Aquatots Foundation Programme
Hello from Team Foundation!
We’re so excited to introduce you to our wonderful Foundation Classes — specially designed for older beginners, ages 18 months to around 5 years.
Whether your child is new to swimming or just needs a boost of confidence, we have four engaging levels to make their experience both fun and comfortable.
And don’t worry, we’ll be with you every step of the way as your child embarks on this exciting journey in the water!
What are our Foundation classes and who are they suitable for?
Our Foundation classes are thoughtfully grouped by age, allowing each child to learn at a pace that suits them best. Each class is designed to ensure your child feels comfortable, well-supported, and most importantly, excited to learn in the water!
Jelly Fish Level 30
Age 18 mths to 2.5 years
Shrimps Level 31
Age 2.5 to 3.5 years
Seahorse Level 32
Age 3.5 to 4.5 years
Squid Level 33
Age 4.5 to 5.5 years
What to Expect in Foundation Classes
Our smaller class sizes mean your child enjoys more one to one time with their friendly teacher, helping them build confidence from the start.
Parents are in the pool too, bringing a “hands-on” approach that’s a core part of the Aquatots programme so you’ll be right there to support and encourage your little swimmer as they develop new skills.
With no waiting around in the pool for your teacher to help each child, means every 30-minute session is packed with learning and excitement - Money well spent!
The pace of each class is matched to your child’s comfort level creating a relaxed, fun atmosphere for all.
Why Not One-to-One Classes?
We know that learning alongside other children creates an inspiring atmosphere, where children often feel encouraged by watching their friends in class. Within this small group setting, children have the chance to build camaraderie, making the whole experience even more enjoyable.
They love to mimic each other, so when one child makes a splash or takes a brave dip, others are naturally encouraged to try as well. This positive peer influence often creates moments of shared accomplishment, making each class even more enjoyable!
Building Confidence with Every Class
For many young swimmers, the first big achievement is getting comfortable going under the water—such a fantastic milestone!
From there, we’ll help them build skills at their own pace, step by step. And as they gain confidence, our teachers will assess when they’re ready to move up to the next swim level.
Before you know it, you’ll be watching your child work toward their first 5-metre independent swim—a moment we know you’ll cherish!
Ready to Dive In?
We’d love to help your child discover a love for swimming in our Foundation classes, and spaces fill up quickly! To Find your nearest Foundation class use the postcode locater below:
Find Your Nearest Class
Alternatively give our friendly booking team a call at 020 8688 6488. They’re ready to chat with you about pool locations, class schedules, and anything else you’d like to know. Let's make a splash—our Foundation classes await you and your little swimmer!
A few words of praise from teachers about swimmer's achievements
Some of our teachers want to make a well-deserved fuss of their Foundation swimmers and have kindly shared some stories with us.
Elliot is a great example for any of us who are slightly more nervous, to find a way to overcome their fears. After both Elliott and his Dad had separate bad experiences in a swimming pool on holiday they were determined to learn those life-saving skills that are so important for children to have. Elliott was three years old when he started at Aquatots and although he was happy to play on the surface and could hold his breath when he needed to, he was clearly uncomfortable going under the water and so we took it very slowly, playing lots of games and encouraging Elliott to build up his confidence. By the end of his first term we figured out that it was actually the water irritating Elliott's eyes that was bothering him; then came the task of encouraging him to wear goggles! This can be tricky but we spent another half a term showing Elliott how to do this safely and comfortably and then hey-presto! Suddenly Elliott's underwater world was crystal clear! Now Elliott is happily swimming in Level 8 and spends more time underwater than on top with a snazzy pair of goggles, but most importantly he's learning all those skills he needs to stay safe in the water. Well done Elliott!"
Saxon Forde has already had a special mention in our newsletter for his brilliant swimming and transition from foundation lessons into our main programme! He is such a confident boy who tries really hard and works so well with Dad every lesson! It's actually been extra challenging for Saxon recently, as he is so tall, it's such a temptation for him to put his feet on the bottom of the pool when doing his swims! To his credit though he tries really hard not to and recently blew us all away when he completed his 5m swim independently. I frequently hear "Dad, don't hold me, I can do it on my own" coming from Saxon! Such an independent little man, who has used that confidence and hard work to achieve his 5m swim at only level 11. This is a fantastic achievement for any level 11 swimmer but to have come from the foundation programme and had limited experience with our swim skills is just incredible! Well done Saxon! Foundation teacher Susie, current teacher Kate and Dad are beaming with pride!"
Lottie Chamberlain and Amelie Pearce transitioned from a few terms in the foundation programme where they built their water confidence and familiarity with some of our skills. We then moved the girls together into Level 9 to see how they would cope. Well all that can be said is WOW ! It has been an absolute pleasure to witness the growth in confidence in these girls and development in their skill levels! Moving straight into the toddler levels is challenging and both girls have done so well with this. The girls regularly surprise their mums by completing skills with such effort and confidence! Both star swimmers for sure! We look forward to seeing that confidence continue to grow and hopefully report on their 5m successes in the near future too!
