About Us
HEADSTART SWIM SCHOOL was launched in May 2006, and is run according to the Swimming South Africa (SSA) approved, Learn-to-Swim methodology. We believe that adults and children learn better through having fun in a safe, non-threatening environment.
HEADSTART instructors are passionate about teaching people of all ages to swim and we are registered with SSA and attend first aid training annually as well as other relevant SSA and in-house talks and workshops regularly.
Swimming South Africa runs its Learn-to-Swim program for the following reasons:
- As a Vital Life Skill
- To reduce drownings
- To provide a healthy lifestyle
- For recreational purposes
Meet our team
Janice is a SSA registered LTS instructor, enjoyed competitive swimming throughout her school career and believes that swimming is a life skill which everyone should have the opportunity to learn.
She teaches Bishops pre-prep class swimming and social squad swimming, focussing on Stroke correction and fitness.
I am a Mother of 2 grown up children, co-founder of Headstart swim school and a coach to swimmers, runners and triathletes.
Viv coaches the Bishops Prep Swimming team and the Rustenburg Girls’ High School swimming team and distance runner squad.
She is Owner of SCR Academy (Swim, Cycle, Run, Triathlon and multi-sport) and a Triathlon coach at My Training Day (MTD) triathlon Academy.
Viv is an Accredited:
International Triathlon Union (ITU) Level 2 Triathlon Coach
International Triathlon Union Coach Facilitator
Triathlon south Africa Level 2 Coach
Athletics South Africa Level 1 Coach
My name is Kelly Engelbrecht. I have a degree in foundation phase education and have always been passionate about working with Children and teaching learners of all ages. I became qualified as a swimming instructor in 2014 and have been teaching Learn to swim since then. I have also been running the admin management of the swim school since 2016. Swimming is such an important life skill and I am passionate about passing this skill on to others. My time in the classroom has played a big part in my methods of teaching swimming and has also given me insight and experience with children with various barriers to learning and working with many different personality types. I strive to not only teach water safety and stroke technique, but to instil a love for water in all of the pupils I have the privilege of teaching.
Hi, I am Anna Blinda Manyati. l am 32 years old, and l have two children – a girl and a boy. I lived and worked in Pretoria before coming to Cape Town in December 2025. I have worked at the SPAR Supermarket and as a nanny before joining Headstart in Dec 2025 as a the Swim School Assistant. I am also learning to swim at Headstart and really enjoy my lessons!
Hi I’m Jess,
I have loved being in water since I first learned to swim and I feel at home in the water whether it be in a pool or the ocean. I swam competitively throughout high school and found a love for open water swimming in my free time. I believe swimming is such an important life skill, and I’m all about creating a fun, relaxed, safe atmosphere for kids to become confident swimmers.
My name is Raighaanah Slamdien.
I am a Bcom law student. I started swimming at a young age and have loved it ever since then. I swam competitively with a swimming club. Later on I became a beach lifeguard and started competing as a lifeguard. I’ve always been enthusiastic about swimming and I can’t imagine not being able to share the skills I’ve learnt over the years.
Teaching swimming has now become a great passion of mine.
My name is Yusra Slamdien. I’ve been a Learn to Swim instructor since 2011. I taught swimming at Headstart until until COVID and then I took a break for a while. I started teaching again at Headstart in November 2024. I enjoy teaching and believe learning to swim is a very important life skill. Because of this I have also spent some time doing volunteer teaching. My experience ranges from teaching toddlers, beginners & intermediate swimmers to adult LTS and swimming squads.
My name is Amy. I have felt at home in water for much of my life. I swam a lot throughout school and am so happy to be back in the water. I find connection with people to be one of my strong suits and really hope to use this skill to better my teaching. I have always found it very easy to connect with children and am very motivated to make a real difference in their lives by teaching them such an important skill while prioritising kindness, comfort, and trust. Away from the pool I study and work freelance in the film industry and am currently finishing my last year of my degree in film production.
I grew up on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe and was already learning to swim before I could even walk. Being in the water has always been second nature to me, and it’s where my love for swimming and the outdoors began.
