Starfish are our SEN swimming lessons for children with additional needs.
The lessons are designed to provide a fun and engaging introduction to the water. They focus on building a child’s confidence, buoyancy, and balance, helping them feel comfortable and safe in the water. Alongside this, the programme also introduces water safety awareness and the foundations of stroke-based swimming skills to enhance each child’s enjoyment and ability in the pool.
The programme is structured into five progressive stages, allowing children to advance at a pace that suits their development.
Group 1 is the entry-level stage where a parent or carer joins the child in the water. This stage is all about introducing basic swimming skills and water confidence, with activities that the adult can do alongside the child. The swimming teacher remains on the poolside, observing each child to assess their comfort and capability in the water. This helps determine if the child is ready to move on to the next group.
Group 2 marks the transition to independent swimming, with children using floatation aids. At this stage, they must be comfortable being in the water without one-to-one adult support. Children continue to build confidence and begin developing basic techniques such as kicking on their front and back.
As children progress through Groups 3 to 5, the use of floatation aids is gradually removed. Each level introduces more advanced swimming skills, including stroke development and increased stamina.
By Group 5, lessons take place in deeper water, and children are expected to swim confidently using all four strokes. They also begin learning lifesaving skills and swimming longer distances.
Upon completing the Starfish programme, children will be well-prepared to move into general swimming lessons, our Swim Fit programme, or the Swimming Academy for more advanced training.
Sessions
Each session lasts 30 minutes and run between 4:00pm and 7:00pm.
Please contact Olivia Hughes at olivia.hughes@scll.co.uk to book or for any further information.
Please note: a parent or guardian is required to accompany the child in the water.
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