The swimming segment is designed not only to develop water skills, but also to support children’s confidence, motivation, resilience, and self-awareness through structured coaching experiences aligned with the DARE to RISE framework.

Rather than focusing purely on performance outcomes, the programme emphasises:

• Willingness to try
• Confidence in eHort
• Persistence through challenge

• Reflection and growth

No. Children must already be able to swim independently without flotation aids. This is a developmental swim experience focused on skill refinement, confidence-building, and learning mindset.

If a child is temporarily unwell, they are not required to immediately switch to another enrichment programme.

Our approach is flexible and child-centred:

• Children may observe the swimming session on Day 1 and rejoin the water when they are well and ready on Day 2 or Day 3
• Observation is treated as a meaningful part of learning, helping children regain confidence and familiarity
• If a child remains unwell or is unable to participate in swimming, we will encourage them to explore another enrichment area instead

Facilitators will guide each child thoughtfully, balancing well-being, confidence, and readiness, rather than forcing participation.

This reflects the DARE to RISE philosophy: supporting children to listen to their bodies, make considered choices, and re-engage when ready.

Participants should be comfortable swimming approximately:

• 15–50 metres independently
• Front crawl and/or backstroke
• Some swimmers may also know breaststroke or butterfly depending on their level.

Swimmers are grouped by proficiency level rather than age.

This allows:

• Better safety management
• Appropriate coach-to-swimmer ratios
• More targeted coaching

Coaching ratios range from 1 coach to 6 – 8 students, depending on each child’s swim proficiency.

Coaches will observe swimmers during initial sessions to ensure appropriate placement and may adjust groups if necessary for safety and learning quality.

Each day follows a developmental arc:

Day 1: Desire & Recognition

• Build comfort and emotional safety
• Encourage curiosity and engagement
• Focus on enjoyment and positive experience

Day 2: Autonomy & Resilience

• Introduce manageable challenges
• Encourage ownership and persistence
• Develop confidence through effort

Day 3: Evaluation & Extension

• Reflection on learning and growth
• Increased independence
• Gentle stretch beyond comfort zone

No. The environment is developmental rather than performance-driven. Children are encouraged to grow at their own pace without comparison.

Yes. Coaching focuses on technique refinement, movement quality, and skill development appropriate to each swimmer’s level.

The programme is primarily designed for swimmers who are pre-competitive or beginning structured development, with a focus on confidence, autonomy, and learning mindset rather than high-performance training.

Competitive swimmers are still welcome to join and may benefit from:

• A different coaching environment focused on reflection and personal growth
• Strengthening intrinsic motivation and resilience
• Exposure to complementary enrichment areas such as Speech & Drama and Art throughout the camp

The parent seminars may be especially valuable for competitive swim families, as they explore:

• Supporting motivation without pressure
• Understanding emotional responses to training and competition
• Building long-term confidence and sustainable development

No. Participants must meet the stated minimum proficiency requirements and be able to swim independently without flotation aids.

This ensures:

• Safety in a structured group environment
• Appropriate coaching progression
• Consistent experience for all participants

If unsure about your child’s suitability, please contact us for guidance prior to registration.

• Swimwear
• Goggles
• Towel
• Sunblock
• Kickboard
• Change of clothes
• Water bottle
• Swimwear
• Goggles
• Towel
• Sunblock
• Kickboard
• Change of clothes
• Water bottle

The swim programme focuses on developmental outcomes beyond technical skills, including:

• Increased confidence in the water
• Willingness to try and persist through challenges
• Improved awareness of eHort and learning process
• Greater independence and ownership during practice
• Positive emotional relationship with swimming

Technical improvements may occur, but the emphasis is on mindset, self-belief, and enjoyment.

Yes. Children are allowed to adjust their enrichment choices during the camp, with guidance from our facilitators.

DARE to RISE is designed to help children discover interests, not lock them into decisions too early. We recognise that a child’s confidence, curiosity, or readiness may shift as they try new experiences.

Our approach:

• Encourages exploration before commitment
• Helps children reflect on why they want to change—whether due to interest, challenge, or confidence
• Guides them to make thoughtful choices rather than reacting to momentary discomfort

Facilitators will support children to:

• Understand what they are feeling
• Decide whether to persevere or pivot
• Learn that both sticking with something and making a considered change are valid learning experiences

This flexibility mirrors real learning and development—and parents will explore this exact balance during the parent seminars, learning when to encourage persistence and when to allow choice.

The goal isn’t perfect decisions.

It’s self-awareness, confidence, and ownership of learning.

That’s completely okay—and it’s something we expect and support.

At DARE to RISE, swimming is not about forcing participation or performance.

Our coaches are trained to recognise hesitation as part of a child’s learning and confidence building journey.

On Day 1, the focus is on emotional safety and trust. Children are given time to observe, acclimatise, and engage at their own pace. A child may start by sitting at the poolside, dangling their feet, or simply watching others and that is still considered meaningful participation.

Our coaches:

• Acknowledge emotions without pressure
• Build connection and trust first
• Encourage curiosity rather than compliance
• Celebrate willingness and effort, not just outcomes

Often, once children feel seen and safe, confidence naturally follows.

Importantly, parents will learn through the DARE to RISE framework how to interpret these moments, understanding the difference between fear, fatigue, overwhelm, or readiness; and how to respond in ways that build long-term confidence rather than short-term compliance.

By the end of the programme, many children surprise themselves… not because they were pushed, but because they were supported in the right way, at the right time.

Unlike Speech & Drama or Art, there is no formal showcase for the swimming component on Day 3.

Swimming progress is often internal and developmental, and not always best represented through a single performance or display. Improvements may show up as increased confidence, willingness to try, persistence through challenge, or better self-belief rather than a “final product.”

That said, parents are welcome to observe their child during swimming session on the last day.

Through observation, parents can:

• Notice changes in confidence, effort, and comfort in the water
• See how their child approaches challenge and feedback
• Connect what they observe to the ideas discussed in the parent seminars

This allows parents to continue meaningful conversations at home, applying the shared DARE to RISE framework to support growth beyond the camp.

The focus is not on showcasing performance, but on understanding progress, effort, and mindset- skills that last far beyond the pool.

Sports Schooling is the umbrella group that runs several sports and movement brands. It offers a range of programmes in swimming (from learn-to-swim to competitive), multi-sport camps, and other movement activities for kids and adults.

Swim Lab is one of the brands within Sports Schooling. It focuses specifically on learn-to-swim and foundational swimming programmes - building water confidence, basic skills, and technique for beginners through intermediate swimmers (kids and adults).