Swimming Classes at Puddle Ducks Dorset and West Hants

Jane nominated for Teacher of the Term Summer 2010

Jane Bozic, nominated by Logan

Jane was delighted to learn that one of her customers, Logan Dunne, nominated her as Teacher of the Term for Summer 2010. This is what Logan's Mum said:

"Always our teacher of the month and everyone else should know how wonderful she is too! She’s put up with an awful lot of screaming and shouting from Logan yet still let us attend each week, and at last we’ve succeeded! Logan can now not only swim but smiles while doing it!" Zoe Dunne & Logan Dunn

Congratulations Jane!

Posted on 13th July 2010 by Tracy

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

We are delighted to announce we will once again 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 pyjamas (shortie pyjamas for children). The focus will be on lifesaving.

The challenge we have selected for this very special swimming lesson is £1,500. The top local fundraiser will receive a free £20 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 Dorset 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

Local Baby Swimmers Win 'Face of Puddle Ducks'

Baby swimmer Esme wins Face of Puddle Ducks

Local Franchise babies Esme Mowlem, Freddie Turner and pre-schooler Millie Porter were thrilled to learn that they had won the “face of Puddle Ducks” and will appear on all the company’s national advertising for 2010.

All children attend Puddle Ducks pre-school swimming classes in Poole and Bournemouth and were selected from thousands of underwater photographs taken throughout the country for Puddle Ducks.

Teacher and local franchisee, Jane Bozic says: “I am so excited that Esme, Freddie and Millie have won this. Both Esme and Freddie have been coming to classes since they were only weeks old and Millie joined when I established Puddle Ducks locally. They have really enjoyed the lessons and developed as little swimmers.”

Mum Zoe Mowlem says: "Esme loves her lessons and kicks, splashes and smiles her way through them, it's the highlight of our week! Right from the start our lessons have been an excellent opportunity for me and my husband to bond with Esme and have fun learning new skills. We're honoured and excited that Esme's photo has been selected to be one of the faces of Puddle Ducks."

Each child will receive a £50 voucher towards Puddle Ducks classes.

Posted on 10th May 2010 by Tracy

Baby Swim Teacher Donna joins Puddle Ducks Dorset

New Puddle Ducks Dorset baby swim teacher Donna

We are delighted to introduce you to our new, fabulous teacher, Donna Griffiths. Donna completed her gruelling seven day training course at the beginning of March and is looking forward to running her own classes soon.

We tracked Donna down to ask her a few questions:

Where and when did you hear about Puddle Ducks?

I heard about Puddle Ducks on netmums when I applied for my poolside assistant job in September last year.

What did you do before training to become a teacher?

Before I worked for Puddle Ducks I was a PA for a Partner at a Private Equity firm In London

Why did you decide to train?

After I had my son Cassius I moved to Bournemouth, I didn’t want to work 10 hour days any more I wanted something to fit in with my family. I didn’t just want a job, I wanted to do something I was passionate about. I love swimming and many, many years ago I did my work experience at college teaching kids to swim, it was the most rewarding job I have ever had and hands down the most fun.

What was the hardest thing about the training?

Day one sat in the conference room prepared to work hard & smell of chlorine all week, I wasn’t prepared for how much I missed my family. The course tutor warned us there might be tears come mid week, I cried on the 1^st day. Oh dear!

What was the best bit about the training?

The tutors Sharon & Ali, and the other girls on the course, there were a few tears but more than that there was so much laughter on the course. Not only am I a qualified Puddle Ducks teacher now, I’ve come away with some real friends too.

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

Spending time with my family & friends but I seem to spend most of my time amusing my son. What are you most looking forward to now?Getting started I can’t wait for the new term to start.

Posted on 15th 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

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

Dates for our next underwater photo shoot

Does your child love it underwater?

An underwater photograph could be an ideal gift for a family member!!

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

The next session is on on Sunday 25th October 2009 at our Portfield Pool from 9:30am - 12pm. Bookings will be taken from 14th September.

The booking fee (non-returnable and payable to Puddle Ducks) will be £30 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 under 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 £30 booking fee (payable to Puddle Ducks) to the address above.

Posted on 29th July 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

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

Splashathon 2009 - lets try to save tiny lives- w/c 8/6/2008

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

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 10 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 2009 splashathon will take place in all Puddle Ducks pre-school lessons week commencing 22nd June 2008. 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. The challenge we have selected for this very special swimming lesson is £5,000. The top local fundraiser will receive a free £20 swimming voucher. The top three local fundraisers will receive a free pair of children's goggles. In addition the charity is offering a bumper pack of swimwear worth £200 for the top fundraiser across the UK and a fun gift for those who send sponsorship money 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 Dorset 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 12th May 2009 by Jo Stone

VOTE FOR US at whatson4littleones.co.uk

Do you love your Puddle Ducks classes? We are pleased to announce that we have been nominated in the Whats On for Little Ones Awards for

- Best National Baby Development Activity

- Best National Toddler Development Activity

- Best National Preschool Development Activity

Why not click here to place your vote for Puddle Ducks in all three categories, it will only take a minute.

Many, many thanks – watch this space!

Posted on 3rd February 2009

Plush Discount for Puddle Ducks

Plush Hotel near Bristol have been kind enough to create a special “Shoppers Sleep-over Package” for all members, friends and family of any Puddle Ducks swimming classes.

For a special rate of £99 per room per night you can shop until you drop (perhaps in the fabulous Cabot Circus), then relax in the evening with a complimentary bottle of wine or a visit to the luxury pool and jacuzzi complex.

Terms and conditions apply, and please mention promotional code XMAS08PD when you book.

Posted on 8th December 2008