Our fabulous team at Puddle Ducks Lincolnshire are highly trained and qualified teachers who are experts at identifying children’s levels of ability and adapting activities to the individual, nurturing confidence and encouraging natural ability.
We want every child to love swimming, respect the water and swim beautifully. That’s why our standards are the highest and our approach is unique.
Teachers
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Beck Cook
Senior Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-School, Swim AcademyLocation:
Little Carlton, Oceans Grantham, HaddingtonFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
“Swims Through the Hoop – Parent Led” - I would have to say this is my favourite activity as it’s such fun and the sense of achievement parents get once they let go of their little ones and send them through the hoop makes me so proud. The bonus is that I get to see all of them swim past me which amazes me every time.Favourite Puddle Ducks song:
“Go to Sleep” is my favourite song and is featured within the Little Dippers programme. I love seeing all their happy, smiley faces when the jump up from their sleep and get really splashy. It’s an ace activity to encourage our swimmers to relax in the water and build on their water confidence too.Most memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
A little boy appeared in my Little Dippers class 2 years ago and wouldn’t speak to me, look at me and rarely joined in the activities. He found the lessons daunting. Fast forward two years and he is the happiest boy in the water, tells me about his day and swims independently and is safe in and around water. It’s been a long journey and I am super proud of him and his parents for their patience and trust they put in me to help him enjoy swimming plus I have lots of fun teaching him too!A little bit more about yourself:
I joined the team in 2014 originally as a Swim Academy teacher only and what a decision that was…I really do have the best job in the world!!! Over the years I completed the training to teach all the other programmes which I thoroughly enjoy. I have 3 children, which of course keep me busy! In my free time I volunteer as a Brownies Leader and I try fit in playing as much sport as I can into my week! -
Becky Dean
Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-SchoolLocation:
Bainland Lodge Park, Oceans Grantham, Haddington -
Becky Money
Senior Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-School, Swim AcademyLocation:
Haddington, Queens Park Community Hub & BurtonFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
My favourite activity is Belly Flop Splashes, they enjoy this activity so much!Favourite Puddle Ducks song:
I love Floaties songs, watching the babies enjoying the singing from their Mummies & DaddiesA little bit more about yourself:
I joined Puddle Ducks in April 2016. I did Aquanatal when I was pregnant with my daughter and joined Floaties when she was about 8 weeks old. I've always loved swimming, so I looked into becoming a teacher and now I have the best job in the world! Outside the pool I enjoy going on adventures with my husband and my daughters. -
Heather Whitaker
Senior Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-School, Swim AcademyLocation:
South Forest, Belton WoodsFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
Seahorse JumpingFavourite Puddle Ducks song:
What Shall We Do With Our Little SwimmersMost memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
So many, but I do love the moment a child with beautiful swim alignment learns to take a breath for the first time, it fills me with so much pride.A little bit more about yourself:
When not Puddle Ducking, I have a secret lego habit! I enjoy going for a run and even a swim with the local masters, over the summer months I enjoy outdoor swimming. In between looking after our 2 cats, 5 chickens and hive of bees! -
Jade Mays
Teacher and Poolside Assistant
Programme:
Baby & Pre-School & Swim AcademyLocation:
Little Carlton, Haddington, Oceans GranthamFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
My favourite activity would have to be ‘Belly flop splashes- from teacher to parent’. I love seeing the smile on the kickers faces and hearing their laughter during this activity.Favourite Puddle Ducks song:
There is so many to choose from, but it would probably be Wind The Bobbin Up. I find this song great for the children’s confidence in the water, as they have fun singing and splashing the water about. Not only do the children get splashed, they also get to splash their mummies and daddies, which they generally tend to find hilarious.Most memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
My most memorable moments would have to be those where a child overcomes a fear and accomplishes something. Whether that is refusing to get in, to then having those independent swims or being shy, to then telling me about their whole week before they get in the pool. To me being a part of that child’s journey is the best thing ever.
A little bit more about yourself:
Like most of the other members of the Puddle Ducks team, I started out as a Puddle Ducks parent and after seeing the effort everyone puts in to make a child’s experience in the water great, I knew this was a job I wanted to do. Fast forward a few years and I completed my training to be a swimming teacher, all whilst getting a Degree in Education! I still love it as much as the day I started. Outside of Puddle Ducks, I love to just relax and spend time with my daughter. To relax I enjoy reading a book or doing something creative (I love a good colouring book).
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Jade Wilson
Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-SchoolLocation:
South Forest -
Jemma O'Brien
Teacher
Programme:
Swim AcademyLocation:
Little Carlton, Priory Witham Academy, Oceans GranthamFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
My favourite activities are jumping in and floating.Favourite Puddle Ducks song:
What's the weather like today?Most memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
Taking both of my boys swimming for the first time when they were 6 weeks old.A little bit more about yourself:
I have two boys - Dylan, aged 6 and Ezra, aged 3. We all enjoying running and volunteer and take part at our local park run. -
Jess Meakin
Teacher
Programme:
Swim AcademyLocation:
Oceans GranthamFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
Pyjama WeekFavourite Puddle Ducks song:
When Santa got stuck up the chimney!Most memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
It would be hard to choose one moment. But my favourite moments are when a child accomplishes something amazing for them. Whether it’s a nervous swimming getting in the water for their first time, putting there head in the water after months of building up there confidence or completing a distance swim. With Puddle Ducks being child led, the success is all theirs and that is why I love this job so much.
