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Swimming Lessons – SwimLincs learn to swim programme
Welcome to SwimLincs, our learn to swim programme
Swimming is an important life skill and our SwimLincs learn to swim programme will ensure children and adults become confident and safe in water.
Our aim is to provide the best learn to swim experience for your child and for you.
Our lessons run for 50 weeks a year with each lesson lasting 30 minutes, of which a minimum of 25 minutes will be water-based activities.
The SwimLincs learn to swim programme is available at
- Ancholme Leisure Centre
- Axholme North Leisure Centre
- Baysgarth Community Hub
- Riddings Community Hub
- The Pods
The programme is divided into nine stages:
SwimLincs Minis
Adult and Baby – four months to 17 months (STA starfish award 1 to 3)
Adult and Tots – 18 months to three years of age (STA starfish awards 4 to 6)
Pre-school lessons – three to four year olds (STAnley awards 1 to 4)
SwimLincs
Non-swimmer – four years plus (Seahorse awards 1 to 2)
Beginner – four years plus (Seahorse awards 3 to 4)
Improver – (Dolphin awards 1 to 2)
Intermediate – (Dolphin awards 3 to 4)
Advanced – (Dolphin award 5)
Development classes – Rookie lifeguard and Challenge awards
Children are continually assessed throughout their lessons. You can view your child’s progress online using our SwimLincs Home Portal. To access this service we require an email address from you. To register you will need your child’s SwimLincs card number. If you do not have a card number please contact the customer service desk at the centre where your child swims.
When your child achieves an award, their swimming teacher will issue a badge slip. Badges and certificates can be purchased at the customer service desk.
If your child is ready to move up to the next stage, your child will be added to the movement list and you will be contacted by the centre when a place is available.
Accessing the SwimLincs Home Portal
We are pleased to introduce our SwimLincs Home Portal. This service is free to use and once you have registered you can view your child’s swimming lesson progress from the comfort of your home.
To log into the Portal you will need:
- the email address you provided us when enrolling your child on swimming lessons
- your child’s membership number (found on the bottom left of their membership card)
- your child’s date of birth
If you do not have a membership card or number, please contact the customer service desk at the centre where your child swims.
Children can be placed on the SwimLincs Minis waiting list from birth, the pre-school waiting list from the age of two and a half, and the Swimlincs after school programme from the age of four years.
To enrol your child on lessons please complete the online application form.
On receiving the application form, your child’s name will be added to the waiting list and you will be contacted by the centre when a place becomes available. Places will be offered a maximum of three times before your child’s details are removed from the waiting list. Please note that we already have a long waiting list for lessons at The Pods, so please choose another facility if possible.
We offer two payment options:
Academy member
Monthly payment via direct debit (available from January 2023 for new students) – £20.50 (first child)
- one Swimlincs lesson per week for 50 weeks of the year
- automatic re-enrolment (terms and conditions apply)
- price for life (terms and conditions apply)
- the card holder is entitled to use any of the council’s pools free during casual swim sessions
- sibling discount available
Casual pay-as-you-go member
Payment in advance for a 10 week block – £50
- one Swimlincs lesson per week for 10 weeks
Top-up payments for the next 10 weeks must be received before the start of the last lesson to secure your child’s place. Failure to top-up during this time will result in your child automatically losing their place in the lessons.
Our aim is to provide the best ‘learn to swim’ experience for your child and for you as the ones bringing them to the pool. To help us achieve this aim we would be grateful if you would adhere to the following code of conduct.
Swimmers are asked to:
- arrive in good time for the lesson
- when changed, wait quietly in the designated area no more than five minutes before the start of your lesson for the swimming teacher to collect you
- wear suitable swimwear and tie long hair back
- visit the toilet before the start of your lesson
- shower before you enter the pool water
- remove all jewellery
- inform the swimming teacher of any illness or injuries before the start of the lesson
- only enter the pool when told to by your swimming teacher
- not eat or drink fizzy or sugary drinks up to one hour before the start of your lesson
- listen to your swimming teacher and ask if you do not understand their instructions
- always try your best and enjoy your lesson
Parents and guardians are asked to:
- make sure your child arrives in good time for the start of their lesson and is collected promptly after the lesson
- remain in the building at all times if your child is under the age of eight
- not to wait or walk on to poolside
- use lockers provided and not leave personal belongings in the changing cubicles
- not approach the swimming teacher during lessons. If you have a question about your child’s progress please complete a ‘Question and Answer’ form or you can view their progress by accessing our Swimlincs Home Portal
- view your child’s lesson in the designated spectator area and not on poolside or the changing rooms.
- not to bring your child if they feel ill or have been ill in the last 48 hours with diarrhoea, a sickness bug, a contagious disease (for example measles or chicken pox), an ear infection, open wounds, coughs or colds. It is advisable that they do not swim until fully recovered and symptom free
- ensure that your child does not eat or drink at least one hour before their lesson.
