Leisure > Chelmsford City Sports > Riverside > Sports schools at Riverside > Stages 1 to 7 and specialist Swim school (Riverside)

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.

Stages 1 to 7 and specialist Swim school at RLC

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn to swim, and that it should be fun!

We offer swimming lessons which follows the ASA Learn to Swim Framework, which will gives children everything they need to feel comfortable and confident in the water.

Stages 1 to 7 and specialist 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.

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 swim hat. Hats are colour-coded to swim stages and are issued each time pupils move up a stage (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.
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. Entry to the centre is via the River entrance only.
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 due to the one-way system in operation in the changing rooms.
Entry to the pool is from the splash pool zone. Children should proceed to the area where their lesson normally takes place and the teacher will take the register. Please make your child aware of the 2m distancing guidelines and encourage them to adhere to this as much as possible.
Children will swim down the length of the pool and get out the flume end and walk back round, The teachers will be monitoring this and detailing where they should go.
After the lesson you should vacate the pool promptly and walk through the shower end of the changing rooms. A quick rinse down is allowed in the showers. 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 equipment provided.

Spectating

We are now allowing 1 adult only in to spectate. This means that if you have other children with you as well, they would not be allowed to spectate with you.
If you are spectating, please go up the stairs on poolside to the balcony (one-way system in operation), and sit on any allocated seat.
Once the lesson has finished, please follow the signage and return to the changing rooms via the green stairs.

Parking

Riverside is now a cashless centre, and we are no longer issuing refunds for using the car park. Please note that the car park is also cashless, so you will need to either download the MiPermit app, or pay by card at the machines on arrival.

Lessons

Children must wear swim hats in the pool. Please ensure your child wears the relevant hat for their stage.
Children will swim down the length of the pool, get out at the flume end and walk back to the starting point. Teachers will be monitoring this and advising children where they should go.
After the lesson children should vacate the pool promptly and walk through the shower end of the changing rooms.
A quick rinse down in the showers as children leave poolside is allowed.
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 rooms as quickly as possible, ensuring you take no longer than 15 minutes. Please clean the cubicle after use with the equipment 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.