Understanding the challenges teachers face

Understanding some of the main challenges teachers face in the industry is important - find out more about them and how we seek to support with addressing them.

Managing Mixed-Ability Groups

  • The gap: Many training courses assume relatively even skill levels. In reality, teachers often work with wide ability ranges in one class.

  • What’s needed: More strategies on differentiation, rotating stations, setting personalised goals and group management.

Supporting Nervous or Anxious Swimmers

  • The gap: Handling water anxiety is often under-emphasised.

  • What’s needed: Training in trauma-informed teaching, building trust, and understanding how to gently encourage progress without pressure.

Working with SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities)

  • The gap: Most courses briefly mention inclusion but lack depth on how to adapt lessons for neurodivergent swimmers or those with physical disabilities.

  • What’s needed: Practical tools and adaptive strategies for sensory needs, communication, and physical support.

Behaviour Management

  • The gap: Especially in group lessons with kids, behaviour issues can arise and aren’t always covered in initial training.

  • What’s needed: Real-world techniques for managing group dynamics, setting boundaries and keeping lessons positive and focused.

Lesson Planning & Progression Tracking

 

  • The gap: Many teachers leave training without a clear structure for planning progressive, varied lessons across weeks or terms.

  • What’s needed: Guidance on long-term planning, swimmer tracking tools, and age-appropriate goal setting.


 

Early Years Water Confidence

 

  • The gap: Teaching toddlers or baby swimming often requires specialist training that’s not included in general teaching courses.

  • What’s needed: More integration of early years water play, parent-and-child interaction.