Download the swimming pool Admission Policy Download the Pool Admissions - Child Swimming Capability Assessment Form

We want everyone that visits our fitness and leisure facilities to feel safe.

Please familiarise yourself with our admissions policy and relevant pool admissions – child swimming capability assessment form before visiting one of our pool locations.

Supervision Levels

• All children under the age of 8 years must be accompanied in the water and changing rooms by a responsible person aged 16 years or over.
• The responsible person must be in the water with the children. Whilst in the pool the responsible person should maintain a constant watch over the children for whom they are responsible for and be in close contact with children who are weak or non-swimmers.
• Parents who are supervising children must themselves determine that they have the required competencies to undertake this task.

In the interests of safety the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport & Physical Activity (CIMSPA) recommends that:

• As a starting point, the ratio of parent supervision for all children under eight should be 1:2.
• This ratio may be increased subject to the pool and its features (teaching pool, shallow water pools, use of approved swimming aids etc.), but should never be more than 1:3.
• Circumstances (busy sessions, fun and floats etc.) may even require a 1:1 ratio.

In recognition of the fact that such supervision ratios may prove difficult for some; an individual Pool Admissions - Child Swimming Capability Assessment Form will be undertaken by the Centre’s Duty Officer. Admission to the Pool will depend upon the outcome of the capability assessment form and may therefore vary depending on the specific circumstances and conditions at the time.

Appropriate Clothing

Suitable swimming attire should be worn at all times whilst using the pool. Suitable swimming attire is defined as:

• Swimming Costume or Bikini
• Swimming Trunks or Shorts
• Hijood / Burqini or specifically designed modesty swim wear compatible with cultural or faith requirements.

The wearing of below the knee shorts, denim shorts or thongs is not permitted.

Under normal circumstances the wearing of T-shirts will not be permitted. Customers who wish to wear alternative clothing due to cultural, faith, disability or other specific reason should speak with the Duty officer in the first instance. If agreed the Duty Officer will explain the precautions to be taken for your personal safety.

Programmed Sessions

In order to enable as many people to swim as possible and to encourage participation by certain groups a number of targeted sessions are included within the pool programme:

• Family Swim – Adults must be accompanied by a child under 16 / children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
• Women Only – Women aged 16 and over
• Junior Lessons – Children aged 3 years -15 years
• Adult Lessons – Adults aged 16 and over.

Any variations to the above will be subject to the discretion of the Duty Officer.

Please refer to pool programmes for additional information relating to available activities.

Loaning of Equipment

Under normal circumstances we do not loan armbands, rubber rings or other inflatable flotation devices. Customers can however bring their own suitable equipment or purchase equipment from reception.

If, following a risk assessment, it is identified that issuing armbands to a weak swimmer under the supervision of a parent would reduce the risk of drowning then, providing the parent agrees to supervise the child and check the armbands before and during use then armbands may be loaned.

Floats and other none inflatable swimming aids such as woggles may be loaned at the discretion of the pool staff /Duty Officer. The decision to loan equipment should take into account the reason for the request and the circumstances including type of session and number of bathers in the pool.

The Council is required under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made to enable disabled users to access services. The loaning of such equipment should be seen as a reasonable adjustment.

The use of equipment such as flippers, snorkels, mermaid tails, weights or hand paddles is not permitted within 'Public Swimming Sessions' as they may represent a danger to users or others, they can however be used in specialist programmed sessions under the supervision of an instructor.

Swim training ‘centre’ snorkels, hand paddles (roughly the size of the swimmer’s hand or slightly larger,) pull buoys, kickboards and short swim fins are permitted in lane swimming sessions where the risk to other swimmers is reduced as all swimmers are swimming in the same direction. These aids can also be used in specialist programmed sessions under the supervision of an instructor.

The use of facemasks covering the nose is not permitted within 'Public Swimming Sessions' as there is in increased risk of not recovering from choking / coughing. They can however be used in specialist programmed sessions under the supervision of an instructor.

General

Customers who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or any other substance will not be admitted to the swimming pool.

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