Code of Conduct

1. Swimmers

1.1.   Swimmers should not eat for at least 2 hours prior to swimming.

1.2.   Please arrive for the teaching lesson 5 minutes early and be on time. Teachers do have the right to refuse attendance if more than 15 minutes late. This will be at the discretion of the teacher to allow this.

1.3.   As a general rule of thumb, do not enter the pool area prior to your lesson start time.

1.4.   Whilst you are waiting for your class, please keep poolside noise down to a minimum so that all lessons can take place in a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

1.5.   Only enter the pool (water) once your instructor has invited you to do so.

1.6.   Listen to what your instructor tells you. If you don't understand, please ask.

1.7.   The following actions are seen as disorderly behaviour:

  • Running
  • Diving
  • Jumping
  • Ducking
  • Fighting
  • Bombing
  • Shouting and throwing items.

1.8.   If you are warned and behaviour persists you will be asked to leave.

1.9.   Our teachers will be implementing a traffic card behaviour management system.

  • Green warning - first warning.
  • Amber warning - sit on the side for two minutes.
  • Red warning - Child will be asked to get out of the pool and parents will be called over to collect them and terminate their lesson.

1.10. Swimming goggles, including those with ophthalmic prescription lenses, may be worn at the wearers own risk.

1.11. To avoid injury the wearing of spectacles in the water by a swimmer during a session is not recommended.

1.12. Care of spectacles is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

1.13. Jewellery can be hazard and should not be worn during swimming, including earrings.

1.14. Appropriate swimwear should be worn at all times in the swimming pool and communal changing area.

1.15. Please ensure long hair is tied up. Any children suffering from incontinence must wear a swim nappy and tightly fitted swim wear.

1.16. The feeling of ill health or sickness should be addressed to the instructor immediately.

2. Parents/Guardians

2.1.   Parents must accompany their child to the swimming pool or a pre-arranged guardian over the age of 16yrs+.

2.2.   Up until the age of 8yrs, the child should be accompanied by the parent in the respective gender changing rooms of the parent for e.g. (boys up to the age of 8yrs with mum in the female; girls up to 8yrs with the dads in the male)

2.3.   Under no circumstances should the adult of the opposite gender be in the changing rooms of the child's gender.

2.4.   After the age of 8yrs, children are expected to change in the changing room of their gender, unaccompanied if there is a gender conflict.

2.5.   During lessons parents/guardians must not interrupt or communicate with the teacher, distract the pupils or approach the poolside, unless it is a matter of health and safety, as you may endanger the safety of the pupils and other pool users.

2.6.   Mobile phones are prohibited to be used in the changing rooms or poolside. Only the phone devices used by teachers are allowed on pool side.

2.7.   Outside footwear is prohibited on the poolside. Parents are advised to take their shoes off, wear flip flops, or pool cover shoes where possible.

2.8.   Parents/Guardians must remain on site for the duration of their child's swimming lessons

2.9.   Please ensure that your child does not eat a large meal 2hrs prior to the lessons and a light health snack at least 30mins before. This will prevent any imminent closures as a result of sickness in the pool.

2.10. Parents/Guardians must not take any photographs unless authorised to do so by a member of staff.

2.11. A maximum of two adult spectators are allowed on poolside per swimmer.

2.12. Parents/Guardians must remain seated or stand against the wall by the designated spectating area.

2.13. Do not 'dangle' babies into the water at the side of the pool, you may be asked to leave the pool area and not continue your sessions if this occurs.

2.14. Whilst children are waiting for their lessons, parents are not to allowed to let their children to sit on the side of the pool and dangle their legs in the water. They must be at a safe distance from the water’s edge until called across by the instructor.

2.15. Parents/Guardians are to be aware that all belongings are left at your own risk. The Swim Specialist is not responsible for any lost or stolen belongings.

2.16. Parents/Guardians are to refrain from approaching teachers during lesson time unless there is unreasonable doubt for concern or safety.

2.17. Parents/Guardians are to raise any concerns or administrative queries directly to the office.

2.18. Parents/ Guardians must collect their child after the swimming lesson has finished and your child is seated and ready to leave.

