Swimming Lessons
Lessons for All
Our Swim School takes swimmers on a journey, from swimming lessons that build water confidence from the first splash, to a lifetime knowledge of water safety and enjoyment.
Pupils enrolled on our Swim School, paying by Direct Debit, receive unlimited free swimming during public sessions, plus Priority Card benefits.
Based on the Swim England Learn to Swim framework and Programme, our lessons run for 45 weeks of the year – providing approximately a 2 week and 5 week break during the Christmas and Summer holidays respectively. This excludes our Adult and Child Classes which run term time only.
Our lessons are taught by experienced instructors who provide high standards of tuition, are fully DBS checked and hold a safeguarding qualification. The programme offers continuous assessment, allowing you to join at any time and to progress through the stages at your own pace.
Standard Group Lessons comply with Swim England recommended ratios. Those looking for more intensive teaching can opt for Premium or One to One lessons. Premium lessons are available for Stages 1 to 4 and provide a 1:4 teacher-to-pupil ratio.
Class Types
All Lessons take place in the Teaching Pool
Our Adult & Child lessons build water confidence, develop motor skills and strengthen coordination – while giving you a chance to bond through fun, play-based learning (term time only).
- Adult & Child 1 (4-12 Months): Nurture a love of water with your baby in a positive, fun environment. Parents / carers attend to give comfort and build confidence.
- Adult & Child 2 (1-2 years): Our infant swimming sessions build your child’s water confidence. Through fun, structured play, they’ll develop basic skills and begin moving independently with floats and aids.
- Adult & Child 3 (2 years+): These fun, game-based classes build on fundamentals, boost group confidence and encourage independent movement – preparing children for solo swimming and the next stage in their aquatic journey.
Perfect for pre-school children, these 45 week lessons build the beginnings of a lifelong love of water. Swimmers swim without you, but will be in the pool with a teacher.
Pre School 1 (3 years+)
Developing basic water safety awareness, basic movement and travel throughout the pool and gaining water confidence.
Pre School 2 (3 years+) – invite only
Introducing safe entries, jumping in and rotation. Working towards travelling around the pool with fewer aids, the next step towards independent swimming.
Our junior swimming lessons are for school age children following the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework, offering a fun and challenging environment to learn new skills and improve their swimming technique.
Stage 1 (4 years+): If your school-age child is new to swimming, this class helps build water confidence, teaches submersion and flotation skills and fosters independence in the water.
Stage 2 (4 years+): These classes build water confidence and teach children to swim 5m unaided on front and back, while developing rotations and push-and-glide skills.
Stage 3a: If your child can swim 5m unaided, Stage 3 lessons focus on reaching 10m, treading water, rotation and earning the Water Safety 1 Award.
Stage 3b: Once confident in deep water, Stage 3b builds essential skills and all four strokes in a fun environment.
Stage 4: This stage helps your child become confident in deep water, master kicking for all four strokes and achieve 15m Award.
Our junior swimming lessons are for school age children following the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework, offering a fun and challenging environment to learn new skills and improve their swimming technique.
Learn 2 Swim 7 Years+: These lessons run exclusively for non swimmers 7 years plus. They aim to improve water confidence, introduce movement in the water, water safety, submersion, flotation and for the participant to be able to complete 5m front and back without aids.
Our junior swimming lessons are for school age children following the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework, offering a fun and challenging environment to learn new skills and improve their swimming technique.
Stage 5: Swimmers at this stage develop all strokes to Swim England Standard over 10m, work toward the Water Safety 2 Award, and aim for the 25m Award.
Stage 6: At this stage, swimmers build stamina by swimming longer distances, aiming for the 50m Award and refining techniques in all four competitive strokes.
Stage 7: Working to maintain all strokes to Swim England Standard over 25m, increase distances for 100m and 200m Awards, develop competitive skills, advanced aquatic abilities and achieve the Water Safety 3 Award.
Once you develop the core range of skills, you have the chance to take part in Stages 8+, Rookie, National Lifesaving Academy and Swim Fitness.
