Swimming Classes at Puddle Ducks Chester, Wirral and Liverpool

Local Teachers Nominated for Teacher of the Term Summer 2010

Alison, nominated as Teacher of the Term Summer 2010

Alison and Helen were delighted to learn that they had been nominated for the Puddle Ducks Teacher of the Term Summer 2010. This is what their customers said in their nominations:

Helen Smurthwaite (Chester, Wirral & Liverpool)
Helpful Helen, friendly smile
Effervescent energy, contagious enthusiasm
My Little Dipper loves every moment of her Puddle Ducks class
Experienced and knowledgeable, she seamlessly adapts the lessons to meet each child’s needs
Nothing is too much trouble – Helen is fabulous

(From Lesley and Rowan Dougan - Little Dippers at Woodhey Hotel, Wirral, Wednesday's at 11am)

I would like to nominate Alison who teaches at Milton Brook for the following reasons. Alison is a true professional who consistently strives to give every child and parent the best possible experience at puddle ducks. Alison puts 100% effort and focus into every lesson I have attended and safety is her top priority. Alison ensures she talks the group through every exercise we do and ensures we understand the importance of why we are doing it. In terms of coaching Alison is very quick to identify what your child is doing well and builds quickly on those strengths. I believe Alison makes the Puddle Duck experience one never to forget. Jo McGrady

Hi, I would just like to nominate Alison Lewis-Dale for the teacher of the term award. Alison is a fantastic swim teacher who approaches her job professionally and more importantly, with tremendous enthusiasm and good humour which encourages us Mums and our little ones week after week! Many thanks, Emma Tudor, mum to George, aged 19months.

My daughter, Poppy Clayton, & I attend the 'Kickers' class at Foxfield school each Saturday at 11:30pm with Alison Lewis-Dale. Alison is always very chirpy and welcoming; her classes feel well planned and orchestrated. The class structure/ progress feels just right so that each new experience is overlapped, one week to the next, enough to inspire confidence without becoming either repetitive or boring

Well done Alison and Helen!

Posted on 13th July 2010 by Tracy

Splashathon Update

We would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who took part in our Splashathon last week. It was great fun to see so many of you in the pool in your PJ’s.

We were raising money for Tommy’s charity, and I am delighted to tell you that we raised a massive £327.77 in donations at the pools, and this doesn’t include any sponsorship money that you may have raised individually! If your little one has raised sponsorship money, please send it directly to Tommy’s. Instructions on how to do this will be found on your sponsorship form or online.

Thank you so much for your generosity and I’m sure that this money will make a big difference to families who rely on the support from Tommy’s.

Details of our total money raised will be posted in September.

Posted on 24th June 2010 by Jo Stone

Ryan Forster makes a splash

Chester's new baby swimming teacher, Ryan Forster

Ryan Forster is Chester, Wirral and Liverpool's new baby swim teacher. Kerry managed to catch up with Ryan and ask him a few questions:

Where and when did you hear about Puddle Ducks?

I heard about Puddle Ducks From Kerry who owns the franchise actually. Kerry takes her children to the nursery where I used to teach the babies and children swimming, which is now where my own children go as well.

What did you do before training to become a teacher?

I still do it. I run my own graphic design and print company called Rilko.

Why did you decide to train?

I missed the interaction with parents and children that I used to get back when I was working at the afterschool and summer club in the nursery. Also, It doesn’t get better than this as a job, to get me away from my computer.

What was the hardest thing about the training?

Honestly I would say the sheer intensity of the training itself. That and all the different songs!

What was the best bit about the training?

The best bit was teaching all the actual lessons. Enjoyed every minute and I would recommend it to anyone.

When you are not getting wrinkly in the water, what do you like to do?

I cycle in races all over the country and also just love spending time with my family.

What are you most looking forward to now?

Every lesson you see a progression in each child and parents as well, so seeing a child go and achieve something new every week will just be awesome! Also, I cannot wait for the day when a child who started having lessons with me as a baby, swims a length or width un-aided!

