Access for non-ASL community - The American School in London

Swimming lessons for children

Swimming lessons

Our swimming pool is open to non-ASL children, ages 4-16, to join our in-house swimming lesson program.

In 1:1 swimming lessons, students receive personal attention to help them build their water confidence or improve stroke technique. 1:1 lessons are tailored to the student's needs and involve 30 minutes of dedicated teaching from a qualified instructor. The close attention and focus in these sessions create the ideal environment to turn enthusiastic young swimmers into skilled competitors. We do not offer group lessons; however, Camden Swiss Cottage SC hires our pool and offers group lessons on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

The booking portal opens on Monday, 24 August at 4 pm for the fall season swim program.

Fall season '26

Saturdays: 1.45 pm-3.45 pm, 12 September - 14 November, 8 sessions £416
No lessons: 10 & 17 October

Sundays: 1.45 pm-3.45 pm, 13 September - 15 November, 9 sessions, £468
No lessons: 18 October

All prices include VAT

The following teachers will be working on each of the days:

Booking guide

To make a booking, you will need to create an account using the orange button below. If you already have an account (e.g., if you registered for our system before, such as for summer camp), please use the blue button. We advise you to be on the booking portal at least 5 minutes before the opening time to ensure you have no login issues.

Once logged on, select the child you wish to book, and then select the slot. Once you're happy with your selection, please follow the booking system through to payment. Full payment is required to secure the slot. All spaces are booked on a first-come, first-served basis, with no priority given to previous attendees. Before booking, please read the information on this tab and the FAQs.

Any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Sign up now
(existing families)*

* Existing families include those with children who have registered for the ASL booking system previously (e.g. for the Summer Program)

sign up now (new families)**

** New families refers to non-ASL families who are new to our booking system

Swimming lessons FAQs

Why are the term dates different from English schools?

Our school runs on a different calendar from English schools, and our term dates are based on our school dates. Our swim seasons are based on our school sports season. We run three seasons per year:
Fall: 7 September to 15 November
Winter: 16 November to 14 March
Spring: 15 March to 6 June

What do I need to bring to lessons?

We provide all the equipment needed for the lesson. Please provide your child with swimwear, a towel, and a swim hat/goggles if they wish to wear them.

Does an adult need to stay on site during the lesson?

Yes, we require an adult to be on site with all children whilst they attend lessons.

Where can parents/guardians watch the lessons?

We have a spectator's balcony located on the pool deck next to the changing rooms. If a child is nervous, an adult can sit on the steps on the poolside to stay close, but we do advise you to move to the balcony once they have settled, as this helps the child focus and build a relationship with the teacher.

Will my child work towards a Learn to Swim award scheme?

We do not run our lessons according to a learn-to-swim scheme, but rather tailor them to each child. If there is something specific you would like your child to work toward, please speak to their teacher, who can work with you on it.

What is the refund/cancellation policy?

A full refund is available up to the day before your first class takes place. After this, a 50% refund will be applicable up to two weeks into the term. If applicable, refunds will be issued within 21 working days of notification.

What happens if my child cannot attend a lesson?

We offer one makeup lesson per season. This can be booked to take place on Saturday and Sunday mornings with our weekend supervisor, term-time. We are unable to make up more than one missed lesson per season.

How do we re-enroll each term?

We open bookings each fall season on a first-come, first-served basis. Once you are signed up for the lessons, you will be automatically re-enrolled into the same slot for the next season. If you wish to continue, you will need to make a payment by the deadline, which will be in the email sent out four weeks before the season ends.

How do I book?

Please take a look at the 'Swimming lessons for children' tab for details on the booking process.

Do you run lessons in the school holidays?

We run 8/9 weeks of swimming crash courses from mid-June to the end of August. Bookings open for these around March/April each year. Check out our summer program page for more information.

Does my child need to wear a swim hat/goggles during the lesson?

This is down to personal preference, although we do advise that your child has them.

