The Best Swim Schools In Sydney For Kids

Swimming is an essential skill for children (and Aussie children in particular!) to learn as young as possible. From improving personal safety to being a great form of exercise, a way to meet new friends, develop social skills, boost confidence and self-esteem, and possibly even develop a passion or competitive skill- swim school will be of great benefit to your child.

Our list of the best swim schools and programs in Sydney will have your children excited to splash around week after week.

1. AustGrade Swim School

 

AustGrade Swim School is an AUSTSWIM-accredited swim school in Mascot focusing exclusively on learning to swim classes. The brand-new heated indoor pool sets at a pleasant 32 degrees and uses mineral salted chlorinated water, which is much better suited to children as it is gentler on the skin. 

Teaching essential water safety and survival skills, expert instructors use toys and aids to assist kids in developing swimming strokes, survival floating, breath control, and paddling without goggles at an early age. They will also learn how to reach for objects under the water and enter and exit the water safely. Classes are offered from Monday to Saturday for babies and toddlers from 4 months and up to the mini squad for primary-aged children. 

2. City Of Sydney Pools

City of Sydney operates six world-class aquatic leisure centers offering quality and affordable swimming lessons for children from 6 months old. Their classes are fun and informative and will establish a great foundation for little swimmers.

You can take your pick from Prince Alfred Park Pool in Surry Hills, Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre in Ultimo, Andrew Boy Charlton Pool at The Domain, Cook + Phillip Park Pool in Sydney City, and Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Zetland.

All City Of Sydney Pools offer the esteemed GOswim Learn To Swim curriculum - an effective swimming and water safety program focusing on contemporary experiential and activity-based learning. Join anytime!

3. Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre

 

The Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre is a world-class facility- swimming lessons here can give kids a sense of excitement and wonder, unlike any other Sydney pool. There is a swimming program to suit everyone, winning the 2013 NSW AUSTSWIM Swim Centre of the Year award for their commitment to community education on water safety and aquatic skills.

Children aged 6 months old through to adults can receive swim lessons taught by certified Austswim instructors, building a balance of aquatic skills and water confidence in a safe and friendly environment. Class sizes are small so your child will receive plenty of individual attention, running year-round on mornings, afternoons, and weekends.

4. Carlile Swimming

If you’re looking for fun, safe, expert swimming lessons for your child, then you must check out Carlile Swimming.

For 65 years, Carlile Swimming has been at the cutting edge of learn-to-swim. They are now a world-renowned swim school. Carlile pioneered teaching babies, and opened Sydney’s first indoor teaching pool. With nine locations throughout Sydney, you can find a Carlile Swimming location near you.

With small class sizes and personalised lessons from teachers trained well beyond the industry standard, Carlile gets to know your children and how best to work with them. The end goal is to help your child learn to swim well and develop a lifetime love of the water.

Carlile caters to all ages and abilities from Waterbabies to Olympians. Their approach is completely skills-based, helping children develop the building blocks to go to each new level with confidence. So if you have a nervous beginner, a child needing to develop their stroke or a squad swimmer, your child is in safe hands with Carlile Swimming.

5. Aquabuddies

 

Swimming and water safety are essential life skills and Aquabuddies is a private swim school dedicated to sharing our love for the water! They offer a range of swimming lessons and programs, specialising in learning to swim for beginners through to stroke correction for children from 3 years up, in a private indoor pool within North Bondi’s Wairoa School.

They also run school holiday intensive programs with daily lessons to improve water confidence and develop better stroke, or to tackle any hurdles that may be stopping them from progressing in their swimming level. It’s also social and fun! All instructors are Austswim qualified and Aquabuddies is fully accredited by Swim Australia.

6. KICK Learn To Swim

 

Don’t just teach your children to swim, teach them to love swimming! It sounds simple, but that’s the basis of Kick Learn to Swim's approach to teaching swimming. Once your kids have developed their confidence in the water, KICK will help them with the development of strokes, and building swimming strength and endurance.

The classes are kept small so that kids receive individual attention and more swimming time within each half-hour lesson. Located in Sydney's east, find out more about Kick Learn to Swim. 

7. Mermaid Swim Academy 

 

This is one of the most beloved, renowned and best swim schools in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney - located in the iconic Bondi Icebergs ocean pool!

Not only do they do traditional swim lessons for kids of all ages and abilities, but Mermaid Swim Academy also offers a range of open water tuition including surf awareness and surf swimming so your kids will feel confident and safe in the ocean.

8. SWIM RECRUIT

 

Already have a pool? SWIM RECRUIT Mobile Swim School will come to you! SWIM RECRUIT has a talented, passionate and nurturing team of instructors based in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, offering tailored lessons to suit your child’s needs, servicing babies from 6 months through to adults.

Whether they are learning to swim, want to improve their current skills, or hope to prepare for a school carnival or competition, SWIM RECRUIT has you covered. These instructors genuinely care; they will nurture where your child is at with swimming, and provide a program that treats them as unique individuals.

9. Aquabliss

 

Aquabliss provides premier Learn To Swim facilities in Sydney’s North and North-West. They also offer parent + child classes, development and competitive squads, aqua aerobics, adult learn to swim and adult squads.

Children will learn all about water safety in a fun, safe and challenging environment, under the guidance of enthusiastic Austswim-qualified instructors. Squads are graded and perfect for children showing some flare in the pool, allowing them to develop and progress at a level that suits them. They offer private tuition, term programs, monthly programs, and holiday intensives to suit a range of needs.

10. FunFitness Swim School, Croydon Tennis Centre

 

A fully enclosed, mineral saltwater pool heated to a comfortable 32 degrees! FunFitness Swim School located at Croydon Tennis Centre is an AUSTSWIM and Swim Australia accredited swim school, offering learn-to-swim programs for children aged 4 months through to toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children and adults.  All instructors offer a range of experience and are fully qualified. Children’s group classes are 30 minutes in duration, adult group classes are 45 minutes in duration and all lessons run seven days a week. Private lessons, holiday intensive programs and more are all available too. 

FunFitness Swim School offers a safe, quiet, friendly and family-oriented environment for children and adults to gain water confidence, develop independence in the water, and improve their skill level. Lessons are taught with a focus on water safety, health and fun. The NSW Active Kids Vouchers and Health Fund benefits are available!

11. YMCA NSW

 

The Y NSW offers swimming lessons for babies through to adults in several locations across Sydney including Mt Annan, Ku-ring-gai and Broken Hill. Swimming and water safety skills are just the beginning of what your child will learn with The Y NSW - they will also learn personal survival skills for rivers, lakes and the ocean, lifesaving skills and much more. Your child’s progress will be closely monitored, and they will receive a certificate after they complete each level.

Classes are designed to be fun, with each child given the space to learn at their own pace. To boot, they offer FREE trial lessons!

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