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

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.
Toddlers
These sessions are for beginners aged from 3 to 4 years. They include swimming aids and an assistant in the water.
- Monday 18 to Friday 22 August, 9am to 9.30am, £37.50
Stage 1
These sessions are for beginners aged 4 to 8 years. They include swimming aids and an assistant in the water.
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 8.30am to 9am, £37.50
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 9am to 9.30am, £37.50
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 10am to 10.30am, £37.50
- Monday 18 to Friday 22 August, 8.30am to 9am, £37.50
- Monday 18 to Friday 22 August, 10am to 10.30am, £37.50
Stage 2
These sessions are for children aged 5 to 8 years. They must be able to swim 5m front and back without aids and there will be an assistant in the water.
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 9.30am to 10am, £37.50
- Monday 18 to Friday 22 August, 9.30am to 10am, £37.50
Stage 4
For these sessions, your child must be able to swim 20 metres frontcrawl, backcrawl and breaststroke, or be in our Stage 4 weekly lessons and aged from 5 to 15.
- Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 August, 10.30am to 11.15am, £33.90
Stage 1 and 2
These sessions are for beginners with armbands aged 5 years and over. There are no teachers in the water for these sessions.
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 9am to 9.30am, £37.50
Stage 3 and 4
These sessions are for children 5 and older who can swim both 10 metres back crawl and front paddle. There will be an assistant in the water during these sessions.
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 9.30am to 10am, £37.50
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 10am to 10.30am, £37.50
Stage 5 and 6
These sessions are for children who are slightly more advanced, and are comfortable in deeper water.
- Monday 4 to Friday 8 August, 10.30am to 11am, £37.50
To book you course, please call the relevant centre:
- Riverside Leisure Centre: 01245 615062 or 01245 615050
- South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre: 01245 605600 or book at our centre reception
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.