2.19. Parents/Guardians are NOT permitted to undress their children on poolside and must do so within the allocated changing rooms provided.

2.20. Parents/ Guardians are encouraged to provide on-going feedback in relation on their child's swimming lesson, and our service delivery via email.

3. Hygiene

3.1.   All swimmers must shower and go to the toilet before they enter the water as this helps to keep the pool clean and maximises their learning time.

3.2.   Do not take any food or drink into the changing rooms or poolside.

3.3.   If your child has verruca’s or warts or any type of foot infections which is contagious or can contaminate the surrounding pool area then they must wear a protective waterproof swimming sock to participate in the swim lesson. If no protective wear is worn they are not allowed to enter the pool area and attend their lesson.

3.4.   If your child is showing signs of a cold or Flu, Please ensure they do not attend lessons.  attending swimming lessons with such illness can decrease recovery time and cause other children and staff to become infected. This will impact on staff sickness and cancellations of swimming lessons. Any viral infections or diseases will strictly void the child's swimming lessons.

3.5.   Shoes must not be worn in hanging areas and pool areas, shoe covers may be provided at locations and parents/guardians must use these if they are sitting poolside/entering the vicinity of the pool area.

3.6.   If there are no pool cover shoes you are obliged to wear flip flops or bare feet. Please inform a member of staff if the shoe cover stock is getting low.

3.7.   If in the event that your child has an accident in the water (sickness, faeces or blood) if unnoticed by the Swim Instructor, please inform them straight away.

3.8.   If the water is contaminated it will require the pool being closed and all persons leaving the swimming pool. Lessons that are affected by this will be replaced by a credit onto your child's account.

3.9.   In the event of contamination, please ensure your child is thoroughly washed and rinsed before entering the changing rooms.

4. Behaviour

4.1.   Our aim is to ensure that parents communicated within The Swim Specialist Swim Academy in a pleasant and courteous manner without causing distress or offence to adults or children. Our expectation is that parents set good examples in front of all members present at The Swim Specialist Swim Academy, demonstrating correct behaviours at all times.

4.2.   Behaviour that is deemed as unacceptable include:

  • Shouting, either in person or over the telephone to staff, other parents or shouting at poolside at your own child or other children.
  • Inappropriate posts on social networking sites deemed as bullying.
  • Speaking in an aggressive/threatening manner.
  • Physically intimidating, e.g standing very close or raising/pointing hands making threatening gestures.
  • Physical threats.
  • Swearing.
  • Shouting.
  • Pushing.
  • Hitting e.g. slapping, punching or kicking.
  • Spitting.
  • Racist, sexist or derogatory comments are forbidden.
  • Any behaviour which may put another individual in a state of alarm or distress.

4.3.   If you have any concerns with behaviour, please address this directly with our admin team in writing so we can take the appropriate actions [email protected]

4.4.   The Swim Specialist / Swim Academy will not tolerate any verbal or physical abuse towards our staff and customers.

4.5.   In the event that any of the above incidents occur, please notify The Swim Specialist / Swim Academy admin office immediately, so that the appropriate action can be taken. If necessary, statements will be taken from all partied involved in the occurrence and The Swim Specialist Swim Academy reserve the right the permanently exclude you from any future lessons/locations that the Swim Specialist provide. In the event that you or your child displays any unacceptable behaviours, The Swim Specialist Swim Academy reserve the right to permanently terminate your child's contract. In extreme situations in which The Swim Specialist Swim Academy is not able to deal with the incident, Police/Safe Guarding/Social Serviced may be contacted.

5. Updates

5.1.   From time to time The Swim Specialist Swim Academy may update these terms by sending you either an updated version or notification of minor changes. You are free to not accept these changed but we would ask you to notify us in writing via email, of your non-acceptance within 14 days of your receipt.

5.2.   If we receive no such contact within the time allocated above, we will be entitled to treat our agreement with you as accepting to our new updated version.

5.3.   The Swim Specialist Academy reserves the right to terminate any live contracts if an agreement is not made.