FAQ's

Can my child wear arm bands?

Your child, no matter how young or how new to swimming they are, will never wear arm bands in a Puddle Ducks lesson. We want to teach your child to swim independently and how to be safe in the water. There are compelling reasons why we don’t use armbands:

1. If your child fell into water when on holiday or even just on a riverside walk with the family, they probably won’t have armbands on. Their experience in their swimming lessons needs to be as realistic as possible. Water safety is a core building block in our lesson plans and everything your child learns will, unbeknownst to them, be teaching them vital life-saving skills
2. We teach our Puddle Ducks to swim beautifully. Technique is ingrained at every level and wearing arm bands hinders this. Your child will learn to swim on the surface of the water, gracefully and efficiently. If they wear arm bands, they will not be aligned in the water. Their top half will be bobbing above the water, forcing their bottom half to dip down, making the alignment required for independent swimming all but impossible

Non-fitted buoyancy aids (such as floats or woggles) allow children to push away from them when they are ready to be independent whereas fitted aids (arm bands) require an adult to deflate them. We would never recommend the use of inflatables or buoyancy seats – these can flip toddlers over into the water and even land on top of them, making it difficult for them to surface.

 

My baby really isn’t happy in the water, should I stop bringing him?

Understandably, some parents worry that if their baby cries a lot that it is doing more harm than good.

This is not the case. Removing your baby from swimming classes because they don’t seem to enjoy it initially (or maybe they were fine to start with and now are a bit unsure) is more likely to instil a fear or dislike of water than working through it with them.

Our teachers are trained in dealing with cases of this and will work with you and your child so that we find activities they enjoy and move it on from there.

 

What if my child has a fear of the water? Will they be able to overcome it & learn to swim?

Yes – with care, nurturing and reassurance.  It is important never to rush because children develop at different stages on land and it's the same in the water. 

The main thing is to stay relaxed and have fun – if you start to force an activity on a child when they are nervous, they will respond with resistance, develop further nerves and the lesson will not be enjoyable.  Allow them to watch others and to just be in the pool. 

We find that children who also swim with their family outside of structured lessons progress from being nervous much quicker than others so go and have fun and allow your child to lead.  Never force.

 

What if my child disrupts the class or misbehaves?

Please don’t worry, we have dealt with thousands of children over the past nine years and we can deal with yours! In our Baby & Pre-school classes, if your child were to become upset or start misbehaving, we suggest that you move to one side for a moment to speak with your child, however, the teacher will happily speak to your child too if you feel it is appropriate/necessary.

We usually find that after a minute or two they want to join back in with the lesson – we can always provide one of our toys to help calm them down and wait until we are doing an activity we know they enjoy.

 

Will my child ever learn to swim? / What if they can’t do something?

Every child has the potential to learn to swim. First and foremost, we will only progress a child at their own pace. If they can’t do a certain activity, we will work on progressive stages of that activity with your child until they can master it. 

Our Baby & Pre-school programmes are only ability based once you hit 2 years old and at this stage the children are placed in classes with other children of similar ability in order to work on the necessary aspects of their swimming. 

 

How soon will my child be able to swim? Will they be able to swim before we go on holiday in 4 weeks?

Whilst every child learns to swim at their own pace, some are naturals and take to swimming like a duck to water! However, this isn’t the norm and 4 weeks is not enough time to teach most children to swim and be safe in and around water.

The Puddle Ducks programme is a sustained approach and whilst 4 weeks of classes would be better than nothing before a holiday, please don’t book our lessons looking for a quick fix.

 

Why won't my child blow bubbles in the pool when they do in the bath?

It is important to remember that there is a lot to take in when children are in a swimming lesson – the environment, the other children, the activities etc. 

Sometimes it can be sensory overload for some children and they take longer to process instructions as they are focusing on other things.  Many children don’t seem to listen but then do everything at home. 

This is still a positive response to the lessons and it is important, if your child does this, not to force them to listen or watch in lessons as the information is obviously going in and they are happy to practice in their own environment for now.  This will soon transfer to the pool so please don’t worry.

 

Should my toddler wear goggles?

