While it might seem obvious what you needed for a first swimming lesson, it's not always clear beyond the swimwear and towel. Here's a handy checklist to make sure that first experience in the pool is the best it can possible be regardless of when you learn.

Locker change/token - unless it's permitted to keep your belongings poolside, the chances are they'll need a locker. Most require a coin or a token so it's worth checking before you arrive. Normally the key will be on a band so you can keep it on your wrist and not have to

If you're looking to improve your swimming strokes and not yet at your peak, the technique videos on our YouTube channel will help you progress. All six feature James Goddard and have been included in this post so you can use it as a point of reference.

James is an award winning British swimmer who represented Great Britain in the Olympics, FINA World Championships

We're strong believers that children should be introduced to the water as young as possible as it helps with confidence, enjoyment and well-being. It's for this reason our Learn to Swim range of products is designed to suit your child's stage of swim development whether they're starting to swim, learning or confident swimmers looking to improve their technique.

While some take to swimming like a duck to water, many can be apprehensive especially if starting to swim regularly. It's usual to have a few pool hang ups along the way but there are many solutions to overcome these. Here are our top tips to ensuring you feel great so you can really make the most of your swims.

Feeling self conscious - It's usual to feel uncomfortable in your swimwear or compare yourself to others. Having a swimsuit that matches your body shape is an ideal way to feel great about yourself. The essential Sandon

What makes Joc #SwimHappy? The friendships, the conversations, escaping the kids and most of all the challenges! This week Joc shares how she challenged herself to conquer the ultimate stroke…Butterfly!

I learnt to swim as an adult. Five years ago I tackled my fear of the water once and for all and started swimming lessons. Not easy, not even fun at times, but very very rewarding. I've found an exercise that is both relaxing, yet taxing; hard work yet n

Now I am quite a few months into my swimming lessons I felt it was a good time to sit down and reflect on my journey so far. There were a lot of ups and downs – but ultimately I feel that I am really getting there!

Baby steps…

My first hurdle was getting over my own mental block of actually getting into the water, overcoming my past experiences and fear of drowning. As an adult through talking with my instructor I came to the realisation that although my fear was reasonable, to and extent it was irrational! I swim in a pool where I can touch the bottom with my feet the whole way along, supported by a competitive swimming ins

After a couple of months of taking the plunge, Lillian fills us in on how the lessons are progressing...

Now I have got over my initial fears from my first few lessons, I was not dreading Thursday evenings anymore!

A few lessons in we are continuing to build confidence with the basics: blowing bubbles trying to keep the full face in the water; kicking up to the middle of the pool holding a noodle in our hands while putting our faces in the water. We were told to breathe out under water until we could hear and feel the bubbles around

Lillian has tackled her first swimming lesson! Find out how it went and her top tips on what to pack for every swimmer's first lesson...

What do I need to pack?

If I was going to go for it I decided I needed to be prepared (all the gear and no idea scenario!) So chatting to various swimmers I came up with a packing list….

• Swimwear

We love the Water Wing vest so what better way to show this than to find out what others think...

Since using the Zoggs Water Wing Vest in lessons, it has produced incredible results in the confidence and technique of students. I wanted to share a few stories that stand out in using the product as at first I was cautious putting it on my students and I wasn’t sure how well it would work. While at first it looked as though it would work similarly to arm bands and limit arm movement and inhibit good body position, I found it was completely different to my first impression. H

It's commonly known that children learn to swim as much from their parents at the weekend, as in their weekly lessons. Although the benefits are evident it can sometimes seem like an uphill struggle at times to take the kids swimming at the weekend, you get them to the pool and get them changed but what next? Our Learn to Swim teacher tackles the most common questions asked by parents about how to develop their child’s swim development: