Welcome information for SWF swim school

Arrive a few minutes early so there’s time to get changed and settle. Please check in with reception before going through to your swimming lesson.

Footwear: Please remove outdoor shoes before entering the changing rooms to keep poolside clean.

Changing rooms & lockers: Our changing rooms can be busy, so please use the lockers (£1 returnable) rather than leaving belongings in cubicles.

Once your child is ready, head to the pool. Stage 1–2 swimmers should wait on poolside just past the Lifeguard chair until called. Children in Stage 3 should wait by the spectator’s railings on poolside by the boom end of the pool, Stage 4 and above will be invited through and sit by their station.

Make sure your child has visited the toilet and has their stage coloured swim hat on before each lesson. Hats are included in your membership and are handed out at reception on your first lesson.

To keep hair tidy and help teachers recognise stages, children in Stage 1 and above must wear a colour coded swim hat.We provide hats for free at each new stage; replacements cost £2.

Discovery Duckling and Duckling classes don’t need hats.

We operate a “no hat, no lesson” policy, unless there is a medical exception.

The hat colours are:

• Stage 1: Red hat

• Stage 2: Orange hat

• Stage 3: Yellow hat

• Stage 4: Green hat

• Stage 5: Light blue hat

• Stage 6: Dark blue hat

• Stage 7: Purple hat

• Specialised classes: Black hat

We continually assess every swimmer and move them on when they have achieved all outcomes for their current stage and show good confidence and technique.

Regular attendance is key, so please bring your child every week and offer plenty of praise for their efforts. Practising outside of lessons really helps; children enrolled in Get In! Swim School can swim for free during public sessions to practise what they’ve learnt.

After completion of each stage, you will receive a notification confirming your child’s achievement. You can then come to reception to buy a badge and certificate to celebrate their progress.

Our baby and toddler classes welcome little ones from four months old.

All babies must wear swim nappies, and for everyone’s safety please stay at home if your child has a heavy cold, upset tummy, infection or fever.

These sessions run on various days throughout the week during term times and the three half terms; February, May and October (42 weeks of the year) and pause over school holidays.

Stage 1 (red hat)

(age 4+ in full time education) Building water confidence and learning to paddle 5 metres front and back. Assistant teachers are in the water to support.

Stage 2 (orange hat)

Introducing stroke basics, continuing to build confidence and aiming for 10 metres on front and back. We start to refine technique.

Stage 3 (yellow hat)

Sessions in the boom end of the pool, focusing on submersion, stroke technique and stamina.

Stage 4 (green hat)

Learning about buoyancy, body position and doing an introduction to sculling.

Stage 5 (light blue hat)

Developing sculling, treading water and rotation skills while improving stroke technique and stamina.

Stage 6 (dark blue hat)

Focusing on effective swimming skills such as co-ordinated breathing, rhythm, and pace.

Stage 7 (purple hat)

Mastering quality stroke technique over longer distances and combining skills into linked routines and fun obstacle challenges.

After Stage 7, swimmers have two exciting pathways to continue developing their skills with us. 

Both pathways provide structured progression beyond Stage 7, ensuring swimmers can continue to challenge themselves, develop confidence and remain engaged in aquatic activity.

Swim Squad Programme

Swimmers can progress onto our Swim Squad programme. This is a 45-minute session designed to further develop technique, stamina and advanced aquatic skills while working through Stages 8, 9 and 10 of the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework.

Within this programme, swimmers will also complete the Bronze, Silver and Gold Challenge Awards, building endurance, skill refinement, and personal achievement. Upon successful completion of the Gold Challenge, swimmers will be awarded their Elite Swimmer Gold Medal in recognition of their commitment and accomplishment.

Rookie Lifeguard & Personal Survival Programme

For swimmers who wish to apply their skills in real-world situations, we offer our Rookie Lifeguard programme. This pathway incorporates the Swim England Rookie Lifeguard programme alongside the Learn to Swim Personal Survival Skills framework.

Sessions focus on water safety awareness, rescue techniques, survival skills, and teamwork, helping young people build confidence, responsibility, and practical lifesaving knowledge in a structured and engaging environment.

You can keep track of your child’s progress, manage bookings and access other services through our Home Portal.

To get started, you need to:

1. Download the Chelmsford City Sports App for iPhone or Android. The app gives you quick and easy access to all four of our leisure centres and allows you to make and manage bookings and view timetables.

2. Sign in with your Chelmsford membership credentials. Once logged in, select Swimming Pool, then Lesson Portal to see your child’s progress.

3. If you need help, you can ask our reception team to resend your activation link or ****visit our website for guidance.**** Where?? This is the website! We might as well link to it!!

Whilst we encourage you to make the most of the Home Portal, please be aware that it only serves as a guide on what the next steps in terms of development are for your child. Our teachers are continually assessing your child to ensure that they are remaining consistent in their progression but this may not be reflected in the home portal straight away. Use the home portal to celebrate your child’s milestones and never miss a session!