Tree of Life Swim School

SWIMMING LESSONS FOR CHILDREN AND NOVICE ADULTS IN BALLITO. 
KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE NEAR WATER!

Nestled under the trees in the beautiful suburb of Ballito, Tree of Life Swim School offers small group swimming classes for babies and toddlers, children as well as novice adults. Our enclosed heated swimming pool is the perfect environment for kids and adults of all ages to learn water skills. This environment mimics your pool at home ensuring your child is comfortable, happy and being taught water safety tips that could save their life.

Alongside our love for children and deep passion for swimming. Our swimming instructors hold up to date professional swim coach qualifications from Elizabeth Smith, Swim Dynamics and Ryk Neethling Swim Academy. The team is also qualified in Special Needs Swim Coaching.  

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It is the confidence of diving in to swim a length in the school gala for his/her sports house

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It is the security of enjoying a beach holiday beyond the shore break

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It is about being safe and having FUN at pool parties with friends and family

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It opens sports arenas like Water Polo, SCUBA Diving, Surfing and Kiteboarding

Not only is learning to swim is a gift of fun-filled opportunities but also a very important and necessary LIFE SKILL for your child. Don’t delay another week…book your child into the wonderful water world we open for him/her today. 

LEARN TO SWIM  ●  BEGINNER LESSONS  ●  PARENT AND TODDLER SWIMMING  ●  STROKE CORRECTION 
SQUAD TRAINING  ●  NOVICE ADULT LESSONS  ●  RESCUE RESPONSE COURSE FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS

VIEW 2019 / 2020 CLASS RATES ▸

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 09h00 – 18h00  |  Saturday: 08h00 – 14h00

OPEN for the December and January Summer School Holidays so your child has the beautiful warm days to grow and flourish. We are only closed in the month of July.

WE HAVE LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE  ●  CALL US ON 072 769 9551 TODAY!

Meet Our Team

KIM VIVIERS | OWNER AND INSTRUCTOR

A competitive regional swimmer for Natal in both Swimming and Lifesaving, Kim has loved swimming from the age of 3. Although her swim teaching career only began after she beat Leukaemia in 2009, she has quickly built a substantial resume around the vocation. With swimming courses through Elizabeth Smith and the Ryk Neethling Swim Academy, Kim worked for Ryk Neethling in 2012 teaching all ages but finally heading up the Baby Arena in the Academy. Over the past 6 years, Kim’s focus has been on specialising Baby Swimming. 

“Watching a child become safe in the water is truly the best feeling,” she admits.

She believes starting as young as possible and learning through play in a nurturing environment yields the most amazing results. Kim is an outgoing, happy teacher who loves to win the affection of her students through laughter, games and plenty of praise.

Dylan Massey Hicks | SWIM COACH

Dylan has had a passion for the water from a young age. He has made surf rescue and water safety his career by working as a professional lifeguard along the North coast for over 5 years, as well as doing voluntary work teaching water safety, training lifeguards, teaching underprivileged and special needs children how to swim.

Dylan is an ocean and fitness lover, doing a variety of sports ranging from free diving to all forms of wave riding. 

Dylan firmly believes that learning to swim is an essential life skill that everyone should learn, and being able to teach someone how to be water safe and watch their love for the water grow is the ultimate reward. 

Dylan did is qualification through KZN Aquatics and is also a level 1 judge. 

THULANI – PROFESSIONAL POOL CARE

Pool Hygiene is our number ONE priority!  Thulani is our 24 hour stand-by guy keeping our pool warm (our pool heaters are on timer’s to suit our changing seasons) and squeeky, bug-free Clean!

Tree of Life Swimming School has come to rely on Thulani as an integral member of our team. We recommend him and his 100% service to ANYONE who needs pool maintenance on a monthly contract. 

Swimming Classes

At Tree of Life Swim School we are keenly aware that children should progress happily and easily in their aquatic skills. We have developed a simple protocol for ‘Grading’ within the school, honouring each child with a special new ‘Cap’ as they become more proficient in the water.

