Swimming

Welcome to North Warwickshire Leisure Swimming Pools

Atherstone Leisure Complex offers two traditional style swimming pools, with main pool having four lanes which can be used for general swimming, lane swimming, pool parties and other pool activities. With our learner pool being just the right size for the little ones to learn to swim or just get used to the water.

The Atherstone Leisure Complex offers a wide variety of swimming activities for all the family from children’s ‘learn to swim’ classes to adults only ‘aqua’ classes, over 50's swim and toddler fun with rafts and floats.

Main Pool

Traditional pool with four lanes.

Size: 25 metres x 8.5 metres
Depth: 0.9 metres at the shallow end sloping to 1.4 metres, drops to 2 metres at the deepest part of the pool, then slopes back to 1.8 metres at the deep end wall.

Learner Pool

Small pool with steps and hand rail for access.

Size: 12 metres x 10 metres
Depth: 0.75 metres to 0.80 metres

Pool Admissions Policy

All children aged 5 months to 8 years must be accompanied in the water by an adult (aged 16 and over) at a maximum ratio of one adult to two children (Babies must be at least 5 months old).

Non-swimmers must stay in the designated non-swimmer areas (i.e. learner pool and shallow
end of the main pool).

Children must wear approved armbands (BSNE/kite marked) if they cannot stand in these areas.

Adults must ensure that they supervise children properly, always keeping them within eye contact and within reach.

All child non-swimmers of any age must be accompanied in the water by a competent adult swimmer at a maximum ratio of one adult to two children.

Children aged 8 years and over may swim unaccompanied if they are competent swimmers (can swim 25 metres easily and with a recognised stroke).

Strictly no diving in the pools at any time.

No glass containers or alcohol are to be brought on to the premises.

The use of cameras, video equipment and camera phones is prohibited except with prior permission of the Duty Manager.

Dress code - please do not wear cut-off denims, diving masks, snorkels, flippers or hand paddles.

Admission to pools will be refused to people under the influence of alcohol or drugs, people previously forbidden entry for breaking pool rules, theft, or vandalism.

If you have a medical condition, please seek prior approval from your doctor before your visit.

The Manager/Duty Manager has the right to refuse admission to any person.

Please note: Due to the restricted nature of some swimming sessions, one adult may supervise up to two children.

Swimming pool activities

Atherstone Leisure Complex has lots of swimming activities to suit all swimmers, from Adult Only sessions, Aqua, Ladies only, Over 50’s and Lane Swimming.

We also offer swimming sessions for children and families, including Toddler Fun, Music & Swim, Schools Out and Fun Swims.

During school holidays there will be a reduction in the number of lanes available for some swimming sessions.

Adult Only: This is a special session for adults only, where you can keep in trim with like-minded people. There will be a lane open for more serious swimmers.

Aqua: This water aerobics class is suitable for people of all fitness levels, with qualified instructors offering both daytime and evening classes.

Early Bird: Sessions start at 7.00am on selected days and are split into Fast, Medium, and Slow lanes, allowing you to start your day with an invigorating swim. (Over 16's only)

Exclusive: Small pool sessions designed for families that require a little more space and privacy for their swimming, with half of the small pool and a maximum of up to 8 people.

Family: This small pool session is open for groups of families to enjoy a family swimming session. There are no roped off areas in the pool.

Fun Swim: These fun sessions are aimed at families and children and include both pools for the kids to enjoy. (This is a discounted session)

Fitness: A planned session, displayed on poolside, with the pool being split into lanes for those wishing to burn some extra calories.

General Swim: This session will have most of the pool space open for all swimmers to enjoy, however, there will be one lane available for more serious swimmers.

Ladies Only: Our regular ladies’ hour gives women the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing swim with other like-minded swimmers. (Over 16’s only)Lane Swim: These public swimming sessions offer Fast, Medium, and Slow lanes to swim at a pace that suits you.

Lessons: The pool is closed to the public during the times stated for our Learn2Swim lessons to take place.

Music & Swim: Come along to our ‘pool disco’ and swim along to all the latest chart music.
This session is open to adults and families.

Over 50's: Looking for a relaxing, peaceful, or more serious swim. These sessions are aimed at over 50’s who want to swim and keep in trim, in our lovely warm pool.

Private Hire: This session is hired privately and will be closed to the public.

School Swim: The pool is closed to the public during the times stated for local schools to take part in lessons, planned around the national curriculum.

