The Leading Baby
& Toddler Swim
School in Essex
SWIM TO SUCCEED
About Us
We are a family run (3 generations of swimming teachers) fun based swim school, with passionate swimming instructors working from Lancaster School in Westcliff-on-sea.
Being community driven has helped us form a great swimming base in the Southend area over the past 30 years.
Swimming Instructors
Anne Kingsbury
Founder of Jellytots Swim School and Aquatherapy affiliated to the STA.
Anne qualified as a swimming instructor in 1992 with the ASA, immediately becoming interested in all aspects of water activities. Her passion increased as she achieved qualifications in synchronised swimming and techniques to aid the disabled.
By the end of 1992 she was qualified in all aspects of the discipline and commenced classes at Kingsdown School to rehabilitate people with differing levels of ability and disability. Demand grew and classes were then located at Lancaster School, St. Christopher’s, Glenwood School and Elmbrook School in Basildon. Anne finally built her own swimming pool complex at her home in 2001.
As Anne’s clients benefitted from Aquatherapy she realised that a more progressive form of activity was required. Aqua Aerobics and Aqua Running were added to the programme at Lancaster School.
In 2001 Anne had been practising yoga for sometime, she incorporated Ai Chi to her personal discipline explaining “This form of exercise calmed the mind, alleviated stress and helped to increase mobility in a warm, safe environment.” Classes are held at Lancaster School in a pool temperature of 94 Degrees.
August 2009, Anne qualified as an STA Baby and Pre-School Teacher. So focused by the training, Anne took manuals and lesson plan documents away on her annual holiday. On her return she advertised in the Leigh Times. This was in September and by Christmas the classes had gone from strength to strength.
Anne praises her dedicated team without whom the organising of parents and children would not run so efficiently.
The New Wave Swim Squad started in February 2017 at Eastwood Academy, seven and a half years after Jellytots took it’s first splash. The Squad has been a natural progression for our little swimmers to progress into more competitive swimming if they choose to.
Suzie Ridler
Suzie joined Jellytots in the summer of 2020 having previously worked with Jody at their own swim school in Rochford. Swimming is in the family (she's Catherine's cousin, Adrian's aunt!) and she swam from a young age with RADS (Rochford & District). In her teens she was regularly chosen to compete for Essex county and at Nationals in the 50m and 100m freestyle and was always a useful anchor leg in any relay. Suzie brings her love of the water to her lessons, encouraging children to feel relaxed and confident in the 'big blue' while having fun.
Ashley Kingsbury
Swimming has always run in Ashley's family. Her Grandad was a swimming teacher, her Dad swam competitively, her sister is a swimming teacher and Anne is her Mum!
"Having a swimming teacher as a parent meant that holidays consisted of compulsory swimming lessons every morning before free swimming. I loved it and always very openly wanted to be a mermaid and spent most of my time swimming under the water rather than on top of it!'.
Ashley competed whilst at school and was 4th in Backstoke for Independent Schools across the country. She is also a qualified scuba diver - which ties into her mermaid obsession! She is qualified in Baby & Preschool but also has her Level Two Award in Teaching Swimming and teaches for Jellytots and New Wave.
Ashley is also an accomplished Photographer and is a keen underwater photographer.
Underwater Photography will be available to our clients from February 2022 - Her work can be found at www.photographybyashley.co.uk
Catherine Austin
Catherine’s family moved from Norfolk when she was five. Already a keen swimmer she became a member of Southend & Leigh Swim Squad (SALS) between the ages of 5 and 12. Swimming competitively until going to University to become a teacher.
Catherine has two sons who have both inherited her love of swimming and competitive nature! The whole family are active members of scouting and play a vital role in the running of the Essex International Jamboree.
Catherine’s excellent teaching skills can be viewed at the New Wave Swim Squad where she teaches alongside Hayley. Her enthusiasm is plain to see - “I love teaching at the squad because of the positivity and their keenness to learn, plus their determination to excel drives them to improve each week.”
Ali King
Ali qualified as a swimming instructor in 2021. Ali brings a fresh and fun prospective to her classes ensuring everyone leaves with big smiles on their faces!
Swimming has always been a part of her life since a young age, she was taught to swim by her grandad and hasn’t stopped since. Ali loves to share her passion with her own children and those she teaches. ‘Having the ability to provide children with life saving skills whilst having so much fun, I can’t think of a more rewarding job!’
