We are a friendly bunch at Puddle Ducks Oxfordshire and we wanted you to know a little bit more about us and why we do what we do.
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Beccy
Franchisee
I became passionate about baby swimming after taking my eldest daughter, Isabella, to classes when she was four months old. I have always been a keen swimmer and Isabella’s lessons quickly became the highlight of my week. She is still a keen swimmer and loves spending time at the pool. My youngest, Amelia, started swimming at seven weeks old and is equally at ease in the water.
I enjoyed baby swimming classes so much that I decided not to go back to my original HR career and starting teaching baby, toddler and pre-school swimming lessons instead and I can honestly say that I have never looked back!
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Keri
Baby and Pre-school and Swim Academy Senior Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
Hi, I live with my husband, 2 children and chocolate Labrador. I spent most of my time, while growing up in South Africa, in swimming pools so feel quite at home in water.
My 2 children are very keen swimmers so when I am not in the water teaching, I am either at swim training or poolside at a swimming gala.
I love watching little one’s progress through our programmes and having FUN at the same time.
A Few of my favourite things
- swimming and snorkelling
- baking with my daughter
- going on family walks with our dog, Zazu
Keri teaches at Hoburne Cotswolds, Radley College Sports Centre, Cleycourt Manor Shrivenham, Lincoln Farm Park
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Sharon
Baby and Pre-school and Swim Academy Senior Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
After being made redundant from a management job in an office I decided to have a career rethink. I thought about what I love doing, what I want to get out of working and how to balance work with my young family. I swam with a club when I was young and have always loved the water so I decided that teaching swimming would be the new career for me! I took my own children to various swim schools but when I spoke to Puddle Ducks I knew that they were the perfect fit. I love the Puddle Ducks ethos, the care they have for all of our customers and they are such a friendly and supportive team to be part of.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Playing with my two boys
- Movies
- Netball
Sharon teaches at Hoburne Cotswolds, St Hugh's Faringdon
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Lynn
Baby and Pre-school Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I have 3 children of my own who have always enjoyed their swimming lessons.
Once my twins started school I very quickly realised I needed something to keep me busy...I’m not used to being home alone in a quiet house! I knew a few of the Puddle Ducks ladies and made some enquiries and started as a poolside assistant. I really enjoyed watching the lessons and chatting to the mums and little ones and decided to take the plunge and commence my teacher training. I’m so glad I did as I love my job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else!
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Spending time with my family
- Tapas......yum!
- Running....it keeps me sane.....almost!
Lynn teaches at Hoburne Cotswolds, Shilton Pool, East Hanney, Riverside House, Lechlade
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Tash
Baby and Pre-school and Swim Academy Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
After having Max I quickly realised I didn’t want to go back to my full time office job. I was looking for swimming lessons for Max and thought that teaching children to swim is something I would love to do. I contacted the Puddle Ducks Oxfordshire office and the rest is history…
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Playing with my little boy, Max
- Swimming
- Reading
- Food
Tash teaches at Shilton Pool, Riverside House, Lechlade, Oxford Witney Hotel.
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Lucy
Baby and Pre-school Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I was looking for a position that fitted in with my family life with 2 children better than my previous job. When I stumbled across an advert for a Puddle Ducks swimming teacher I just thought, how perfect, that would be combining my love of swimming, skills of teaching, enjoyment of being with children and more time with my own children – I just had to go for it! Taking the leap of faith into the swimming teacher world is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
A Few of my Favourite Things
- My children - a boy and a girl with an 8 year age gap!
- Numbers are my thing - I'm currently studying for a maths degree.
- All things Disney - if I had to pick a favourite movie it would have to be Beauty and the Beast
Lucy teaches at Radley College in Abingdon St Hugh's Faringdon
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Clair
Baby and Pre-school Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
Swimming was the only sport I was any good at when I was younger, probably because I loved it so much. So when my children came along I was adamant that they start swimming as soon as possible.
