General Information

The Process

Fort Worth Family Swim School believes that beginners do best with a jumpstart of 8 private lessons. Therefore, we require all students over the age of 2 (with exception of adults) to begin their instruction with 8 lessons. Continued lessons are suggested until the child is comfortable and has mastered a level of proficiency in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and entries/exits. Because swimming is progressive in nature, maximum enjoyment as adults is dependant on a certain level of proficiency as children. Children should receive quality instruction beginning as babies and continuing until they are proficient. If beginning later than 5 years old, the process is a little slower due to anxieties that may have developed. FWFSS focuses first on comfort and balance, and then on skills.

General Water Safety: FWFSS loves children, and recognizes that though swimming is a recreational activity, it is first a health safety concern! For all young children and non or minimal swimmers, FWFSS encourages all parents to:

• Secure any access to water with gates and locks.
• Learn CPR.
• Give their children quality lessons.
• Not rely on floatation devices.
• Supervise their children AT ALL TIMES.
• Teach appropriate spatial boundaries around water and give appropriate consequences if children break them.
• Teach appropriate behavior and boundaries in the water.

Available Programming

• 0-2 y/o: Mom/Dad ‘N’ Me Class
• 2-3 y/o beginners: Two 8 day sessions. The second set of 8 day lessons do not have to be consecutive.
• 2 y/o-adults: 8 Day Private Lessons. Intended for all levels, from a fearful beginner to a more advanced competitor.
• Stroke Skills: 4 Day Private or Semi-private (no more than two students) Lessons. For students who are able to swim freestyle across the length of the pool.
• Special Needs: 8 Day Private Lessons for all ages and disabilities.
• Adults: Available on limited basis.

*** Safer Swimmer Test:

For many parents, the number one motivation behind placing their children in swim lessons is for “SAFETY!”  As a swim school, it is our goal to lessen the number of  drownings by educating our community about water safety through swim lessons. For this reason, we have developed a “Safer Swimmer Test” which is a test solely for the purpose of seeing how a child who has fallen into the water will respond to their circumstances. In this test, the child will be tapped into the water fully dressed, swim a teacher-determined distance, and then get out of the pool unassisted.

Safety at Lessons

FWFSS wants our student’s lessons to be safe and rewarding. As a result, we require parents and children to abide by the following rules:

• Do not enter the pool area.
• The instructor will come out, welcome the student, and take him or her back to the pool area.
• Do not let small children wander around in the pool area.
• Parents must wait outside the gate during children’s lessons. You are invited, however, to view the last five minutes of lessons 1-7, and participate for the full duration of the final 8th lesson.
• Be on time to pick child up at the end of lessons.

Weather Policy

We WILL teach in the rain. FWFSS must cancel lessons if there is lightning within 6 miles of the lesson. Arrangements are made with the instructor. We have a lightening detector so ALWAYS call to learn if lessons have been cancelled!  (817) 909-0093.

Cancellation Policy

FWFSS does not make up lessons missed for non-emergency activities. Our cancellation policy for registration requires a three week notice, or there will be a $25 registration fee.  Once lessons have begun, there is no refund.

Sickness Policy

FWFSS tries to work with students with medical emergencies. FWFSS will make up 1 missed day if 2 or more days are missed for our 8 lessons. If illness is severe enough to cancel and reschedule, FWFSS will give credit toward future lessons and participant is responsible for rescheduling. Any Mom/Dad ‘N’ Me or 4-Day classes missed are not made up.