The Starfish Swimming programme has been offering a safe, friendly and inclusive swimming environment for SEND children and their families, at Worsley Swimming Pool, for almost 20 years. The programme has now expanded, with classes on offer at both Irlam & Cadishead and Broughton Pool.
We caught up with Nina, the mother of one of Worsley Pools long-standing Starfish swimmers, to discuss her family’s journey with SCL’s inclusive swimming programme.
For Gabrielle’s mum Nina, swimming has always been a non-negotiable life skill.
“My mum has always had a fear of water, so it was always important to me that my were confident swimmers”
It was a priority for her from day one. Her eldest daughter, Amelia, was in the water at Worsley Pool from just eight weeks old.
That was back in 2012. A few years later, her younger daughter, Gabrielle, joined the family. Her swimming story started in much the same way Amelia’s did, but would go on to develop in a way that would be deeply meaningful for them all.
“When Gabrielle was around two and a half, we started noticing a delay in her speech”
Nina explains.
“It can be hard to get a diagnosis at a young age, but I just knew something wasn’t quite right.”
Not long after, Gabrielle was assessed and diagnosed with autism. That’s when Nina first heard about the Starfish Swimming Programme; inclusive swimming lessons specifically designed for children with SEND needs.
“I contacted reception, at Worsley Leisure Centre, and eventually we were able to come down to a session. We haven’t looked back since.”
Gabrielle has now been part of the Starfish Programme for over six years. She’s currently nine years old and in Group 5, the programme’s highest ability group. Nina considers this a testament to her determination, growth, and the inclusive environment she’s flourished in.
But also explains that Starfish has always been about more than just learning to swim.
“The sessions have helped Gabrielle physically, with her health and fitness. Swimming has really improved her strength and coordination. But, it’s given her so much more than that too. She’s learned transferable life skills like turn-taking, listening, cooperating with others, and independence.
The difference, Nina says, lies in the environment.
“It’s a safe, supportive space where she can learn and grow. The children can develop at their own pace. There’s no pressure to meet a certain standard, the lessons meet each child where they are now, and help them to be the best they can be.”
One of the things that’s stood out most to Nina is the community she and Gabrielle have found.
“I think one of the best things we’ve got from Starfish is the community we’ve built with the other families. We love how inclusive it is. People come, and they never leave! It gives Gabrielle a place where she belongs, a place where she can achieve things.”
Those achievements aren’t just moments of praise, they’re tangible celebrations of her efforts.
“Because of Gabrielle’s condition, she’s often classed as ‘behind’ her peers academically. So it’s really nice for her to be able to shine in a different way. She earns certificates, she sees her progress. Her swimming gives her something to aim for; something to be proud of.”
For Nina’s family, Starfish has also created special moments of togetherness. Early in Gabrielle’s lessons, the pool was split so that Starfish lessons were taking place on one side, with General Swim on the other.
Gabrielle’s older sister, Amelia, had her lesson straight after Starfish at that time, so Nina would take Amelia into the general swim while Gabrielle had her class.
“Gabrielle has always looked up to her sister, so it was lovely for her to be able to see Amelia swimming and use her as a role model. They would race, or Amelia would encourage Gabrielle while she was in her lesson. Now they have something they can do together and enjoy as a family.”
“What makes Starfish special,” Nina says, “is how well the sessions adapt to each child’s unique needs.”
“The teachers are incredible. They find a way to communicate with each child in a way that works for them. That could be using clear, simple instructions, learning through play, or something else entirely. They don’t treat the kids like they’re all the same. They meet them where they are.”
“So often, society takes a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and that just doesn’t work. Especially for children like Gabrielle. It’s easy to feel like she’s being left behind. But at Starfish, she’s in a place where she fits in and is valued for who she is.”
Even though the groups in the Starfish programme cater to a wide range of needs and abilities, and feature a mix of ages, Nina says there’s a sense of equality and belonging at the pool that’s rare to find.
“Each child has their own place in the group. Starfish embraces what makes them different rather than seeing their disabilities as barriers.”
As the programme continues to grow, Nina hopes more people will see what inclusion in action really looks like.
“I think it’s good for everyone in society to see what children with additional needs can achieve.”
“So often, people have preconceived ideas about what a disability means and what it limits. But when people see the Starfish sessions, I think that challenges those ideas. Sometimes, people are watching the lessons and don’t even realise it’s a class for children with disabilities at all!”
This year, Gabrielle will also be coming to the pool for school swimming lessons. Nina is looking forward to watching her daughter shine.
“It’ll be lovely for the school to see how strong she is in the water. She’ll get to be the one who’s ahead of the class for once.”
In that moment, Gabrielle won’t just be swimming; she’ll be showing what’s possible when all children are given a space to thrive.
Learn more about the Starfish SEN Swimming Programme or explore the full range of SEND activities at Salford Community Leisure here.
For more information & class availability, contact SEND Inclusion Officer, Olivia at olivia.hughes@scll.co.uk
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