Daddy Shark Swim School is a family-run, award-winning swim school based in Ormskirk, Southport and St Helens. We teach babies, toddlers and children aged 3 months to 11 years in small, supportive lessons where teachers are in the water with the children.

Our lessons focus on:

Confidence and calm in the water
Strong foundations and correct technique
Small group teaching with individual support
Kindness, patience and consistency

We follow the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme and pride ourselves on being professional, nurturing and inclusive.

Who This Role Is For

This role may suit you if you:

Enjoy working with babies and children
Are confident and comfortable in the water
Are calm, patient and reliable
Are open to learning and taking feedback
Want meaningful, term-time work around family life

You do not need previous teaching experience or to be a competitive swimmer. Many of our teachers were not qualified or experienced when they joined us — we train the right people thoroughly.

Why Work With Daddy Shark Swim School?

Our teachers value:

Term-time only work (39 weeks per year)
A supportive, respectful team culture with regular 1:1s and team meetings to ensure you’re supported every step of the way with your day-to-day role and career progression
Small classes and clear lesson structures
No pressure to rush children through stages
Full training and qualifications paid for (once accepted)

You’ll never be left unsupported or expected to “just get on with it”. We invest in our team properly and long-term.

Hours & Venues

Typical working hours

Evenings and weekends
Shifts usually around four hours
Weekly sessions during term time

Venues

Ormskirk
Southport
St Helens

Consistency is essential. Children thrive on routine, so teachers are expected to commit to the same weekly sessions wherever possible.

Training, Commitment & Next Steps

Qualifications & Requirements

Before starting, you must be:

Confident in the water
Comfortable working closely with children and parents
Willing to learn and develop professionally
Legally entitled to work in the UK
Willing to complete an Enhanced DBS check (we support the application process)

Required & Recommended Training

Some applicants may already hold relevant qualifications. Where this is the case, we will
verify existing certificates and only arrange training where required.

	Time commitment	Learning format	Required or recommended
Safeguarding & compliance
Safeguarding & child protection training	3 hours	Online	Required
NRASTC or equivalent & first aid	2 days 9am-4pm	In-person	Required
Teaching qualifications
Swim England Level 2 Teaching Swimming	See Annex 1	Blended	Required
Professional development
Autism Swim Certification	10 hours initially then ongoing 1 hour per month	Online	Recommended
Baby & Pre-school qualification	See Annex 2	Blended	Recommended
CPD courses	1 hour per school term	Online	Recommended

All required qualifications are funded by Daddy Shark Swim School.

The Initial Poolside Trial

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an informal poolside trial. This includes:

Observing lessons
Assisting teachers
Experiencing the pool environment
Making sure the role feels right for everyone

This trial is unpaid and exploratory.

Training Pathways After the Trial

Route 1 – Applicants without a recognised teaching qualification

If the trial is successful, you’ll be invited to complete a four-week voluntary training programme. Important: this programme is unpaid.

What it involves

Observing lessons across age groups
Assisting experienced teachers in the water
Learning lesson structure, safety and progression

Why this stage exists

We teach babies and young children in water – safety, confidence and quality are nonnegotiable. This period allows:

Thorough training
Time to build confidence and skill
Space for you to decide if the role truly suits you
Assurance that our teaching standards are upheld

Route 2 – Applicants with a recognised teaching qualification

If you already hold Swim England / SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming, the four-week voluntary programme may not be required.

Instead, you will complete:

A structured induction period
Poolside shadowing and observation
Familiarisation with Daddy Shark Swim School teaching methods, policies and lesson standards

The length and structure of this induction will be agreed on a case-by-case basis.

Induction Period (All New Starters)

All new teachers, regardless of experience or qualifications, complete an induction period. This ensures consistency, safety and confidence before teaching independently.

This includes:

Orientation to teaching frameworks and lesson structure
Safeguarding, safety and operational procedures
Supported teaching with feedback
Gradual increase in responsibility

What Happens Next?

