About East Lakes Swim Centre

East Lakes Swim Centre is a privately own swimming centre located in Bennetts Green, Newcastle NSW. We are an indoor aquatic program based facility offering all levels of swim school, coaching and aquatic fitness classes twelve months of the year in a modern and comfortable teaching and training environment. Our pool is 25m x 4 lanes (lane width 2.2m) x 1.3m pool depth and is heated to a comfortable 30-33 degrees.

ELSC is a program based facility. We are not open to the general public for lap or recreational swimming.

What we offer

  • Swimming Programs:
    • Infant Aquatic Familiarisation Classes
    • Toddler & Preschool Aquatic Confidence & Self-Preservation Classes
    • Learn to Swim Classes
    • Top End Swim School
    • Orca, Marlin, Mini & Junior Squads
    • Junior SwimFit Sessions
    • Private Lessons for Children & Adults
  • Access & Inclusion Swimming Program
  • Schools Aquatic Programs
  • Aqua Circuit Classes
  • Pool/Lane Hire
  • Meeting/Training Room Hire

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Infants and Preschool Progression Chart

Infant Aquatic Familiarisation Class with Parent

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Starfish

Infant Aquatic Familiarisation Class with Parnte

  • Age:s 6-12 mths
  • Class Ratio 1:8
  • Class Duration: 30 mins

The Starfish class focus on water familiarisation as this is usually the initial formal introduction to an aquatic environment for infants outside bath time activities at home. Lesson time centres around a happy, relaxed and nurturing environment with safety a core element within the Starfish class. Continual movement in the water is encouraged to ensure babies as well as parents/carers do not cool down during passive learning activities. The aim of the Starfish class is to achieve basic aquatic skills, propulsive movement and promote a healthy water confidence through games and songs. Water trickled over the shoulder, head & face, blowing bubbles are steps towards good breath control leading to facial then total body submersion. Set skills relating to submersion drills will incorporate the use of trigger words such as ‘baby’s name’, ready, ‘go’. The instructor will educate parents/carers on safety in the aquatic environment and foster the transition into the next Starfish Plus level.

Starfish Plus

Infant Aquatic Familiarisation Class with Parent

  • Age:s 12-24 mths
  • Class Ratio 1:8
  • Class Duration: 30 mins

The Starfish Plus class focus is on water familiarisation and skill enhancement for the older infant. This class continues on from the Starfish lesson rationale providing new and extension skill set from the previous level. More expansive skills are taught in this class with a focus on increased breath control and independent swimming. Further stimulation is provided by the participation in small aquatic circuits including such activities as the ‘platform crawl’ and ‘fun mat safety roll’. Gradual separation and detachment of infant and parent will be fostered in this class as guided by the instructor. This activity is essential in the preparation of the infant for the next stage of independent swimming where parents are not in the water with the child. As in the early years Starfish class, lessons are conducted in a happy, fun, relaxed and nurturing environment with game and song playing a leading role in the lesson structure with trigger words still being utilised when practicing advanced submersion drills and swims.

 

Starfish Transition

Infant Aquatic Familiarisation Class with Parent

Ages: 24ths+

Class Ration: 1:4

Class Duration: 30 minutes

Starfish “Transition” will focus on transitioning students into independent swimming classes where parents are not in the water with their child. Under the swimming teachers’ direct supervision, students will perform set aquatic drills & activities with decreased parental involvement. This is a gradual process in which student/parent ‘detachment’ is monitored and assessed by the swimming teacher during each class. At the end of the Starfish Transition level students are happy and confident to work under the instruction of the swimming teacher with parents having minimal class involvement. This is essential criteria for students to progress to the independent swimming level of Mini Octopus.

Mini Octopus

Toddler/Preschool Aquatic Confidence & Self Preservation Class

  • Ages: under 5yrs
  • Class Ratio 1:3
  • Class Duration: 30 mins

The Mini Octopus class focus on developing water confidence and independent range of propulsive movements. The class aims to teach the basics of aquatic safety & survival with a focus on breath control (blowing bubbles), submersion, kicking, paddling and floating on the back in a fun, relaxed and happy environment.  The child will learn safe entry and exits and be introduced to basic self-preservation survival skills. At the end of the Mini Octopus level the child will display confidence in the water and follow instructor directions as well as demonstrating a basic range of unassisted skills such as full face submersion, perform floating techniques and monkey wall walk as well as independent propulsive swimming from instructor to steps and or platform up to a distance 1.5-2M. Students will need to display sound ‘Self-Preservation’ skills to progress into Level 1 of the Learn to Swim Program.

