Leisure > Chelmsford City Sports > Riverside > Sports schools at Riverside > Ducklings swim school (RLC)

In line with national restrictions, our leisure centres are currently closed. We look forward to seeing you as soon as we are able to reopen.

Ducklings swim school at Riverside

We believe that everyone should learn to swim and that it should be fun.

Our Ducklings programme offers swimming lessons for children ages three and four, which follow the ASA Learn to Swim Framework giving them everything they need to feel comfortable and confident in the water.

Ducklings swimming lessons

Update:

In line with lockdown, our leisure centres will be closed until further notice.

Our Swim school uses the ASA Learn to Swim Pathway a nationally recognised scheme, which will help your child work towards everything they need to be skilled and confident in the water.

Our qualified instructors will boost your child’s confidence and motivate them through every stage of their Learn to Swim journey.

Each stage has a different aim and set of skills that your child will develop through their 30-minute weekly lessons. As your child improves and becomes more confident, they will move up to the next stage.

Our lessons run continually throughout the year and even better when you apply, you'll be able to enjoy a host of amazing benefits:

Free swimming for all swim students at any public swim session
Quick, easy direct debit payments spread the cost of payments across the year.
Students move up at their own pace rather than having to wait until the end of a term.
Free swim bag and hat. Hats are colour-coded to swim stages and issued when pupils move up (please speak to your swimming instructor).
Regular online feedback with our Course Pro home portal; log in any time to view weekly progress and achievements.

Prices

£19 per month Direct Debit for daytime lessons.
£24 per month Direct Debit for evening and weekend lessons.

How to register

Unfortunately we cannot take new Swim School members at this time.
Currently we are only able to restart students already registered with our Discovery Ducklings swim school. This is due to the configuration of the pool and reduced numbers required to maintain social distancing and run lessons safely.
We will update the information on this page as soon as we are able to take new Swim School members.

Essential information

Changes due to COVID-19

Due to COVID-19 we have had to implement extra precautions when using the centre:

Before you arrive, you can download the NHS COVID-19 app. You can open the app and scan the QR code displayed at the entrance to the centre on arrival.
We are operating a one-way system within the centre. Please enter the centre on the right hand side of the barrier and follow the signage provided.
All adults and children aged over the age of 11 years must wear a face covering when moving around the centre, unless you have an exemption.
Children need to come swim ready and enter the changing area only to put their clothes and towels into the lockers indicated. No towels are to be brought onto poolside. Please ensure your child wears the relevant hat for their stage.
Changing cubicles will not be available on the way in, however you will be able to use them after your swim.
Children should then proceed to the area where your lesson normally takes place and the teacher will take a register. Please ensure the children are aware of the 2m distancing regulations and adhere to it as much as possible.
Children will swim in double lanes to allow for social distancing.
After the lesson you should vacate the pool promptly. A quick rinse down is allowed in the individual showers. The communal showers are out of use. Belongings should be collected from the locker and taken into the cubicle where you should get dried and changed. You should vacate the changing area as quickly as possible, ensuring you are no longer than 15 minutes in the changing area. Please clean the cubicle after use, with the wipe station provided.
No spectators are allowed in the balcony unless the child is under the age of 8 years or has a medical condition.

Lessons

For Ducklings (ages 3 and 4), parents will need to stay for the duration of the lesson, but not in the water.
Using the ASA Learn to Swim Programme, we will assess your child’s swimming ability and place them into the appropriate stage in the programme.
If your child needs any additional support, please just let us know.

Children must wear swim hats in the pool. Please ensure your child wears the relevant hat for their stage.
Children will swim in double lanes to allow for social distancing.
After the lesson children should vacate the pool promptly.
A quick rinse down in the individual showers is allowed, however our communal showers are out of use.
Belongings should be collected from the locker and taken into the cubicle where children should get dried and changed.
We politely request that you vacate the changing area as quickly as possible, ensuring you are no longer than 15 minutes. Please clean the cubicle after use, with the wipe station provided.

Additional information

Using the ASA Learn to Swim Programme, we will assess your child’s swimming ability and place them into the appropriate stage in the programme.
If your child needs any additional support, please just let us know.
If you have any queries about your child's lessons operating under the Covid restrictions, please contact the team.