Learn To Swim

At Horncastle Otters we follow the Swim England Learn to Swim programme. Each swimmer is assessed on their first lesson with us and placed in the stage most appropriate to their swimming and learning needs. This may be different to the stage they were with in their previous lessons, if you have any questions please don't hesitate in chatting to one of the teaching staff for more information.

Learn to Swim focuses on covering essential core aquatic skills and ensuring all the outcomes are achieved before progressing to the next stage. We endeavour to make each lesson fun, all our lessons are 45 minutes long which allows us to have playtime at the end where all swimmers are given the opportunity to have some fun and help develop their aquatic skills without realising they are still learning.

Swimmers will progress through the stages at their own pace, assessments are continual which allows the teachers to identify any learning needs or outcomes that may be needed to suit that swimmer.

Because we are lucky to have our in pool helpers and young volunteers we are able to offer one to one support for any swimmers who may need additional support. We adapt the lesson to suit those additional learning or physical needs to enable all swimmers to achieve their goals, please, speak to one of the teachers to discuss any concerns or questions you may have. It is really important to us that we are an inclusive club and feel that everyone has the right to learn to swim, please if your child has any learning or physical needs let us know and we can work out how best to support them.

Swimmers will progress through the programme at their own pace so this means that some swimmers may move up faster than others, this doesn't mean that one swimmer is not achieving but just that someone else may have achieved faster than them. Whether it takes 4 weeks, four months or four years to achieve a stage it doesn't matter, at Horncastle Otters the teachers will support that swimmer to achieve the stage.

Badges and stage certificates are not awarded during the year but at our annual presentation night. We prefer to celebrate all our swimmers achievements with a presentation night and a chance for everyone as a club to get together. We have special awards and trophies as well as the swimming certificates and badges that the swimmers achieved through the year.

We hold 2 sponsored swims a year which not only gives swimmers the opportunity to raise some much needed money to help keep the club going but allows swimmers the chance to achieve their distance awards that they may not be able to manage in a shorter lesson.

We also have an annual Gala and Barbeque where we have some friendly competitions and races for all swimmers.

All teachers have undertaken courses with Swim England, we have teaching assistants who have completed the Swim England Learn to Swim Teaching Assistant course - Level 1 and Teachers who have completed the Swim England Learn to Swim Teaching course - Level 2. All teachers and pool helpers are DBS checked and have to undertake regular safeguarding training.