Class Information Coming Soon!

Mini Seahorse

LEVEL 1 – Preschool Self Propulsion & Learner Class

  • Ages: under 5yrs
  • Class Ratio 1:4
  • Class Duration: 30 mins

The Mini Seahorse class focus on further development of water confidence and have a basic awareness of water safety. The aim is for the progression of skills acquired in the introduction levels whilst performing regular kicking with the use of a kick board or pool noodle to achieve an improved body position. Less vertical and an improved horizontal body position during their unassisted freestyle & backstroke with regular practice of freestyle combined with a strong kick from a well performed push and glide off the wall/platform over a 3-4M distance. The child has a greater awareness of exhaling air through their mouth and nose through improved submersion skills and demonstrates front and back floating techniques confidently. The child will also practice safe pool entry and exits. The instructor will further educate the student on safety within the swimming facility and other aquatic environments. The class will continue to strengthen basic survival skills for self-preservation in an aquatic environment.

Mini Turtle

LEVEL 2 – Pre School Kick/Stroke Class

  • Ages: under 5yrs
  • Class Ratio 1:4
  • Class Duration: 30 mins

The Mini Turtle class will focus on the further development of improved body position, a streamlined freestyle kick and glide propulsion, increased freestyle and backstroke kicking endurance as with demonstrating a greater awareness of water safety. The aim is for progression of skills acquired in the Learner level, introduction to side breathing freestyle with emphasis on big arms, increased backstroke endurance and the introduction of breaststroke kick. The child demonstrates good breath control through submersion based drills using flutter kick, breaststroke kick and ‘wiggly worm’ dolphin kick. The child confidently performs controlled back floating techniques as part of the self-preservation component and practices safe pool entry and exits. The child demonstrates improved body position during their unassisted freestyle with an effective kick and consistently well performed push and glide off the wall/platform. The child performs unassisted backstroke and freestyle over an 7-8M distance. The instructor will further educate the child on safety within various aquatic environments and the child demonstrates a range of survival skills for self-preservation.

School Age Progression Chart

School Age Aquatic Confidence & Self Preservation Class

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OCTOPUS

School Age Aquatic Confidence & Self Preservation Class

  • Ratio 1:3
  • Class Duration: 30 Minutes

The Octopus class will focus on developing water confidence and self-preservation survival skills. This class will introduce students to kicking movements, paddling and big arms, breath control, floating techniques (front & back) and submersion skills. The aim of the Octopus class is to have the child competently & confidently complete skills and be able to paddle up to 3M unassisted. The child will practise safe entry and exit techniques. This is a water confidence and self-preservation class and all students are required to meet the Seahorse entry criteria before moving into the first level of Learn to Swim at ELSC.

SEAHORSE

LEVEL 1 – School Age Learner Class

  • Ratio 1:4
  • Class Duration: 30 Minutes

The Seahorse class will build on child’s water confidence and basic awareness of water safety. The aim is to progress on the skills acquired in the introduction levels whilst introducing regular kicking with the use of swimming aids such as kick boards and water noodles to assist in the development of good body position. Students will display a less vertical and improved horizontal body position during their freestyle and backstroke with regular practice of freestyle combined with a strong kick from a well performed push and glide off wall/platform over a 5M distance. The child has a greater awareness of exhaling their air from their mouth and nose, improved submersion skills and demonstrates good front and back floating techniques as with safe entry and exit skills. The instructor will further educate the child on safety within the facility, aquatic environment and develop further their basic survival skills for self-preservation.

