Neptune Baby Swimming Programme — Full Curriculum Guide
This page sets out Neptune's full baby and toddler swimming curriculum — lesson by lesson, level by level. If you're deciding which class is right for your baby, use the class selector. If you want to understand exactly what your child will learn at each stage, you're in the right place.
Neptune's baby programme runs from 3 months to 3 years, with four progressive levels. Every level has a parent or caregiver in the water. Every lesson includes the same life-saving cue word system.
Book a Free Trial Lesson → ← Back to Baby Swimming Lessons overview
Before every submersion or water entry, the parent or caregiver says:
[Child's Name] READY GO
This consistent cue — used from lesson one through to Starfish — teaches babies to anticipate water on their face and hold their breath. It is the single most important water safety habit Neptune teaches, and it transfers to real-world situations outside the pool.
Programme Overview
| Level | Age Range | Parent in Water? | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐚 Seashells | 3–6 months | Yes | Water comfort, cue words, first submersion, wall hold |
| 🪸 Coral | 3–12 months | Yes | Safety slide entry, kickboard, jumps, underwater glide to wall |
| 🌿 Kelp | 12–24 months | Yes | Independence, instructor pass, star float, back kicking |
| ⭐ Starfish | 24–36 months | Yes | Survival float sequence, independent entry, full instructor-led |
Note: Age ranges are guides. Placement also depends on ability and confidence. Use the class selector or call (02) 8014 7785 if unsure.
🐚 Seashells — 3 to 6 Months
Your baby's very first swim experience. Seashells is a relaxed, sensory-rich introduction to the water. The goal is simple: build comfort, establish the cue word from day one, and introduce the fundamental safety skill of holding the wall. Everything else flows from here.
A parent or caregiver is in the water for every Seashells lesson. Instructors provide guidance on how to hold and support your baby throughout.
Seashells Lesson Structure
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Safe water entry (assisted) | Establishes the first positive association with entering the pool |
| Hello song: If You're Happy and You Know It | Settles baby into the routine; consistent song builds anticipation |
| It's Raining It's Pouring — cue word practice | Introduces the READY GO cue in a fun, musical context |
| Seated kick on step, then kicking on stationary mat | Begins leg engagement and water propulsion awareness. Parent says "kick kick kick" |
| Motorboats x2 | Parent-guided glide — baby experiences movement through water |
| Paddling after toys | Builds arm engagement and introduces reaching/pursuit in water |
| Jumping Monkeys grip exercise | Baby holds parent's thumbs, gently lifted in/out of water. Builds grip strength. Lift height increases as baby gets stronger over time. |
| Holding the wall → climbing up | The most important safety skill — every lesson from lesson one |
| Cue word practice on the wall | Reinforces READY GO in a wall-hold context |
| Ring a Rosey — underwater introduction | First submerged experience — only for babies showing breath control readiness. Front, side, and back rotation. |
| Galumph | Movement activity — coordination and fun |
| Pancake rolls (front and back) | Introduces rotational awareness — front-to-back rolling in water |
| Back float — Otter Song (swaying) | Parent-supported back float with gentle swaying to keep baby calm and moving |
| Kicking on back under tunnel | Combines back position with kicking — fun sensory experience |
| Teddy Bears — bubbles song | Introduces bubbles/breath control in a familiar song context |
| Underwater glide to wall | Foundational skill — the beginning of all future swimming |
| High fives goodbye + parents assisted out | Ends lesson on a positive, celebratory note |
Songs used in Seashells: If You're Happy and You Know It · It's Raining It's Pouring · Wheels on the Bus · Motorboat · Ring a Rosey · Row Row Row Your Boat · Otter Song · Teddy Bears · Galumph
By the end of Seashells, most babies have a positive association with the water, consistent cue word response, and can hold the wall briefly with parent support. They are ready to transition into Coral.
🪸 Coral — 3 to 12 Months
Building on Seashells — more movement, more purpose. Coral children are mobile and beginning to assert their own will in the water. Lessons become more structured, with safety slide entry, kickboard work, and the first jumps from the pool edge. The underwater pass to instructor is introduced here.
Coral Lesson Structure
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Safety slide entry | Teaches safe, controlled water entry from the pool edge — a real-world safety skill |
| Hello song: If You're Happy and You Know It | Settles children into the routine |
| It's Raining It's Pouring — cue word practice x1 | Consolidates READY GO cue |
| Seated kick on step + kicking on mat | Continued leg engagement development. Simultaneous stations for larger classes. |
| Motorboats x2 | Guided water movement |
| Paddling after balls | Pursuit and propulsion in water |
| Sitting/standing on step — cue word practice | Reinforces READY GO from a standing/seated position on the pool edge |
| Rocket ships on step — jump out to parent (cue words) | First jumps to parent — builds confidence and water entry experience |
| Paddle to wall/mat → underwater glide → reach and climb up | The core safety sequence: swim to wall, go under, grab, climb out |
| Humpty Dumpty OR Jelly | Fun song-based activity building water movement |
| Dingle Dangle Scarecrow | Upper body movement and water engagement |
| Pancake rolls (front and back) | Rotational awareness continues |
| Back float — Otter Song (swaying) | Parent-supported back float practice |
| Kicking on back under tunnel — Twinkle Twinkle | Back kicking with song |
| Teddy Bears — bubbles song | Breath control reinforcement |
| Jumping Monkeys | Child now faces parent OR faces away if stronger. Grip and core strength building. |
| Monkeys on wall | Wall-gripping practice — moving along the wall |
| Mat run | Balance and coordination on floating mat. Parents help hold the mat. |
| Underwater glide to step | Directional underwater glide |
| High fives goodbye + babies climb out | Independent exit — children climb out themselves |
Songs used in Coral: If You're Happy and You Know It · It's Raining It's Pouring · Motorboat · Humpty Dumpty · Dingle Dangle Scarecrow · Otter Song · Twinkle Twinkle · Teddy Bears
By the end of Coral, children are jumping to parents, completing the wall glide-and-climb sequence, and beginning to follow two-step instructor directions. They're ready for the deeper independence work of Kelp.
