Learn To Swim program: Top 10 Parent Questions Answered

Kickstart your child’s swimming journey with our Learn To Swim program. The perfect way to build confidence in the water with expert support! Whether your child has already completed our Infant swim lessons (Waterbabies 1 & 2), toddler swim lessons (Kindergarten 1 & 2) or is brand new to State Swim, we’re here to help.

To set you up for success, we’ve answered the 10 most common questions parents ask, so you can dive in with confidence!

1. How long will it take for my child to learn how to swim?

Every child’s swimming journey is unique, and progress looks different for everyone! How long it takes depends on factors like experience, confidence, and how you define “being able to swim.”

Most learn-to-swim programs set clear goals to help guide progress. At State Swim, we focus on water competency, measured by the ability to swim 400m of freestyle non-stop – an achievable milestone by the end of primary school.

Other benchmarks, like Royal Life Saving’s, suggest that by age 12, every Australian should be able to swim 50m continuously.

Before enrolling your child in a swim school, it’s helpful to understand their program’s goals so you can choose the best fit for your little swimmer!

2. Can my child eat before their swimming class?

You probably grew up hearing “don’t eat 30 minutes before swimming”, and we’re here to tell you it’s sound advice. Like any sport or exercise, light snacks can be eaten half an hour before, but it’s best to wait to eat large meals until after your session to avoid regurgitation or discomfort.

If your swimmer’s class is after school, giving them a pre-class snack can be tempting, but we’d suggest saving it for after class – to be on the safe side.

3. How will my swimmer be assessed?

Your swim school will outline how they review and assess a swimmer’s progress in their welcome package or induction process. More and more schools are running lessons year-round, offering continuous assessments rather than term-based classes that limit assessments to one per term.

One of the many advantages of continuous assessments is swimmers are more engaged and motivated because reviews occur in every class. This means swimmers progress when they’re ready – whether that’s after two weeks or two months. Certificates and merit awards are presented to swimmers as they graduate each level and achieve milestones.

4. How long do swim classes tend to run for?

Learn to Swim classes are 30 minutes and usually extend to 45 minutes as swimmers work on developing endurance. Half an hour is endorsed by the aquatic industry’s governing bodies, including AUSTSWIM, as it’s the optimal time for swimmers to observe, practice and receive teacher feedback on the class’ learning goals as well as have fun and be safe. Plus, most swim schools program classes start every half-hour, so they’re easy to fit into your busy day, especially if you have more than one swimmer learning.

5. Why are most swimming classes group lessons?

Peer motivation, affordability and socialising are just a few reasons group lessons are the preferred class type at most schools. Plus, group classes champion skill repetition. Learning to swim requires regular practice to ensure foundational skills become second nature, and it can be motivating for swimmers to witness classmates practising consistently to master a skill. Learning collaboratively can be particularly helpful when swimmers are advancing and are working on speed and endurance.

6. Will my child have to put their face in the water?

If you or your swimmer is nervous about the sensation of being underwater, we’re here to reassure you that your teacher is trained to break this skill down into gradual steps and is practiced at making it fun too!

You’ll see teachers use various techniques such as asking a swimmer to dip their nose in the water, blow bubbles and play games that run water over their heads to get them comfortable. Some swimmers find submerging easier than others – it may take one swimmer three classes to achieve the skill, while it might take another swimmer ten. The key is to remain consistent with attending classes at this time, as taking breaks can slow your swimmer’s progress.

7. Will the chlorine in the swimming pool water irritate my child’s skin?


State Swim understands the importance of maintaining a safe and healthy swimming environment, which is why we use an advanced ultraviolet (UV) light water purification system in our pools. While chlorine is essential for eliminating germs, our UV system enhances water quality by using light rays to purify the water. This helps keep our pools clean and fresh while reducing chlorine levels, making it gentler on children’s skin.

To further minimise the risk of skin irritation, we recommend showering your child after their lesson to help remove any residual chlorine and prevent dryness. If your child has any skin or dermatological concerns, we encourage you to seek advice from your family doctor.

8. Do children’s swimming lessons run during the school holidays?

Many swim schools offer school holiday programs, and these programs tend to be scheduled in four or five day blocks. Most swimmers usually attend one class a week, so the daily classes enable swimmers to condense an entire month of learning into a short space of time.

If your swimmer is looking to grow their water confidence, achieve a specific skill or graduate to the next level, school holiday programs are the tool to get them there. Plus, they’re great at adding structure to your family’s holiday diary and guaranteeing some non-screen time.

Check out our school holiday program – SwimVac. Designed to compliment Learn To Swim.

9. When do swimming classes run?

Swimming schools tend to either run classes all year round or during school term time only – this means regular classes are paused during school holidays. More and more swimming schools are running year-round lessons because swimming is a sport that requires regular practise to retain skills. Taking long breaks due to school holidays can mean having to re-learn techniques or worse, retake classes.

Whether you’re looking for after school or weekend classes we suggest finding a local swim school that fits your family’s schedule. Also, don’t forget to ask about cancellation and catch-up class policies; after all, it’s likely your child will be unable to make a lesson at some point, due to illness, holiday, etc.

10. Will I need to accompany my child in the pool?

Learn to swim classes are for children aged four years and older and do not require a caregiver to accompany the swimmer in the pool. However, a parent or caregiver must accompany their swimmer into the centre and ensure they arrive safely and on time at their class’ designated lane to start their lesson. Parents and caregivers must also remain on the school’s premises throughout the duration of the class.

“Sitting on the sidelines and watching your child achieve swimming goals is the most amazing feeling. Their face when they receive a certificate just makes it all worth it.” – Saupold family.

Reactivate Your Classes Today