At Puddle Ducks, we find that as the children get older, more of them are inclined to wear goggles as they spend greater parts of their lesson with their faces in the water.  However, we have very specific guidelines which may help you decide whether to give your toddler or pre-schooler goggles when you are swimming with them away from your Puddle Ducks lessons:

1. Encourage head down swimming without goggles first.  Goggles should be a last resort
2. Don’t allow young children to jump in with goggles on, they could slip and hurt your child’s face if not fitted properly which is often difficult with young children. They should also regularly resurface and swim without goggles on.

3. Take goggles off occasionally to practise personal survival skills
4. Make sure the goggles are well-fitting
5. Don’t allow a child to wear goggles if they cannot keep them on!

 

When can I start bringing my child to Puddle Ducks?

Parents can bring their newborn as soon as they feel ready - our youngest Puddle Duck was just over a week old! We advise to allow the umbilical cord to have healed over to avoid infection, but you don't need to wait until your baby has had their jabs.

We find that babies (as they have spent 9 months in their own watery world), have a natural affinity in our carefully selected, warm pools. You can also sign up to classes at any point in the year, subject to availability, so don't worry about having to wait until the next term or block starts.

 

Does my baby need to have injections before I take him swimming?

According to the NHS website, you can take your newborn swimming regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. Although, if your child has had a vaccination that day, they probably won’t feel up to swimming on the same day.

 

My toddler hasn't been to swimming classes before, can he come to your lessons?

Absolutely! In fact your child can come to Puddle Ducks at any age between 0-4 year's old.

Each of the programmes focuses on nurturing confidence - our teachers know that children develop and learn at different rates, so will adjust each activity to get the best out of each child and encourage positive progression.

 

How many lessons do we have to book/pay for in one go?

Our programme is a continuous learning journey that runs throughout the year with the exception of some school holidays (see the pool timetables for details of weeks when we don’t swim). Payment, either your initial payment or subsequent monthly payment, is required to secure your child’s place in their class.

 

My child has special needs, can I still bring him/her to class?

Our teachers all undergo training by the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA) that teaches them how to teach and care for children with certain special needs.

Please call us on 01603 733591 and we'll talk through your requirements with you, we will absolutely be inclusive in our lessons where we can. We also work with parents who have special needs themselves.

Please note, there are some medical conditions/disabilities which are not covered by our swimming training and therefore our insurance does not permit us to teach in these circumstances. Please do call us and we'll help where possible.

 

I am very nervous in water - should I still bring my baby?

Yes! We have many parents who bring their babies to our classes just for that reason: they want to make sure their child is confident in the water. You can rest assured that our pools are chosen so that you are always able to stand in the water and our teachers will be able to reassure you, as well as your baby.

Just let them know when you start (and throughout the programme) of any concerns and they will be happy to support you and provide any advice you need. While we encourage parents to lead by example by blowing bubbles in the water etc, you won't be made to do anything you aren't comfortable with and we know that many parents also wear contact lenses, so it's not always practical either.

 

I have twins - can I bring them both swimming?

Absolutely. In our Baby & Pre-school lessons, each child will need to be accompanied in the water by an adult (i.e. one parent cannot bring both children alone). 

 

How do I find out which class my child is due to be moved into next? 

When you login to your My Puddle Ducks account you need to click on 'My Children'. Your child's next class is detailed after their 'current class' details.

 

What if I want a different class to the one the system has chosen?

Please e-mail [email protected] or call 01603 733591 and we can discuss your options.

 

How will I know when my child is going to move? 

By logging in to your My Puddle Ducks account you can view your child's progress in their current class. Once all the criteria have been achieved, the automove will happen. Of course, your teacher is still around every week to discuss your child's progress face-to-face.

 

What if my child is ready to move to the next level and there isn't space for them in the new class?

They will be put on the waiting list for the class and will be moved as soon as a space becomes available. You will take priority over new customers waiting for a class. Alternatively, speak to the office to find out if there is another class that would be suitable for you.

What should I bring to a swimming lesson?

If your child is attending our Floaties, Splashers or Kickers classes or is not yet fully toilet trained they must comply with our 'Double Nappy' policy. Please wear one of our specialist Puddle Ducks neoprene swim nappies or one of our range of Happy Nappies over a disposable swim nappy or one of our environmentally friendly NappyWraps & Liners. 

The design of our Puddle Ducks swim nappy and range of Happy Nappies (stretchy neoprene with snug fitting deep waistband and leg cuffs) ensures that all ‘little accidents’ stay inside the nappy with the NappyWrap or disposable swim nappy underneath providing an extra layer of protection (and making any ‘accidents’ so much easier to get rid of!). Alternative neoprene swim over-nappies of a similar design can be worn after approval from your local Puddle Ducks office.

