Back to Basics Swim Academy (Oakville)

We have been taking our kids to #BacktoBasicsSwimAcademy in Oakville for years. My kids have been swimming way better over the years now. B2B is a great swim Academy and are always accommodating to make adjustments when we can't make it out certain dates. Thanks you B2B team!

I am very disappointed with my experience at Back to Basics. My child did not progress and did not enjoy going. They were constantly asking when they can return to their old swimming lessons. So overpriced!I addition, I strongly believe the instructors are not as fabulous as they are made out to be by the owner. Everyday they would chat in the change room about wanting to go home to bed"

I had a my first swim lesson with Elmira this week, I have never been comfortable in the water but she was very patient with me. I was very nervous to take lessons as an older adult but she was very supportive and helpful. I am so glad I decided to reach out to Back to Basics and finally learn to swim.

Back to Basics was an amazing experience for me. The training was excellent, and the team of instructors was by far the best team I've ever worked with! Having small classes makes it better for the kids to learn more skills and have one on one learning time. I recommend Back to Basics for volunteering somewhere and learning how to teach such wonderful kids how to swim!

We first started lessons with the Back To Basics team about 4.5 yrs ago, and I am so glad we did! The only regret I have is not finding Elmira and the B2B team sooner! My daughter has always been strong but her technique (after a thorough and realistic conversation with Elmira) was FAR from what the other local programs had assessed her at. She had picked up so many bad habits (having had a pool in our backyard swimming with family and friends, combined with less than adequate swim training (both with local programs AND privately)) that we had to spend years focusing on correction and developing the PROPER skills before she could move to the next level. To be honest, I was never interested in “what level she was in”, all we ever wanted was for her to learn this very important life skill - the right way.The instructors at B2B are literally THE BEST in the industry in the Oakville/Burlington area. You couldn’t find a better team no matter how hard you tried, and that’s because of the vision and goal Elmira has, which is for all students (young or more mature) to learn the proper skills. The instructors make the swim experience fun for the kids, while ensuring the kids are getting the best possible instruction, always making sure to check technique - but, (in my opinion and more importantly) ensuring that your child is moving forward AT THE RIGHT TIME, and when a skill has been learned and can be demonstrated well (not perfectly, but well). Elmira has always been honest and candid with us about our daughter’s progress and where she may need work - and for that honesty, we are so thankful! It has only helped our daughter to grow as a young swimmer.My husband and I were so impressed with the program and our daughter’s progress, that we increased her sessions to 3 lessons per week - year round (progress doesn’t take time off!). Once we saw how much she had improved, and her potential, we then opted to move her to private coaching to really hone in on the skills that need improvement.Fast forward 4.5 yrs later, although we have recently moved and can no longer be part of the B2B family solely due to location, it says SO much about the Back To Basics Swim Academy program when your 9 yr old tries out (for the 1st time ever) for a Top 10 U.S.A. swim club and makes the team, but is asked “where she took her swimming lessons from”.I know this review is lengthy, but there is so much good to say about this school! If you want quality lessons/training, value for your money and a team that will always put your child’s progress first over levels, you have to check them out. I promise you won’t regret it! Thank you Elmira, Beth, Amanda, Emily, and so many more that helped S with her confidence and skills! BEST SWIM SCHOOL EVER!

So happy with this program. My son has made huge improvements, he is always doing something to improve his skills and never left off to the side. The staff are very friendly and knowledgable. We will be continuing with back to basics! :)

A friend recommended back to basics- we signed up my toddler who had gotten swim lessons before we moved from the USA and she had made huge progress overcoming her fear of water and actually dunking her head under water and such. To my disappointment, signing her up with back to basics felt like we took huge steps backwards- all they did was play with her in the water (saying that they're trying to get her comfortable with them)- but that's all they did for every single lesson that term. I could do that and don't need to pay tons of money for someone else to do it. I switched to making waves swim school and they're so much better- they actually have a routine for every lesson and specific milestones to achieve within each lesson and by the end of the term.Back to basics also had poor customer service. On my last session there was a lot of snow and was dangerous to be driving there so i called and Almira said that she couldn't guarantee me a makeup class but if I drove in and even if I arrived late she would take me. My husband took my daughter to her lesson (arrived 20 min late) and when he got there, Almira said that she can't take my daughter after all. Then with some negotiation, she went and got any random (unqualified and not in uniform) high school kid to teach my daughter that lesson. Furthermore, when I texted her later about my disappointment, she was very defensive, unapologetic and unprofessional. I thought a long time before writing this because I would hate someone to write a bad review about me if I were in her shoes but decided that it's better that people know what they're signing up for before they get screwed. Would never ever go back, unfortunately.