Children's swimming lessons

Children can learn to swim, develop technique and gain confidence in the water with our classes for nursery age upwards.

Our Learn to Swim programme follows the National Swimming Framework for Scotland. The framework provides a clear set of national standards and a pathway which allows you to follow your child’s progression and their ability to swim.

Summer swimming lessons - July 2025

We will be running children's swimming lessons during the summer school holidays (our regular programme will be on pause) with lessons available at Pre-school to Swim Skills 4 (please refer to class level information in table below).

The summer programme will be based on blocks of five daily lessons running Monday to Friday and is open to new customers as well as existing lesson attendees.

The programme will run Monday to Friday through the following weeks:

  • 14th July
  • 21st July
  • 28th July

Your block booking will take place at the same time each day with lessons available at 10.45am, 11.30am, 12.15pm (levels/times vary).

Visit our HomePortal for details of available dates, times and prices.

Swimming levels

Class  Description
Pre-school
  • To become water confident and develop core aquatic skills (without adult assistance but with buoyancy aids as required).
  • For those aged 3-5 who have not yet started school.
Swim Skills 1
  • To further develop water confidence and develop core aquatic skills with minimal assistance.
  • To introduce timing and arm technique for front crawl and backcrawl.
Swim Skills 2
  • To continue to work on front crawl and backcrawl, focusing on more advanced techniques.
  • To introduce breaststroke kick and timing
Swim Skills 3
  • Focusing on sustaining technique and building endurance for front crawl and backcrawl over 25m.
  • Introducing breaststroke timing with arms.
  • Introduce basic butterfly kick/technique.
  • Develop diving and life-saving skills e.g. treading water.
Swim Skills 4
  • To improve the quality of stroke technique, introduce multi-aquatic skills/disciplines.
  • Continuing to focus on technique and endurance for all 4 strokes over at least 25m.
  • Continue to develop dives and race starts.
Club Ready
  • To improve and maintain stroke technique over distance and develop basic training and race skills producing a swimmer who is ‘Club Ready’.
SwimFIT
  • To maintain stroke technique and fitness for those who have completed Club Ready.

Class schedule

2025/26 Weekly Programme Schedule

Mondays: 16:00 to 19:00 (Pre-School, Swim Skills 1 - 4, Club Ready, Swimfit)

Wednesdays: 16:00 to 19:00 (Pre-School, Swim Skills 1 - 4, Club Ready, Swimfit)

Fridays: 16:00 to 20:00 (Pre-School, Swim Skills 1 - 4, Club Ready, Swimfit)

2025/26 Programme Term Dates

Monday 18 August 2025 - Sunday 14 December 2025

Prices

Lesson type Payment option Cost Cost (from 1 August)
30 minute class
  • Pre-School
  • Swim Skills 1-4
 Monthly Direct Debit £25 £30
45 minute class
  • Swim Skills 3-4
  • Club Ready
  • Swimfit
 Monthly Direct Debit £29.80 £34.50

Payment by monthly Direct Debit:

  • Based on a 42 week programme, from August to June.
  • Cost includes the festive break at Christmas and Summer school break.
  • We freeze our Direct Debits for the month of July, meaning that no payment will be taken at the start of this month.

Individual tuition

Our 1:1 swimming lessons are perfect for swimmers of all levels or ages, whether you're a beginner or training to improve your technique. We offer individual lessons which can be tailored to meet your needs.

1:1 swimming lessons take place on Friday evenings (19:10 - 19:40) or Sunday lunchtimes (12:30 - 14:30)

You can book via our Sports app, or by contacting our team on 01786 466900 to find out more. 

Cancellation policy:

  • If you are unable to make your individual lesson, please cancel within three days of your lesson to be able to receive a full refund.
  • After this, you will only be able to rearrange your lesson time with us.
  • Lessons cancelled the day before the lesson start time will not be rescheduled or refunded, unless under exceptional circumstances.

How to book

New participants can check for availability, create an account and book directly into classes, where space allows, using our HomePortal.

You can still enquire directly by emailing us at learntoswim@stir.ac.uk, or by calling 01786 466900.

Class places will be allocated at the appropriate level on a first come, first served basis.