There are loads of benefits to starting swimming lessons from an early age. It’s good for little one’s physical and mental health, develops strength and co-ordination, promotes bonding, can improve sleeping and eating patterns, boosts confidence and teaches water safety.
There are plenty of options below for great North East swim schools that are frequently recommended by local parents, with classes for babies, toddlers, pre-school and school-aged children in and around Gateshead.
Details are subject to change, and there may be a waiting list for some sessions. The age range available may vary across different locations, and some providers may offer additional sites further afield which may be of interest. Please check the latest updates and full info directly with providers.
Above the Water LTD
South Tyneside & Sunderland
📌 Boldon School. Boldon Colliery, NE35 9DZ
📌 Castleview Academy, Sunderland, SR5 3DX
👶👦 Classes for all ages and stages.
A dedicated, passionate team who believe that learning should be fun and that anyone can learn to swim, no matter what age or experience.
For more info, visit @Abovethewater16
Dinkies Swim School
South Tyneside & Sunderland
📌 Boldon Dive Centre, East Boldon, NE36 0AH
📌 DW Fitness, Farringdon, Sunderland SR5 3XG
📌 Castleview Academy, Sunderland, SR5 3DX
📌 Farringdon Community Academy, Sunderland SR3 3EL
👶 Baby and toddler swimming lessons.
🔹 Lessons are fun, interactive and affordable, whilst teaching your child confidence in and around the pool.
👉 Group lessons from £54 for 6 weeks, 1:1 lessons from £90 for 6 weeks.
For more info, visit @DinkiesswimschoolNE
GO Gateshead
📌 Blaydon Leisure Centre
📌 Dunston Leisure Centre
📌 Heworth Leisure Centre
👶👦 From babies to teens.
🔹 Under 5s classes accompanied by an adult in the water, independent Duckling classes (4+ years) and children’s swimming lessons (5+ years) following the he Learn to Swim Framework. Older children can join Age 9-15 swimming lessons to learn to swim with young people their age. Children who have completed Stage 7 can join Swim Challenge weekly groups, RLSS UK Rookie Lifeguard groups, and club swimming or synchronised swimming with partner clubs.
👉 £7.50 per lesson, paid monthly.
For more info, visit @gogateshead
Nemo Swimming
South Tyneside & Durham
📌 Boldon Dive Centre, Cleadon Lane Industrial Estate, East Boldon, NE36 0AH
📌 Heel & Toe Hydrotherapy Pool, Perkinsville, DH2 1JA
Newcastle
📌 PaddlePod Newcastle, Killingworth, NE12 5AB
👶👱♂️ Baby, toddler, pre-school and junior swimming lessons.
🔹 The Nemo Swimming Journey has been specifically developed to encourage water safety and awareness, while providing exciting, rewarding and age-specific swimming lessons for your child.
👉 From £13.65 per session.
For more info, visit @nemoswimmingUK, or @NemoSwimmingSouthTyneside
Puddle Ducks
Durham & South Tyneside
📌 Heel & Toe Hydrotherapy Centre, Perkinsville, DH2 1JA
📌 Keelmans Way School, Hebburn, NE31 1QY
Newcastle
📌 Beacon Hill School, Wallsend, NE28 9JW
📌 Benfield Sports Centre, Walker, NE6 4NU
📌 Crowne Plaza, Newcastle, NE1 3SA
📌 Percy Hedley, Killingworth, NE12 7BH
📌 The Grand Hotel Gosforth Park, Gosforth, NE3 5HN
🤰👶👱♂️ Aquanatal classes & lessons from 0-10 year olds.
🔹 Classes all about fun, confidence, grace and safety in the water. Offering a unique child-led approach helping children to be comfortable and confident under the surface of the water when they are ready. Small group lessons with class sizes up to nine.
👉 From £15 per lesson.
For more info, visit @pdnortheast
Swim Bug
Gateshead
📌 Gymetc, Team Valley Trading Estate, NE11 0BE.
👶👱♂️ Mother & baby classes, children’s lessons age 3.5 – 11.
