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Llandovery Leisure Centre - swimminglessonsLlandovery@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Splash 1:

Introduces your child to the swimming pool environment. We aim to encourage swimmers to develop their confidence in water. Learning basic floating and aquatic breathing skills. Begin basic travel with aids.

Splash 2:

We will begin to encourage travel on their front and back with aids and develop basic travel through games and play. We continue to learn basic aquatic breathing skills as well as floating and continue to build confidence throughout their early swimming journey.

Splash 3:

Swimmers will become more independently whilst using aids. Swimmers will be more confident and begin to develop travel on their front and back. Swimmers will continue to develop floating as well as learn how to push and glide.

Splash 4:

Swimmers will learn the basic movements dolphin kick and breaststroke kick. Swimmers will also be confident with water shower over the head and begin to develop confidence with placing their face in the water. Swimming aids will be reduced in Splash 4.

Splash 5:

Swimmers will learn how to jump in the pool safely. Swimmers will become less independent on swimming aids and be confident swimming on their front and back. Swimmers will be confident with putting their face in the water. Swimming aids are reduced.

Splash 6:

Swimmers will be confident swimming short distances on their front and back using all four strokes with the use of aids. Swimmers will have a good understanding of aquatic breathing and will be ready to develop their skills in our Wave program.

To book into a Splash session at Carmarthen, click here

Amman Valley Leisure Centre

Monday:

4pm – 6.30pm

Tuesday:

4pm – 6.30pm

Wednesday:

4pm – 6pm

Thursday:

4pm – 6pm

Friday:

4pm – 6pm

Saturday:

9am – 12pm

Carmarthen Leisure Centre

Monday:

4pm - 7pm

Tuesday:

4pm- 7pm

Wednesday:

4pm - 7pm

Thursday:

4pm – 7pm

Saturday:

9am – 12pm

Llandovery Leisure Centre

Monday:

4pm – 6pm

Tuesday:

4pm - 6pm

Wednesday:

4pm - 6pm

Thursday:

4pm - 6pm

Friday:

4pm – 6.30pm

Llanelli Leisure Centre

Monday:

4pm - 6:40pm

Tuesday:

4pm - 6:40pm

Wednesday:

4pm - 6:40pm

Thursday:

4pm – 6.40pm

Saturday:

9am – 11am

Cost

Our Splash programme costs £27.90 per month (per child) by Direct Debit. If your child joins part way through the month we will take a pro rata payment based on the number of days remaining of that month. The Direct Debit payment is taken on the 1st of every month.

Payment for the swimming lessons can only be done at our leisure centres.

Available all year

Our Splash Programme runs for 48 weeks of the year, 6 days a week and children can enrol at any time.

Wave

Waves 1 to 8 are the main ‘Learn to Swim’ area. Children from approximately age 4/5 (dependent on the provider) are taught the necessary swimming and aquatic skills to swim and to take part in other aquatic activities such as Rookie Lifesaving, Artistic Swimming, Diving Competitive Swimming and Water Polo. They are also taught vital skills of water competence where they learn how to be safe in and around water, such as swimming in clothes, treading water and swimming with no goggles. Wave 8 is multi aquatic and can either be a taster for participation in one of the aquatic sports or where a participant can remain to stay aquatically active.

There are lots of awards to earn in this area including one for each wave as well as distance badges, how many can your child collect on their swimming journey?

Key info:

Classes last 30 minutes.
Bilingual swimming lessons can be delivered, available on request.
A certificate is available for successfully completing each level.
Opportunities for them to progress to other aquatic skills including - Rookie Lifeguard, Local Swimming clubs and Water polo clubs.

Wave 1:

Can your child swim

Without aids demonstrate 5 metres front paddle and backpaddle
Without aids demonstrate a simultaneous paddle for 5 metres
Without aids, float on the front or the back for 5 seconds
Submerge whole body under the water and pick up an object from the pool floor

Book your child into Wave 1. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Splash 6.

Wave 2:

Can your child

Swim 5 metres Frontcrawl, Backstroke, Breaststroke or Butterfly
Float on the front and the back and move to an upright position in the water
Confidently, put face in water without goggles
Push and Glide on front with face in water and push and glide on back, off from the wall and hold a glide position

Book your child into Wave 2. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Wave 1.

Wave 3:

Can your child

Swim 5 metres Frontcrawl breathing to the side and Backstroke with a continuous over water arm action
Swim 5 metres Breaststroke and Butterfly
Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds
Demonstrate a headfirst sculling action on the back for 5 metres in a horizontal position (with aids, if needed)

Book your child into Wave 3. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Wave 2.

