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“The best thing I ever did with my maternity leave!”… that’s what our customers say about our baby swimming classes. With loads of opportunities for parent-baby bonding, and lots of chances to meet other new parents, these classes are delivered as small group sessions with friendly instructors who teach in the water alongside you. We use carefully-crafted songs and activities to help you and baby enjoy the water safely together, to develop their balance, coordinator & motor skills, to strengthen their heart & lungs, and to promote their development & immune system.

If your baby is close to the end or the beginning of one of the age ranges mentioned, please use the guide below to help you decide which classes are most suitable.

Nemo Babies (0-9 month) classes
Suitable for children aged 0-12 months. Advised if you are new to baby swimming lessons, for premature or smaller babies, or for grown-ups and children who may be a little anxious in the water.

Nemo Babies (9-18 months) classes
Can be booked for babies who are aged 6-16 months. They are perfect for grown-ups who have attended baby swimming classes previously.

Our toddler swimming classes are packed full of songs, games and fun activities designed to help them become more independent in the water and – when they are ready – make the transition from moving around the pool with your support to taking their first paddles on their own (with the use of floats). You’ll be in the water with your little Nemo at this stage, as will your instructor, and classes are delivered as small group sessions. Our aim in these classes is to promote your toddlers confidence and to provide them with the skills they need to stay safe in and around the water.

If your toddler is close to the end or the beginning of one of the age ranges mentioned, please use the guide below to help you decide which classes are most suitable.

Nemo Toddlers (18-30) classes
Suitable for children aged 16-28 months. We advise joining these classes if you - or your toddler - are new to swimming classes, or if either of you are a little anxious in the water.

Nemo Toddlers (30-36 months) classes
Can be booked for toddlers who are aged 28-38 months. For children who are between age ranges, we advise you select these classes if your toddler has attended lessons previously and if they are confident in the water.

These pre-school swimming classes are REALLY exciting! Why? Because, it’s here that your little Nemo will start coming into the water by themselves. It’s a big step, but we know it’s an approach that works well. In these classes, you’ll find two super-friendly instructors in the water and a maximum of eight children in each group. We use lots of fun games designed to build confidence and to help your child start moving around the pool independently. Please note that all of our venues have viewing areas where grown-ups can watch.

Classes are grouped by ability - use the guide below to select the most appropriate sessions for your child:

Red (beginner) classes
This is where most Nemo Pre-school swimmers will start. In these classes, we support children who are transitioning from swimming with a grown-up to coming into the water on their own. We use lots of game-based activities to build their confidence and get them moving around the pool using a SwimFin.

Orange (advanced beginner) classes
These classes are for children who have swam previously and are confident moving through the water with a SwimFin or similar floatation aid (this may include children who have graduated from our Nemo Toddlers classes or who have moved from a different swim school).

Yellow (intermediate) classes
Swimmers in these classes should be able to swim short distances without any floatation aids. They should also be swimming with their faces in the water and with a nice, flat body position. Typically, these classes will be for children who have been attending classes for a couple of terms already. Please note that, although you will be able to see available spaces via our booking system, you will need to contact us to book into these classes.

Please note that Nemo Juniors classes are offered in South Tyneside only. In Newcastle and North Tyneside, classes for school-aged children are delivered by our friends at SwimNE

Nemo Juniors classes in South Tyneside are delivered Monday to Friday (evenings) at Boldon Dive Centre.

Click here to view all Nemo Juniors classes with available spaces (South Tyneside only). Or, use the guide below to help select the most appropriate classes for your child:

Stage 1
For those swimmers who have not had previous lessons and or are not yet moving in the pool independently on front and back. View spaces

Stage 2
Swimmers who are confident in the water and can cover short distance without floats. View spaces

Stage 3
Swimmers who can cover 5+ metres in the pool without aids on front and back with a flat body position. View spaces

Stage 4
Those comfortably completing 10m front and back with overarm recovery. View spaces

Stage 5
Swimmers who can complete correctly all 4 leg kicks and have an understanding of the arm movements related to each stroke. View spaces

Stage 6
Swimmers who can comfortably complete 25m front and back and know how to time their arm actions into the strokes. View spaces

Stage 7
Swimmers who can comfortably complete 50m front and back and know how to time their arm actions into the strokes. View spaces