Swimming Lessons
To ensure all our swimming lessons are of the highest standard, our Aquatic programmes are led by FVLC’s swim co-ordinator and Swim Ireland Level 3 Coach. All FVLC swim teachers and coaches are Swim Ireland qualified and upskilled continuously.
All swimmers are encouraged to learn to the best of their ability. At FVLC, swimmers of ALL abilities are encouraged to attend swim lessons either in small groups or private lessons.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email swim@fvlc.ie
SUMMER 2025
Swim Lesson & Rookie Intensive Weeks
REGISTRATION
Monday — Friday | 7am – 3.30pm
Sunday | 10am — 3.30pm
July 7th — 11th | July 14th — 18th | July 21st — 25th | August 11th — 15th | August 18th — 22nd
10-10.45pm — Level 5 6 7 8 | 11-11.45am — Level 1 2 3 4 | 12-12.45pm — Level 1
Rookie Lifeguard
July 7th — 11th | July 21st — 25th | August 18th — 22nd
12-12.45pm
Call us on 074 91 32053 Ext 1 or pop into the Centre
Children’s Swim Lessons & Rookie Lifeguard 2025/26
Term 1 (10-week programme)
Monday September 1st – Saturday November 8th 2025 — inclusive
Term 2 (10-week programme)
Monday November 10th 2025 – Saturday January 31st 2026 — inclusive
(6-weeks before Christmas, 2-weeks off, 4-weeks after Christmas).
Off weeks of December 22nd & December 29th 2025 — inclusive for CHRISTMAS
Term 3 (10-week programme — Tuesday swimmers — St Patrick’s Day: 9-week programme)
Monday February 2nd – Saturday April 25th 2026 — inclusive
Off weeks of March 30th & April 6th 2026 — inclusive for EASTER
Intensive Swim lessons: March 30th – April 3rd 2026 — inclusive
Term 4 (9-week programme)
Monday April 27th – Saturday June 27th 2026 — inclusive
Learn to Swim is a challenging life-skill and therefore should be a memorable and enjoyable time in your child’s swim development at FVLC. With your support, the swim teachers will ensure this will happen. Therefore, on receipt of your child’s swim certificate, please do not use the work ‘fail’ for your child’s swim development, it is progression if they receive a progression certificate, not ‘fail’.
FVLC’s 10-week swimming programme is merely 5-hours of learning; therefore, we encourage you to have your child in any swimming pool as often as possible to encourage their swimming confidence, progression, development and most importantly fun in the water.
Swimming is a life-skill and valuable to all children.
BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY’S (excluding St. Patrick’s Day 2026):
- 3.45pm changes to 10.30am
- 4.25pm changes to 11.10am
- 5.05pm changes to 11.50pm
- Rookie Lifeguard Award changes from 5.45pm to 12.30pm
- Private lessons will be confirmed directly with the parent.
✱ Aqua Babies (birth-24 months)
This is a lovely interactive parent/guardian and baby class introducing early water skills to your baby. We will help get your little one used to the feel of the water through their natural instincts.
- €6.00 Pay as you Go
- Friday’s at 9.30am
✱ Toddler Water Confidence Classes (age 2-4 yrs)
Our qualified instructors will teach you to teach your toddler early water skills and help you and your toddler get used to the feel of the water through early movement skills aiming towards Core Aquatic Skills.
- 10-week programme (20 mins per lesson) €60.00 per toddler.
- Friday’s at 10am and Saturday’s at 10am — pre-booking is required.
✱ Children’s Swimming Lessons (recommended from age 5 years)
Our Learn to Swim programme is led by a great team of Swim Ireland qualified teachers and coaches. The programme provides the implementation of the Core Aquatic Skills leading towards fundamentals of Learn to Swim of all four strokes (Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Frontcrawl), safe entries, tumble turns and early lifesaving skills over eight progressive swim levels to provide comprehensive and interactive learning for the swimmer. Recommended age is from 5 years old.
- 10-week programme (30 mins per lesson) €80.00 per child
During Children’s Aquatic terms, Bank holiday Monday swim lessons will revert to mornings, as follows:
3.45pm class to 10.30am
4.30pm class to 11.15am
5pm class to 10am
5.30pm class to 12pm
Lane Training to 12.30pm
✱ Children’s Advanced Lane Training
Once the swimmer has completed the 8 swim levels or is competent in all four strokes, then lane training is great to further advance swim skills to include starts, turns and finishes of each stroke. Understand:
- How to use the pace clock
- Warm up, main set and cool down
- Race pace/long distance swimming
- Individual Medley
This programme is coached by FVLC’s Level 2 ‘Swim Ireland’ qualified coach.
