Autism Swim Lessons

Turtle Tots Autism Swim swimming lessons are for children with Autism aged between 3 and 6 years old. Smaller groups, a safe and non-judgmental environment, and our award-winning curriculum is adapted for children on the spectrum. Our Autism Swim lessons are unique, and are the first group swimming lessons for young kids on the spectrum in Ireland.

Our Autism Swim swimming lessons tailor our unique and fun swim curriculum to the needs of children with Autism aged between 3 and 6 years. We sing songs, play games, build confidence, swimming technique, and water safety skills in an inclusive environment. With smaller group sizes of a maximum 6 adult and child pairs, we ensure all our children get personal attention whist also benefiting from a social group environment. The pace of activities is slowed down with more opportunity for repetition, visual cues and cards are used, and better awareness for what’s needed is provided for children and their families.

Autism Swim lessons are split into three age groups; 3-4, 4-5, & 5-6 years. Children must be accompanied with a parent or carer in-pool for every lesson. Lessons are held weekly over a term of 10 weeks, with four terms held lessons each year.

All Turtle Tots Autism Swim teachers are highly experienced swimming teachers. They have received additional training just for these lessons, and all must continuously upskill to ensure they each have the latest tools and activities to best help the kids in their care. Most Turtle Tots Autism Swim teachers have either children of their own on the spectrum too, or work with children with additional needs outside of Turtle Tots too.

With the programme first launching in 2018, we currently hold our Autism Swim lessons in counties Cork, Dublin, Mayo, Wexford, and Wicklow.

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If your preferred class time is full or unavailable, please register for our waiting list

A Brief Note from our Aquatics Team on the Benefits of our Autism Swim Lessons

“There are so many benefits to swimming for children with autism . . . it positively impacts on their sleep, motor skills and eating. I can’t begin to explain my passion for it now that I really understand the benefits of it. The water is also therapeutic, and it gives the parents a chance to relax too. A parent gets into the water with each child and it’s nice for them to have this one-to-one time that’s not schooling or occupational therapy. It’s time out for parents and they get to meet other parents in their community.

Water safety is a concern for many parents of children with autism, some children with autism wouldn’t understand water or the dangers of it, but the classes give them swimming skills and extra support for when in water.

Some parents are nervous before the lessons, but now we have kids just about ready to swim all on their own, and all of the kids are starting to see their place in the water.

Our hope is that we will send children away from our lessons with a much better understanding of water and how to be safe.”

THE BENEFITS OF SWIMMING

Reviews

      
   Turtle Tots Ireland (Head Office)
   411 Google reviews 
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   Sinéad McCabe 
 01/07/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really enjoyed the lessons and I now feel more confident taking my baby swimming. Our teacher Kimberlie Rose is so kind and patient with the babies, cannot recommend Turtle Tots enough.
  
 
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   Claire o'connor 
 28/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Liam loved his swimming lessons
  
 
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   Ana Silva 
 10/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My daughter has started swimming lesson with Turtle Tots, for the first time, for the summer time and we are having so much fun. As a parent I think swimming is such a great, fun and important skill. The classes are well elaborated for the young ones, and our teacher Niamh Doyle is great. Would highly recommend.
  
 
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   Claire Bedford 
 10/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really recommend turtle tots, excellent instructors, child led and child focused. Small classes with great interaction
  
 
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   Keelin Hughes 
 09/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great lessons, fun for parents and baby
  
 
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   Stacey Murray 
 08/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My little boy Ollie loves going to Turtle Tots every week. It’s amazing to see how much his confidence has grown over the last few months. Thank you to Emer for making the classes super fun, will definitely be enrolling in the Autumn term. ☺️
  
 
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   Shane Kennedy 
 07/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've done Turtle Tots with both of my daughters in the Clayton in Cork and they both absolutely flourished in the classes. Their confidence grew hugely over the courses, as did their enjoyment of it. The teachers are absolutely amazing and really respond to every child's needs during the class.
  
 
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   Dervla 
 07/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great instructor, both my boys really enjoy going every week, it’s a fun and stress free lesson.
  
 
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   Siobhan Ní Dhufaidh 
 07/06/2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really enjoying the classes in Liffey Valley with Veronika. She has made us both feel at ease in the water despite my daughter only being 4 months old. The classes are fun too which keeps baby entertained.