26/08/2026
“How long will it take my child to learn to swim?”
It's probably one of the questions I'm asked most often.
But before I answer it, there's another question that's worth asking:
What do we actually mean by being able to swim?
The first time your child swims a few metres independently is a huge achievement, and absolutely something to celebrate. But it doesn't mean they've finished learning.
Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington recently made a really important point about this. She urged parents not to stop swimming lessons as soon as their child can manage a short distance, recommending that children continue until they can swim at least 25 metres unaided.
Her point was that being able to swim 5 or 10 metres in the controlled environment of a swimming pool is very different from having the ability and stamina you may need if you unexpectedly find yourself in open water. As she put it, “once they get into open water, 10 metres just isn't enough.”
And I think there's a really important message in that.
Learning to swim isn't about getting to 5 metres or 10 metres as quickly as possible and ticking a box. We're helping children develop the confidence, skills, technique and stamina they need to become safe and capable swimmers.
So, how long does that take?
There isn't one answer, because every child learns differently.
Some children arrive full of confidence. Others need time to become comfortable in the water first. Some pick up certain skills quickly and find others more challenging.
That's also why you might see us practising the same skills regularly. We're not simply repeating a lesson. Each time, we're building on what came before, developing technique, independence and confidence until those skills become something your child can rely on.
We don't rush children through their swimming journey or compare their progress with somebody else's.
We start with the swimmer in front of us, understand what they need, and help them keep progressing.
Because ultimately, learning to swim isn't about how quickly your child gets there. It's about making sure that when they do, they have skills that will stay with them for life.