At the time I had a career in finance and never dreamed I could be the one teaching! However, fate had it all planned out, my husband’s job relocated to Yorkshire and I wanted to find a job that allowed me more time with my children. So I asked the lady who was teaching my daughter at the time whether I would be any good as a poolside assistant, I was a bit shocked when she said “no but I bet you could teach”.
Four years later here I am (after relocating back down south - hubbies job moved again!) still teaching (thanks to Beccy taking me on) and still loving watching my little swimmers grow and change from babies to little people.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- A good book
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A trip to the theatre
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Building our own house
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My crazy but amazing family including Beanie the dog
Clair teaches at Riverside House, Lechlade and Cleycourt Manor, Shrivenham
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Emma
Baby and Pre-school and Swim Academy Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I have always loved being in the water, spending most of my childhood at the pool as a competitive swimmer. When looking to change my career, swim teaching seemed like a good fit for me!
I found a role at a swim school and fell in love with it Two years later I joined Puddle Ducks looking to expand my knowledge with Baby & Pre school classes, Puddle Ducks provided all the necessary training and more!
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Cooking/baking
- Swimming
- DYI projects
Emma teaches at Riverside House, Lechlade, Cleycourt Manor, Shrivenham, East Hanney, Wantage
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Theresa
Baby and Pre-school Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I always aspired to a career that would provide pride, satisfaction and a sense of fulfilment so this is why I initially decided to teach. Being a primary school teacher enabled me to embrace children’s interests, ideas and nurture young minds. However, becoming a Mum of two beautiful children has enabled me to gain a new ‘hands-on’ perspective and it is through them that I first experienced the Puddle Ducks programme. My children are now both very water confident and spend most of their time underneath the water as opposed to on top of it?! Being a Mum continually provides me with a wealth of invaluable knowledge, skills and understanding which will only enrich the experience of working with babies, children and their parents/carers through those developing invaluable pre-school years!
I am hard working, energetic and enthusiastic and have enjoyed every moment of my development from an established classroom practitioner, to teaching pre-schoolers to ‘Sing and Sign’ and now to becoming a fully-fledged Puddle Ducks teacher! I have found the journey to be challenging but extremely personally rewarding and I can’t wait to see where my Puddle Ducks journey will take me next..!
A Few of my Favourite Things
- My children/family;
- My 13 year old Shih-tzu dog ‘Flipflop!’
- The ocean/beach.
Theresa teaches at East Hanney, Wantage
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Cheryl
Baby and Pre-school and Swim Academy Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I began my journey becoming a swimming teacher by being a Poolside Assistant at a hydro pool in Yorkshire for Puddle Ducks back in 2018. I fell in love with the Puddle Ducks style of teaching; that after only a short few months I decided to embark on my training. It was the best thing I've ever done. It's the best job in the world!
A Few of my Favourite Things:
- Swimming!
- Animals (my Bulgarian rescue dog Millie and Scrabble the hamster)
- My children, fiancé and my family
Cheryl teaches at Hoburne, Cirencester
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Lizzie
Baby and Pre-school Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I have been teaching with Puddle Ducks for nearly 7 years; I'm the Senior Teacher at North Hampshire and Reading Puddle Ducks and I'm delighted to be teaching in Oxfordshire now as well! My three girls have all gone through Puddle Ducks and it's been great to see how successful the programmes can be. I love the job and how it fits around family life as well.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Sewing clothes
- My saxophone quartet (The Saxy Mommas)
- Running
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Caitlin
Swim Academy Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I have always loved swimming, I have been a competitive swimmer from a young age and managed to qualify for both British and English nationals. My passion for swimming helped me to realise that being a swimming teacher was the perfect job for me. I started working as a poolside assistant for Puddle Ducks, watching the lessons made me really want to teach for Puddle Ducks myself. Teaching at Puddle Ducks is very fun and rewarding.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Swimming
- Shopping
- Food
Caitlin teaches at Riverside House, Lechlade
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Emilie
Swim Academy Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I wanted to work for Puddle Ducks because of the passion I have for swimming. I have been a competitive swimmer for as long as I can remember, making competitions as big as British and English Nationals. Not only that, I have a huge interest in the technical side of the sport. Due to this Puddle Ducks was a great opportunity for me to do what I love.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Swimming
- Animals
- Food
Emilie teaches at Cleycourt Manor, Shrivenham
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Vikki
Poolside Assistant
A Little Bit About Me
I chose to work at Puddle Ducks as my children are all growing up into their teens and I wanted to get back to work part time. Puddle Ducks is the ideal job and I love being a poolside assistant, I like the interaction with all the families that I meet and the lovely endearing smiles that I get from all the children and babies. Watching them progress is just fantastic. It’s a great job and a great company to work for.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Spending time with my family
- Going for walks
- Shopping
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Steph
Poolside Assistant
A Little Bit About Me
I’d been going to Puddle Ducks lessons with my children for a couple of years so when I saw they were hiring locally for a Poolside Assistant I knew I’d enjoy it.
