PARENTS
Are you looking for …
… a swim programme that values play and takes a more child-led approach?
… sensory awareness lessons for your children in the pool?
SWIM SCHOOLS
Are you looking for …
… some new creative swim ideas to offer parents and children?
… sensory awareness to make your classes more engaging?
Welcome to the world of Aqua Sensory …
…the perfect recipe for the developing child
Our unique programme combines nurturing touch, fluid movements, music, singing, signing and discovery play to touch deeper into the sensory channels.
This rich mixture of sensory exploration provides the child with many developmental opportunities.
Aqua Sensory has been carefully written to develop many skills that underpin the Early Years Framework to provide a foundation for school. The focus and ethos of the programme is very much on child respect and purposeful play.
Aqua Sensory gives parents support in and out of the pool with non-judgmental information. The whole programme has become much more than a simple swim or sensory class to attend.
How it started
In 2012 Jo Wilson, founder of Aqua Sensory started her sensory journey after attending a workshop for parents. She was showed a series of movements to help calm children, to aid balance and increase brain connections. This was the light bulb moment to how sensory activities can positively impact a child’s development. Her passion for all things sensory started! She began to incorporate sensory play into the pool, which is the perfect environment due to the properties of water’s innately multi-sensory nature.
The programme and has been researched, tested and refined by working with industry professionals like Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Health and Early Years Professionals, Speech and Language Therapists, Yoga and Massage teachers, Reflexologists and Rhythmic Movement and Brain Gym ® therapists.
Sensory Education
This programme is perfect for any swim teacher or early years professional, looking to enhance a child’s development and strengthen the parent bond.
Our world is constantly changing …. the way we move, play and talk to our children is having an impact on our children’s development. Time pressures and technology can all have a negative impact. We are on a mission to provide updated resources and sensory water education to support our changing world.
Jo Wilson is an International Swimming Tutor for the Swimming Teachers Association (STA). Based in the UK she runs Aqua Sensory workshops and manages Swim Works Ltd their family swim centres with her husband Christian.
Jo says, “I am really excited how Aqua Sensory has been received, activities can either be cherry picked and included into current lessons to enhance them or stand-alone Aqua Sensory classes can be run. The programme is really flexible for every swim teacher and pool. We have introduced lots of little gems that really enhance a child’s development and support parents.”
Praise for Aqua Sensory
“It has been a fantastic experience to be part of Aqua Sensory lessons and learn so much about simple everyday things such as breathing to calm down or eye contact with a smile.”
“Aqua Sensory is perfect for my son, he likes to spend time really exploring things in his own time and in his own way! He zooms to space, climbs on the pirate ship. It’s the highlight of our week!”
“I enjoy being part of a group, where we share ideas, my lessons are much more child focused and creative now since starting Aqua Sensory.”
“Well I have been on many seminars. 27 years of teaching swimming. Just Brilliant Jo! Thank you for sharing your love and your ideas. I am going away to fun fill my lessons.”
Thank you to our contributors and experts…
Ulrika Fearch, Author of Swimming in Healthy Relationships, Baby swim expert and educator
Majbritt Mork Pederson, Sensory Integration Therapist
Hailey Sturdy, Infant Aquatics Swim Teacher, British Sign Language Levels, 1 & 2, Hands on Baby Massage and Baby Yoga Teacher
Amanda Henry, Reflexologist PRM FHT
Dr Mirrander Horvath, Clinical Psychologist CPsychol, AFBPsS
Libby Harris, Teacher, BSc (Hons), PGCE, MAELT, AMBDA
Liz Wright, BA (Hons) BSc Psychology, MA Early Years Education, Brain Gym Instructor
Corrine Urry, PGCE, BACP Therapist with training in Play Therapy and CBT
Bhairavi Shah, Occupational Therapist
Jody Scuffle, Music Therapist
Avril Upstone, BA BSc HCPC reg. Speech and Language Teacher
Special thanks to Lisa Bousted our fellow Aqua Sensory Tutor. Lisa has been teaching for over 20 years and running her busy swim school Aquarius for over 17 years. She is a STA Tutor and moderator and holds a Foundation degree in Childhood Studies. She also has every swim qualification going! STA Baby and Preschool, STA Disabilities, STA First Aid, she is an ASA Teacher, AUSTSWIM Teacher, and Mermaids UK/YMCA instructor and tutor and an NPLQ Lifeguard. We are lucky to have Lisa on board, co-tutoring our UK and International Aqua Sensory workshops!
And our wonderful teaching team here at Swim Works, who have backgrounds in baby massage, baby yoga, occupational therapy, speech and language, early years, NLP to name but a few in-house skills; Amanda Griffiths-Cation, Sophie Miller, Amy Bird and Louise Valk.
Would you like to work with us?
Would you like to add depth and education to our programme? It is constantly being updated, we would love to hear from you.