🌿 Kelp — 12 to 24 Months
The independence transition. Kelp is where children begin working directly with the instructor. The "underwater pass to instructor" is the defining milestone of this level — the child is handed underwater from parent to instructor for the first time, building the trust and independence that carries through to Learn to Swim.
Kelp Lesson Structure
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Encouraging children to go with instructor | Active transition toward instructor-led activity begins here |
| Safety slide entry | Continues safe entry habit |
| It's Raining It's Pouring x1 — cue word practice | Maintained each lesson |
| Sink rings | Underwater object retrieval — builds underwater confidence and breath hold |
| Kicking with kickboard on front | Independent kickboard use with increasing distance |
| Paddle after balls (platform) | Platform used for standing — propulsion and confidence building |
| Streamline / jumps to parents → encourage to jump to instructor | Critical step: gradually shifting the jump target from parent to instructor |
| Paddle to wall → underwater glide to wall → reach and hold → climb up | Full safety exit sequence — every lesson |
| Teddy Bears OR Crocodiles straight to wall (cue words) | Back-to-wall glide drill reinforcing cue word response |
| Dingle Dangle Scarecrow | Upper body water movement |
| 3 in the Bed (front and back) | Rotational movement — rolling front to back and back to front |
| Star float | Independent front float with arms and legs extended — buoyancy awareness |
| Back kicking | Kicking on back — foundational for survival float and backstroke |
| Monkeys on wall → underwater pass to instructor | The defining Kelp milestone. Child moves along the wall to instructor, then passes underwater from parent to instructor for the first time. |
| Mat run | Balance on floating mat — parents help stabilise |
| Paddle back to step → underwater glide to step + goodbye | End-of-lesson exit sequence with children climbing out independently |
Songs used in Kelp: It's Raining It's Pouring · Dingle Dangle Scarecrow · 3 in the Bed · Teddy Bears · Crocodiles
By the end of Kelp, children are comfortable receiving the underwater pass to the instructor, can kick independently with a board, and are completing the full wall sequence without assistance. They are ready for Starfish.
⭐ Starfish — 24 to 36 Months
The final step before Learn to Swim. Starfish children are developing real, independent swimming ability. They follow instructor directions, enter the water without parent assistance, and learn the Starfish float sequence — the signature survival skill of the entire baby programme.
A parent or caregiver is in the water for every Starfish lesson.
Starfish Lesson Structure
| Activity | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Encouraging children to go with instructor | Instructor now leads; parent steps back |
| Safe entry (independent) | Children enter the water without parent assistance — using the cue word |
| Bubbles | Blowing bubbles underwater — breath control and face submersion comfort |
| It's Raining It's Pouring x1 — cue word practice | Maintained every lesson through all levels |
| Push and glide with boards | Pushing off the wall and gliding — introduces independent propulsion from the wall |
| Kicking with kickboard | Stronger, longer independent kicking with board on front |
| Paddle after balls (platform) | Arm propulsion and water engagement |
| Streamline / jump to parents and instructor | Jumps to both parent and instructor — consolidating trust |
| Paddle to wall → underwater glide → reach and hold → climb up | Safety exit sequence — independent, every lesson |
| Teddy Bears OR Crocodiles straight to wall (cue words) | Back-to-wall glide consolidation |
| Paddle back to step → underwater glide to step | Directional swimming — returning to the starting point independently |
| ⭐ Starfish float sequence | The signature Starfish skill and the survival float sequence: 1. Float on tummy (Starfish position) 2. Roll over to back 3. Count to 10 on back 4. Roll back over to front 5. Swim back to the wall This sequence teaches children to self-rescue in open water. |
| Kicking on back with kickboard | Independent back kicking with kickboard — foundational for backstroke |
| Sink rings + goodbyes + safe exit | Confident underwater retrieval; independent exit to finish |
By the end of Starfish, children can enter the water independently, complete the full Starfish survival float sequence, kick on front and back with a board, and follow instructor directions without a parent in the water. They transition directly into Neptune's Pre-School Swimming programme.
After Starfish — What Comes Next?
Children who complete the Starfish programme transition into Neptune's full Learn to Swim curriculum. The first independent class is a big milestone — and one that the baby programme is specifically designed to prepare them for.
Your instructor will advise on the right time to make the transition. Signs of readiness:
- Consistently completes the Starfish float sequence without prompting
- Follows multi-step instructor directions confidently
- Enters water independently and reaches the wall without assistance
- Shows no separation anxiety when parent steps back from the pool edge
View the full Pre-School Swimming programme →
Book Your Place
All baby programme classes run at Neptune's Eastern Creek Quarter and Box Hill locations. Lessons are 30 minutes, $25 per lesson, billed monthly. First lesson is a free trial.
Not sure which level to start at? Use the class selector or call (02) 8014 7785.