Posted on 8th June 2010 by Tracy

Dates for our next underwater photo shoot

Dates for our next underwater and overwater photo shoot

An photograph of your child in the water could be an ideal gift for a family member!!

Remember forever how confident your little one is in the water.

We are running both an underwater and overwater photo shoot which is available to all of customers.

The session is on Sunday 27^th June at our Woodhey House Hotel Pool, Little Sutton from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Bookings are being taken now.

The booking fee (non-returnable and payable to Puddle Ducks Chester) will be £40 and there will be a maximum of 5 children in the water for the 20 minutes session. There will be one teacher in the water submerging the children and a second ensuring that the session is run as much like a normal class as possible aiming to make it a fun and enjoyable time for all.

You are welcome to book more than one sibling for each session fee, but your photographing time will be split accordingly.

There will be time to take several photographs both under water and over water, providing your child is willing and able.

Your class teachers will be able to advise if your child may be photographed underwater.

Photograph prices start from £25 and prompt photograph orders made in the two weeks following the shoot will qualify for a massive 20% discount. The full pricing structure can be found here.

Please see our photography page for more information. To book your slot please send a cheque for the £40 booking fee (payable to Puddle Ducks Chester) to the address above.

Posted on 25th May 2010

Splashathon 2010 - lets try to save tiny lives- w/c 14/6/2010

We are delighted to announce we will be supporting Tommy’s, the baby charity by taking part in their annual event, Splashathon. We will be hosting a Pyjama Party in their honour!

What is Splashathon?

• Tommy’s Splashathon is a national, community based event, that encourages parents to take their babies and toddlers swimming, whilst also raising funds for Tommy’s, the baby charity

• Hundreds of swim schools, swimming pools and individuals around the UK hold a Splashathon event each year in May and June

• Splashathon is for parents with babies and young children

• Participants raise sponsorship money for their ‘Splash’ by undertaking a challenge.

The event has been running for 11 years and has successfully raised over £800k in total for Tommy’s work.

Who is Tommy’s, the baby charity?

Tommy’s exists to save babies’ lives because right now in the UK one in four women loses a baby during pregnancy or birth. We fund research at our centres in Manchester, London and Edinburgh and provide information on the causes and prevention of miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. By 2030 we want to halve the number of babies who die during pregnancy and birth. For further details please view the tommy’s website www.tommys.org

When will it take place?

The 2010 splashathon will take place in all Puddle Ducks lessons week commencing 14th June 2010. Each child will do something special during the lesson according to the age and ability of the children in the class. Your teacher will be able to advise you on what this may be. All children (and parents in the water) should wear shortie pyjamas. The focus will be on lifesaving.

The top fundraising customer (from Puddle Ducks South Lancs) will receive a free £10 swimming voucher. In addition the charity is offering a bumper pack of swimwear worth £200 for the top fundraiser across the UK and a fun prize for those who raise over £50 and send it in before 31^st August.

How do I take part?

If you would like to get involved, great! All you need do is log on to www.splashathon.org to create your own personalised online sponsorship page for your Puddle Duck, clearly stating Puddle Ducks Chester, Wirral and Liverpool as the name of the swimming school. You can then email to family and friends for them to sponsor him/her securely on line. No need to carry around paper forms and chase outstanding sponsors!

If you would like a paper sponsor form just pick one up from your pool, or you can order one from www.splashathon.org.

Lets help make a difference this year, helping Tommy’s save tiny lives.

Any Questions? Please contact us as normal.

Further information »

Posted on 17th May 2010 by Jo Stone

Meet Our New Baby Swim Teacher for Liverpool

Baby swim teacher for Liverpool, Helen, with Evangeline

Franchisee Kerry tracked down our wonderful new baby swimming teacher Helen Smurthwaite, after she passed her Puddle Ducks baby swimming training with flying colours!

Where and when did you hear about Puddle Ducks?

My friend Jo started taking her son to Puddleducks classes at Foxfields

What did you do before training to become a teacher?