✱ Intensive Swimming Lessons
These are a popular seasonal week for children’s Learn to Swim programme, this week consists of Monday to Friday inclusive 45-minute swim classes. All children receive a progression certificate on final day of lesson.
A great week for interactive learning of swim skills and progression for children. Our fun swim instructors are all Swim Ireland qualified and teach to the highest of standards.
✱ Adult Swimming Lessons
Learn to swim or advance your swim skills in a relaxed group setting with our Swim Ireland qualified teachers and coaches. Adult lessons continue throughout the year including over holiday periods.
Tuesday 10am | Wednesday 8pm | Thursday 7pm
- €9.00 pay as you go
✱ Swimming Lessons for people with disabilities
These are of top priority at FVLC to ensure people of all abilities have the opportunity to learn to swim. Swim lessons help with muscle development and co-ordination. Although swimming is stimulating, it is also very relaxing.
At FVLC, all our swim instructors are Swim Ireland qualified, and understand the individual needs for all children and adults in a learn to swim programme. Please email swim@fvlc.ie for further details.
✱ RLSS Rookie Lifeguard Award
The Rookie Lifeguard Awards are for your children if they are budding lifeguards.
The Rookie Lifeguard Awards offer parents the comfort of knowing their children are aware of how to avoid dangers and enjoy the water safely.
The Bronze, Silver and Gold stage 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 each stage runs for 10 weeks. The Rookie Lifeguard Awards programme also includes a Water Safety Award, a Life Support Award and Achievement Awards.
- 10-week programme €85.00
✱ RLSS Survive & Save
The Survive & Save Programme is our lifesaving award scheme for anyone aged 12 years and over. The awards are challenging but fun to complete and are arranged into Bronze, Silver and Gold levels to ensure that participants get the opportunity to develop their lifesaving skills as they progress through the awards.
✱ RLSS National Pool Lifeguard Qualification
How do I become a lifeguard?
Contact swim@fvlc.ie for the next course at FVLC.
Lifeguard Course Pre-Requisites
Every candidate attending a NPLQ course must be 16-years-old at the time of taking the NPLQ final assessment and be able to:
- Jump/dive into deep water
- Swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
- Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
- Tread water for 30 seconds
- Surface dive to the floor of the pool
- Climb out unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design permits
The NPLQ covers all elements of Pool Rescue Techniques, Lifeguarding Theory, First Aid and CPR. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times, lifting casualties and diving to the deepest part of the swimming pool.
- Training and assessment for the NPLQ are in three sections, and candidates must successfully pass all to attain the qualification.
These terms apply to all participants enrolled in swimming lessons at Finn Valley Leisure Centre. By enrolling in our swim programme, you agree to the following conditions:
1. Registration & Payment
• All swimming lessons must be booked and paid for in advance of the term.
• Payments are non-refundable except in the case of medical exemption (see Section 8).
• Spaces are offered to current term swimmers then on a first-come, first-served basis and are non-transferable.
2. Lesson Structure
• Lessons run for a set term (typically 10 weeks) and are 30 minutes in duration unless otherwise stated.
• Classes are grouped by ability level. The swim coordinator will assign each child to an appropriate group.
• Progression is individual and based on consistent attendance and instructor evaluation.
3. Attendance & Punctuality
• Participants must arrive on time and be ready to start at the scheduled time.
• Missed lessons are not refunded or rescheduled, unless cancelled by the Leisure Centre.
• Repeated non-attendance may result in removal from the programme.
4. Parent/Guardian Supervision
• Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times before and after their lesson.
• Children should not be left unattended in the changing rooms or pool hall.
5. Poolside Access
• Only authorised personnel and instructors are permitted on poolside during lessons.
• Parents/guardians must observe from designated viewing areas unless otherwise instructed.
6. Swim Attire & Hygiene
• Proper swimwear must be worn. No loose clothing or outdoor footwear is allowed on poolside.
• All participants should shower before entering the pool.
• Long hair must be tied back or covered with a silicone swim cap.
7. Medical & Special Needs
• Any medical conditions, allergies, or special needs must be declared at registration.
• We aim to accommodate all children where possible and can arrange inclusion support in advance.
8. Cancellations & Refunds
• Refunds or credit may only be issued in the case of:
◦ Centre-led cancellations (e.g. pool maintenance)
◦ Medical exemption (with GP letter)
• No refunds for missed lessons due to personal reasons or holidays.
9. Behaviour & Safety
• Disruptive or unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the class.
• All participants must follow staff instructions for their own safety and that of others.
10. Contact & Updates
• Swim lesson updates, including term dates or cancellations, will be provided via centre posters, website & social media.