Baby, Toddler and Preschool Swimming Lessons in Exeter and Devon
Teach your little one a skill for life with our inspiring and supportive baby, toddler and preschool swimming lessons, and Aquanatal classes in Exeter and Devon.
From the first dip of the toe, Turtle Tots is a magical journey between parent and child, developing water confidence, safety, and swimming skills through our unique and multi award-winning, child-led swimming programme.
Turtle Tots Exeter and Devon is run by Claire Thomas and Rebecca Burdus. Along with their team of world-class swimming teachers, they offer swimming lessons for babies, toddlers, 3 and 4 year olds, as well as Turtle Tums Aquanatal Yoga classes, from their lovely warm pool facilities in Exeter, Great Torrington, Chudleigh, Bude, and Newton Abbot.
For Babies, Toddlers, 3 and 4 year olds, our supportive and child-led swimming lessons offer a wonderful bonding experience, packed with songs and games to ensure that you and your little one enjoy your time in the pool together and develop a life-long love of the water. Our programme is taught by our fully qualified and highly skilled teachers who are trained to the highest possible standards. They have an in-depth understanding of early years communication and are attuned to your child’s needs to ensure that every skill is taught at a pace that is right for them.
Still awaiting little one’s arrival? Turtle Tums Aquanatal Yoga classes are a fantastic way for pregnant mums to prepare their body and mind for birth and beyond. Relax, unwind, connect with your inner self, and meet other mums-to-be with our weekly classes.
Check out our pool timetables below to find and book the right class for you online. Or, if you cannot find what you are looking for GET IN TOUCH using the form or contact details below and we’ll find the right swimming lesson or Aquanatal class for you.
Our Pools
Meet the Exeter Team
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Rebecca
Trained in Turtle Tots Baby & Toddler, Turtle Tums Aqua Natal Yoga, Level 3 Diploma in Aquatic Teaching, Baby & Pre School and Safety Award with the STA, Rebecca has always loved the water and loves nothing more then sharing that with our families. Her ambition in life to become a mermaid came true when joining Turtle Tots!
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Adam
Trained in Turtle Tots Baby & Toddler, STA Baby & Pre School & Award and Safety Award. Adam has been a part of the team since 2022 but before this swan through the programme with both his daughters. Adam also has many years experience in teaching children on the land in school across the world. His passion for teaching is obvious in all his lessons in the water.
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Grace
Grace began her own Turtle Tots journey in 2022 with daughter Tilly and very quickly fell in love with what we offer to families. Grace knew she’d love to be part of the teaching team and within a year was doing just that. She absolutely loves to help her swimmers learn.
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Rachel
Rachel has been teaching swimming for many years and brought her expert knowledge to our TT team in 2019. Mum to her little ones, Rachel also works in a children’s school, so has a huge amount of experience working with chuldren and families both in and out the water.
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Charlie
Based in our North Devon area, Charlie joined us in 2018. Mum to James. Charlie is loved by all her Turtles, Tots & their grown ups. She is full of creativity and imagination. When not in the pool teaching Charlie also teaches the next stage of swimming lessons with a local swim school so is able to see many of her Turtles porgression when they leave her and move on.
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Natalie
Natalie began Turtle Tots with her daughter Indi in 2014. She soon joined our teaching team. Natalie is Mum to Indi, Owen & Sennen and loves her TT job. It’s a bit different to her other role for the NHS. Natalie has a magical quality which everyone loves. She is a happy and wonderful perosn who shines through her infectious smile.
Reviews
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We look forward to swimming lessons every week with Turtle Tots – amazing staff who are always super friendly and welcoming, and our little one is already loving the water after only a few weeks!
Genuinely couldn’t recommend highly enough!Callum 
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The classes are all held in heated (hydro) pools, with often a warm space to change our babies. This is such a plus. The actual classes are fantastic; playful but purposeful and following the child’s development, it provides vital skills in the water. Our baby loves water anyway, and it had thus provided a much anticipated weekly event, but even if she hadn’t, she would have loved being in the water by now. It’s simply splendid.
Lizzie -
We’ve just started baby Level 1 with our 3 month old and we’re really enjoying it! Lovely team facilitating the sessions and lots of important skills development for the little one. We’re hoping to continue for as long as our little one shows interest!
Kristina -
We started swimming with Turtle Tots when my daughter was 4 months old and have been so impressed with the quality of teaching and fun that Turtle Tots provides! My daughter is now 16 months old and is super confident in the water and loves splashing about in the pool. Rachel is engaging and confident with the babies. We look forward to our lessons every week and will do them as long as we can!
Anna -
We are so pleased with our decision to have our daughter’s swimming lessons with turtle tots. They are professional and fun and ensure that you get the most out of every lesson. Rebecca is a wonderful teacher who is kind and caring towards every child, we feel very grateful to have her as our teacher
Emma -
Turtle Tots is our family highlight of the week! It is fantastic to see our little one develop each week in a safe and happy swimming environment.
Lyndsey -
We absolutely love Turtle Tots- Rebecca has a perfect approach with our daughter- both respectful and encouraging.
Laura -
I cannot recommend Turtle Tots enough. We started our journey after Lockdown, attending Turtle Tots on a weekly basis has provided my son and I with vital life skills, which will continue to develop as he progresses through. My son is so confident in the water, and enjoys ‘Learning’ through playful activities, fun songs and games. Thank you to the teachers who give up their time each week to encourage my little splashy Turtle to try new things. A special shout out and thanks to Rebecca and Adam (Exeter).
Jemma -
Both of my daughters have been swimming with Turtle Tots from around 3 months of age. It has been great to see my eldest grow in confidence in the water through encouragement from teachers.
The catch up policy is brilliant as we all know life with children never goes to plan so it is nice to know you never have to miss multiple lessons through illness/grumpiness/holidays.
Would highly recommend using Turtle Tots.Harriet -
Since joining turtle tots my son has become so much more confident and is really progressing. There is constant support from the swimming instructors offering their advice and showing new ways to do things making you feel at ease. I would definitely recommend Turtle Tots.
Jodie -
We loved coming to turtle tots but when Torrington closed, the closest was sandymouth at 8.45am which unfortunately didn’t fit with us.
Gutted as Alana seemed to like Charlie and often asks if Charlie is coming to her new classAnita -
Turtle Tots has been great for all our children. It’s really started them on their swimming journey and they’ve loved being in the water ever since.
Alexandra