Swimming

 

Welcome to the Balfour Swimming School

Can your child swim?  Being able to swim is a life saving skill, especially living near the sea.  For over 20 years, FAB volunteers have run the Balfour Swimming School for our Balfour children.  Supporting absolute beginners through to advanced levels, our sessions are run on a Saturday morning and after school on a Thursday (during term time only) at Surrenden pool.

Booking a place for your child

If you are interested in enrolling your child in the swimming school, then please complete the booking form which can be found here. We do not accept bookings via email.

 

Summer Term 2023

If your child is currently a swimmer with us, you will have received an email with your child/children’s sessions and invoice for payment via BACS.

Thursday sessions start 20th April until 20th July (excl 1st June)

Saturday sessions start 22nd April January until 22nd July (excl 3rd June)

 

Waiting List

Our sessions are popular, especially the beginners groups.  It is likely that new starters will be put on a waiting list and you will be informed as soon as a place is available.  New starters only start at the beginning of term.  In your child’s first lesson, they will be assessed regardless of any previous experience and the teacher will then move them to the right time slot or ability group if necessary. This first lesson will always be in the 09:05 timeslot for Saturday swimmers and 15:30 for Thursday.

The children are continually assessed throughout the year to monitor their progress.

When your child passes a stage or is able to swim a new distance, you will be offered the opportunity to purchase a badge and certificate; these cost £2.50 each and are a fantastic way of marking their development.

Swimming Development

We follow the Swim England framework supported by ASA.  To find out more about the awards that we help the children work towards take a look at the following link: http://www.swimming.org/swimengland/swim-england-learn-swim-awards-overview-swimming-teachers/

The Balfour Swimming School is run by FAB volunteers.  Our swimming teachers also teach in other Brighton swimming schools.

Swimmers are divided into three abilities; beginners, middle and confident, within these bands are swimming stages 0 to 12.

Saturday Sessions

Start time BEGINNERS MIDDLE CONFIDENT
9:05 Non swimmers to Level 1 Level 3 to Level 4 Level 6 to Level 7
9:40 Level 1 to Level 2 Level 4 to Level 5 Level 7 to Level 8
10:15 Level 2 to Level 3 Level 5 to Level 6 Level 8 +

Thursday Sessions

Start time BEGINNERS MIDDLE CONFIDENT
3:30 Non swimmers to Level 2 Level 4 to Level 6 Level 8 to Level 10
4:00 Level 2 to Level 4 Level 6 to Level 8 Level 8 +

Lesson Format

Each lesson runs for 30 minutes – swimmers need to be changed and ready to enter the pool at the start of the lesson.  If your child is a non-swimmer we have ‘rocket packs’ that are used instead of armbands, these attach to the swimmer’s back and provide flotation without interfering with their arms.  In the beginners group there will be a minimum of two trained personnel in the pool, this will be the teacher and a trained helper.  All our trained helpers and teachers are CRB checked and have the relevant swimming qualifications to support and/or teach.

Please bring the following:

  • Swimsuit/trunks
  • Goggles (recommended)
  • Swimming hats (mandatory – no hat – no swimming lesson)

Please do not bring your own flotation devices or leave valuables in the changing rooms.

Payment Details

Payment for the lessons are made on a termly basis.  The lessons cost £6.00 a session, this covers the cost of pool hire and teachers and the remaining amount goes to FAB and is spent on swimming equipment, trips, activities and equipment to enrich our children’s time at school.

An “early bird” sibling discount applies if paid before the deadline date.  If you miss the due date, you will be required to pay the full amount per child.

1st child full price £6.00 per session

2nd  and subsequent children swimming on the same day 20% off £4.80 per session

BACS is the only payment method now.

  • Bank: HSBC
  • Payee Name: FAB (Friends at Balfour)
  • Payment Reference: SWIM<initials>1/2/3 etc. e.g. SWIMJB1 (your individual payment reference is included in the New Term Letter)
  • Bank Account number: 41501615
  • Sort code: 40-14-01

Pool Location

Contact details

For new swimming lesson enquiries, please use this form only: https://forms.gle/3UWdVvZqKnG2iUJMA

For anything else, please email us at: swimming@friendsatbalfour.org