I have always worked in the leisure industry & have occupied a number of roles, including Fitness Instructor, Swimming Teacher (4years+), Sports Coach & Management roles

Why did you decide to train?

I love working with children so much & really wanted to return to teach swimming. Joining Puddle Ducks was a new challenge which has allowed me to return to the work that I love.

What was the hardest thing about the training?

The intensity of the course – there is so much to learn about the development of children & the reasons why we do certain activities. I like to understand why I am doing something so I can pass on that knowledge to customers.

What was the best bit about the training?

Teaching!! Getting in the pool with ‘real’ children!!! By Tuesday you feel exhausted & just getting to take part in some ‘live’ lessons makes you realise why you are doing the course & how amazing the job is going to be!

When you are not getting wrinkly in the water, what do you like to do?

I play hockey in the winter! I also love a nice meal out & holidays!!!!

What are you most looking forward to now?

Getting my own lessons underway & launching Puddle Ducks in Liverpool! I can’t wait!!!!

Posted on 17th March 2010 by Tracy

Baby Swim Business Wins Three Major Nominations for National Awards

Puddle Ducks are thrilled to have been nominated in three categories in the ‘What’s on 4’ 2010 Awards:

1) Best National Baby & Toddler Development Activity (newborn to 2 years)

2) Best National Pre-schooler Development Activity (2 to 5 years)

3) Most Outstanding Activity Leader for the Under 5s (Ali Beckman)

These awards are voted for by parents across the country – last year Puddle Ducks reached the finals and we are so excited about the possibility of winning a category this year.

PLEASE VOTE for Puddle Ducks now!

Posted on 15th March 2010 by Jo Stone

Children in Need - Puddle Ducks Pyjama Party

Thank you so very much for your effort and donations for Children in Need recently.

It was brilliant to see so many children and parents in PJ’s in the water and fantastic to have a few Pudsey Bears sit at the side of the pool watching the lessons.

We are sure you will agree, it was great opportunity for our baby and toddler swimmers to experience swimming fully clothed. We hope it never happens, but it might help our young swimmers in the future, if they did accidentally fall in water clothed.

We are delighted to say that we raised a fantastic

£225.85

Thank you again, hopefully between us we will make a difference for a child less fortunate then our own.

The Puddle Ducks Chester, Wirral and Liverpool Team

Posted on 27th November 2009

Puddle Ducks makes you smile

Puddle Ducks makes you smile

Take a look at our video "Puddle Ducks make you smile" on You Tube. Its impossible to watch without smiling .......

Posted on 24th June 2009 by Jo Stone

Splashathon 2009 results

Congratulations to all the Puddle Ducks who took part in the 2009 Splashathon held in June. We managed to raise a fantastic £7,900 for Tommys across our franchise network.

We'd like to thank all those who donated. We exceeded our target of £5000 and next year we hope to raise even more.

We will shortly be announcing our top fundraisers.

Thanks again

Posted on 12th November 2009

We are a finalist in the Whats on for Little Ones Awards 2009

Thank you so much for your votes, they have all counted.

We are pleased to announce that we have been voted finalist in the Whats On for Little Ones Awards for

- Best National Toddler Development Activity

For more details, please click here.

Many, many thanks – watch this space!

Posted on 3rd February 2009

Children in Need - Puddle Ducks Pyjama Party

Thank you so very much for your effort and donations for Children in Need recently.

It was brilliant to see so many children and parents in PJ’s in the water and fantastic to have a few Pudsey Bears sit at the side of the pool watching the lessons.

We are sure you will agree, it was great opportunity for our baby and toddler swimmers to experience swimming fully clothed. We hope it never happens, but it might help our young swimmers in the future, if they did accidentally fall in water clothed.

We are delighted to say that we raised a fantastic

£225.85

Thank you again, hopefully between us we will make a difference for a child less fortunate then our own.

The Puddle Ducks Chester, Wirral and Liverpool Team

Posted on 27th November 2009