Our Team

Our Teachers and Admin Staff

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  Jo

  Baby & Pre-School and Swim Academy Teacher

  Meet Teacher Jo.

  Jo began her Puddle Ducks journey in the madness of the pandemic. Jo was already teaching school age children and Rookie lifeguard training to year 11’s before taking the steps to become a Puddle Duck BPS teacher.

  Jo swam competitively to a county level until the age of 18.  Jo Said "I had thought about completing swimming teacher qualifications but work life always seem to get in the way.  A number of years later I saw an advert for a volunteer programme through our local sports centre and began volunteering once a week assisting teaching in their learner pool. Through the volunteer programme I completed my Level 1 Swimming assistant course and decided the time was right for me to follow my heart and continue into the profession full time. I found it truly amazing and took great pleasure in seeing children sometimes going from being so nervous at their first lessons that they were literally shaking at the edge of the pool to coming in full of smiles and enthusiasm for their lessons as their confidence grew"

  "I truly love my job and the best part for me is when I look round my classes and am greeted by big smiles from little ones and their parents.  We are teaching one of the most important life skills and having fun along the way"

  Jo has recently trained to become a Swim Academy Teacher expanding her knowledge of teaching. 

  Here at Puddle Ducks we feel that anyone lucky enough to join one of Jo's classes will see what amazing connections she builds with her customers, big and small.

• 

  Emma

  Baby & Pre-School and Swim Academy Teacher

  Meet Teacher Emma.

  Emma decided to join puddle ducks as an employee 10 years ago, from being a customer with her floatie Harry and absolutely loving it. Emma is most at home in the water and was a swimmer as a child swimming for Haden Hill, now following in her footsteps her children all swim competitively for Bromsgrove swimming club.

  Emma teachers both Baby Pre-School and our Swim Academy classes, she personally makes sure each Swimmers gets the best out of their lessons. Bringing her depth of knowledge and professional experience to your classes. Emma loves face down bubbles and is on hand to help all swimmers to achieve their goals throughout all of our programs.

  Emma said "I absolutely love my job, it is so rewarding, a fun and friendly environment to work in, I look forward to coming to work to see my swimmers every day"

  If you have Emma as your Teacher, you are in safe, caring and knowledgeable hands.

• 

  Natalie

  Senior Teacher and Baby & Pre-School Teacher

  Meet Teacher Natalie.

  Natalie has always loved working with children, and comes to us with a background as a childminder and a mum of two. Both of Natalie's children loved to swim and her daughter still attends weekly Rookie life guarding sessions. Natalie has always valued the importance of learning to swim and knows what a key life skill having water confidence is for children. 

  Natalie loves how our classes offer children a perfect balance of fun and key lifesaving skills and she has truly enjoyed getting to know her swimmers and seeing their confidence grow every week.

  Natalie said "Being able to see a child’s confidence grow each week and how happy they are when they achieve a new skill is the best part of her job".

  Since starting at Puddle Ducks Natalie has since gone on to become our Senior Teacher providing technical support for our teaching team.

  Here at Puddle Ducks we feel that anyone lucky enough to have Natalie as their Teacher will see her dedication and passion for swimming shine in every lesson.

• 

  Lauren

  Baby & Pre-School Teacher

  Meet Teacher Lauren.

  Lauren is a mum of two young children. Both of Lauren's children love to swim and her son currently swims in our Baby & Pre-School lessons. Lauren has always valued the importance of learning to swim and knows what a key life skill having water confidence is for children. 

  Lauren started as a Poolside Assistant with us last year and loved seeing the lessons take place in the pool and expressed an interest in becoming a teacher. Lauren has done over 300 hours of training both in and out of the water.

  Lauren said "Watching the lessons in the water gave me an understanding of the importance of learning to swim. Seeing how much joy both the teachers, parents and children get out of the lessons made me want to become a teacher!".

  Here at Puddle Ducks we feel that anyone lucky enough to have Lauren as their Teacher will enjoy her bubbly personality, passion for swimming and her enthusiastic way of teaching .

• 

  Ruth

  Baby & Pre-School Teacher

  Meet Teacher Ruth.

  Ruth is a mum to a young daughter who started swimming in our Floaties class in Puddle Ducks a few years ago and is now in our Kickers class. Ruth has always valued the importance of learning to swim, learning to swim when a teenager and knows how important it is to gain water confidence from a young age. 

