Booking system maintenance

We will be carrying out some essential maintenance to our booking system from 10.30pm on Tuesday 16 September until 6am on Wednesday 17 September 2025. This means you will be unable to make or amend bookings during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience. 

Swimming holiday courses

Our intensive holiday swimming courses will help toddlers and children in stages one to six improve their swimming skills.

Children in pool for swimming lesson

These short courses run during school holidays at Riverside Leisure Centre and South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre (SWFLC). Our swim instructors will help children perfect their swimming skills as toddlers or older.   

In small groups, children are gently guided through the key skills they need to swim safely and feel comfortable and confident in the water, under the watchful guidance of our swim instructor. Lessons are based on the ASA Learn to swim framework.

There will be no courses available at SWFLC this October half term.

Toddlers

These sessions are for beginners aged from 3 to 4 years. They include swimming aids and an assistant in the water.

  • Monday 27 to Friday 31 October, 9am to 9.30am, £37.50

Stage 1

These sessions are for non-swimmers aged 5 and up. They include swimming aids and an assistant in the water.

  • Monday 27 to Friday 31 October, 8.30am to 9am, £37.50
  • Monday 27 to Friday 31 October, 10am to 10.30am, £37.50

Stage 2

These sessions are for children aged 5 and up. They must be able to swim 5m front and back without aids and there will be an assistant in the water.

  • Monday 27 to Friday 31 October, 9.30am to 10am, £37.50

To book you course, please call the relevant centre:

You will need an ourChelmsford card to book.

Discounts can only booked in person at our centres or by phone Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm and cannot be booked online. Please see our pre-course information page for full details.

  • For Riverside, all equipment is provided, so children will just need swimwear, swim hats and a towel.
  • Children must arrive swim ready and will be assessed on the first day. They may be moved to a different time slot to suit their swimming ability.
  • We will provide discs as buoyancy aids during our lessons. If your child wants to use arm bands, they can bring their own if they have them.
  • If you have not booked and paid for a session, you will not be able to attend.
  • Please arrive five minutes before your child's course is due to start.

Suitable for

Age 3
to age 15
Bring swimwear
Bring a towel

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