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Adult and Junior Swim Coaching - Swimming Classes and Courses 

Swimming with Edinburgh Leisure is a safe and positive experience for all children in Edinburgh, of all ages and all abilities. 

We have over 20 years of experience in helping the children of Edinburgh learn to swim, so we know a thing or two about children in the water. Our swim teams are led by highly qualified SSTQ and Level 2 teachers who are continually up-skilled, developed and monitored by a team of professionals.

More information and FAQs about our swimming classes can be found here.

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Our Classes

We offer classes for all ages (from birth to adults), including lessons for children with additional support needs in a choice of centres. We have lessons in 9 pools across the City. Click from the list below to find the right class for your or your child:

Find Swim classes for Early Years (Ages 0 to 4)

Find Swim classes for Juniors (From P1 to age 17)

Find Swim classes for Adults 

Find Swim classes for ASN (Ages 3 to 18)


Reach your targets quicker with our expert 1-2-1 lessons!

Hone your skills in the water with our 1-2-1 swim and dive lessons. 

Whether you are looking to build confidence in the pool or perfect your technique our enthusiastic team will help guide, support and encourage you to achieve your goals - fast. Our lessons are open to all ages and abilities, although the swim 1-2-1 session times are more suitable for adults.  

Prices are £22 for a 25 minute session or £44 for 50 minutes.  Bookings can be made up to a week in advance (or 8 days in advance if you have a membership card). Book via our App, or click here to book online.

For more information and FAQs about 1-2-1 lessons follow this link


Learn to Swim - Early Years

Our Pre-School programme specifically designed for ages 0 - 4 years aims teaches you how to safely handle your baby in water and gently introduces your child to the exciting world of aquatics. It will take your child through a seamless journey to becoming a safer independent, confident swimmer.

Duration of each class is 25mins. 

Swim Baby

A fun relaxed class for both you and your baby. The use of songs and structured play will encourage safe handling of your baby in the water and will ensure a great start to your baby's swimming journey. This class is suitable for children from 0 to 1 year with a parent/carer accompanying them in the water.

Swim Toddler

The class again uses songs and structured play to encourage your toddler to become more independent and confident in the water. This class is suitable for children aged 1 to 2 years with a parent/carer accompanying them in the water.

Swim Nippers

For children aged 2 to 4 years with a parent/carer accompanying them in the water. Children's  water confidence and independence will grow and grow through structured play, songs, and games. 

Swim Pre-School

For children aged 3.5+, your child will work independently learning through structured play and will develop their water confidence and ability to perform a range of aquatic skills without the support of buoyancy aids. 




 As well as our swim lessons we have a fantastic range of classes for babies to 5 years old - follow this link to find out more.

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Learn to Swim - Junior

Children will move from a basic understanding of the strokes and how to move through water through to developed stroke techniques, tumble turns and race starts. 

They'll be confident swimmers and able to develop both skill and fitness. They'll also have the skills to diversify into other aquatic options such as diving, water polo and synchronised swimming should they wish to do so. 


Swim Skills 1

An introductory level aimed at developing water confidence of children with little/ no prior experience of learning to swim. This class is for children 5 years (or have started primary school) and over who are new to swimming or for those who are not yet swimming confidently over 3 metres unaided. Duration of class is 25mins. 


Swim Skills 3

Children who are competent at swimming 15m in a 'recognisable' stroke e.g front crawl, back crawl or breaststroke, will be introduced to a more advanced stroke technique. Duration of class is 25mins. 


Swim Skills 1 (8yrs+)

An introductory level aimed at developing water confidence of children with little/no prior experience of learning to swim. This class is for children 8 years and over who are new to swimming or for those who are not yet swimming confidently over 3 meters unaided. Duration of class is 25mins. 



Swim Skills 4

Children who can maintain the correct technique over 25m in Front crawl, Back crawl and Breaststroke and can demonstrate basic Butterfly. Children will continue to develop a quality technique while gradually increasing distance. Children will move from SS4 to Junior Skills and drills. Duration of class is 25mins. 




Swim Skills 1+

This class is a continuation of Swim Skills 1, where children will further develop water confidence and develop core aquatic skills without aids. This class is for children aged 5 years and over (or have started primary school) who can swim confidently for 3 metres on their front and back unaided. Duration of class is 25mins. 


Junior Skills & Drills

This class is working on technique, developing areas of advanced aquatics in swimming with sections of the competencies concentrated on our other aquatic disciples, which are water polo, artistic swimming and rookie lifeguard.

Junior Skills and Drills is available for children up to the age of 17 years.

Duration of class is 50mins. 







Swim Skills 2

In Swim Skills 2, children will increase the competency of the core aquatic skills and develop basic stroke technique. This class is suitable for children who have an understanding of stroke technique and who can swim 10 metres Front crawl and Back crawl as well as attempting Breaststroke and Butterfly leg actions.

Depending on the venue, this level may take place in deep water so children need to be both confident in the water and able to tread water when out of their depth. Duration of class is 25mins. 













