Wavebreakers Learn to Swim

Wavebreakers is a Learn to Swim programme programme delivered by Alliance Amateur Swimming Club. The primary aim of the programme is to provide children in North Belfast, Newtownabbey and South Antrim with the swimming skills necessary to keep them safe and healthy in the water. We hope they'll go on to enjoy swimming for life.​ The Wavebreakers programme promotes good community relations and addresses inequality by providing opportunities for children to learn to swim who might not otherwise be able to. There are several children from local communities who are accessing free school meals and as such the parents find it difficult to afford swimming lessons. One third of the children in the Wavebreakers programme are eligible for free school meals. The programme runs on Monday and Friday evenings and on Sunday mornings at the Belfast Royal Academy (BRA) pool on Cliftonville Road, Belfast. The costs of the programme are subsidised by the club to keep prices low, while also ensuring that group sizes are small enough to allow young swimmers quickly to develop water confidence and great swimming technique (6 swimmers max, with a teaching ratio as low as 1.5:1).​ ​The core aim of the Wavebreakers lessons is to embed high quality swimming technique and aquatic skills from the outset. The programme is intended for children of primary school age (4 to 11), and both absolute beginners and swimmers with some previous experience are welcome.​ Lessons are taught in groups of six max, with a qualified swim teacher and between one and three teaching assistants (depending on level) in the water with the swimmers. Hence the teaching ratios are kept very low, which we find is conducive for promoting swimmers' confidence in the water. Lessons run for 30 minutes. ​​When first attending Wavebreaker lessons, swimmers are assessed and allocated to groups to ensure that they are always with others at a similar stage of progress. This assessment is a conservative one and is based on the swimmer's previous experience and teaching and learning criteria. The aim is not to push swimmers through the levels, but rather to ensure that each child is confident, competent, and ready to be stretched further. These groups are designated by the colour of swimmers' swim hats. As swimmers move through the levels, they are rewarded with the next level hat. On graduating from the learn to swim programme, swimmers are invited to join the main club where they can develop their competitive focus or strengthen their swimming ability in a friendly and supportive environment.