Their primary function is to keep children safe in the water and their use is approved by ‘Swim England' (swimming's governing body). They promote confidence, independence and movement.
They have been chosen over cheaper inflatable armbands as they are easily put on and taken off, and the child does not lose their sense of security as buoyancy is reduced. Four discs can be worn on each arm although three are normally adequate for the average beginner and as the child progresses the number of discs can be reduced as ability increases.
Their most important use however is to help the child achieve a horizontal position both on their front and their back. This enables them to practice a correct leg kick. Allowing them to swim with the incorrect number of discs will lead to a faulty kick which, if not corrected in the early classes, can lead to inefficient stroke technique and poor swimming ability. This is then difficult to correct.
Things to avoid:
A different number of discs on each arm will affect their balance in water and can be unnerving for them
Discourage them from biting chunks out of them as there is a risk of choking and they are not cheap to replace! Each disc costs over £4.00 and we have over 150 of them!
If the regular size discs are too tight we can supply larger discs.
Following on from our enhanced integration of the Swim England Framework into our own framework in early 2014, we have decided that children in CRAB and JELLYFISH classes no longer have to remain in three discs until they reach a SHRIMP class. This is due to the increase in preparatory work that is done in the earlier classes under the new framework that we have created.
However certain strict criteria must still be met before the number of discs are reduced. The number of discs a child requires is decided by the class teacher and the number of discs required may be different on their front than on their back. Discs may be reduced when the following indications of a horizontal body position and a good kick are achieved:
On the front – Chin on water, bottom at the surface, legs stretched and kicking alternately at the surface (no cycling/bent legs)
On the back – Ears in the water, tummy at the surface, legs stretched and kicking alternately at the surface (no cycling/bent legs)
If discs are removed and any of the above indications are no longer demonstrated then the discs may need to go back on.
It is important that discs are not removed too early. Learning to swim ‘properly’ takes time and cannot be rushed and a child who has had discs removed too early will develop bad swimming habits which can be difficult to correct subsequently.
We do ask you to be patient. We have had a couple of parents who have taken their children to other swim schools because they believe that their children have been in discs too long. The discs then come off immediately and the other swim school gets the praise and, for some reason, we are seen as keeping their children in discs too long. This probably is because some schools do not adhere to the correct body position rule, it's a basic foundation that is laid down by Swim England. Swimming is a long term sport and we believe that following the governing body guidelines is the best way of teaching children to swim safely and effectively. Wearing discs should not be seen as a stigma but as a tool to good swimming practice.
You can purchase swim discs from us, see the shop FAQ below.
Do you have a shop where I can buy swim accessories?
Yes, we have an assortment of hats and goggles available to purchase at all sessions. The prices for these accessories are as follows:
Polyester Swim Hat - various colours - £2.00 Goggles - various colours - £5.00 Delphin Swim Discs - £5.50 each Delphin Swim Discs - used and when available - £2.75 each where available
What do I have to bring with me and what should I wear?
We insist that swimmers wear "Speedo" style swimming trunks. Baggy shorts will slow progress and can be dangerous. We also insist that a hat is worn for those swimmers with longer hair; "longer hair" means if the hair can reach the eyes or the mouth. Goggles can also be worn although learning to swim without them to start with is better as you may not have your goggles to hand in an emergency.
Hats and goggles are available to purchase from our poolside shop should you need them on the day.
For all those in Club sessions (LOBSTER and above) we would also ask you to bring a drink with you as well.
My child wears nappies, can they still have lessons?
Yes, of course. Swim nappies can be obtained from many retailers and on-line.
How much do lessons cost?
Please see our fee structure page for our prices for each type of lesson or session. We do not charge a joining fee and all badges and certificates are included. We charge for a block of 8 lessons payable in advance.
How can I pay?
We accept BACS payments, cheques made payable to "Lichfield Dolphins" or cash. We can also accept payment by credit card or debit card by using our portal. There are no extra charges for any of our non-cash payment methods.
For more information please visit out payments page.
Are there any extras?
Our charging policy is simple, very simple.
We have a lesson fee with NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. So, when your child reaches the required standard to move to the next group we will present them with an official Swim England certificate and cloth badge which is included in our easy to understand fee! We will also present your child with a certificate and cloth badge when they pass any of the standard distance awards up to 50m, also free of charge. These distance awards are 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 metres.
No joining fee
No fees for badges and certificates
No extra fees for paying your fees, however you pay them
No extra fees for paying a bit late occasionally. We understand that sometimes there is month left at the end of the money!
Nether Stowe School have a policy that precludes non-authorised people from being on poolside. This extends to the corridors leading up to the pool. We therefore close the doors at each end of the pool during lesson times. There is a small viewing area where you are free to sit.
What is your rule on wearing plasters?
We would ask that all plasters are removed before entering the water. If a plaster comes off it can be dangerous if ingested by a swimmer. It’s also a hygiene issue. If the plaster cannot be removed for any reason then we are sorry that your child will not be able to swim. Please also note that we are not able to remove plasters.
Do you have a refund policy?
We realise that your child may not take to swimming immediately. For that reason we allow you to book a four week beginner taster course instead of the standard eight week block if you are unsure for any reason. This applies to complete beginners only with either casual or no swimming experience. If we cancel a session for any reason then it is our policy not to offer a refund for that session. However, the lesson that was cancelled will be added on to the end of the block of lessons you have paid for so you will not miss a lesson. This will include and is not restricted to pool closure due to poor weather or mechanical breakdown or lack of key staff such as lifeguards.
For extended closures, we may refund fees and ask you to sign up for a new block of lessons. If you wish, you may use the lesson credit on your account to pay towards a new block of lessons.
However, we are able to refund blocks that have not yet commenced. For example, if you have two lessons remaining and top up, then request a refund, we are able to refund 8 lessons.
Please note that If you choose to cancel your lessons, we do not offer a refund.
Child Protection
We are asked many times what the situation is with adults in the changing rooms and the ruling is quite simple. It is as follows:
"Those eight years and older MUST only enter the changing room appropriate to their gender".
The above ruling applies to all those eight years and above, including adults. If there is a need for assistance in getting changed and the swimmer is over eight years old then they must be assisted in the disabled changing room situated in reception.
This ruling also applies if a child requires the toilet mid-lesson with the following additions. Children eight years and over are permitted to leave poolside and go to the toilet on their own. Those under the age of eight WILL NOT be permitted to leave poolside without the adult who brought them to their swimming lesson. We strongly advise you stay on the premises during the lesson just in case your child wishes to go to the toilet.
Staff members are strictly not permitted to escort children off poolside with the exception of the evacuation of the pool area in case of emergency or emergency test procedures.