A little bit more about yourself:
I’ve been a chef for 20+ years……
I had my first child in 2014. When we went to our first swimming lesson when she was 12 weeks old, I enjoyed the lesson so much, I knew there and then, this is something I wanted to do.
I was a county swimmer as a child and swam 6 days a week. I enjoyed it so much. Swimming has taken over our life between myself teaching and my girls swimming as often as possible. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Jo Bilbie
Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-SchoolLocation: Deans Sport & Leisure, Oceans Grantham, Haddington
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Leah Bolus
Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-SchoolLocation:
Belton Woods Hotel, Queens Park Community Hub, Oceans Grantham -
Sam Topham
Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-School, Swim AcademyLocation:
Haddington, Burton, Queens Park Community Hub -
Sarah Reeves
Teacher
Programme:
Baby & Pre-SchoolLocation:
Queens Park Community Hub, Little Carlton
The Office and Poolside Teams
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Becki Foster
Role:
Office AdministratorFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
Belly Flop Splashes or Seahorse JumpingFavourite Puddle Ducks song:
Quack Quack Said The Little Puddle Ducks One DayMost memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
When little ones first lift their heads to breathe. Never fails to make me feel proud of them (and usually a bit weepy too)A little bit more about yourself:
I’ve been a Puddle Ducks customer now for almost 10 years with my two children! They both really enjoy swimming and I’m so pleased they’ve been able to learn such an important life skill in such a fun and nurturing environment. I started working for Puddle Ducks as a Poolside Assistant almost 6 years ago and a couple of years later joined the office team too. -
Beth John
Role:
Poolside AssistantLocation:
Queens Park Community Hub -
Julie Warrington-Morrow
Role:
Poolside AssistantLocation:
HaddingtonFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
Splashers doing anything! They are just at the age where it all becomes fun, and the smiles and gurgles really brighten my day.Favourite Puddle Ducks song:
Down in the JungleMost memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
Watching kids achieve their 5 metres is always special.A little bit more about yourself:
We moved up to Lincoln from Bristol in 2011 and our not so little girl Betsy was born in 2012. It was taking Betsy swimming which first introduced us to Puddle Ducks. After spending time doing voluntary work in Canada, managing a theatre box office in Bristol and working for the Arts and Humanities Research Council it was nice to concentrate on being a mum and doing a gentle fun job here, I still love it. Watching the kids progress term by term is fantastic.
Now I poolside part time while running a small jewellery making/creative business from home which has emerged out of collecting sea glass on holidays over the years.
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Louise Ball
Role:
Poolside AssistantLocation:
Little Carlton, BurtonFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
Monkey walkingFavourite Puddle Ducks song:
Little Peter RabbitMost memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
Watching the little ones grow in confidence with every lessonA little bit more about yourself:
I'm Mum to 4 year old Leo and it was when he first started his own swimming lessons with Puddle Ducks that I realised this company was a bit different. It was the first time he'd really engaged with swimming lessons and he started to love every minute. That's really why I became a Poolside Assistant and I love seeing the pleasure that parents and children get from their time in the pool. -
Lucy Hartley
Role:
Marketing Manager
Favourite Puddle Ducks activity:
Chasing Puddle the Duck around the pool
Favourite Puddle Ducks song:
Swim Swim Little Fish
Most memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
My son's first ever swim class when he was just 4 weeks old; he’s in Swim Academy now and it seems such a long time ago!
A little bit more about yourself:
I started as a “Puddle Ducks Mummy” with my little boy, Arthur. Seeing what a difference it made to him, and how much he enjoys it, I knew it was a place I could market and so when the opportunity arose I jumped at the chance to join the team.I now have 2 children who swim with Puddle Ducks and both are thriving in their different experiences. Edith, aged 3 loves monkey walking and is getting ever more confident at stand up jumps and Arthur, aged 5, loves jumping and diving in Swim Academy.
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Lynne Slater
Role:
Office ManagerA little bit more about yourself:
I am married to Tim and have two children Joe, 22 and Lucy, 19 (Joe worked as a Poolside Assistant at Haddington before going off to University). I am originally from Ossett in West Yorkshire, but moved to Bingham 21 years ago where I was a full time Mum for 11 years before dipping my toe back into the working world. I joined Puddle Ducks in May 2012 and hope to be here for many years to come. -
Nadia Still
Role:
Poolside AssistantLocation:
Queens Park Community HubFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
Seeing happy smiling babies and childrenFavourite Puddle Ducks song:
Jelly on a PlateMost memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
My first day!A little bit more about yourself:
I enjoy meeting new people and getting to know all the little babies and children. I have a little boy called Ariyan who is currently 11 months old. He also attends Puddle Ducks classes and loves splashing! He gets so excited when he sees the pool and realises he’s coming swimming! My hobbies include going to Zumba classes and baking yummy cakes. -
Natalie Outen
Role:
Poolside Assistant -
Nicola Wilson
Role:
FranchiseeFavourite Puddle Ducks activity:
Jelly on a Plate and Belly Flop SplashesFavourite Puddle Ducks song:
3 Little Men in a Flying SaucerMost memorable Puddle Ducks moment:
Seeing some of our first Floaties achieving their 5 metresA little bit more about yourself:
As an ex competitive swimmer, I’ve always loved the water and launched Puddle Ducks Lincolnshire in 2010 after having my two children and LOVING teaching them to swim!