Stage 8/ 9 & 10: Ideal for children who’ve completed Stages 1-7, these levels focus on developing aquatic skills, swimming longer distances, learning starts and turns and introducing the club environment. Swimmers also work toward Bronze, Silver, Gold, Honours and distance Awards up to 1 mile.
Rookie Lifesaving: A fun, safe way for swimmers aged 8-15 (stage 7+) to learn lifesaving and water safety skills, progressing through Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.
National Lifesaving Academy
This is the RLSS UK lifesaving Award for ages 12+, offering Bronze, Silver and Gold levels to develop skills through fun, challenging progression.
Junior Swim Fitness @ Larkfield Leisure Centre only
For swimmers who’ve completed Stage 10 and want to maintain fitness, technique and stamina.
These lessons are ideal for those building water confidence, or swimmers looking to improve technique and stamina. Our lessons suit all abilities: from complete beginners to confident swimmers aiming to refine strokes and swim longer distances.
Be Water Confident/ Beginners (Stage 1): Introductory classes in shallow water to build confidence and basic skills.
Be a Swimmer: Focus on swimming short distances and increasing comfort in and around water.
Be a Better Swimmer: Improve stamina, stroke technique and confidence in deeper water, aiming to swim up to 50m front and back.
If you are unsure of which level applies to you, please contact the relevant site Swim School Coordinator at either Tonbridge Pool or Larkfield Leisure Centre, or email courses@tmactive.co.uk.
One to One Lessons take place at Tonbridge Swimming Pool
Private swimming tuition provides individual attention and a faster learning rate for both adults and children alike. Flexible times are available to suit your needs and to bridge the gap between Swim England stages.
Early booking is advised as sessions are very popular. Please call 01732 367449.
Course Costs to July 2027
You can choose to pay by monthly direct debit (DD) or in 15 week instalments. Those paying by DD receive unlimited FREE swimming during public sessions and a FREE Priority Card which provides discounted activities and 7 day booking rights.
MONTHLY DIRECT DEBIT
Junior 30 Minute - £38.70 p/m
Premium Junior 30 Minute - £60.75
Junior 45 Minute - £45.00 p/m
Junior 60 Minute - £46.50 p/m
Adult 45 Minute - £46.50 p/m
ADULT & CHILD COURSES
15 Week Instalment - £101.70
20 Minute - £21.71 p/m
15 WEEK INSTALMENTS
Junior 30 Minute - £169.80
Premium Junior 30 Minute - £258.00
Junior 45 Minute - £195.00
Junior 60 Minute - £201.00
Adult 45 Minute - £201.00
Booking a Swim School Place
You can book a Swim School place online any time, or check the current availability. Alternatively call your centre of choice - all spaces are allocated on a first come first served basis.
If there are no suitable courses, please join our Swim School News emailing list and we will send you space availability each week.
View Larkfield Leisure Centre Swim School availabilityView Tonbridge Swimming Pool Swim School availabilityTerm Dates 2026/27
JUNIOR & ADULT LESSONS
TERM 1
Monday 1 September to
Friday 18 December 2026
TERM 2
Saturday 2 January to
Sunday 26 July 2027
19 December 2026 to 1 January 2027
27 July to 31 August 2026
ADULT & CHILD LESSONS
1 September to 23 October
2 November to 18 December
4 January to 12 February 2027
22 February to 25 March
12 April to 28 May (excl 3 May)
7 June to 21 July
Manage Lessons on HomePortal
Your Swim School lessons can be managed online using HomePortal. With one simple login, you can manage one or more lessons on your PC or smartphone. Our teachers log monthly progress for each swimmer electronically during lessons, which can be viewed on HomePortal.
Another great benefit of the HomePortal is that when your child is ready to move up to the next level, you will receive an email alert. You can then log on, check class availability and move them to the next level at a time/day that suits you.
Those paying in 15 week blocks can also view how many lessons they have remaining before they need to renew and can top up online.
Already registered? Access HomePortal now. You can also register now if you have your child's card ID. If you don't have the ID number please email us.