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Bolt On Classes

Our bolt on classes reflects these competencies so that the children can then choose which of the 4 disciplines they would like to join alongside their class, this can be 1 or all 4, the choice is theirs. Junior Skills and Drills is available for children up to the age of 17 years. 





Rookie Lifeguard 

RLSS UK's Rookie Lifeguard programme gives your child the skills they need to be confident in the pool or the sea - which means peace of mind for you. With colourful materials and fun, varied activities, the Rookie Lifeguard scheme teaches children how to swim and enjoy water safely, whether in shallow or deeper water. This class is best suited for children who are 8+ and confident in deep water. 



Artistic Swimming

If you love swimming, gymnastics and dance this class is for you. Participants will learn fun, new ways to move in the water; building on aquatic skills already accomplished - hand stands, somersaults, sculling and treading water - and link skills together to make more complex sequences. Working together as a team to synchronise skills with music and other swimmers. 

Interested swimmers must be able to swim 50 meters on 3 strokes (Front Crawl, Breaststroke and Back Crawl). 


Club Ready Juniors

These special sessions are the next stage for children who are currently in Swim Skills 4. Children who reach 60% of their competencies will be invited to attend this bolt on class, they can attend this extra session as well as remain in their current Swim Skills 4 class.  Strokes, distance and technique will be developed as well as an introduction to starts, turns, diving, racing and a club environment.

Swim Skills 4 will be remaining at 25 minutes, while this Club Ready Juniors class will be a 50 minute session.


Club Ready

If being in the water is where you love to be, then our coached session is where you need to be. We will further children's swimming technique and stamina, as well as develop their starts, turns, diving and racing, all which will prepare them for the next step of joining club swimming. Club Ready is suitable for children who can demonstrate good technique over 50 meters in Front crawl, Back crawl and Breaststroke and 15 meters in Butterfly. If you are looking for a sport where you can make life long friends and get fit together, then Club Ready Swim is for you!



Water Polo

If you love swimming, football and being part of a team, then water polo is the sport for you. It offers exciting opportunities to play a fast paced game in teams with all the health benefits of swimming. Participants will learn how to move through the water using different way of treading water, all while being able to pass and build on aquatic skills. Working in pairs and small teams, swimmers will be introduced to ball handling skills that will ultimately lead to short games where swimmers will understand and follow the rules of water polo. If you are looking for a fun way to get fit, make new friends or take part in a new team sport, then water polo is both challenging and fun. 





Aquatic Clubs

We are delighted to have many aquatic clubs regularly using our pools. Attending a local club is the next exciting stage on the journey for many people within our Learn to Swim pathway. We’re delighted to accommodate such a diverse range of clubs and disciplines within our pools, and we’d love for you to come and get involved!

For more information on our clubs click here. 




For more information and our Aquatic Club Leaflet click here


Learn to Swim - Adults

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to swim and we are proud to offer adult swimming lessons in selected venues. Whether you’ve never swam before or are looking to improve your stroke technique and fitness, our lesson programme will support you. For adults looking to refine their stroke technique further and build their fitness beyond swimming lessons why not try out our Skills and Drills classes, a class designed to improve your technique, make you a stronger swimmer and introduce you to key aquatic drills.

16 and 17 year olds can book into an adult coaching class; they will be charged the junior price until they turn 18.

Duration of each class is 50mins. 

Beginner

Our beginners classes look to build water confidence, introduce a range of aquatic skills, and develop the basics of all swimming strokes. This class is for adults who are new to swimming or for those who are not yet swimming confidently.

Improver

Our improvers class aims to develop more efficient swimming technique in the four strokes. This class is for adults who – want to develop their swimming skills over a greater distance and be more proficient in deep water.

Stroke Development

Our stroke development class refines effective technique in the swimming strokes, develops effective starts/ turns, and involves more advanced aquatic skills. This class is for adults who can swim lengths of different strokes.





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Learn to Swim - ASN

The water provides a fantastic environment for children with additional needs to experience freedom of movement, buoyancy and stimulation. Our experienced teachers will work with you to determine the best approach to swimming lessons for your child. We have a variety of ASN specific classes which are details below, however where appropriate we may recommend and encourage integrating within our main group lessons. 

At this time we are unable to provide a teacher in the water so if your child requires this level of support a parent/ carer will be required in the water

Adult Stroke Development ASN 

Our stroke development class refines effective technique in the swimming strokes. This class is for adults who can swim lengths.

Swim Skills ASN & Carer

A class specific to children within Swim Skills who require additional support in the water by parent/ guardian.



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For a full list of our different coaching venues and the individual classes they offer please visit the link below

Coaching Venues



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© 2023 Edinburgh Leisure
Registered Office: Meadowbank Sports Centre, London Road, Edinburgh, EH7 6AE.
Tel: 0131 458 2100
Registered Scottish Charity No: SC027450 | VAT Reg. No: 703 7623 49
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