Our swimming lessons have clearly defined goals for children at each development level, allowing parent,
coach and child to understand how they have progressed in the water. Children are excited to progress to a new
‘Cap Colour’ and work diligently to master the water skills at each level. 

Frequently Asked Questions

The most important thing we can tell ANY parent thinking to enrol their child in our swim school is that we are parents ourselves. We look after each child as if he/she was our very own. 

We understand how nerve wracking it can be to hand a small child over into another pair of hands to care for. 
We do our utmost to ensure your child is happy, confident and excited to return to his swimming!

What is the right age to start swimming lessons?

If you are bathing your child, you have already introduced him to water. Generally, at 6 months a baby is able to hold his head up independently and this is a good time to start fun, easy water activity. We offer Parent and Toddler Classes to promote the easy camaraderie a child should feel in the water with an adult he knows and trusts.

What if it is Raining?

Our swimming pool is heated and children get wet in the water. If it is light rain we continue classes as scheduled. In the event of extreme weather, thunder and lightning we will notify you of a class cancellation.

What if my child is ill?

We offer up to 6 makeup lessons for children who have missed lessons due to ill health over the 12 month period. If your child is unable to attend for more serious illness of longer duration please bring a Doctor’s note so we may adjust our records accordingly. 

Do I pay extra in the months with 5 lesson days?

No. With the calendar schedule around school holidays, term times etc. we do not charge additionally for those months were your child has an ‘extra’ lesson. It usually evens out over the course of the year.

Are you open during school holidays?

Yes. We find children want to swim MORE during the school holidays so we remain open during December/ January School holidays and Easter Holidays. We are open for the full year.

What do I Need for Lessons?

A washable, lined swimming costume or swimmer nappy for very young children. Our goal is to keep any ‘number 2’ inside the swimming costume so elasticised swimmers are important. Normal nappies do not do the job required.

Swimming Caps are required (available from Tree of Life Swim School in the colour of the relevant swimming grade) for hygienic reasons. Goggles may be worn by students if they prefer them.

Bring a towel, warm, dry clothing and a snack for your child after swimming class. Please do not feed your child up to 30 minutes before his lesson as the activity can cause a gag reflex and vomiting in the water.

I can’t swim! How can I teach my child if I am not able to swim?

Our Swimming Pool offers ‘shallow water’ to allow an adult to easily stand hip depth in water. We offer Novice Adult Classes for parents who have never found a level of confidence in the water. In our Parent Toddler Classes you are not expected to ‘swim’ but offer a trustworthy beacon of familiarity in the water.

Why is it very important to wear a swimming cap?

Caps are required as it helps us keep our pool nice and clean and hygienic. We also group our swimmers according to their cap colour indicating the level and improvement of each swimmer.

Rates and Information

VIEW AND DOWNLOAD ENROLMENT FORM ▸

Tree of Life Swim School offers an easy to manage Monthly Lesson Rate. We operate through 10 months of the year with our annual closure in the cold, winter month of July. You will not pay fees in these months.

R700 per month approx. 8 x 30min lessons

R450 per month approx. 4 x 30min lessons (Mon- Fri)

R500 per month approx. 4 x 30min lessons (Sat)

*Please note we offer 10% off if there are 3 or more swimmers from one family

Banking Details:  K Viviers  |  Nedbank  |  Cheque Account   |  Acc Number 1197355383  |  Branch Code: Ballito

PLEASE NOTE

• Fees stated as per child per month
• Tree of Life Swim School will make up no more than 6 lessons over the 12 month period subject to availability and only when a Doctor’s note is supplied.
• Provided you have joined for the full 12 months and once again at the discretion of the swim school.
• No make-up lessons will be made up for bad weather and circumstances beyond the Swim School’s control.
• Strictly NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Swimming will still take place in the rain where there is no thunder or lighting.  Swimming will take place provided there are no severe weather conditions (very cold weather). 

