The course, which started on January 4 and ended on January 15, gave swimmers two hours of coaching in the water each day.

Instructors Peter and Beverley Mayton, who run the Dungog Pool, created the course to help children learn to swim and guide those who were more confident in perfecting their swimming skills.

They focused on a variety of swimming techniques, including freestyle and backstroke, and helped them work on their survival skills.

Mrs Mayton said the children had to jump in the water and swim to the side of the pool once during every lesson so they would be better equipped if they found themselves in an emergency situation. 

 “The kids do lessons here all the time but a lot don’t come to the pool every day,” she said.

“The intensive swimming allows them to build confidence more quickly because they are in the water every day.

“Learning to swim is a vital skill kids have to learn, and regular contact with the water through lessons helps them to feel more confident.”

Liam Pearce, 10, was one of 28 children who participated in the course. 

The children were broken into three groups according to their skills.

The Mayton’s have a maximum of five students per group to make sure each child receives individual attention and their needs are targeted. 

“I enjoyed all of it, we learnt the strokes and we learnt how to swim better,” Liam said. 

“Once I got into it I realised I started getting better and the coaches started pushing me pretty hard.

“I’m a lot more confident now and I’m glad I did it.”

The pool offers lessons each week between October and March. Weekly lessons return on February 2.

Children who complete weekly lessons throughout term 1 will receive a certificate for their efforts.