EMSA Breadsall Priory/Woodlands

The 3 types of kids in every single swim lesson... 🤫💦

We love every child who steps onto our poolside, but let’s be honest—they all bring their own unique style to the class!

Which one of these sounds exactly like your little one?

💣 The Cannonball Expert: Rules, structure, and listening? No time for that. They have one setting and one setting only: maximum splash, massive jump, total chaos.

🥽The Goggle Inspector: Spent the first ten minutes trying to fit them, the next ten minutes adjusting the strap, and the final ten minutes checking for a microscopic drop of water. The goggles are a full-time hobby.

🤝 The Negotiator: "How about I do one rocket, and then we play a game?" or "Can I just do small fast feet instead?" They should genuinely be in law school with the amount of bargaining they do on the steps.

No matter their personality, they make every single session an absolute joy.

Drop a comment below and tell us which one you’re driving home with today! 👇

There are two types of kids at swimming lessons... 🤫💦

Every single week, without fail, our instructors meet these two iconic pool deck legends.

Which category does your little one fall into?

🗣️ The Chatterbox: Has a million stories to tell the instructor the second their head surfaces. Wants to explain exactly what they had for breakfast, what their dog did this morning, and show off their underwater talking skills—all while they're supposed to be kicking!

🚽 The "I Need a Wee" Kid: Fully suited up, caps on, goggles adjusted, toes right on the edge of the pool... and then they lock eyes with you. "Teacher, I need the toilet." Every. Single. Time.

We love them all exactly as they are—they keep us smiling every single day!

Drop a comment below and tell us: is your child the Chatterbox or the Quick Exit? 👇

From safety skill to stroke mastery: The Log Roll 🔄🏊‍♀️

The log roll is one of the most versatile tools in a swimmer’s kit. At EMSA BP, we introduce it as an essential self-rescue tool, but it quickly evolves into a key piece of core coordination for advanced strokes.

Here is how the skill shifts across our training stages:

Beginner Phase: Focuses purely on body rotation. We teach swimmers to transition seamlessly from face-down to face-up on their back so they can safely find air.

Intermediate Phase: We add complexity by keeping the arms pinned down the side or extended into a streamline, requiring greater core control to initiate the roll.

Swimmer Phase: Mastered ex*****on. The rotation becomes second nature, serving as the foundation for smooth bilateral breathing and balanced stroke rhythm.

Building consistency at every level ensures our swimmers remain balanced, efficient, and water safe!

Watching a child move from their first nervous splash to a confident, solo length is why we do what we do! Backstroke is a fantastic confidence builder because it keeps the face clear of the water, but it takes time to master.

Watch the progression through our stages:

Stage 1 & 2: Building trust in the water's support with a woggle and mastering a steady flutter kick.

Stage 3 & 4: Moving to widths, focusing on a flat body position and consistent arm rotation.

Stage 5: Stepping up to full lengths, building the stamina to keep that chin up and chest high.

Advanced: Taking it to the deep end, where skills meet real-world confidence.

Every stage at EMSA Breadsall is designed to bridge the gap between "learning" and "lifesaving." Which stage is your swimmer currently smashing?

Three steps every child needs to know for water safety 🛑👇

If your child fell into a pool unexpectedly, would they know what to do? At EMSA, we train our swimmers to react with three vital steps: Float, Breathe, and swim to the Wall.

Here is exactly how this lifesaving sequence works:

1. The Float: In an emergency, panicking and splashing drains energy fast. We teach children to immediately roll onto their back into a stable star float to stay above water.

2. The Breathe: Once in the float position, the child can control their breathing, calm their heart rate, and clear their mind to plan their next move.

3. The Wall: Once they are calm and have their breath back, they roll over and swim directly to the nearest safe exit point or pool wall.

Watch how beautifully it’s demonstrated here! Turning safety into muscle memory is the best way to ensure they are always “Rescue Ready.”

Many swimmers make the mistake of rushing their Breaststroke, but the glide is actually where you travel the furthest! If you’re rushing into the next pull, you’re working twice as hard for half the distance.

Here is why we focus on the glide at EMSA Breadsall:

Efficiency: Holding a strong, streamlined position after the kick allows you to use that momentum to "slice" through the water.

Breath Control: It provides a vital second of calm to prepare for your next breath, preventing that "exhausted" feeling halfway across the pool.

Power: It ensures you get the full value out of your leg kick before starting the arm pull again.

The Secret Rhythm: Pull, Breathe, Kick, GLIDE.

Watch how holding that position for just two seconds makes the whole stroke look effortless!