TURTLE

LEVEL 2 – School Age Learner/Kicking Class

  • Class Ratio 1:5
  • Class Duration: 30 Minutes

The Turtle class will focus on further development of improved body position. A streamlined freestyle kick and glide propulsion, increased freestyle and backstroke kicking endurance as with demonstrating a greater awareness of water safety. The aim is for progression of skills acquired in the learner level and an introduction to side breathing in freestyle working on a relaxed and correct head position with an emphasis on big arms in freestyle, increased backstroke endurance and an introduction to breaststroke kick. The child demonstrates good breath control through submersion based skills using flutter kick, breaststroke kick & ‘wiggly worm’ dolphin kick. The child confidently performs controlled back floating techniques as part of the self-preservation component and practices safe pool entry and exits. The child demonstrates improved body position during their unassisted freestyle and backstroke with an effective kick and consistently well performed push and glide off the wall and or platform. The child performs an unassisted backstroke and freestyle swim over an 8-10M distance. The instructor will further educate the child on safety within various aquatic environments and the child demonstrates a range of survival skills for self-preservation.

STINGRAY

LEVEL 3 – School Age Kicking Class

  • Ratio: 1:6
  • Class Duration: 30 Minutes

The Stingray class will focus on further development of kicking endurance, reinforcement of correct body position and streamlined swimming. Students can demonstrate long axis freestyle and backstroke over increased distances of up to 12.5-15M. Further development of breaststroke kick and the introduction of breaststroke arms and the teaching of formal butterfly kick will occur in the Stingray level. Students will strengthen their already establish breathing pattern in freestyle, working with a 2 to 4 stroke breathing pattern. Students with an already established bilateral breathing pattern will continue to refine their breathing pattern with focus on correct head positioning and relaxed head turning control.  Basic tumble turns drills are introduced as is diving practice. Students will also learn underwater streamline push off from wall on front and back using a dolphin kick action. Stingray students will consistently display safe pool entry and exits. The Stingray level will continue with water safety education with constant reinforcement of aquatic safety and survival skills in different aquatic environments.

DOLPHIN

LEVEL 4 – School Age Kicking/Breathing Class

  • Ratio 1:8
  • Class Duration: 30 Minutes

The Dolphin class will focus on the further development and reinforcement of skills learned in the Stingray level. Reinforcement of streamlining off the wall with correct kick with & without a kick board. We aim for your child to be able to swim 25M freestyle performing correct technique, displaying a comfortable breathing pattern and good body position.  Students will also complete 25M of backstroke with correct body position and good stroke timing. Further refinement and timing of breaststroke and butterfly kick will be furthered strengthened in the Dolphin level. Butterfly arms will be introduced when butterfly kick is well established. Underwater streamline push off with dolphin kick action in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly will be further developed. Students will be introduced to freestyle tumble turns in their most basic form. Dive practice will continue in this level. Instructors will continue to educate the students on water safety and introduce basic aquatic rescue procedures as part of our water safety component.

ORCA SQUAD

LEVEL 5 – School Age Breathing/Stroke Class

  • Ratio 1:10
  • Class Duration: 45 Minutes
  • Multi Session Package Available (1-2 or 3+)

The Orca class will focus on the further development and reinforcement of skills learned in the Dolphins level. Reinforcement of streamlining off the wall and correct kick with & without a kick board. We aim for your child to be able to swim 25M+ freestyle, demonstrating correct stroke, breathing and body position. Students will also complete 25M+ backstroke swim with correct body position and stroke timing. Further stroke correction and refinement of breaststroke and butterfly will continue in this level. A focus on extended tumble turn drills will continue leading into a well performed tumble turn on exit from the Orca level. All starts, turns and wall push offs will see an underwater streamlined dolphin kick action performed in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. Dives and finishes will also be an element of focus in this level. The pace clock will be introduced in readiness for entry in the next level of Marlin. Orca will continue aquatic safety education with aquatic rescues being performed using equipment typically found in the aquatic environment.

MARLIN SQUAD

LEVEL 6 – School Age Stroke Refinement Class

  • Ratio 1:12
  • Class Duration: 60 Minutes
  • Multi Session Package Available )1-2 or 3+)

The Marlin class will focus on the mechanics of all four swimming strokes. Swimming technique is refined and swimmers prepare for entry into squad swimming. Further development of the students swimming endurance is strengthened with continual lap swimming. The student has an understanding of interval and set training under pace clock control. Swimmers display positive participation in the class under instruction from the Marlin coach. Swimmers further develop their dive, start and turn skills and regular timed swims all form part of the transition of the Marlin swimmer into the next level of squad.  Marlin students are encouraged to attend up to two sessions per week in preparation for entry into Mini Squad.