A baby and child swim school is seeing a huge surge in demand for lessons after lockdown restrictions eased.

Puddle Ducks, which teaches classes across Medway and North Kent, has seen inquiries soar since pools reopened in April.

After more than 12 months of lockdowns, children have missed out on so much, including being in the water, and families now want to make up for lost time in the pool, realising the importance of swimming skills.

Puddle Ducks leaders believe with the school holidays starting, getting children back in the water safely has never been more important.

Recent reports from Swim England show that over the past year, up to 240,000 children have missed out on learning how to swim 25 metres, a requirement of the national curriculum. Meanwhile, they say the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has seen an increase in the number of water-related fatalities in the past 12 months.

Victoria Rowley, owner of Puddle Ducks East Kent, North Kent and South East London, said: “A year of disrupted lessons has definitely had an impact.

"At Puddle Ducks, our lessons are child-led so we develop swimming skills based on what our customers are comfortable doing, which is a great way to ease children back into the water and rebuild their water confidence.

“We teach personal survival skills from a very young age, helping our swimmers to stay safe in the water. These skills are so important, especially as we return to holidays with pools or even outdoors in the UK; we can help parents feel at ease knowing their children know how to stay safe in the water.”

Puddle Ducks provides baby swimming classes, perfect for those ‘lockdown parents’ who have missed out on so many early-month activities.

Victoria added: “Many new parents who had their babies during the lockdown periods have missed out on sharing those first months with family and friends, but have also missed out on participating in many important activities including baby swimming.

"It is such a beautiful way to bond with your baby and let them experience the water from a young age.”

Puddle Ducks teaches children from birth to 10 years. Lessons are held at Abbey Court School in Strood, Bridgewood Manor Hotel in Chatham, Cecil Road Primary School in Gravesend, Cobham Hall in Cobham, Hilltop Primary Academy in Strood and Milestone Academy in New Ash Green.

To find out more, call 01622 236111 or click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford