Courses

Courses for adults and children (including the junior swimming scheme).

Adult and child courses

Professional courses

Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre runs various courses for adults ranging from RLSS Pool Lifeguard and HSE First Aid.

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If you would like further details about the professional courses run at Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre please contact Andrea Dabbs at the centre.

Swimming courses

Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre provided swimming courses for both adults and juniors. The centre strives to offer a broad range of swimming courses that provide individuals with the skills to learn new activities.

The swimming scheme is run in conjunction with the Amateur Swimming Association's National Teaching Plan (NTP) for swimming. It lists progressive steps that can be adopted to take an absolute beginner through to participating in swimming as a life long activity.

Swimming lessons from total beginners to advanced 1 are 30 minutes long.

For more details on any of our courses please contact our reception desk or see our Swimming Scheme below:

Junior swimming scheme

The Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre offers an exciting range of swimming related courses. With our highly qualified instructors and a wide range of facilities we strive to offer a broad range of swimming courses.

We run classes for ages 4 months - 16 years.

Our swimming scheme is run in conjunction with the Amateur Swimming Association National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS), which is an all inclusive programme which takes the non swimmer from first splash to developing confidence and competence in the water.

The swimmers journey through aquatics starts with the foundation skills, which is encouraged through sessions such as Tiny Tots, Rising 4's and Total Beginners.

The next stage along the journey takes a swimmer through Fundamental Movement Skills, Stages 1-7.

Once the swimmer has developed the core range of skills required to be confident, competent and safe in water, the swimmer then has the choice of taking part in different aquatic disciplines like mini water polo, rookie lifesaver or even joining a Swimming Club such as West Dorset Warriors.

Mini Water Polo

Mini water polo takes place on a Thursday night for children aged 9 years to 15 years. This runs alongside the West Dorset Swimming Club and teams compete in the Dorset County Mini Waterpolo League.

Rookie Life Saver

This exciting programme introduces children to the safety and rescuing aspects of swimming. The children are taught how to react to an incident and basic first aid skills.

West Dorset Swimming Club

West Dorset Warriors operates out of the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre every day of the week. For more details please contact Head Coach Janet Hewitt on 01305 266175.

Private Swimming Lessons

Private Swimming Lessons take place in public swimming sessions. We offer 1 to 1 tuition with a ASA qualified instructor.

- Helps to gain confidence and reward an adult with knowledge and skills to develop the child further. Introduces the fun of swimming though the use of song and games, every child must be accompanied by an adult. - A class for children who require buoyancy aids and lack confidence in the water. An assistant is in the water to help.

Children's Swimming

Tiny Tots (3 mths - 3 yrs) - Helps to gain confidence and reward an adult with knowledge and skills to develop the child further. Introduces the fun of swimming though the use of song and games, every child must be accompanied by an adult.

Rising 4's and Total Beginners - A class for children who require buoyancy aids and lack confidence in the water. An assistant is in the water to help.

A brief overview of Stages 1-10:

Stage 1 - Developing basic safety awareness, the class scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. Swimmer may use aids, e.g. armbands and floats. To be able to move to Stage Two the child has to complete all skills without swimming aids.

Stage 2 - Developing safe entries to the water, including jumping in, basic floating, travel and rotation unaided to regain upright positions. Swimmers must also be able to complete basic breaststroke legs.

Stage 3 - Developing safe entries including submersion, travel up to 10 metres front crawl, back crawl and basic breaststroke, progress rotation skills and water safety knowledge.

Stage 4 - Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all four strokes and swimming 10 metres to a given standard as directed by the ASA.

Stage 5 - Developing skills in sculling and treading water and complete rotation also perform 15 metres in all strokes to the given standard as directed by the ASA.

Stage 6 - Developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing and developing the water safety aspect.

Stage 7 - Developing quality stroke technique up to 100 metres, incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout Stages 1-7.

Stages 8-10 - These are available in the following aquatic disciplines: mini water polo, rookie lifesaving.

Lessons take place every day of the week excluding Sundays.

If you have any questions please contact the Swimming Co-ordinator Andrea Dabbs on 01305 266772 or email a.dabbs@westdorset-dc.gov.uk