Wave 4:

Can your child

Swim 10 metres Frontcrawl attempting to breath to the side, and Backstroke with a continuous over water arm action
Swim 5 metres Breaststroke and Butterfly
Jump in without goggles and tread water for 30 seconds
Demonstrate a feet first sculling action, on the back for 5 metres

Book your child into Wave 4. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Wave 3.

Wave 5:

Can your child

Swim 10 metres of Frontcrawl, Backstroke, Butterfly and Breaststroke to Swim Wales stroke standard
Without goggles, safely jump in and tread water for 30 seconds and exit the water without using the steps
Demonstrate 10 metres kick of Frontcrawl, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly to Swim Wales stroke standard
Demonstrate 5 different skills, such as sculling, rotation, floating and treading water

Book your child into Wave 5. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Wave 4.

Wave 6:

Can your child

Swim 15 metres Frontcrawl and Backstroke (to Swim Wales stroke standard)
Swim 10 metres Breaststroke and Butterfly (to Swim Wales stroke standard)
Swim 25 metres, choice of stroke
Demonstrate a forward somersault and handstand

Book your child into Wave 6. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Wave 5.

Wave 7:

Can your child

Swim 25 metres with clothes on (without goggles and wearing swimwear, long sleeve and full length items)
Swim 50 metres (25 metres Backstroke/Frontcrawl and 25 metres Breaststroke/Butterfly)
Without goggles, tread water for 30 seconds whilst demonstrating an action for getting helps, then move into the HUDDLE position with a partner or small group
Demonstrate an underwater push and glide with 3 dolphin kicks into 20m Frontcrawl and Backstroke to Swim Wales stroke standard

Book your child into Wave 7. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Wave 6.

Wave 8:

Can your child

Swim 100m Individual Medley as a continuous swim, 25 metres of each stroke in the following order – Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Frontcrawl to Swim Wales stroke standard
Perform a plunge dive
Demonstrate an underwater push and glide with 3 dolphin kicks into 25 metres of Frontcrawl, Backstroke and Butterfly
Swim 200m continuously using at least 3 different strokes to Swim Wales stroke standard

Book your child into Wave 8. If you are unsure or your child is unable to perform the above please book them into Wave 7.

To book into a Wave session at Carmarthen, click here

Wave 1:

Develop confidence in the water. Learn basic floating, sculling and develop breathing techniques.

Wave 2:

Be able to jump in the pool. Improve sculling, floating and breathing techniques. Swim short distance of all four strokes

Wave 3:

Collect object from pool floor, improve sculling and floating, learn how to tread water and swim short distances of all four strokes.

Wave 4:

Learn the HELP position, develop floating and treading water techniques, develop techniques in all four strokes, and learn dolphin kicks under water.

Wave 5:

Learn different shaped jumps, how to do forward somersaults and handstand in the water, swim longer distances in all 4 strokes inc 25 meters in your favourite stroke.

Wave 6:

Learn how to do backward somersault. Being to learn how to dive.
Improve personal survival techniques including swimming with clothes on.

Wave 7:

Learn how to plunge dive, swim longer distances in all four strokes and swim an individual medley.
Swim as part of a team in a relay race.

Wave 8:

Swim 25 metres of breast stroke and butterfly. Swim 50 metres of backstroke and front crawl. Continue to improve floating, sculling and surface dives.

Amman Valley Leisure Centre

Monday:

4pm – 6.30pm

Tuesday:

4pm – 6.30pm

Wednesday:

4pm – 6pm

Thursday:

4pm – 6pm

Friday:

4pm – 6pm

Saturday:

9am – 12pm

Carmarthen Leisure Centre

Monday:

4pm - 7pm

Tuesday:

4pm- 7pm

Wednesday:

4pm - 7pm

Thursday:

4pm – 7pm

Saturday:

9am – 12pm

Llandovery Leisure Centre

Monday:

4pm – 6pm

Tuesday:

4pm - 6pm

Wednesday:

4pm - 6pm

Thursday:

4pm - 6pm

Friday:

4pm – 6.30pm

Llanelli Leisure Centre

Monday:

4pm - 6:40pm

Tuesday:

4pm - 6:40pm

Wednesday:

4pm - 6:40pm

Thursday:

4pm – 6.40pm

Saturday:

9am – 11am

Cost

Our Wave programmes costs £27.90 per month (per child) by Direct Debit. If your child joins part way through the month we will take a pro rata payment based on the number of days remaining of that month. The Direct Debit payment is taken on the 1st of every month.

Payment for the swimming lessons can only be done at our leisure centres.

Available all year

Our Wave Programme runs for 48 weeks of the year, 6 days a week and children can enrol at any time.