Successful completion may lead to:

A formal offer of a teaching role subject to completion of necessary qualifications and a probationary period
Qualifications funded by us
Paid teaching/assisting hours once qualified
Ongoing voluntary experience pre-qualification (recommended)
On-the-job training alongside professional qualifications until you feel confident to teach independently

There is no obligation on either side until this stage is complete.

Please Consider Carefully

Before applying, please be aware:

This is not a quick or casual role
The initial voluntary period is unpaid
Consistency and commitment are essential
You must be open to feedback and development

In return, we invest heavily in your training, qualifications and long-term progression.

Next Steps

If this feels right for you:

Submit an application
Informal chat
Poolside trial
Four-week voluntary training programme (if applicable)
Funded qualifications and paid teaching role

Many of our most valued teachers started exactly where you are now.

ANNEX 1

SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming

The SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming qualification will develop your knowledge, skills, and abilities as a swimming teacher. It gives you the skills to independently plan and deliver high quality inclusive swimming lessons.

Is this course right for me?

This is for anyone who wants to become a swimming teacher.

What can I expect during my course?

eLearning – You will have eLearning to complete during the early stages of the course. The estimated completion time is ten to twelve hours.
Webinars – Your tutor will go through the remaining theory topics and set assessment tasks to prepare you for your practical poolside teaching.

Face to face days – This will be a mixture of classroom workshops, practical poolside learning and assessment activities. You will have the opportunity to deliver at least six 30-minute swimming lessons to gain practical experience.

What will I learn?

During the course, your tutor will be covering the following topics:

The responsibilities and role of a swimming teacher
How the scientific principles of swimming impact on development
How to develop Core Aquatic Skills and the four strokes
How to identify and correct common swimming faults
How to use a variety of teaching techniques and equipment to suit different needs
How to plan and deliver inclusive lessons for different levels of ability, including adaptations for swimmers with special educational needs and disabilities
Key teaching and management skills including class management and assessment, organisational skills, behaviour management, communication skills, and teaching methods

National curriculum swimming lessons and how they differ from learn to swim lessons

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed by your tutor throughout your course against the specification criteria, please note this qualification is delivered and assessed in English. You will also need to complete assessment tasks, some of which will be in your own time. These include, but are not limited to:

Theoretical questions as part of your eLearning and six written questions
Two written overviews of a series of lessons
Six written lesson plans
Practical delivery of at least six 30-minute swimming lessons
A written self-evaluation
A written professional development plan

Your tutor will provide you with deadlines for submitting assessments. All deadlines will need to be met to meet the standard of the qualification.

What happens next?

Upon successfully meeting all assessment criteria, it will take six to eight weeks for your certificate to be issued. An electronic copy of your certificate will be emailed to you.

If at the end of the course, you have not successfully met the qualification standard your tutor will provide you with feedback and guidance. You will then go through our reassessment process and have 12 months from the start date of your chosen course to complete this. Please note, if you do have to go through our reassessment process there may be additional fees associated with this.

Prerequisites

You must be at least 16 at the start of the course.

Example Course Specifics – to give an idea of time commitment only. Exact course dates to be confirmed

Price

£699.00

Itinerary

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00 am
Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:00 am

eLearning

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Webinar

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Webinar

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Crosby Leisure Centre

Mariners Road, Liverpool, L23 6SX
Sun, 15 Mar 2026 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Crosby Leisure Centre

Mariners Road, Liverpool, L23 6SX
Sat, 21 Mar 2026 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Crosby Leisure Centre

Mariners Road, Liverpool, L23 6SX
Sun, 22 Mar 2026 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Crosby Leisure Centre

Mariners Road, Liverpool, L23 6SX

ANNEX 2

SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming to Babies and Toddlers

The SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming to Babies and Toddler qualification will develop your knowledge, skills, and abilities as a teacher to babies and toddlers. It will give you the skills to independently plan and deliver high quality fun swimming lessons.

Is this course right for me?

This is for anyone who gained their SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming qualification post April 2022 who wants to deliver baby and toddler swimming lessons.

