

Welcome to Swimstart, a small independent swim school in New Zealand that caters to children aged one to seven. Swimstart is owned and operated by Rachel Whirledge, who is passionate about providing children with a positive introduction to swimming. The lessons at Swimstart follow the Amateur Swimming Association's Learn To Swim Pathway, and children are rewarded with certificates and badges as they progress through the pathway.
At Swimstart, the focus is not only on achievement but also on providing fun and engaging lessons for children while developing their swimming skills. Each child receives individual attention in small classes, and learning takes place in a caring and nurturing environment. Effort and achievement are both rewarded, and the aim is to motivate children to become lifelong swimmers.
Swimming lessons for children have numerous benefits. Early, year-round lessons for young children accelerate their development physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Children who swim consistently from infancy tend to be stronger and more coordinated. Additionally, swimming has been found to improve intelligence and problem-solving skills, leading to excellent academic achievement.
Emotionally, children who swim consistently have higher self-discipline, self-control, and desire to succeed. They also have higher self-esteem and are more independent and comfortable in social situations compared to non-swimmers.
Swimstart offers a range of classes to accommodate different age groups. Adult & Child classes are available for children aged one to three, providing a class description on the Swimstart website. Pre-school classes are also available for pre-school children, while classes for school-age children are available for those aged four and above. Each class is tailored to the age group and focuses on teaching age-appropriate swimming skills.
Rachel Whirledge is the proud owner of Swimstart and is a qualified swimming instructor. She holds an ASA Level 2 qualification, ASA Adult and Child qualification, as well as the RLSS National Rescue Award For Swimming Teachers and Coaches. Rachel is a member of the Institute of Swimming and is dedicated to starting children on a lifelong swimming journey.
Sara Joiner-Jarrett is another experienced instructor at Swimstart who shares Rachel's passion for teaching swimming. After having children of her own, Sara was inspired to become a swim teacher. She holds an ASA Level 2 Swim teacher qualification, ASA Adult and Child instructor qualification, and the RLSS National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches. Sara is also the lead swimming instructor and coordinator at Hatfield Heath Primary School.
Swimstart's lessons take place in a privately owned pool situated on the Herts/Essex border between Leaden Roding and Margaret Roding. The pool is clean, well-maintained, and kept at a warm temperature of 30-31C, providing a comfortable environment for children during their lessons. The pool has dimensions of 12 × 4. 5m and provides an ideal space for teaching swimming skills.
Join Swimstart today and give your child a positive introduction to swimming that will benefit them for a lifetime. Contact Swimstart via email or phone, and don't forget to like their Facebook page for the latest news and updates.