Learn to Swim/Squad Swimming

Pre School Swimming

The sessions help young children build confidence in the water while improving motor skills, balance, and coordination. Activities include, floating, kicking, playful interaction and singing. Caregiver will need to be in the main pool and toddler pool with child.

Pre School Swimming Lessons 1-5 years

Preschool swim classes offer a fantastic foundation for young children to develop water confidence, safety skills, and early swimming techniques.

Water Safety: Teaches essential survival skills like floating, kicking, and safe water entry.

Confidence Building: Helps children feel comfortable in the water from an early age.

Motor Skill Development: Improves coordination, balance, and muscle strength.

Social Interaction: Encourages teamwork, listening skills, and following instructions.

Smooth Transition to Learn-to-Swim Programs: Prepares children for more structured swimming lessons as they grow.

These are in the main pool (27C warm) for 20 minutes (Wetsuits/spring suits are welcome for these lessons). Caregiver will need to be in pool with the child. Afterwards we facilitate free play in the lovely warm 33C toddler pool and focus water familiarisation, confidence-building, and basic water safety.

Payment is $11:50 per session - Pay as you go Wednesdays only.

Why Learn to Swim?

Learning to swim is more than just a lifesaving skill — it’s a gateway to confidence, health, and endless opportunities for fun and personal growth.

Great for Children: Building Life Skills Early

Swimming sets children up for success, both in and out of the water. It’s one of the best ways to help them develop physically, mentally, and emotionally:

• Motor skill development – Full-body movement builds strength and coordination.
• Hand-eye coordination – Timing strokes and navigating the water sharpens focus and reaction.
• Adaptability – Every swim requires adjusting to a dynamic environment, teaching flexibility and resilience.
• Effort and reward – Progress is easy to see and feel, reinforcing motivation and perseverance.
• Memory and learning – Structured lessons help kids absorb and retain new skills quickly.
• Self-confidence – Mastering new techniques in the water boosts self-esteem.

Everything we do revolves around helping children learn how to be safer in and around the water. That’s why we also practice water safety during every lesson. Drowning remains a major cause of injury-related death among children, and while drowning prevention requires layers of protection, swim lessons have been shown to reduce the risk of drowning by 88%!

And most of all? It’s fun. It gets children off screens and into an environment where they can thrive.

Learn to Swim dates for Term 4 2026

12 October – 12 December (9 lessons in Term 4)

Registration Open Term 4 - Click here for registration form

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This season we are happy to advise that we will be offering lessons on Saturday mornings as well as after school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. As you can appreciate however, we need to run each lesson at full capacity because the Learn to Swim program is fully self-funded. If classes do not meet the minimum number threshold we may need to adjust the timing or even cancel.

To help you we are providing free assessments to confirm your child’s level. To book an assessment or if you have any questions email us at amberley.pool@hurunui.govt.nz

Children must be at least four years old and must be tall enough to have their head above water (Water Level is 90cms) while comfortably standing at the shallow end of the main pool. If they are unable to do this a parent or guardian will need to be in the pool with them for the duration of their lesson.

Term 4 2026 is a 9-week block and costs $116.00

Private Lessons are $25 for 15 minutes.

Shared Lessons are $35 for two children (at the same level) for 20 minutes

Siblings not having lessons on the day can't use the main or the toddler pool on Monday/Thursday/Saturday.

Children with lessons on the day can go to the toddler pool after their lesson finish if toddler pool is NOT needed for teaching.

Child/Youth Squad Swimming is not just for competition swimmers

Once your child has mastered swimming, it's great to keep it up to maintain swim fitness.

Swimming squads are scheduled, so they help you stick to your training whether it’s for competition or for fitness. And they’re social! Enjoy the fun and satisfaction of technique and stamina drills while you maintain or develop your swimming.

Swimmers typically progress through squads based on ability rather than age. To attend squad certain skill and commitment levels need to meet:

Basic Swimming Proficiency: Ability to swim multiple strokes with breathing and good technique.

Endurance: Minimum ability is to complete 50m swimming without stopping.

Positive Attitude & Focus: Ability to listen, stay focused, and demonstrate a good work ethic.

Training Commitment: Sign up; 10 Squad sessions card for $50 + pool entry (multiple concession card options) You can spend 25 - 60min in squads.

Equipment: Goggles, swim cap, fins (we recommend getting fins).

We prepare swimmers for local carnival competitions, while entry remains an individual choice through their chosen swim club.

Squad Structure

With fun drills, relay games, and an engaging approach, our coaches refine technique, build endurance, and strengthen mental resilience—all in a positive, motive atmosphere that keeps swimmers motivated and confident in the water.

Sessions range from 25 minutes for beginners to 60 minutes sessions for more advanced squads.

Beginner Squads: Focus on technique and confidence-building

Intermediate Squads: Develop endurance, race skills, and teamwork

Advanced Squads: Competitive oriented training with race strategies and mental preparation.

Please check Amberley Pool Calendar for Squad cancellations.

Great for Adults: It’s Never Too Late

Learning to swim as an adult is empowering. Whether you're aiming to enjoy the beach, stay safe around water, or join in with your kids, swimming builds both skill and self-assurance.

Once you’ve got the basics, a whole world opens up:

• Competitive swimming
• Surfing and surf lifesaving
• Water polo
• Snorkeling
• Triathlons, open water swims — and so much more!

It's not just about swimming — it's about living fully and fearlessly.

We offer adult lessons Mondays and Thursdays. Private lesson $25/20min or small group lesson $18pp/30min

• Beginners - A 25-minute lesson for the true beginner wanting to gain confidence in the water and learn effective kicking techniques and arm strokes.
• Breathers - A 25-minute lesson for people wanting to learn basic freestyle breathing techniques, backstroke, breaststroke and increase swimming distance.
• Stroke optimisation - A 25-minute lesson for intermediate swimmers to refine their stroke and increase swimming distance.

Expressions of interest should be emailed to Amberley.pool@hurunui.govt.nz

Adult Squad Swimming

Great for Your Body: Fitness with Flow

Swimming is one of the most effective and enjoyable workouts around:

• Total-body workout – Every stroke engages your arms, legs, core, and lungs.
• Low impact – Being in water cushions your joints, making it perfect for all ages and fitness levels.
• Improved flexibility – Each stroke is like a rhythmic stretch, gently expanding your range of motion.
• Mental wellbeing – Like yoga in motion, swimming is meditative and stress-relieving.
• Mood-boosting – Those feel-good endorphins you get after a swim? They're real.

Whether you’re chasing fitness goals or just want to feel good in your body, swimming gets you there — gracefully.

Our Squad swimming for adults is designed to deliver fitness in a fun and social way. Our coach will give you drills and schedules to enhance your abilities and fitness.

Squad sessions; 10 Squad sessions card for $50 + pool entry (multiple concession card options) You can spend 25 - 60min in squads.