"At first, I was scared and nervous, but when I went in the pool and actually did it, it was fun. My teachers are really nice and they look after us. When I keep on doing it, it makes me more confident. It is really fun, and we get to swim and learn new things too"
Aria, Age 5
Introducing Adult Swim Academy
New focused small group lessons
While many children thrive in larger group settings, we understand that some children need smaller groups to truly flourish.
Every child learns differently, and at Freedom Leisure, we believe our swim programmes should reflect that.
That’s why we’re proud to offer focused small group swimming lessons across our New Forest centres for stages 1 to 4, with just five children per group.
Parents can expect the same expert instruction and engaging lessons delivered in a smaller group setting and at a competitive rate.
Places are limited, so booking early is recommended.
Stage 1
- Tuesday 6:00pm - 6:30pm
- Wednesday 6:05pm - 6:35pm and 6:35pm - 7:05pm
Stage 2
- Tuesday 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Types of swimming lessons we offer at Applemore Health & Leisure
Adult Swimming Lessons
Whether you are new to swimming or want to refine your technique, our supportive instructors will help you gain confidence in the water.
Children's Swimming Lessons
Our experienced instructors follow the Swim England programme, teaching all the key skills and techniques for confident, capable swimming.
Private Swimming Lessons
Private lessons are a great way to build confidence, improve technique, and learn at a pace that suits you.
Baby Swimming Lessons
These fun, supportive sessions help infants and babies build confidence and learn basic movements in the water.
What's included in our swimming lessons
Badges and Certificates
After completing a stage, all pupils are given the opportunity to purchase their certificate and badge.
Progress Tracking
Using the Home Portal, you will be able to track your child's progress and move them up to the next stage.
Partnered With Swim England
The Swim England Learn to Swim Programme is a world-leading syllabus, helping children and adults to learn how to swim.
50 Week Programme
Our Swim School runs for 50 weeks a year with pupils participating in one 25-30 minute lesson per week.
Expert Instructors
Our instructors are highly qualified Swim England swimming teachers.
But that's not all...
Our outstanding Swim Academy Membership not only offers an exceptional learning experience but also a wide range of valuable benefits:
- Never miss a lesson with our catch-up sessions
- HALF PRICE month of membership for referring friends
- Free casual swim sessions to help practise their strokes
- Special discounts on intensive crash courses
- Savings on birthday party bookings
Why Learn to Swim at Applemore Health & Leisure?
Brilliant Benefits
We offer a range of great benefits like our Refer a Friend scheme, exclusive discounts and so much more. We're committed to providing our members with the very best value.
Celebrate Progress
Our passionate team loves to celebrate progress with distance weeks, badges and certificates. We are always recognising and awarding achievements.
There for the Whole Journey
At Applemore Health & Leisure, you can complete your entire swimming journey with us. From babies to adults, we offer comprehensive lessons for all ages and abilities.
Fantastic Teachers
Our highly trained, Level 2-qualified instructors are experts in teaching and are passionate about supporting your child’s progress throughout their Learn to Swim journey.
Competitive Pricing
We offer extremely competitive prices compared to other swim schools, making it affordable for everyone to enjoy and learn this essential life skill.
Why is learning to swim important?
Learning to swim is one of the most valuable skills your child can gain. Here’s why it matters:
- Gives your child essential life-saving skills and builds confidence around water.
- Swimming opens the door to safe, enjoyable family beach days and holidays.
- A great way to kickstart an active lifestyle and build strength, coordination and stamina.
- Achieving milestones in the water helps children boost their confidence.
- Swimming lessons teach patience, listening skills and goal-setting in a fun environment.
- Promotes motor skills, balance and overall physical development in growing bodies.
We also offer
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Our SEN sessions take place on Fridays at the following times:
- 15:30 – 16:00
- 18:00 – 18:30
- 18:35 – 19:05
Enrolling your child in our Swim School is easy. Simply click the 'Join our Swim School' or 'Enquire Now' buttons, then complete and submit our simple form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.
Please note: Due to a high number of applications, a member of our team will be in touch only when a space becomes available for your child. Multiple applications will not speed up this process.
Please feel free to visit us at the centre or call 023 8200 0299 and we will gladly answer any questions you may have.
You can login into the Home Portal. The portal is updated regularly by your child’s instructor. Once your child has consistently completed the criteria for their current stage, they’ll be eligible to move to the next stage.
Simply click the button 'Home Portal' on the swimming lessons page of our website. If you are having problems logging into your account, please visit reception or call us on 023 8200 0299.
To use the Home Portal you will need to be set up with login. Please visit reception or call us on 023 8200 0299 to get set up.
The time it takes to learn how to swim can depend on a number of factors including age and ability. Everyone learns at their own pace so there is no right or wrong answer. With our Swim England Learn to Swim lesson structure and highly qualified instructors, one thing we can guarantee is that our Swim School is one of the best in Southampton.
Here at Applemore Heath & Leisure, we have a range of fantastic membership packages available. Our Swim Direct membership offers amazing value for money, granting you priority bookings for the pool and pool-based fitness classes. Visit our Membership page for more information.
Conveniently located in Dibden, our Swim Academy is ideal for those looking for swimming lessons in Southampton or the New Forest. Find us at Applemore Health & Leisure, Claypits Lane, Dibden, Southampton, SO45 5TN.
Yes, Applemore Health & Leisure has a free carpark for customers using the facilities.
Most children are ready for swim lessons by the age of 4, at which point they can typically learn basic water survival skills such as floating, treading water and getting to an exit point. By age 5 or 6, they can usually master the front crawl. The important thing to remember is it’s never too late to learn how to swim!
When our swimming lessons are cancelled we will offer a FREE catch up session or alternatively a FREE family swim voucher, soft play session, or free inflatable session for stage 6 plus.