Archive note: This is part two of my original 2016 Baby Swimming Confidence Class with Fusion experience with Evie. The class, qualifications and swimming framework mentioned below reflect our experience at the time. Swimming guidance has changed since 2016, so this is a family memory rather than current water-safety advice.
Back in the Pool
When Roxanne explained what we were going to do next, I was slightly worried Evie might hit me while I was trying to follow the instructions!
We sang Humpty Dumpty, with the babies sitting on the side of the pool before coming back into the water. The class then practised moving towards the edge and climbing out. Repetition was a big part of the session, giving the children plenty of chances to become familiar with the movements.
There was lots of splashing and kicking as the session continued. Evie was having a brilliant time.
Then Came the Scary Bit
Evie had never been under the water before, so this was the part I was nervous about. I trusted Roxanne, though, and Evie went to her without any issues.
Roxanne guided her through the activity and briefly took her under the water. Evie did really well and didn’t seem particularly shocked when she came back to the surface. The photographs and filming from that moment were amazing to have.
Our Experience
At the end we said our thank-yous and goodbyes, although Evie didn’t actually want to get out of the pool because she was having so much fun. I took that as a very good sign!
Overall, our experience was fantastic. I was especially thankful that I had photographs of the session; seeing those moments captured made me quite emotional.
Roxanne was wonderfully warm and friendly, and we even received a little goodie bag with Dory bits and a booklet showing the different swimming stages. It was almost like a swimming passport, with space to record achievements. I have always loved certificates and badges, so naturally I thought this was very cute.
The Swimming Awards We Used in 2016
At the time of our visit, Roxanne was the head swimming teacher and the class used the ASA swimming framework. The Amateur Swimming Association has since become Swim England, so the booklet, stages and terminology shown in this archive should not be treated as a guide to today’s programme.
Why Swimming Mattered to Me
I came away feeling even more strongly that water confidence and learning to swim are important life skills. With the Glass Mill Leisure Centre close to us, I wanted to look into when Evie could start regular lessons and keep building on how happy she had been in the water.
Water-safety note: This post records what happened in our 2016 class. Baby swimming activities are not a substitute for close adult supervision around water, and parents should follow current guidance from qualified swimming and water-safety organisations.
