Meet the Founder: Sarah Taylor of Tiny Swimming

✨ Introduction

Tiny Swimming - an independent swim school for babies and pre-schoolers - was founded in 2022 by Sarah Taylor. What started as a personal mission to give her own children a better, safer introduction to swimming has grown into a thriving swim school in Shropshire — and now Tiny Social Shropshire, a hub for parents and local businesses.

💡 My Story

My love of swimming began in childhood, where every pool session was filled with joy, laughter, and family. My dad was a professional triathlete who represented Great Britain, and he often took my brother and I to pools and open water. I cherished those training sessions, especially as I grew older and could challenge him in races or playfully tickle his toes while overtaking him!

As a new mum, I wanted my own children to feel that same joy in the water. With my first child, I joined baby swimming classes, but I quickly realised parts of the experience didn’t feel right. The requirement to submerge him underwater in his first lesson caused fear and confusion, and it took time to rebuild his trust in the water.

This experience lit a spark. I believed I could offer children a more nurturing introduction to swimming — one that respected their pace, their readiness, and their joy.

🐢 Creating Tiny Swimming

By the time my second child began to learn to swim, I had trained as a swim instructor, developed my own knowledge, and adopted a child-centred approach. Tiny Swimming grew from this foundation: a belief that swimming can and should be safe, joyful, and empowering for children of all abilities.

At Tiny Swimming, we:
- Respect each child’s readiness and individual pace.
- Focus on play, creativity, and independence.
- Encourage parents to join in, mirror excitement, and celebrate milestones.
- Avoid pressure or forced activities, instead building confidence gently.

Our “Turtles Journey” — from Baby Turtles up to Transition Turtles — guides children step by step, with songs, games, milestone cards, and certificates to make every achievement meaningful.

🌍 Building Community in Shropshire

Swimming is about more than strokes and skills — it’s about connection. Tiny Swimming has always been rooted in parent partnership. I know from personal experience how valuable a parent community can be: sharing experiences, chatting after lessons, or simply knowing you’re not alone in your parenting journey.

Tiny Swimming gives parents a chance to bond with their children in the water while also connecting with others. Those friendships and support networks are just as important as the lessons themselves.

This ethos has now extended into Tiny Social Shropshire: a space where families can find trusted guides, discover local businesses, and celebrate parenting together.

💙 More Than Swimming

We don’t just teach swimming — we laugh, we blow bubbles, we splash, and we celebrate together. Swimming provides so much more than physical skills:
- Social interaction
- Mental well-being
- Physical development
- Parent-child bonding

For many families, swimming together becomes the highlight of the week — a chance to pause, play, and share joy in the water.

💬 Final Words

From my first uncertain steps in baby swimming classes to founding Tiny Swimming and now Tiny Social Shropshire, this journey has always been about one thing: creating safe, supportive, and joyful experiences for families.

Sarah x