🔹 Helping children enjoy swimming and become comfortable in the water with fun and engaging activities. Small group and 1:1 lessons available.
👉 For more info, visit @swimbuguk
Swim Excellence
Gateshead
📌 Chase Park Health Club, Whickham, NE16 4QA
📌 Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, Gateshead, NE8 2AR
Durham
📌 Swim Excellence Academy Consett, Consett, DH8 6TJ
👶👱♂️ Baby and Pre-School classes and Academy Swimming 3.5 years+
🔹 An exciting, safe, fun and rewarding swim programme, with interactive games and activities and water safety techniques. Offering beginners lessons to advanced swimming for children swimming competently, with group lessons and 1:1.
👉 For more info, visit @swimxnortheast
Swimfun North East
South Tyneside & Sunderland
📌 Harton Sports Academy, South Shields, NE34 6AG.
📌 Keelman’s Way School, Hebburn, NE31 1QY
📌 Boldon Dive Centre, East Boldon, NE36 0AH
Durham
📌 Durham Trinity School and Sports College, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5 WB.
👶👱♂️ From birth right through the 10 Swim England stages.
🔹Lessons for all ages and abilities through your entire swimming journey, with the opportunity to be taught to competitive standard. Small group sizes, awards and catch up lessons included.
👉 From £25 per month.
For more info, visit @swimfun.ne
Swim North East
Newcastle
📌 PaddlePod Newcastle, Killingworth, NE12 5AB
📌 Sport Central, Northumbria University, NE1 8QD
👱♂️ Children aged 4 (and in reception) and above.
🔹 Lessons starting with the basics of learning to swim, through swimming stages 1-10 and advanced skills included in aquatic sports such as water polo or diving. Offering small group lessons with class sizes up to 6, and private 1-1 or 2-1 lessons.
👉 Group lessons from £7.88 per lesson, private lessons from £12.08/£17.85 (plus booking fees).
For more info, visit @swimne
Swimtime North East
Newcastle
📌 Village Hotels Newcastle, Silverlink N, NE27 0BY
👶👱♂️ Children’s lessons from babies to teenagers.
🔹 Fun lessons to help introduce babies to being in the water. Parent and toddler lessons to develop confidence and learn through play, and children’s lessons progressing through the Award Scheme. Offering small group lessons with class sizes typically of 6, and private 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 lessons.
👉 Group lessons from £9.50 per lesson, 1:1 from £23.
For more info, visit @SwimtimeNorthEast
Turtle Tots Newcastle and Gateshead
Gateshead
📌 Marriott Hotel MetroCentre, Gateshead, NE119XF
Newcastle
📌 DW Fitness, Newcastle Shopping Park, Byker, NE6 2UJ
🤰👶 Aqua-natal yoga, baby lessons and toddler lessons.
🔹 With a strong focus on teaching lifesaving skills to help stay safe in and around water. Teaching you to teach your baby or toddler to swim, at a pace that is right for them, in a gentle progressive way that fosters bonding, trust, respect and communication.
👉 From £13 per class.
For more info, visit @turtletotsnewcastlegatesheadnorthumberland
Water Babies
Gateshead
📌 MetroCentre Marriott, Gateshead, NE11 9XF
South Tyneside & Durham
📌 Boldon Dive Centre, East Boldon, NE36 0AH
📌 Heel & Toe Hydrotherapy Pool, Perkinsville, DH2 1JA
📌 Durham Marriott, Old Elvet, DH1 3JN
📌 Allensford, Shotley Bridge, DH8 9BB
👶 Birth to age 5.
🔹 Teaching skills through song, play and repetition, progressing to Swim England badges by age 5. Offering group lessons with a maximum of 10 little ones.
👉 For more info, visit @WaterBabiesTyneWear
There’s plenty on Gateshead Mumbler to help keep little ones (and big ones!) busy, check here for more ideas and info for fun days out from tots to teens!
If you’d like to keep up to date when new resources are added, please click here and like the Gateshead Mumbler Facebook page
