Early Years CPD - Antrim and Dublin Events

Joni Harding

TLE Director

2 min read

June '26

The Leisure Experts are bringing a practical, inspiring and thought-provoking Early Years CPD experience to Ireland this October, designed specifically for swim teachers, tutors, coordinators and operators who want to rethink how young children learn in the water.

Beyond the Lesson Plan: Early Years CPD will take place from 9am–5pm on Wednesday 21 October in Antrim and9am–5pm on Thursday 22 October in Dublin.

This full-day CPD brings together three highly experienced tutors, each delivering a specialist session focused on early years swimming, purposeful play, child development and practical teaching approaches. The day will combine classroom-based learning with practical application, giving attendees the opportunity to explore ideas, see different approaches in action and reflect on how these can be used within their own programmes.

Across Ireland, there is a growing gap between traditional lesson delivery and what modern, child-centred practice tells us works. Swim teachers are often working within structured programmes, set outcomes and busy lesson environments, but young children do not learn through structure alone. They learn through connection, confidence, sensory experience, movement, exploration and play with purpose.

This CPD has been created to bridge that gap.

Rather than offering theory that feels difficult to apply, the day is designed to give teachers and operators realistic, achievable strategies that can be used immediately. The focus is not on completely changing what teachers already do, but on enhancing delivery so that lessons become more engaging, more purposeful and more effective for young swimmers.

Throughout the day, attendees will explore how to move beyond activity-led sessions and instead design lessons that support real progression and skill development. The sessions will look at how structured play and guided discovery can be used with intention, how the sensory and emotional experience of the water impacts learning, and how teachers can build confidence, engagement and independence in young swimmers.

The CPD will also consider how delivery should differ across ages and stages, helping teachers to better understand the needs of babies, toddlers, pre-school children and young learners as they develop in and around the water.

Three Tutors. Three Specialist Sessions. One Practical Day.

The day will be delivered by three leading specialists in early years aquatics: Jo Wilson, Helen Hughe s and Helen Straw .

Each tutor brings a different area of expertise, creating a rich and varied CPD experience that combines child development, sensory learning, imaginative teaching, structured play, guided discovery and practical lesson design.

Meet the Tutors

Jo Wilson is an International Aquatic Tutor, Founder of Aqua Sensory and Developmental Play Practitioner based in the UK. She works with babies and early years children at Swim Works, two purpose-built family swim centres in Warwickshire.

Aqua Sensory was founded in 2013 to support the precious foundation years for babies and early years children. Jo recognised that the world was changing and, in response, children’s development and ability to learn to swim in the pool was changing too.

Aqua Sensory offers a new pedagogy for the pool, using a child-led and developmental approach to swimming. Jo has spoken at many international conferences and webinars, sharing her passion, ethos and belief in the value of sensory exploration and play within aquatic learning.

As Jo says:

“The pool is more than a place to swim, it is also an aquatic classroom that is full of many sensory discoveries and play opportunities.”

Helen Hughes is the founder of Mini Water Adventurers and creator of the Orca Swim Trainer. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she specialises in early years and child-centred swimming.

Helen’s session, From Activities to Experiences: Designing Purposeful, Play-Led Swimming Lessons, will explore how structured play and guided discovery can support real skill development in swimming.

The session will help teachers move beyond isolated activities and instead design lessons that build confidence, improve movement and support independence. Helen will share simple, practical ways to use play with intention, helping teachers create learning experiences that are fun, meaningful and progressive.

Helen Straw is a Lead Tutor and Franchisee with Water Babies, with 18 years of experience across baby, toddler and learn to swim programmes.

With a background in psychology and extensive experience in education, training, mentoring and qualification design, Helen is passionate about creating practical, engaging learning experiences for both teachers and swimmers.

Her session, Play, Purpose and Progress: Practical Approaches to Imaginative and Engaging Swim Teaching, will focus on how small changes to delivery can create a big impact in engagement, learning and progression.

Attendees will explore how to enhance existing lesson plans using themes, guided discovery, imagination and more purposeful use of play. Helen will also look at how communication, delivery style and age-appropriate teaching can better support confidence and progress in young swimmers.

Who Is This CPD For?

This CPD is ideal for swim teachers, baby and pre-school swimming teachers, learn to swim teachers, tutors, swim coordinators, programme leads and operators who want to develop more engaging and effective early years provision.

It is particularly valuable for those who feel that lessons can sometimes become too structured, repetitive or activity-led, and who want practical ways to bring more purpose, imagination and child-centred thinking into their teaching.

Whether you are an experienced teacher looking to refresh your approach, or an operator wanting to support your team with meaningful professional development, this CPD will offer practical tools, fresh thinking and real-world strategies.

What Will You Take Away?

By the end of the day, attendees will have explored how to:

Design lessons that support progression, confidence and independence
Use play with purpose, rather than play as a filler
Apply guided discovery within structured lesson environments
Better understand the sensory and emotional experience of the water
Adapt communication and delivery across different ages and stages
Build more engaging, child-centred swimming experiences
Take practical ideas back into lessons immediately

This is a small-group CPD experience, designed to prioritise interaction, discussion and practical understanding. The aim is not just to share ideas, but to help attendees leave with clear, usable approaches that can be implemented straight away.

Event Details

Antrim Wednesday 21 October 9am–5pm

Dublin Thursday 22 October 9am–5pm

Spaces will be limited to ensure a high-quality, interactive learning experience.

For teachers and operators ready to rethink early years swimming, this is a CPD day designed to challenge thinking, build confidence and support better outcomes for young swimmers.