Are there any other times my child can swim?

At this time, we can only offer access to the lessons on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

My child has a medical condition/disability. Can they swim with you?

Please get in touch to discuss your child's needs.

My child isn't 4 years old yet. When can they start?

Your child must turn 4 within the first four weeks of the season to sign up for lessons. Please make sure they are ready to start the lessons and are fully toilet-trained.

What is the water temperature?

The swimming pool is maintained at 28.5 degrees.

Birthday parties

Birthday Parties by Rising Stars

Give your child an exciting birthday party! Rising Stars offers a full service party, which means that parents and guests can sit back and enjoy event. With a variety of different themes, the company can tailor parties to the interest of any child.

Themes

Multi sports
Football
Basketball
Pool (additional fee may apply)
Nerf gun
Musical games
Gaming (7 years +)
Secret cinema
Bespoke

Age 4-12 years

Party packages include

Venue hire
Team of staff members
Medals for all the children
Birthday present for the birthday child

Additional services

Catering
Birthday cake
Going home presents
Balloon service
Each service is customized and will be charged appropriately once details are agreed

Costs

Sports / musical party: from £660
Nerf gun party: from £690
Swimming pool party: from £780
Gaming party: £705 3 screens for up to 20 children, £795 4 screens for up to 24 children
Bespoke party: Inflatables, Bouncy Castles and Slides- ask for a quote

All parties are fully serviced to include our Catering Service. Themed Balloons, Going Home Presents, Popcorn & Candy-Floss Machines can also be arranged.

Contact

To enquire about booking a birthday party, please contact Rising Stars, info@risingstarsactivities.com or 020 8150 6655.

Facilities access for adults

Adult Swim Coaching

Our adult swim coaching sessions are available to book for any adult that has a child currently swimming in our non-ASL one to one swim program. We are unable to offer these sessions if you do not currently have a child swimming with us.

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your stroke technique for a competition, our tailored coaching sessions will help you reach your goal.

Costs

Adult Swim Coaching
1 session	£78
5 sessions*	£318
10 sessions*	£588

*All bulk-buy sessions must be used within 90 days. Prices include VAT

Group sessions

Two people may choose to share a session and split the cost. Groups of two can either swim together for one hour, or swim for 30 minutes each in a one hour time slot.

Availability

We are able to offer these sessions during the following times in the pool.
Mondays 6:45-8:45 pm
Wednesdays 6:15-8:30 pm
Thursday 6:15-8:30 pm
Friday 6:15-8:30 pm

You will need to liaise with your chosen coach to arrange a time that works for you both.

Coaches

We have qualified swim coaches working for ASL Fitness. Please read through the below profiles and let us know your preferred coach when getting in contact. We ask that you take into consideration your availability aligning with theirs.

Samantha

South Africa-born Samantha has been teaching swimming for nearly 30 years and is passionate about aquatics. She has competed at the nation level in swimming, artistic swimming, beach life-saving and open-water competition. With extensive experience in teaching younger swimmers, Samantha has been taught by some of the best swim coaches. She loves to train triathletes, and is also a qualified yoga and pilates instructor. Samantha is happy to coach all levels of ability and confidence, from water-phobic beginners to elite swimmers.

Availability: Monday and Wednesday evenings

How to sign up

Register your interest here, and we will contact you to arrange convenient times and dates to train. Your full balance is payable upfront on your first session.

Refund request form & Payment policy

Payment policy:

Places in programs are not guaranteed until fees are paid in full.
Programs are payable in advance by credit or debit card. A refund for non-attendance for any reason is not available (see refund policy below).
We rely on accurate information about participants' age, grade level, and enrollment status. Registration does not guarantee enrollment in programs for which participants are unsuitable.

By registering for our Swimming Program, parents/guardians acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to the following policies:

Refund request form
If you wish to request a refund and you believe you fit the above criteria, please complete the form below. A member of the Aquatic team will then be in touch within 14 days with a decision on your request.