Schools Out!: This is a discounted swimming session in the main pool for families to use after the school run.

Toddler Fun: This fun session includes rafts and floats and is a good way to introduce your child to swimming. (From 5 months-4 years).

Please note: Due to the restricted nature of some of these sessions, one adult may supervise up to two children.
During school holidays there will be a reduction in the number of lanes available for some swimming sessions.

Learn to swim (Atherstone)

Atherstone Leisure Complex follow the Swim England ‘Learn to Swim’ framework for developing confident and competent swimmers through fun, enjoyment and the Learn to Swim Stages 1-7, which are at the heart of the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme.

It is the most widely known part of swimming lessons for children and is the backbone of swimming lessons for primary school aged children.

Each of the seven stages of the Swim England Learn to Swim framework has a clear set of targets for each child to meet, before they progress to the next stage.

The Swim England framework teaches a child to swim along with several other skills, which when put together, gives children the ability to do a range of other water-based sports.

You can pay for your lessons with a monthly direct debit or in 10 week blocks.

Discovery Ducklings, Stage 1 and Stage 2

Discovery Ducklings & Ducklings:

These Pre-School Framework Awards are perfect for babies and pre-school children who are new to swimming*.

Usually parents or carers will attend swimming lessons with their babies or young children and join them in the water. This helps to provide reassurance for the child and gives the parent or carer confidence in assisting their child in the water.

Stage 1: Stage 1 helps to build water confidence, while introducing water safety skills and the basic skills needed to build swimming ability.

Learners will develop basic safety awareness, learn basic movement skills and water confidence skills. They will also be introduced to a structured class setting.

Swimmers may use flotation equipment, such as armbands and floats, throughout this stage.

Stage 2: Swimmers develop streamlining to their strokes and travel without their feet on the floor, using a recognised leg kick.

Swimmers are also introduced to aquatic breathing and taught to make safe entries into the water, including jumping.

They will develop basic floating and learn how to rotate to regain an upright position without support.

Learn to Swim Stages 3-5

Stage 3: Swimmers will develop their kicks, on both their front and their back. They streamline through push and glides, whilst also swimming underwater.

Swimmers will develop safe entries into the water, including submersion, and travel up to 10 metres on their front and back. Water safety knowledge and rotation skills will also be progressed.

Stage 4: Swimmers perfect their leg kicks for all four strokes and further develop push and glides, while also being introduced to sculling.

They will develop an understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills and should swim 10 metres to the Swim England Expected Standards.

Stage 5: Swimmers will develop their skills in treading water, learn the correct arm pulls for all four strokes and learn how to do handstands and somersaults.

This means they will develop their technique and perform all strokes with an emphasis on ensuring all work done in the previous stages is developed further.

Learn to Swim Stages 6-7

Stage 6: Swimmers prepare for exercise, while developing an efficient technique for all four strokes and further developing surface dives.

The effective swimming skills taught include coordination, breathing and an understanding of water safety.

Within this stage, swimmers will work on all the other strokes, including streamlining, improving their technique with both their arms and their legs.

Stage 7: Stage 7 focuses on fully developing all four swimming strokes, as well as building stamina and improving diving skills.

Swimmers should develop a quality stroke technique for up to 100 metres, incorporating the skills they have learnt throughout the stages and combining them to develop a linked routine.

They should successfully complete an obstacle course, which combines a variety of skills they have learnt from Stages 1 to 7.

Learn to Swim Stages 8-10

Swim England Aquatic Skills: Learn to Swim Stages 8-10 Awards

Swim England Aquatic Skills Framework (Learn to Swim Stages 8-10) are about building sport specific skills to encourage focus on aquatic sports.

The Learn to Swim Stages 8-10 Awards offered as part of the Swim England Aquatic Skills Framework can focus on anything from competitive swimming to rookie lifeguard, water polo, synchronised swimming and diving.

Rookie Lifeguard Awards:

Developed by the Royal Life Saving Society UK in partnership with Swim England, the Rookie Lifeguard Awards ensure children have a solid safety education, and have learned rescue and resuscitation techniques.

Each stage of the Rookie Lifeguard Awards is sub-divided into three levels and children can enter a course at any point during the stage and progress at their own speed.

The Rookie Lifeguard Awards programme also includes a Water Safety Award, a Life Support Award and Achievement Awards.