Learn to swim programs and levels

Find details about the different Learn to Swim programs and levels at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre below. 

For more information, or any other enquiries, please email us at lpac.swimschool@innerwest.nsw.gov.au

Infants

Our infants and pre-school programs are designed to assist infants, young children and their parents to become familiar with the water and develop water confidence.

We aim to achieve basic swimming and water safety skills through play, exploration and encouragement in a predictable and comfortable environment.

We choose activities for age appropriateness and suitability level of the group and recommend free “water play” (under close adult supervision) after your lessons.

Water Babes – 6 to 16 months 

Parent in water

We aim to achieve basic swimming and water safety skills through play, exploration and encouragement in a predictable and comfortable environment.

These classes explore buoyancy, breath control, propulsion and submersion.

We choose age appropriate and suitable activities based on the level of the group and recommend free “water play” (under close adult supervision) after your lessons.

Progression out of Water Babes is based on age and emotional readiness.

Water Tots  - 16  to  30+ months

Parent in water

We aim to achieve basic swimming and water safety skills through play, exploration and encouragement in a predictable and comfortable environment. 

These classes explore buoyancy, breath control, propulsion and submersion. 

We choose age appropriate and suitable activities based on the level of the group and recommend free “water play” (under close adult supervision) after your lessons. 

Progression out of Water Tots based on age and emotional readiness.

Early Tadpoles – 30 to 36 months

Parent in water, if support for child required

Early Tadpoles is designed to bridge the gap between Water Tots and Tadpoles, readying the infant for lessons independent from the parent/carer.

This transition class works towards minimising the level of involvement from the parent/carer over the course of time.

The Early Tadpole level is only offered to swimmers who have been promoted from our Water-Tots.  It is not an entry point unless the child has had previous water experience in a class setting.

Progression out of Early Tadpoles is based on ability, age and emotional readiness.

Toddler and School Age

There are a range of classes for toddlers and school age children to suit your child’s ability.  

Tadpoles

This class introduces the child to their first level of swimming education without the parent or carer. Elementary swimming skills such as; kicking, paddling and breathing are taught as well as safety skills including floating, entries and exits.

To graduate this level, children must:

• Swim independently for 3m demonstrating taking a breath
• Float independently
• Demonstrate a propulsive kick with a board

Frogs

This class further develops dog paddle to include breathing and distance as well as introducing basic freestyle arms.

Streamlining torpedoes and backstroke kicking skills are also established. Frogs will also be introduced to various types of floating, which will aid body position in future levels.

To graduate this level, children must:

• Swim 10m freestyle
• Demonstrate back kick
• Be able to enter and exit in deep water situations

Dolphins

Basic freestyle is refined, and the first stages of teaching side breathing are added. Elementary backstroke is introduced combining arm action and breathing with the already mastered back kick. Many intermediate safety skills are introduced, aimed at individual survival.

To graduate this level children must:

• Demonstrate 15m freestyle and backstroke.
• Demonstrate breaststroke on wall and in water on back for 10-15m
• Demonstrate lateral side kick
• Perform a rotation to the opposite side
• Demonstrate butterfly kick

Swordfish Beginners

The combination of side breathing, freestyle arms and flutter kick are coordinated to produce freestyle with bilateral breathing.  The swimming distance is increased to 20m for freestyle and backstroke. Breaststroke kick on back is demonstrated to 20m. Advanced safety skills are introduced.

To graduate this level children must:

• Demonstrate 20m freestyle and backstroke.
• Demonstrate breaststroke kick in water on back for 20m
• Demonstrate butterfly kick

Swordfish Intermediate

Bilateral freestyle and backstroke distance is increased to 40m. Breaststroke kick on front is demonstrated to 20m. Advanced safety skills are introduced.

To graduate this level children must:

•Demonstrate 40m freestyle and backstroke.
•Demonstrate breaststroke kick in water on front for 20m
•Demonstrate butterfly kick

Marlins 

This level aims to refine freestyle and backstroke technique, while increasing the swimmer’s stamina over longer distances to 120 and 80m respectively. Whole breaststroke is further developed. Much of the safety is taken outdoors to continue the challenge for swimmers in this level.

To graduate this level children must:

• Demonstrate 120m freestyle
• Demonstrate 80m backstroke.
• Demonstrate breaststroke in water on front for 20m with understanding of arm movements
• Demonstrate butterfly kick

Sharks

This is the advanced stroke correction class. Freestyle and backstroke endurance is continued and extended. Breaststroke, rudimentary butterfly and standing dives are introduced for the first time. Sharks safety week takes on an endurance focus with survival and rescue sequences attempted by students.

To graduate from this last Learn to Swim level, children must:

• be able to swim 200m strong and proficient freestyle
• be able to swim 80m of backstroke
• perform breaststroke with an un-disqualifiable kick
• perform skills of streamlining and tumble turns

Special needs

Our All Abilities swim classes are available 6 days a week at LPAC.

Children and adults with many varied skill levels participate in this program.

Instructors modify strokes, entries and exits. The focus for this level is teaching children to experience water in a way that is comfortable for them.

Special needs lessons are generally one-on-one, depending on child’s needs and the availability of program.

Group lessons are available as well as integration into capped/smaller mainstream classes.

Please view our learn to swim timetable to view our class times.

We welcome Community Services, Department of Human Service enquires.

Information for participants

Please familiarise yourself with the below policies and procedures prior to attending your classes.

Swimwear attire policy

It is LPAC policy that all children under the age of 4, must wear a tight fitting aqua pant beneath regular swimmers whilst participating in our programs.

We cannot make exceptions to this policy.

Preparing for classes

• Children under the age of 4 must wear a tight fitting aqua nappy beneath regular swimmers. We recommend and sell 'The Happy Nappy". It is Swim School Policy that all children under four regardless of toileting level wear the aqua nappy.
• Children wearing board shorts must have a level of containment underneath.
• We recommend that parents wear a t-shirt or rash shirt over-the-top of their swimmers during lessons, this can be used as a teaching technique for infants to “reach-and-grab”.
• Bring a towel for parent and baby plus a spare can be helpful.
• Warm, dry and dress your child after the lesson before leaving the centre, especially during cooler months.
• Take extra care with sunscreen and other creams. These can make infants slippery and difficult to hold.
• Keep your child’s shoulders and torso under the water as much as possible. This avoids excessive heat loss.
• Do not give your child food and drink immediately before their lesson. This can cause an upset tummy which does effect the lesson.

Flotation aids

We use floatation aids in the program to add colour and interest and assist with building confidence. They are used in balanced way so as not to create a dependency.

Floatation aids can give the parent and child a false sense of security and can demote the horizontal body position your child’s instructor is trying to achieve.

Remember flotation aids are no substitute for constant and close adult supervision when infants and children are in and around the water.

No matter what aquatic ability, NO infant or child should be considered water safe.

Medical conditions and special requirements

Please let your child’s instructor or the LTS Supervisor know of any medical conditions or special requirements that could affect participating in their swimming lessons. This can include:

• allergies
• impairments such as hearing or sight
• asthma
• behavioural traits

The more information you can provide the better we can achieve well, structured and rounded lessons that allow for your child to progress through the program.

Illness

Please no not bring your child to swimming lessons if they are unwell and/or have a fever, rash or runny nose.

This puts other children and the instructor at risk of infection.

Toileting

If possible, encourage your child to use the toilet prior to the start of class.

We realise most infants will not be toilet trained when they commence swimming lessons, and will still be wearing nappies.

Infants must be removed from the water if they have soiled their pants and thoroughly cleaned before returning to the lesson in a clean pair of pants.