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We offer make-up lessons.
These are subject to availability because we can only offer them when there are vacant spots in another class. And for that same reason, we can’t guarantee a make-up lesson with your child’s regular teacher.
The sooner we know that you can’t make a class, the better. You’ll have more time to look out for your own make-up lesson and you’ll be providing the same benefit to the person who books their make-up into your vacated lesson.
You can notify us of an absence via your Customer Portal. Watch this quick 1 minute clip on how to do this.
We understand that last-minute things come up but you must tell us no later than 8.00am on the day of your lesson; otherwise, you won’t qualify for a make-up. Why? Because we still have to pay the teacher, and to provide you with possible future make-ups, at no extra cost, we need notice of your vacated lesson so that we can offer a free make-up to others.
Click here for a full list of conditions, including how many make-up lessons are offered and when they expire.
Swimmers should have swimwear, goggles, swim cap (except for babies), towel, drink bottle and some dry clothes or robe to change into.
All that exercise will likely make your child hungry, so pack some snacks too.
You might also need spare hair ties, clips and a wet brush.
Tight-fitting waterproof swim nappies are required for babies and toddlers not fully toilet trained. We usually have some in stock if you need to buy one.
Squad swimmers additional: fins, pull buoy, and kickboard.
During the cooler months, don‘t forget those extra warm clothes for when you get outside.
Except for our tadpole parent and baby classes, a swim cap is mandatory for every student, no matter how short or long their hair. This also applies to lap swimmers, aqua-aerobic customers, and participants in any other pool-related activities.
Exemptions will be granted where special or medical reasons prevent wearing a swim cap. A letter from a certified professional may be required.
A swim cap will
- Keep hair out of faces and goggles in place, so as not to interfere with learning
- Keep a swimmer warmer
- Keep our pool water cleaner
Don’t have a cap? Left it at home? Unless sold out, swim caps can be purchased at Reception.
If your child refuses to wear a swim cap, we can make exceptions from time to time, or for a short while, to help your child get used to wearing one. We don’t want a child missing out on valuable swimming lessons because they’re having difficulty adjusting. Our child-whispering staff will help. So don’t put off swimming lessons just because of a swim cap.
And we’ll always be thankful that this short-term leeway isn’t taken advantage of by anyone choosing the long(er) path of least resistance. We’ll appreciate you talking to us and working with us so that together we can help your child adjust.
Some of the reasons we make swim caps mandatory, which benefit you and your child, are outlined more in this blog.
And for some classes, especially during Pass Class, which is part of our Swim Safety Week (held usually at least twice a year), we will have children swimming without goggles.
Yikes! Why? Because it’s likely your child won’t be wearing goggles if they accidentally fall into water. And an over-dependency on goggles can cause a child to panic and keep their eyes closes instead of looking for ways to get to safety.
So don’t forget to practice the “no goggles” out of swimming lessons as well. Teaching your child to swim is very much a partnership, between us, in swim lessons, and you, out and about in the water with your kids. Together we can make an awesome team!
We recommend one-piece costumes for girls because they stay in place better. Fewer distractions mean more time to focus on learning.
For boys, simple swim trunks are best. Netting, pockets, baggy shorts and excess fabric, are all things that can weigh down your toddler.
We do not allow wetsuits as they affect a child‘s natural buoyancy and can limit a child‘s movement in the water.
Swim shirts and rash vests can give a child a false feel of the water, making teaching strokes a bit difficult. They will also create drag in the water, causing your child to expend more energy. Plus, loose-fitting clothing can be distracting and make it hard for the teacher to teach. Our pool water is heated to a toasty 32 degrees, but if your child tends to feel the cold, and you want your child to wear a swim shirt or rash vest, it needs to be tight fitting.
Not practising during winter can be detrimental to the skills we are trying to teach younger swimmers and can affect the fitness of older swimmers.
Our pool water is warm and toasty, and we also have air heaters too. However, we recommend bringing a clean, dry change of clothes for after swimming lessons. We have no control over how cold it is outside our premises, sorry!
Swimming lessons should be a consistent, long term process and not something that will ‘finish’. We think it’s essential that your child attends at least once a week, consistently for several years and that they value swimming being a lifelong skill.
Swimming lessons are a foundation to be built on, regardless of whether your child joins a squad, plays an aquatic sport like water polo or just likes hanging out at the beach on the weekend.
By high school, most children will be confident, capable swimmers that perhaps do not need regular lessons outside of what their school offers through their physical education program.
We believe that if a child can swim 400 metres with good technique, without stopping or becoming exhausted, then they are a capable swimmer. This should give you greater peace of mind when they are in and around water, and at this age, often without you.
We encourage you to read When Should I Cancel Swimming Lessons? This blog explains the national and water safety benchmarks, developed by the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, that kids should reach by certain ages.
Although we work hard to be consistent, we can’t always guarantee that the same instructor will be available. Our staff can get sick too, and we need to let them take holidays from time to time. But our lessons are structured, so what’s actually being taught will be consistent. Sometimes there’s a massive bonus to having a different teacher. They can bring a fresh perspective to things, and another face, smile or comment might achieve a more significant breakthrough.
There’s more about the positive differences a substitute teacher can make in this blog.
Rest assured, all of our instructors are highly skilled in water safety, first aid and, most importantly, best practices in providing learning to swim instruction.
And if you have a little one who might be worried about occasionally having a different teacher, you’ll should find this blog helpful, Managing That Sinking Feeling About A Substitute.
Classes are paid via direct debit on the first of each month. We accept all major credit cards and can also direct debit from your bank account if preferred.
For safety reasons, we don’t accept cash. We don’t want staff transferring money to the bank. Nor increase the risk of an on-site robbery, which would put staff, parents and children at risk.
This varies depending on your child’s swim level. Classes vary from 30 minutes to 60 minutes; consequently the price varies too. All prices are listed on each school’s location page. Find your nearest Aquabliss swim school here.
We also offer various discounts, such as multi-swim and sibling discounts. Click here for more info.
Gift Cards could also help reduce the cost of swimming for you.
You should also find this blog helpful too – “Ways to Reduce the Overall Cost of Swimming Lessons“.
We get this question a lot. Parents do wonder how long they need to continue swimming lessons for. What does it mean for a child to be able to swim? And there are a few things to consider. So, this FAQ is best answered by this blog – “When Should I Cancel Swimming Lessons?”
It only takes about 3 mins to read.
Yes you can. Our customer online function is managed by UDIO, a third party expert in swim school management software.
Click here to get an idea of the types of information and functions available online.
Please note, this guide is generic, so should only be used as an initial reference. Once you enrol, we can show you how we’ve customised the UDIO portal just for Aquabliss customers.