ASSA + WSU Child Development Series for Swim Schools

Bringing the science of child development to the heart of swim teaching.

Child development is part of every swimming lesson. How children think, feel and learn shapes how they respond in the water, and a solid understanding of this helps teachers run safer, smoother and more effective classes.

This five-part series gives swim school educators, coordinators and program leaders practical guidance on the key stages of child development and what they mean for teaching. The focus is simple: connect the research to what happens on pool deck, and give teams tools they can use straight away.

Delivered with Western Sydney University and led by Dr Nicole Peel, each session builds knowledge in areas that matter to the learn to swim community, including behaviour, readiness to learn, communication with families, purposeful play and inclusive program design.

This is an opportunity to strengthen teaching practice across the country and support better outcomes for children and families.

The series includes:

1. How children grow, think and learn in the water - Explore how children’s growth, movement and brain development shape confidence, skill progression and lesson readiness.

2. Understanding behaviour and building calm, confident Swimmers - Learn why behaviours appear in lessons, what drives them, and how to support calmer, more connected classes through understanding, not correction.

3. Partnering with families to support every child’s progress - Gain tools for clearer, more constructive conversations with families about readiness, effort and achievement, and how to build trust through consistent communication.

4. The power of play: inspiring motivation and emotional safety in the pool - Discover how purposeful play supports motivation, joy and emotional regulation, and how to use it to create lessons that feel safe, engaging and rewarding.

5. Designing programs that include, engage and inspire every child - Take away practical strategies for adapting lessons to different developmental needs and creating programs where every child can participate confidently.

By the end of the series, participants will have a stronger understanding of how child development connects with swimming lessons, and how to use these insights to improve teaching quality, support children’s progress and strengthen family experience inside their swim school.

When booking for 2 – the cart will apply your $100 discount when you select '2' people.