  Ruth started as a Poolside Assistant with us last year and loved seeing the lessons take place in the pool and expressed an interest in becoming a teacher. Ruth has done over 300 hours of training both in and out of the water.

  Ruth said "Being a customer I could see how much the team at Barnt Green loved their jobs and decided to join us as a Poolside Assistant, after watching the lessons I could see how important and valuable the lessons are and how much joy the teachers get in delivering their lessons every week. I am super excited to have my own lessons and customers and look forward to seeing them grow in confidence and meeting everyone new who joins us!".

  Here at Puddle Ducks we feel that anyone lucky enough to have Ruth as their Teacher will see her dedication to teaching and her enthusiasm to the Puddle Ducks Swimming journey in every lesson she teaches. 

• 

  Alec

  Swim Academy and Baby & Pre-School Teacher

  Meet Teacher Alec.

  Alec has always enjoyed swimming and attends Puddle Ducks swimming lessons with his daughter. Swimming runs in the family and Alec took the leap in 2023 to train to become a Puddle Ducks Swim Academy teacher, working alongside Emma at TruGym Alec brings his passion for swimming to pass along to his customers.

  Alec loves to keep busy directing, acting and working for BOA in Birmingham are just some of the many things Alec does but being a dad and spending time at the pool either in the lessons or teaching them are among his favourite! 

  Alec has recently trained to become a Baby & Pre-School teacher expanding his teaching knowledge. 

  With Alec as your Teacher we know your child will benefit from Alec's knowledge and technical skill.

• 

  Paula

  Office Manager

  Meet Office Manager Paula.

  Paula has worked for Puddle Ducks Worcestershire for over 7 years as the Office Manager. The office manager job is varied and no two days are the same. Paula said "I love speaking to our customers and getting out to the pools to watch the classes is my favorite thing to do"

  Paula has worked in a swimming environment for around 25 years. Having previously taught her own classes with a different provider. Paula is very proud to tell people in the industry she works for Puddle Ducks and knows first hand how highly trained our teachers are and the passion the whole company has to provide the best. "Puddle Ducks are leaders in the industry and are constantly reviewing and updating our lesson plans in line with best practice. Our franchise owners are the best " bosses " I have ever worked for- we are appreciated, supported and treated as individuals, it's a fantastic family friendly business to be part of"

  When Paula is not at work she has two older children (15 and 12) and a very Scottish husband who all love to explore. Paula loves going on holiday and finding new things to do. When not playing mum she enjoys musicals, blossom and yoga.

  With Paula as the office manager we know that behind the scenes things are running smoothly!

• 

  Katherine

  Operations Manager

  Katherine is a mum to Jake who swam with Puddle Ducks and is now at high school, as a family they love to go on holiday in their camper van or spend time with their family. Katherine loves to read, swim and Disney (Belle being her favorite!) Katherine started Puddle Ducks as a Poolside Assistant at the Whitehouse Hotel 10 years ago and now is the Operations Manager as well as working with Pippa in the office.

  Katherine works with the pools to ensure the smooth running of the lessons, manages the compliance for our team and works as part of the office team. Katherine said "My favourite part of my job is going to the pool on a Monday to see my swimmers and see their progress each week, any chance I get to go out to the pool I take. Seeing our swimmers enjoy their lessons gives me the purpose to do my work in the office! We have a fabulous team which I am very proud to be a part of"

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  Pippa

  Admininstrator

  Pippa is a mum to two fast paced boys who have a love for football and athletics and with their busy schedules they like to keep her busy ferrying them back and forth. In Pippa's down time she loves nothing more than a bit a brunch or going to watch a show or performance with my family and friends and dancing till the lights come up when I get the opportunity or energy! Her favorite colour is green and my favorite number is five. 

  Pippa has been with Puddle Ducks for 10 years and has always appreciated the flexibility it has given her fitting in around the children school hours. Pippa started as a customer and both her children have learnt to swim with Puddle Ducks. Pippa said"I always found the programme so positive and rewarding and have had many friends join simply by seeing how happy my children were around water. The highlight of my job is when I get to escape the desk and be poolside and I get to see the wonderful teachers we have delivering their lessons and the parents and children responding and loving their lessons.  I am very lucky to be surrounded by a wonderful team of people."