Adult Learn to Swim

It is never too late to learn how to swim! We believe that every person should have a chance to learn to swim and become the very best swimmer they can be.

Making the decision to learn to swim as an adult will help develop individual confidence, ability and skill in the aquatic environment. Learning to swim is a life skill which can enhance quality of life through physical activity and achievement of goals. Not to forget that swimming is great fun, with plenty of room for progression and improvement.

Confident swimmers can be given the opportunity to improve all of the four strokes, go into the competitive side of swimming or to join a Masters club which are aimed at adults over the age of 18.

Before your first lesson you will have a chat with our Swimming coordinator at site who will discuss how confident you are in the water and what you hope to achieve from the lessons and from then can discuss all options with you.

Lessons are available at Amman Valley, Carmarthen, Llanelli and Llandovery Swimming pools.

The Adult Learn to Swim Awards are:

Learn: The Learn Award is about gaining the confidence to enter the pool safely. It also covers the ability to move around the pool with confidence and to achieve basic core aquatic skills. These are entries, exits, buoyancy, balance and aquatic breathing.

Improve: Completing the Improve Award will mean you have the necessary skills to start swimming independently over increasing distances (from 50 up to 200 metres). You won’t need support or floatation equipment.

Active: By completing the Active Award you will be able to swim up to 400 metres independently. You’ll also have the confidence to try other pool activities, such as Aqua aerobics or lane swimming. Gaining this Award also means you could confidently enter the Masters section of a swimming club.

Amman Valley Leisure Centre

Friday:

7:30pm

Carmarthen Leisure Centre

Tuesday:

2.30pm-3.30pm

Thursday:

8pm-9pm

Llandovery Leisure Centre

Friday:

3pm-3:30pm

Llanelli Leisure Centre

Adult Beginners:

Monday 2.20pm – 2.50pm

Adult Improvers:

Monday 3.00pm – 3.30pm

Cost

Our swimming lessons costs £26.80 per month (per person) by Direct Debit. If you join part way through the month we will take a pro rata payment based on the number of days remaining of that month. The Direct Debit payment is taken on the 1st of every month.

Payment for the swimming lessons can only be done at our leisure centres.

Available all year

Our Learn to Swim Programme runs for 48 weeks of the year, 6 days a week.

Find out more and how to book

Are you or your child/children looking to join our learn to swim programme? Get in touch with one of our swimming coordinators today.

Please email our swimming coordinators to express your interest and stating the your ability or ability of your child – have you/they had lessons before, and if so what level was achieve?

Amman Valley Leisure Centre

Carmarthen Leisure Centre

Llandovery Leisure Centre

Llanelli Leisure Centre

Swimming Lesson FAQ's

Why choose Carmarthenshire County Council Swimming lessons?

Lessons are available up to 48 weeks of the year and up to 7 days a week, with a break over the Christmas and Easter period.
Lessons available for participants from 3 months old.
Participants are assessed regularly and moved up as soon as they are ready for the next stage.
Qualified and DBS checked teachers and assistant teachers.
Badges and certificates are available to show progression
Lessons available at 4 leisure centres.

Swimming is an essential lifesaving skill and drowning is still one of the most common causes in accidental death in children. As well as being an important life skill, swimming is also one of the most healthy and fun activities, improving strength, stamina, flexibility and posture - keeping your child active and happy at the same time.

Swimming has a long participation pathway and can start at a very young age and continue through all life stages.

Being able to swim opens up lots of other water-based activities such as surfing; kayaking; sailing and triathlon and increasing the opportunities for participation in physical activity, staying fit and healthy and enjoying the health benefits that arise from being physically fit and active.

The cut off time for all swimming lessons is the start time of the lesson; this is why we ask all customers to arrive 10 minutes before the start time. Centre staff will try to accommodate customers who are late due to circumstances out of their control but this will be dependent upon lesson capacities and the other activities that may be taking place at the centre at the same time.

Centre staff will be able to direct you to our Learn to Swim Co-ordinator who will be to answer any questions you may have about our new lessons.  If you have any questions before your lesson, please complete the contact us form on our website.

All our swimming teachers hold the National Governing Body recommended qualifications and also hold an enhanced DBS (The Disclosure and Barring Service) check. In addition, our teachers all undergo Safeguarding training.

Progress will be continuously monitored and tracked against what children are learning each week by the Swimming Teacher. Swimming Teachers will ensure that pupils are working towards the correct awards and are in the correct class for their ability.

Lockers are provided for you to store kit, they require a £1 coin to unlock which is returned once opened again.

We ask that you do not leave personal items in cubicles as they maybe removed by staff to make the cubical available to other customers.

Learn to Swim Programme