- be consistent with attending lessons
- ensure that fees are paid in advance of the start of the lessons
- respect our swimming teachers and share any concerns or complaints with the Health and Fitness Development Manager or Duty Manager immediately.
We thank you for your assistance and cooperation.
Please report to the customer service desk 20 minutes before the start of your child’s first lesson. This will allow us time to set-up your payment plan, answer any questions you may have regarding the lessons, explain who your child’s swimming teacher is and direct you to the changing rooms and waiting area.
Buoyancy aids will be provided for the duration of the lesson if needed and goggles are available to purchase from the customer service desk before the start of your child’s lesson.
The swimming teacher will take a register at the start of each lesson and collect your child from the designated waiting area.
Our swimming lessons run back to back so unfortunately there is no time for you to talk to your child’s swimming teacher during lesson time. If you have a question or would like to discuss your child’s progress we would ask that you complete a ‘Question and Answer’ form. The forms are available next to the Swimlincs notice board in the centre. Your child’s teacher will contact you as soon as possible regarding your question.
SwimLincs Home Portal
For those parents or guardians who have registered for this free service, you will be able to view your child’s progress online using our Swimlincs Home Portal. To access this service we require an email address from you. To register you will need your child’s SwimLincs card number. If you do not have a card number please contact the customer service desk at the centre where your child swims.
Swimming lessons for adults are available at Ancholme Leisure Centre and Axholme North Leisure Centre. Please contact your preferred venue for more information.
nlactive.ancholme@northlincs.gov.uk
The NPLQ is the most awarded lifeguard qualification in the UK and Ireland and is also internationally recognised. More than 40,000 pool lifeguards qualify with the RLSS UK every year, and there are currently more than 80,000 pool lifeguards qualified in the NPLQ – 95% of all UK pool lifeguards.
RLSS UK is regulated by Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA in Northern Ireland.
Our next RLSS courses
- Our next NPLQ course will be advertised soon. To register your interest email helen.hathway@northlincs.gov.uk
Price
£250
Lifeguard course prerequisite
Every candidate attending a NPLQ course must be 16-years-old at the time of taking the NPLQ final assessment and be able to:
- Jump / dive into deep water
- Swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
- Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
- Tread water for 30 seconds
Course content
The NPLQ covers all elements of pool rescue techniques, lifeguarding theory, first aid and CPR. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times, lifting casualties and diving to the deepest part of the swimming pool. Training and assessment for the NPLQ is in three sections and all must be successfully passed to attain the qualification.
About the assessment
Assessment for the NPLQ takes place at the end of the course. It determines your knowledge and understanding of the principles of working as a pool lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply the skills and knowledge in a work-related environment.
The assessment is split into three sections:
- Practical pool assessment
- Written multiple choice question paper on all 3 sections
- Practical first aid & CPR assessment
For more information or to book a place on the course please contact the NL Active site you would like to complete the course at on 01724 291900 or speak to the front of house team at a NL Active facility.
Swimming teacher courses
STA Level 2 Award in Swimming Teaching
This qualification aims to produce teachers that can teach up to 12 non swimmers, beginners, improvers or assist in swimming lessons. Find out more about the STA swimming courses online.
Our next STA level 2 award in swimming teaching course starts on 30 November and is a mixture of online learning and face-to-face learning at The Pods.
Prerequisites
- Be 16 years of age or older
- Hold a current STA membership (approx. £40 per year)
Length of course
- 41 hours contact time with a tutor
Course dates
All dates must be attended
- Wednesday 30 November, 4.30pm to 8.30pm (online)
- Thursday 1 December, 4.30pm to 8.30pm (online)
- Wednesday 7 December, 4.30pm to 8.30pm (online)
- Wednesday 14 December, 4.30pm to 8.30pm (online)
- Wednesday 21 December, 4.30pm to 8.30pm (online)
- Saturday 7 January, 12.30pm to 4.30pm (online)
- Tuesday 10 January, 3.45pm to 7.15pm (The Pods)
- Wednesday 11 January, 3.45pm to 7.15pm (The Pods)
- Thursday 12 January, 3.45pm to 7.15pm (The Pods)
- Tuesday 17 January, 3.45pm to 7.15pm (The Pods)
- Wednesday 18 January, 3.45pm to 7.15pm (The Pods)
Assessment
- Complete a portfolio of questions by Saturday 7 January to the satisfaction of the course tutor including lesson plans and schemes of work
- Complete a multiple-choice question paper in exam conditions
- Undertake at least 3 hours poolside teaching during the course
- External assessment – teach a 30-minute lesson
Cost
- £300
Funding to cover the cost of the course may be available. To discuss funding opportunities please contact Helen Hathway.
For more information and to register your interest email helen.hathway@northlincs.gov.uk