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07909 332 953

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Hi,
I’m Paul and a warm welcome to my swim school!

swim school PHSS

I created Paul Howe Swim School (PHSS) as I am passionate about teaching children of all ages and abilities to swim. I offer bespoke one-to-one and one-to-two lessons.

As a toddler, I had an infection which spread to my lymph nodes. When the surgeon operated to try to remove the infected part, they also chipped my humerus bone. This affected the growth of my upper arm.

I had physiotherapy and my therapist recommended swimming to my parents. This marked the start of my swimming journey from a young age. It took me a long time to get through the swim programme as I had coordination difficulties. But with practise and repetition, I was able to achieve my goals.
Dyslexia

With my dyslexia and with the difficulties with my arm, I know what it is like to face obstacles. I want to be in a position to help those who also have their own challenges to overcome.

Paul at school

I worked at Acorn Park and Parkside Schools as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant. In the summer of 2021, I set up PHSS and I started teaching private lessons. Then in my second year at Parkside school, I was offered the position of Swimming Teacher within the school teaching group lessons.

Aside from my swimming teaching and lifeguarding qualifications, I also hold the following qualifications:

  • BSc. Sports and Exercise Science (Napier University, Edinburgh)
  • Level 2 Instructing Health related Exercise to children (5-16 years)
  • Level 3 Personal Training
  • Level 2 Gym Instructor Course
  • UKCC Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Tennis
  • How to Coach Disabled People in Sport (UK Coaching)
  • Level 2 Aiming Higher for Disabled Children
  • Level 1 Basketball Coach
  • Scottish Football Association Coach Certificate
  • HND Sports Coaching with Sports Development
  • Moving and Handling of Children

I am fully insured for all activities listed and a member of the Institute of Swimming.

GJ Star Float

I am now in a position to offer daytime sessions for swimming lessons and also one-to-one fitness/ active mobility and movement sessions. I can offer land-based sessions to support your child’s overall fitness and wellbeing. Please contact me if you would like me to tailor something to your child’s specific needs.

SEND course

I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with other swimming teachers and want to promote more inclusive swimming that is available to all. I plan to offer specialised training to other swimming teachers on how they can adapt their lessons for children (and adults) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) .

In the near future, I also hope to undertake further training to qualify as a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) assessor.

Rachael and I met whilst she was studying Speech and Language Therapy at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. We were both teaching swimming at the weekends at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre. After lots of smiles and chats every Saturday, we decided to meet up outside of work. So began an enduring love story and we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in 2023 😀 Rachael has renewed her rescue award for swimming teachers (NRASTC) so she can support me when needed.

As a speech and language therapist, Rachael has worked with adults with learning disabilities. We use several communication aids and forms of communication to help with understanding and expression. These include:

  • Signalong
  • Now and next boards
  • Now, next and then boards
  • SwimPix
  • Widgit symbols
  • Visual timers
  • Social stories
TS Listening
CK Listening

Rachael also helps me with the administrative side of PHSS and organising the certificate ceremony.

We have both always loved being in and near water. Here are some photos of us as children in the 80s!

Paul
Rachael
Paul
Rachael
Paul
Rachael
Rachael
Paul
Paul

We also run ‘Flow Living’, a holistic wellbeing business that offers nourishing food, guided interior design, personal training and therapeutic coaching services. Please see: flow‑living.co.uk

Contact

I am available by text, phone or email until 7pm at night, Monday to Saturday. Please note that outside of these times there may be a delay in my response. 

“It is clear to me that Paul is an exceptional swimming teacher. I could see that he enjoys teaching and his enthusiasm rubs off onto the pupils. He was well organised and prepared for the lesson, was very positive and knowledgeable, had a good relationship with the pupils and other staff, and the lesson was fun, interactive and very well delivered.”
David Rayner
David RaynerTechnical Aquatics Manager, Swim England
“We highly recommend Paul for 1-1 swimming lessons. Our son has very individual and complex needs which Paul has had no trouble in meeting with a variety of different strategies, sometimes on a very ad-hoc basis. Paul's patience and calmness is second to none! He communicates with us continually ensuring everything is right for our little man. Swimming with Paul is one of the only places we feel our son is truly safe and can thrive whilst being himself. "Swimming with Howey" is the absolute highlight of our son's week!!”
Emma and Chris Taylor,
Emma and Chris Taylor,Parents of PHSS student, Eli
“Paul’s lessons are well established with very high occupancy levels. He clearly has a passion for teaching swimming lessons and makes a real effort to make the lessons fun and engaging as well as productive. Paul recently received some glowing feedback from a customer about how much their son enjoys attending Paul’s lessons and I’m sure this view is shared by many or all of those that he teaches.”
Paul Anderson, Former Duty Manager
Paul Anderson, Former Duty Manager Wymondham Leisure Centre, South Norfolk Council
“Having tried unsuccessfully over several years in different settings and classes to support Joseph to learn to swim, we had pretty much given up! Paul was recommended and we booked a private pool to allow a quiet environment with minimal distractions. Paul was excellent with Joseph, building a rapport with him, giving him reassurances and building his confidence, being led by Joseph throughout each lesson as to how he was able to focus on different activities and being calm and flexible at moments when Joseph could not concentrate or was ‘wobbling’ in his self-confidence. Watching Joseph gain confidence to the point he swam a width of the pool was beautiful and a huge achievement. We would highly recommend Paul as a SEN swim teacher and will always be grateful to him for achieving what so many others could not!”
Nikki Adlam
Nikki Adlamparent of PHSS student, Joseph
“My daughter has really enjoyed her lessons with Paul. We have seen a huge improvement in her water confidence and she has benefited greatly from the tailored sessions. Paul is a wonderful, patient teacher who has made the lessons fun as well as challenging.”
Emma Blake
Emma Blakeparent of PHSS student, Ruby
“When Phoenix started swimming, Paul was the only teacher who could get Phoenix to feel comfortable enough to even enter into the pool. Phoenix had a great fear of water and Paul knew exactly the right amount to push Phoenix, in the a gentle and understanding way that Phoenix needed. He is incredibly patient and Phoenix has started to swim independently now and he absolutely loves his lessons with Paul!”
Emily Ollman-Hirt
Emily Ollman-Hirtparent of PHSS student, Phoenix

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