If you hold an ASA / SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming qualification dated prior to April 2022, a Level 2 Teaching Swimming qualification from another Awarding Organisation you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). To see if you would be suitable to apply for RPL, please email iosadmin@swimming.org with a copy of your prerequisite certificate and details of the course you would prefer to attend.

If you currently hold an ASA/SEQ Level 1 Swimming Assistant (Teaching) qualification and would like to progress to the SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming to Babies and Toddlers qualification, please email iosadmin@swimming.org with a copy of your
prerequisite certificate and details of the course you would prefer to attend. We will then be able to confirm if this is a suitable course opportunity for you.

What can I expect during my course?

Webinar – Your tutor will introduce you to your first learning modules.
eLearning – You will have eLearning to complete prior to your face to face days.
The estimated completion time is six-twelve hours.
Face to face days – This will be a mixture of classroom workshops, practical
poolside learning and assessment activities. You will have the opportunity to
deliver at least two 30-minute baby and toddler lessons to gain practical
experience.

What will I learn?

During the course, your tutor will be covering the following topics:

The role and responsibilities of a Babies and Toddlers Swimming Teacher
The role in promoting aquatics and children’s health and wellbeing
The development of Babies and Toddlers and common health-related conditions
How to plan overviews and swimming lesson plans for a range of age groups
How to teach safe, inclusive, and effective swimming lessons to a range of age groups
How to meet the needs of participants
How to assess participants at the correct level
How to demonstrate lesson management skills
How to supervise and instruct those supporting participants
How to develop participants Core Aquatic Skills
How to demonstrate effective communication skills

How will I be assessed?

Theoretical questions as part of your eLearning and written theoretical questions
One written overview of a series of lessons
Two written lesson plans
Practical delivery of at least two 30-minute baby and toddler lessons

Your tutor will provide you with deadlines for the assessment to be submitted and
completed by. All deadlines must be met to meet the qualification standard.

What happens next?

Upon successfully meeting all assessment criteria, it will take six-eight weeks for your certificate to be issued. An electronic copy of your certificate will be emailed to you.

If at the end of the course, you have not successfully met the qualification standard your tutor will provide you with feedback and guidance. You will then go through our reassessment process and have 12 months from the start date of your chosen course to
complete this. Please note, if you do have to go through our reassessment process there may be additional fees associated with this.

Prerequisites

You must be at least 16 at the start of the course.

You must have one of the following qualifications: SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming If you hold an ASA / SEQ Level 2 Teaching Swimming qualification dated prior to April 2022 or a Level 2 Teaching Swimming qualification from another Awarding Organisation, you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Please email a copy of your prerequisite certificate to iosadmin@swimming.org to see if you are suitable to apply for RPL on this course.

Example Course Specifics – to give an idea of time commitment only. Exact course dates to be confirmed

Price

£375.00

Itinerary

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 12:00 am
Fri, 27 Feb 2026
12:00 am eLearning
Sun, 15 Feb 2026 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Webinar

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

St Peter’s Leisure Centre

Church Street, Burnley, BB11 2DL

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:30 am – 4:30 pm

St Peter’s Leisure Centre, Church Street, Burnley, BB11 2DL

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:30 am – 4:30 pm

St Peter’s Leisure Centre, Church Street, Burnley, BB11 2DL

THINKING ABOUT BECOMING A SWIM TEACHER WITH DADDY SHARK SWIM SCHOOL?

CONTENTS

About the Role & Why Work With Us

Training, Commitment & Next Steps

The Initial Poolside Trial

Training Pathways After the Trial

What it involves

Why this stage exists

Induction Period (All New Starters)

What Happens Next?

Please Consider Carefully

Next Steps

ANNEX 1

Is this course right for me?

What can I expect during my course?

What will I learn?

How will I be assessed?

What happens next?

Prerequisites

ANNEX 2

Is this course right for me?

What can I expect during my course?

What will I learn?

How will I be assessed?

What happens next?

Prerequisites