TIP: A neoprene swim nappy needs to be snug around the legs and waist to do its job properly (but not too tight!)

• It is only when your child is in Little Dippers and is fully toilet trained that our 'Double Nappy' policy no longer applies. Then we recommend cropped lycra shorts for boys (as Bermuda style shorts cause drag) and one-piece swim suits for girls
• At least one towel or hooded towel for your little one. These can be taken to the poolside
• A neoprene baby wrap, baby wetsuit or thermal top if your child is likely to get cold in the water. A great selection can be found in our online shop
• Some milk for your baby or a healthy snack for your toddler/child (although please save these for your journey home as for health and safety reasons we cannot allow food in the changing rooms or at poolside)
• If needed, a wipeable changing mat that can be placed on the changing room floor for you to change your baby on.
• Your own swimwear and towel if you are going in the pool with your child

 

Will I be in the water with my child?

If your child is in Floaties, Splashers, Kickers, Little Dippers or Dippers in our Baby & Pre-school programme then yes, you will be in the water with them throughout the lesson, these sessions provide a fabulous bonding experience between you and your child and is all about building their water confidence.

 

Can parents alternate attending the classes?

Of course, either parent or carer can attend the lessons. We do not allow the adult in the water to swap with another adult during the class as this can be disruptive for the other customers as well as your child.

 

What are our changing room arrangements?

We’ve chosen all of our pools because they are safe, clean and warm, with good changing facilities. Here’s how you can do your bit:

• Aim to arrive no more than 15 minutes before your lesson and try to leave by 15 minutes after your class to help avoid changing room congestion
• For the same reason, please don’t bring buggies or car seats into the building
• Please either remove outdoor shoes or wear the plastic over-shoes often provided by the venue before entering the changing rooms and/or poolside, and ask any guests who are coming to watch the lesson to do the same
• Please take your used nappies home
• Most parents find it easiest to wrap their child in a hooded towel or robe and dress themselves before dressing their little one (but if it is very cold in winter, dress your little one first)
• No snacks in the changing room please
• Please wring out your costumes at a drainage point rather than onto the changing room floor

 

What if my baby is tired or hungry?

If your baby is tired or hungry then they are unlikely to enjoy their swimming lesson. For breast or bottle-fed babies there is no problem feeding them immediately before or after the class (or even withdrawing for a few minutes during the class).

For older babies on solids it’s best to leave a little time before the class starts to prevent regurgitation in the water.

 

I have two children at different ages - can I bring the other along to watch the classes?

Usually yes, although it depends on the spectator policy of the pool - just let the Puddle Ducks office know when you book (or the day before the lesson) and we’ll make any necessary enquiries.

We do advise that you bring another adult along with you where you can, as any children spectating on the poolside remain your responsibility and cannot be cared for by Puddle Ducks staff if you are in the pool. 

 

What should I do if my child is ill? Will they miss out?

• Unfortunately, we can't offer a refund but if you are able to give us 24 hour's notice, we will issue you with a courtesy class voucher to use at another time so that you won't miss out. The voucher will be valid for six months as long as you remain swimming with us. You can notify us of your child's absence online via your My Puddle Ducks account or you can call the office on 01603 733591 to let us know. This will also free up a space in your class to allow another customer to attend a courtesy class in your place.
• If your child has a chest, ear or eye infection they shouldn’t swim until it has completely cleared
• Please don’t bring your child to the pool during, or for two weeks after, suffering from diarrhoea
• Going swimming is unlikely to worsen a mild cold and will not increase the likelihood of an ear infection unless your baby has a perforated eardrum
• Please do not bring your child to a swimming class with anything that could be infectious, such as chickenpox, which is considered infectious until all the blisters have dried up
• It’s worth remembering that children are often exhausted after an illness and need some time to recuperate before returning to their swimming lessons

 

How will I learn the words to all the songs?!

The same way you learn the words to any song – repetition! Our Mums and Dads often worry about this and they are all singing along by the second or third week! You can also watch videos of some of our activities on our YouTube channel.

 

We always advertise any job vacancies on our website and our Facebook page. 

If you would like to apply for a position, please e-mail a copy of your CV to us at [email protected]