• Please note that where there are 5 weeks in a month we do not bill for these extra lessons. Therefore any lessons not swum due to the swim school closing for school holidays dates are essentially not lost as it evens it out.
• Assessments will take place twice a year in December and June. Written reports will be issued at the end of June.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Dress Code

Swimming caps are to be worn at all times and long hair tied back under the cap.
Swimmers may wear goggles during the lesson.
A well-fitting costume is to be worn.
Swimmers who are not yet toilet-trained must wear a swimming nappy.
Students must wear their colour coded swim school cap. Available from the Tree of Life Swim School

Punctuality

Please ensure that swimmers are on time for their lessons and ready to enter the water at their given time slot. Punctuality is a requirement for the lesson to function successfully and for the student to get the most out of their swimming time. Please also ensure that swimmers are collected on time after the lesson ends.

Toilet Breaks / Disruptions

Please note, no parents or student is allowed into the pool area unless the student’s class is beginning and the swim instructor has called your class. Parents are not permitted into the pool area and a seating area viewing the pool has been provided.

Swimmers should be encouraged to go to the bathroom before their lesson time for water hygiene purposes and to maximise lesson time without “toilet break” interruptions.

Swimmers are requested to not eat if their lesson is to commence in less than 30 minutes after eating to avoid stomach aches, and/or nausea.

Safety At Poolside

Parents remain responsible for their children until the child steps onto the poolside. Children may not run within the pool vicinity, or dive when not requested to do so as part of the structured lesson plan

Tree of Life Swim School will not be held responsible for any injury / accident caused as a result of disobeying poolside rules.

Fees

Payments are due on the first day of the term / month. Payments must be done via electronic funds transfer (EFT). Strictly no cash will be accepted. 
Instructors are not allowed to accept cash.
Fees are due in full and without any deductions to the invoiced amount.
Fees are still due on the first day of the term / month, even if the child is not attending the first lesson of the term / month for whatever reason.
In the unfortunate event that Tree of Life Swim School has to hand over any overdue accounts for collection, the cost relating thereto will be for the client’s account.

Cancellations

If lessons are cancelled by Tree of Life Swim School for whatever reason, a full lesson refund will be given for missed lessons.

We regret make up lessons or refunds cannot be offered for lessons missed due to illness, other commitments interfering with lessons, swimmers away on holiday, any other reason whatsoever.

Tree of Life Swim School is under no obligation to refund or transfer your money in the event that you are unable to attend part of or the entire month’s lessons. We do however treat everyone’s case individually and assess where we can help. We will endeavour, where possible, to re-schedule your lesson (where available) for you to catch up. If however you are unable to make these classes then unfortunately your lesson would be forfeited by yourself. In the instance that our pool is closed, or your lesson is cancelled by Tree of Life Swim School you will always be offered a make-up lesson or a credit will be given to you for the following term. If you are no longer with us for the follow on term then your money for those cancelled lessons will be refunded to you.

Weather related cancellations are at the discretion of the swimming instructor at Tree of Life Swim School cancels any lessons due to severe weather conditions we regret no make-up lessons or refunds can be offered.

Enrolments are on a seasonal basis. One calendar months notice, in advance and in writing via email, is to be given before the end of the relevant School Term if you wish to discontinue your swimming lessons with Tree of Life Swim School for the following Term or take a break for an extended period of time.

No refund will be given if swimmers discontinue lessons before the end of the relevant Term and the monthly fee is still due and applicable for the remainder of the Term unless special circumstances apply and this decision is at the discretion of Tree of Life Swim School.

Exclusions

Swimmers with infectious illness, open sores, skin infections or lice / nits are requested not to swim and will be excluded from the lesson. In this case the standard illness related “Cancellations” Terms and Conditions apply. This is to ensure the strictest of hygiene is kept and maintained in the pool, for the health and safety of all swimmers utilising the pool.

General

Private one-on-one lessons are only done by special request and different rates apply (i.e. The rate of three swimmers).

Terms and Conditions may be revised, from time to time, within reason and as necessary. 

Photo Gallery

We thrive on the happy laughter of our students as they become more and more confident in
the water. Snaps from our gallery of happy and healthy Tree of Lifers

Our Water Safety and Rescue for Domestic Workers Course is our Community Social Responsibility Project. Drowning is the #1 cause of death for children under the age of 5. Teaching child carers the First Response Actions to take in the event of a child falling into a swimming pool could mean the difference between life and death for BOTH child and carer.