Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enrol for your term-time lessons?
Our lessons run Monday – Friday from 3.30-6.00pm & Saturdays and Sundays 8.00-12.00.
Our term time lessons are very oversubscribed. We are currently running off a waiting list with priority for members of the UCS Active gym. We also prioritise siblings and children attending UCS pre-prep and UCS Junior Branch.
If you would like to add your child to the waiting list or to find out more about our availability do get in touch with your child’s name, date of birth and your contact details. If you are interested in 2:1 lessons then please also let us know your child’s current swimming level (if known).
Our term time lessons are very oversubscribed. We are currently running off a waiting list with priority for members of the UCS Active gym. We also prioritise siblings and children attending UCS pre-prep and UCS Junior Branch.
If you would like to add your child to the waiting list or to find out more about our availability do get in touch with your child’s name, date of birth and your contact details. If you are interested in 2:1 lessons then please also let us know your child’s current swimming level (if known).
if you're fully booked for this term, can I reserve a place for the next term?
We don’t take bookings for future terms as we give all of our current swimmers first refusal on their spaces. This means we don’t know in advance which times and days may become available.
Do you offer lessons on the weekends?
We run lessons from 8-12am on Saturdays and Sundays, however, due to high demand we have currently closed the waiting list for weekend lessons as any spaces that do become available are usually offered to current swimmers or siblings.
How do we renew the lessons for the following term?
During the week following half-term we will offer you the option of rebooking your current slot for the next term or requesting to change times or days. Once we hear back from all of our swimmers we’re able to confirm if changes are possible and we will hold your current space during that period.
What age can my child start lessons with you?
We take children from 3 ½ - 11 years old for our 1:1 and 2:1 lessons.
3 ½ years is the minimum age that we recommend for formal swimming lesson for several reasons:
Children aged 11 -14 years are welcome to join one of our squad classes (an assessment may be necessary) or to enrol in one of our intensive holiday courses.
3 ½ years is the minimum age that we recommend for formal swimming lesson for several reasons:
- Children younger than 3 ½ years rarely have the concentration and coordination to benefit from formal lessons. Even if they can start to master the elements of the front crawl stroke they don’t have power to move through the water.
- It’s also important that children are emotionally mature enough to be happy to be taught by a new person without their parents in the water with them.
- The UCS Active swimming pool is heated to training temperature so is several degrees cooler than a baby pool and is too chilly for younger children who will just be splashing and playing and gaining water confidence.
Children aged 11 -14 years are welcome to join one of our squad classes (an assessment may be necessary) or to enrol in one of our intensive holiday courses.
Would you recommend a 1:1 or a 2:1 lesson for my child?
For absolute beginners and younger children 1:1 is usually the best option. The teacher will be able to focus solely on your child and for children who haven’t yet mastered swimming a short distance or who are nervous in the water the reassurance and support of having their own teacher can make all the difference. Children who are happy and confident will progress much faster. Once they reach level 2a (seahorse level) and are able to swim a short distance unaided we can switch them to a 2:1 lesson by pairing them up with another child their age and level.
You can find out more about the different lesson options here:
You can find out more about the different lesson options here:
What do I do when I get to the pool?
UCS Active reception will direct you to the changing rooms (just inside the centre). Once your child is changed and ready they can head to the poolside a few minutes before the lesson and register with our poolside teacher who will pair them to their swim teacher.
Who will my child’s teacher be? Will they have the same teacher every week?
We recruit teachers who are fun, enthusiastic and passionate about teaching children to swim. All of our staff are fully qualified and DBS checked. We will work hard to allocate your child to the teacher we feel is the best match for their age and level. We’re very proud of our close-knit team, some of whom have worked with us for over 10 years!
How do I find out about my child’s progress?
If your child is in a 1:1 lesson you can always speak to their teacher towards the end of your child’s lesson. Otherwise don’t hesitate to get in touch with our office and we can get feedback from your child’s teacher. We assess all of the children 3 times each term (the beginning, middle and end of term).
At the end of each academic year we present children with a certificate from our award scheme to reflect their progress.
At the end of each academic year we present children with a certificate from our award scheme to reflect their progress.
What happens if my child misses a lesson?
Lots of children do miss lessons, either due to illness or other school/family commitments. We try extremely hard to make up any lessons over the course of the term by offering them another slot when someone else is away. This is not always possible and if not, while unfortunate, there is very little that can be done. During any missed lesson, while that child is away, all running costs stay the same. This means that we cannot guarantee any make up lessons for non-attendance.