Baby Squids UK has sold its 15th franchise, bringing many exciting new classes to the North!
In February 2025, Carly Cullen bought the Baby Squids Cheshire franchise and runs most of the classes in the well-established, highly successful swim school for 0-4-year-olds. The school focuses on building children’s confidence and their love of the water. Its ethos is hugely based on supporting local families and running inclusive and nurturing sessions.
“Having been a Secondary Education Teacher for 20 years, I decided to take the ‘plunge’ and get back in the water! I love teaching and developing children’s skills both on land and in water! My Swimming Teacher journey started in 2002 – before I became a Physical Education Teacher, I was a Lifeguard and a Swimming Teacher for David Lloyd, Warrington – I LOVED IT!! So, I decided to leave Secondary Education and run my own business and Baby Squids came into my life at a time when it was most needed! Synchronicity you may say, I would say it is the Universe guiding me! I firmly believe this will be one of the best decisions I have EVER made, not just for me but for my beautiful family and for all the families I will work with in the future.”
Baby Squids Cheshire will be running classes in 4 pools across Cheshire including in Hydro Pool at the Seashell Trust in Cheadle Hulme. Carly is excited to be working with lots of local families in Cheadle Hulme and also Macclesfield, Sale and Ellesmere Port.
“I love living in Cheshire, I am Warrington born and bred and a huge Warrington RLFC fan ‘COME ON THE WIRE!’ I have worked in Warrington, South Manchester, and the Halton area and understand that inclusivity is deeply important and my lessons mirror this. Cheshire is a beautiful area and has a huge part of my heart, and to teach water confidence and safety skills to babies and toddlers here is amazing.”
It’s the 15th franchise sale in 5 years for the business, as Baby Squids owner Laura Skilton from Hampshire went national with her swim school just before the Covid pandemic. She built up the business from scratch over the last 13 years and they have since helped more than 10,000 children learn to swim. Today Baby Squids has 61 teachers running over 500 classes per week across the UK and is growing weekly.
“We’ve had huge interest since launching our franchise offer, with our first sales going to our established teachers and now moving into new locations. We have seen the business grow over the last two years and have brought on board some fantastic franchisees to build the brand that is vital to our business.
Our aim is to bring swimming to all, we are inclusive, and supportive and want to ensure that every child gets the chance to build their water confidence early to ensure a safe and lifelong love for the water.” Baby Squids founder Laura Skilton said.
To learn more about our baby swimming lessons in Cheadle Hulme please visit https://www.babysquids.co.uk/baby-toddler-swimming-lessons-cheshire/.
