Infant swim school Water Babies has announced a new partnership that will see a new scheme offering classes across all 16 Total Fitness gym sites in the north of England.

The two companies have joined forces to complement each other’s existing swimming programmes, aiming to provide quality-assured swimming instruction from birth, with a clear structure of progression.

Youngsters who have completed the ASA-accredited Water Babies baby and toddler programmes will now be able to progress into the Total Fitness Swim Academy for children aged four and upwards.

“One of our key concerns has always been that when children ‘graduate’ from our baby swimming classes at the age of four, it’s important that they continue swimming and developing their skills,” says Steve Franks, Water Babies managing director. “This partnership will provide a seamless swimmer pathway, linking our ASA accredited baby and toddler programmes into the Total Fitness Swim Academy for children aged four upwards.”

Water Babies currently teaches 35,500 infants across 560 pools in the UK each week through its franchises, as well as operating in Ireland and Sydney, Australia.

Meanwhile, aside from pool hire revenue during off-peak periods, Total Fitness hopes to benefit through secondary spend from Water Babies parents, which could include membership conversions, food and beverage, children’s parties and the hire of dry side facilities.