I love watching the lessons poolside, it’s been so cool to see the confidence grow with little ones and their grownups alike.
A Few of my Favourite Things
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I love being at the allotment
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Cosying with the kids and a film, or bingeing TV shows
- The Lakes
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Ali
Poolside Assistant
A Little Bit About Me
After working in a pre-school for 12 years I wanted a change in career but still term time to fit in with my home life. I saw the advert for a Poolside Assistant and was interested to find out more. I’m so pleased Beccy took me on as I love my job!
A Few of my Favourite Things
- My children
- Gym and training
- Going to the beach
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Aimee
Office Manager and Baby and Pre-school Teacher
A Little Bit About Me
I have recently joined the amazing puddle ducks team and I couldn't be Happier.
Having been in the swimming school industry for many years now I have finally found a team of people that support, encourage and are super professional. In my previous role I was a teacher for four years so I'm super excited to be joining not only the admin team but the teaching team too!
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Singing in my band
- Wild swimming
- Spending time with my family
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Kat
Office Administrator
A Little Bit About Me
When looking for Aquanatal classes with my first child, I discovered Puddle Ducks in my local area. Progressing through the levels, (and collecting every badge going!) I now have swimmers in Level 2 and 3 Swim Academy. They love the activities and opportunities available to show off their water skills – even if they’d always prefer to spend as much time under the water as possible! After leaving my role in the City, joining Puddle Ducks was a dream move, and I love using my years of experience as a Swimming Mum to help answer some of the niggling questions that you may have.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Swimming
- Lying on the beach
- Cats
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Kathryn
Office Administrator
A Little Bit About Me
After a career in financial services and then being a stay at home mum to three lovely boys, Puddle Ducks was the perfect role to fit in with busy family life! I love to run and go on long walks and as a family we enjoy holidays and camping trips together. I loved Puddle Ducks lessons as a new mum. I adored seeing my babies joy and freedom of being in the water, gaining confidence and of course hearing lots of baby giggles!
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Long walks and being outdoors
- Cream teas
- Toasting marshmallows on a campfire
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Becca
Office Administrator
A Little Bit About Me
After having my beautiful daughter in 2020 (a lockdown baby, that was interesting!) I was looking for a role that fitted into family life, while allowing me to build relationships - something I’d always loved doing in my previous PR roles.
Being a Puddle Ducks mum already, I knew of the company and its philosophy. When this role came up, I jumped at the chance. The team is wonderful, no two days are the same and seeing the enjoyment everyone gets from all things swimming is so rewarding.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- My husband and daughter
- Cuddling up in front of a fire with a movie
- Chocolate with the above
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Laura
Marketing Manager
A Little Bit About Me
After having my second child going back to working full time in the marketing world just didn't appeal to me. Having spent 20 years working in marketing agency's in London I wanted a job which I could do around my children. Puddle Ducks is perfect for that, it enables me to use all my marketing skills whilst also being able to spend plenty of time with my children.
A Few of my Favourite Things
- Playing with my children
- Catching up with friends and family
- Eating chocolate