PodLifeClasses & timetable
Every lesson is one swimmer's lesson.
The coach and the slot stay steady week to week, because that predictability does a lot of the work. Everything else is customisable — length, pace, ratio, order, communication — and adjusts to the swimmer rather than the swimmer fitting the lesson. We teach babies, children, teenagers and adults, with or without additional needs.
At a glance
Not sure which lesson fits? Don't choose from a list — every class is customisable, so book a first lesson and we'll tell you what we'd recommend after we've met your swimmer.
Lesson types
Which lesson suits which swimmer
All lessons are taught in our own quiet hours. 1:1 lessons are £110 a month for one lesson a week, or £26.50 per lesson. Other lesson types are quoted with your booking confirmation because length and ratio change the rate — see prices.
| Lesson | Ages | Ratio | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1 lesson | Any age | 1:1 | 30 min | Anyone who needs a lesson that changes direction mid-way, or who finds other people in the water distracting. Available to adults as well as children. |
| 2:1 lesson | 4+ | 2:1 | 30 min | Siblings, cousins or friends who settle better together and can share a coach's attention. |
| Parent & baby | Birth–18 mo | 1 adult per child | 30 min | First contact with water, with a parent holding their child the entire lesson. |
| Sibling session | 3+ | 1:1 with sibling | 30 min | Families where one swimmer needs a different pace and the other would otherwise be watching from a bench. |
| Teen & adult lesson | 12+ | 1:1 | 30 min | Older learners, including adults who have never learned to swim and would rather not start in a class. |
| Small-group learn to swim | 5+ | 3:1 | 30 min | Children who are ready to learn alongside others, with a coach close enough to step in. |
| Habit correction | Any age | 1:1 | 30 min | Swimmers who can already swim but whose stroke, breathing or head position needs unpicking. More on habit correction. |
| Rehabilitation & older years | Older years | 1:1 | 30 min | Post-surgery, recovery, rehabilitation, and older swimmers returning to the water. More on rehabilitation. |
| Goal-based swimming | Any age | 1:1 | 30 min | Training towards a specific event or distance — a triathlon, an open-water swim, or a first continuous mile. More on goal-based swimming. |
| Holiday intensive | Any age | 1:1 or 2:1 | 20 min daily | Runs of consecutive days in the school holidays, when routine builds quickly. |
Ratios and ages are our starting point, not a rule, and every class is customisable. If you or your swimmer don't sit neatly in a row, that's exactly the kind of thing a first lesson is for.
Progress
Stages, not stickers
We work through six stages, but they're tracked quietly — for you and the coach, not for the wall of the changing room. A swimmer moves on when they're ready, and can stay in a stage for as long as they like.
| Stage | What it looks like | We move on when |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Settling | On the side, feet in, toys, watching the water. No expectation of getting wet past the ankles. | They come to the pool without distress. |
| 2 · In and out | Entering with support, climbing out at the steps, no face work at all. | They choose to get in on their own. |
| 3 · Floating and blowing | Supported floats, blowing at the surface, splash games, first face-wetting if they offer it. | They float with support and blow bubbles. |
| 4 · Moving | Kicking with a float, travelling to a named target, comfortable away from the wall. | They travel a few metres holding a float. |
| 5 · On their own | Unsupported floats, jumping in, going under — only if they want to. | They float unsupported for five seconds. |
| 6 · Strokes and stamina | Front crawl and backstroke, breathing, distance, and putting it together. | They swim a length with a recognisable stroke. |
Timetable
Quiet hours, seven days a week
Tinted slots run inside a quiet hour: no public swimming, no whistles, no music in the hall. Everything else on the timetable is small-group or family teaching.
Sample timetable shown for layout — live availability is confirmed when you book
Can't see a slot that works?
Tell us the two hours a week that actually work for your family. We build new quiet-hour slots when there's demand for them, and we'd rather move a session than lose a family to a clash with school transport.
Before you book a term
Every family starts with a first lesson. After that we'll offer a consistent weekly slot, the same coach, and the current rate card — confirmed in writing before anything is charged.
The pool
Warm, shallow and quiet by design
Our teaching pool is chosen for what it doesn't have: crowds, echo, and deep water at the entry point.
Pool dimensions, water temperature and access details are all in our pool sheet — ask and we'll send it before your visit so you can decide in advance.
Start with a first lesson, then choose.
Thirty minutes, one-to-one, in one of our quiet hours. Only pay if you want to stay — your first lesson is free if you decide not to continue, and charged as a normal lesson if you do.