I’m also a psychology student with a strong interest in child development, which adds another layer to my approach as a coach. I understand how swimming not only teaches water safety, but also supports children’s confidence, focus, and overall growth — both physically and mentally.
I’ve always loved working with children, from babysitting to coaching, and nothing makes me happier than seeing their faces light up when they achieve something new in the pool. Teaching allows me to combine my lifelong passion for swimming with my love for helping young people flourish, both in and out of the water.
I’m thrilled to be part of the Head Start Coaching team and look forward to supporting your child on their swimming journey.
I’m a qualified paramedic currently studying pre-hospital emergency medicine, and I’ve had a lifelong love for the water. I started swimming at just 8 months old and never stopped! From junior school through high school, I swam competitively at a provincial level and also represented my province in water polo.
Swimming has been such a huge part of my life, and now I get to share that passion with children. I absolutely love working with kids; seeing their confidence grow in the water and celebrating each new skill is the most rewarding part of what I do. With my medical background, years of swimming experience, and genuine care for children, you can feel confident knowing your child is learning in a safe, supportive, and fun environment.
Whether your child is just starting out or wants to refine their strokes, I’m here to make their swimming journey exciting, safe, and full of achievement.
Hi! I’m Heather, I’m a fully qualified Aqua fitness Instructor. I absolutely love helping people feel confident and strong in the water. My classes are fun, energetic and designed to leave you feeling like you’ve had a real workout, without the strain on your joints. There’s something amazing about exercising in water. The resistance challenges you, the support of the water protects you and the vibe in class? It’s just AWESOME!
“I never thought I’d love working out in water so much – it’s the best part of my week!”
Hi, my name is Kerry. I’m a 21 year old sports science student. Ever since I started swimming I found my love for it. And then on has it had been such a big part of my life. I have been a competitive swimmer for 10 years and have loved every bit of it. I have always felt the safest and the most at home in the water. Being able to share my passion, experience, knowledge with people is something I enjoy. My favorite part of being a swimming instructor is seeing the look on the kids faces when they get something right, it is truly inspiring and seeing their progress is so amazing. I see myself as a very patient person and I feel that helps a lot when coaching, especially the younger kids. I believe swimming is such an important life skill and I aim to create a fun and supportive environment where pupils of all ages feel confident and safe.
Hi, my name is Lauren. I am a qualified Surf Instructor and Early childhood Development Teacher, with a strong passion for teaching and developing young children and adults through movement and water based skills. I have also been a SSA registered LTS instructor since 2020. Promoting water confidence, foundational swimming skills and stroke correction is my passion. In addition to private lessons, I have also been teaching at local boys’ and girls’ schools where I work with groups for class swimming and social swimming sessions. My focus is on creating a safe, engaging and supportive environment where swimmers of all ages and levels can progress at their own pace. I believe that swimming is an essential skill and I find it incredibly rewarding to see how far my swimmers progress from their first movements in the water to becoming confident, capable swimmers.
Hi, Im Simoane. I hold an Early Childhood Development Certificate as well as an STA swimming accreditation. With my love for Early Childhood Development and water I aim to provide lessons that foster a lifelong love for swimming and water confidence in every child I teach. I believe every little splash is a step toward growth, safety, and a lifesaving skill.
I’m a qualified swimming instructor with many years of experience teaching children across a wide range of ages and abilities. My approach is calm, patient, and structured, with a strong focus on building confidence, correct body position, and independent movement in the water. I believe children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and gently guided rather than rushed or pressured.
I enjoy working with clear routines and gentle structure, as this allows children to relax, understand expectations, and make steady progress. I’m very results-focused and take pride in seeing swimmers develop real skills, confidence, and enjoyment in the water over time. My goal is always to help each child feel capable and secure, while building strong foundations for lifelong swimming.
WHAT PARENTS SAY
“Lovely friendly teachers. My son is extremely happy and love going for his lessons.”
“Lovely teacher, nice professional service and progressive results every week.”
“Friendly staff , kids feel at ease and enjoy each lesson. Very professional.”
Contact us today
Please send us an email with your details and we will be in touch!