Getting into the swim of it

Helping your child respect and enjoy being in the water is a lifelong investment, which offers incredible rewards.

Phillip Island Swim School offers swim lessons for children of all ages and abilities.

Run by Lawri and Lucas Piera, the school has taught thousands of local children to swim since it started five years.

For the past three and a half years, the school has been in the Concourse, offering classes for children aged four months and up, in its heated 17-metre pool.

Head coach Lawri is a fully qualified swimming teacher and primary school teacher, who loves working with children and helping them reach their full potential, in and out of the pool.

She says teaching children to swim is about more than water skills.

“Swimming improves children’s essential skills, like balance, posture, coordination and concentration,” Lawri explained.

“It also helps in the early development of fine and gross motor skills.

“Learning water safety and how to swim are life saving and lifelong skills.”

Lessons for babies up to age three or four include parents in the pool and aim to teach the children to swim independently.

Older children are grouped by their ability, and lessons are customised for each child’s individual goals and needs.

“Our coaches are good at giving one-on-one attention to every child in every lesson.”

The school offers preschool classes (four months to five years) Monday to Saturday mornings, between 9am and 1pm.

School aged classes run Monday to Friday from 3.45pm to 6.45pm.

“A lot of kids at the start won’t even want to get wet or put their face in the water,” Lawri said.

“By the end of term, they’re swimming freestyle down the pool.”

Parents are welcome to visit the centre and observe a class, or “come and try” to decide if the lessons are right for their child. Private lessons are available for children with NDIS funding.

Phillip Island Swim School. 4/24 The Concourse, Cowes. Call 03 5952 3078.