Callum Reid

I spent six years on a lifeguard chair before I taught my first lesson, so safety comes first in everything I do. Babies can tell when the grown-up holding them is relaxed, and that starts with me.

My classes are mostly songs, splashes and gentle games. We practise holding the side, kicking from a parent’s arms and blowing bubbles, always at the child’s own pace. Nobody goes under before they are ready, and every family gets a quiet word at the end about what to try in the bath at home.

Parents often tell me the lesson is the calmest half hour of their week. That is exactly what I am aiming for.