Code of Conduct 

• Arrive on poolside 5 minutes prior to the lesson commencing – if your child arrives late this disrupts the smooth running of our swimming lessons.

• If your child requires a swim fin, please have this fitted onto the swimmer prior to the lesson starting to enable our lessons to run on time and give the swimmers the most amount of time in the water.

• Medical Information - if your child has a medical problem, has medication (e.g. an inhaler) or has learning difficulty, please disclose this on the enrolment form.

• If you or your child are unwell, DO NOT attend the pool. If you or your child has been ill during the last 14 days with diarrhoea, then do not attend the facility. If you or your child have displayed symptoms of COVID 19 do not attend the facility.

• Any swimmer known to be, or found to be, suffering from any infectious illness or condition will not be allowed to enter the pool.

• ​Snorkel masks are not permitted for use in the swimming pool.

• If your child has long hair it is compulsory to wear a swimming cap.

• Personal belongings are left at the customers' own risk. Please do not leave personal belongings in the group changing rooms or cubicles. Please use the lockers provided.

• Hygiene - Please shower before entering the pool. Parents/guardians helping their children in the shower area must remove their shoes.

• Any questions regarding your child’s lesson are to be directed to the Swimming Lesson Coordinator or to our reception. Please do not approach the teacher as this disrupts the flow of the lesson.

• We will contact you via email or telephone if any classes are cancelled.

• No photography or filming is permitted.

 

Child Protection, Supervision and Safeguarding

• Children under the age of eight must be accompanied in the changing room until they have been passed over to the swimming teacher. Parents and guardians must remain in the building during the lesson in case of medical emergency or building evacuation.

• Children under eight should be supervised when using the toilet facilities.

• Children aged over eight should change in a changing room appropriate for their gender.

•  Customers accept that at times there will be physical contact between the teacher and their child, in a professional, caring manner.

• Child protection, including bullying, is in line with Swim England child protection policies.

• SSP teachers are either Swim England or Safety Training Awards (STA) qualified. All our teachers and lifeguards have undergone enhanced DBS checks.

• The SSP Safeguarding Policy can be provided on request.

• Southern Swimming Pool has two Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL), whom you can contact with any concerns:

  • Matthew Meechan - Pool Manager/DSL - 01624 823930 (3) or opsmanager@southernswimmingpool.im​

  • Barbara Brereton - SSP Board Vice Chair and Safeguarding Representative - malewc@southernswimmingpool.im

 

Special Educational Needs

• We cannot accept responsibility for the medical condition(s) or other special needs of any swimmer unless full disclosure of the details has been made to the Southern Swim School at registration.

• If a swimmer subsequently discovers that they are subject to a medical condition or further needs, it is the responsibility of the swimmer or the parent/guardian of a swimmer to inform the Swimming Lesson Coordinator or Pool Manager in writing.

 

Swimmers Dress Code

• We recommend that all swimmers wear tight fitting swimsuits or shorts.

• Goggles - Swimming goggles may be worn at the wearers own risk; parents are to ensure goggles are fitted correctly prior to the lesson starting.

• Jewellery - Jewellery must not be worn as it may cause injury to the swimmer or to others.

•  Rash vests are permitted.

 

Behaviour and Conduct

• Parents accept that their child is under the supervision, control and care of the swimming teacher for the duration of their lesson.

•  Should the behaviour of the child be unsatisfactory, and the class is disrupted or if the child seems to be putting themselves or anyone else at risk the swimming teacher has the right to remove the pupil from the class.

• Parents are asked not to distract swimmers during their swimming lessons as childrens' progress can be affected.

 

Lesson Duration and Teaching Ratios

• Group swimming lessons and private lessons are held over a 30 or 60 minute timeslot.

• Pre School, stages 1 to 3 -   6 swimmers : 1 teacher in the water.

• Stages 4 to 7 - 8 swimmers : 1 teacher on poolside.

• Stages 8 to 10 - 12 swimmers : 1 teacher on poolside.

 

Enrolment

• All swimmers must complete an enrolment form. All information must be correctly filled out to register on the swim school.

• We process and record all details and payments in a secure database in line with our Privacy and Data Protection Policy.

• All swimmers are offered one free trial lesson prior to committing.

• After the free trial, if your swimmer wishes to continue you will make full payment via our reception. This is for the first booking only.

• You will receive a welcome email to the swim school you will also receive an invitation to our join our home portal.

• Once enrolment is complete you can view the swimmers Home Portal account. There you can see stage outcomes, swimmer progression and credits remaining.

 

Pupil Progression

• We follow Swim England’s Learn to Swim Framework.

• Our teachers regularly assess swimmers’ progression.

• Progression of swimmers is of the judgment of the teachers and Swimming Lesson Coordinator.

• We will offer you a selection of options (times and days) for moving on to the next stage.

• If no space is available, we will allow you to remain in the current lesson until a suitable lesson has been found.

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Private Lessons

• Private lessons are to be paid for in full, a minimum of 24 hours before the lesson takes place.

•  If you want to cancel within 24 hours of your booking, you will be unable to claim a refund. The cancellation period may be extended under extraordinary conditions, at the discretion of the Swimming Lesson Coordinator.

• Contact the Swimming Lesson Coordinator via the reception, email alice@southernswimmingpool.im or call 01624 823930 (2).

 

Payments

• All swimming lessons are non-transferable and non-refundable unless agreed by the Swimming Lesson Coordinator. There are no refunds for non-attendance. If there is a medical reason for non-attendance a request should be made in writing via email to alice@southernswimmingpool.im.

• Upon signing up for our lessons you will be asked to make the first initial block payment via reception. After this you will then gain access to the home portal, your account will then be credited with 6 lessons. Ongoing payments for swim school members should be made online via the home portal. We will require a valid email address for the use of payments, movements, top ups and assessments.

• You will receive weekly top up reminders when there are less than three lesson credits remaining. You must top up prior to the final lesson commencing.

• You should use the top up function on the home portal page prior to your final swimming lesson.

• Failure to top up will result in being removed from the home portal. This will automatically de-register your child from our swimming lessons.

 

Refunds Policy

• If, after booking swimming lessons, you need to cancel, you can do so by contacting the Swimming Lesson Coordinator in writing within seven days of making the booking. You will receive a refund of the payment made.

• If you want to cancel after seven days of making the booking, you may do so by contacting the Swimming Lesson Coordinator in writing at any time up to three working days after your first lesson. You will receive a refund of payment made, less fees for the lesson provided (if applicable). After this period, we cannot offer refunds or credit notes if you are unable to attend lessons.​

 

Emergency Evacuation Procedure

• The lifeguard will blow a single long blast on their whistle to clear the pool.

• All swimmers will exit the water, and await further instruction from the poolside staff.

• All spectators must stop and await instruction from the lifeguard team.

• Should it be necessary to evacuate the building no attempt should be made to recover possessions from the changing rooms or anywhere else within the building.

• Southern Swimming Pool staff will implement the Emergency Action Plan, follow their instruction and do not attempt to find anyone inside the building. You may need to leave a different fire exit to that of your child.

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Once outside, proceed to the designated fire assembly point located at either:

• The disabled parking bays at the front of the building

• By the tennis courts in the main car park

You will then be reunited with your swimmer once it is safe to do so.

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If you think there is a problem, please speak to the lifeguards where possible, or swimming lesson coordinator or manager. 

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Disclaimer

• The Southern Swimming Pool accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to your personal property whilst on its premises.

• It is your responsibility to ensure any medical issues that may affect your child’s safe use of the facility are brought to the attention of the Swimming Lesson Coordinator and or staff members.