St Hugh’s Swim School Terms & Conditions

Teaching Policies, Procedures and Parental Responsibilities

1. All St Hugh’s School Swimming Teachers are Swim England/STA qualified and have the relevant DBS checks before they are allowed to teach.
2. Swimming Teachers will take responsibility for pupils during their swimming lessons, but parents/guardians are required to remain nearby (poolside viewing or designated viewing gallery) so that if required the parent / guardian can deal with toilet breaks or any behavioural issues. St Hugh’s School staff will NOT take pupils to the toilet.
3. Parents/guardians must remain on the premises whilst the pupil is attending their swimming lessons. This is imperative in case of the unlikely event of a medical emergency, building evacuation or other emergency situation. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to supervise/watch their child get to and from their teaching station ensuring a prompt pick up at the end of the lesson. Pupils must be collected promptly at the end of the lesson.
4. Parents/guardians must never distract the teacher during a lesson and should direct all communication through the lifeguard staff off pool.
5. Parents/guardians should not to speak with a teacher during the period that lessons are in progress as it is dangerous and will distract the teacher from the supervision of the pupils in their lesson.
6. Pupils can be refused entry to the lesson if they are more than 5 minutes late for a class, as it disrupts the lesson for the other pupils.
7. Swimming hats must be worn during the swimming lessons

Pupil Illness

1. If your child is unwell, we recommend that you do not bring them to their swimming lesson.
2. If your child has been ill with diarrhoea they should not attend their lesson. To protect others, they should not swim for at least a week after it has completely cleared up.

Swimming Lesson Programme

1. The majority of our ‘learn to swim’ programme classes are held over a 30-minute timeslot (some advanced and adult classes might be 45/60) which includes time to take registers and assessments.
2. Pupil to Teacher ratios are developed in line with Swim England Guidelines.
3. St Hugh’s School reserves the right to combine classes at short notice if necessary.

Swimming Lesson Dress Code & Hygiene

1. All children should wear appropriate fitting costumes/trunks and shorts specifically designed for swimming. Baggy costumes/trunks can hamper movement.
2. All children must wear a St Hugh’s Swim School swimming hat which will be issued when they start lessons.
3. No jewellery should be worn during a swimming lesson. Religious or medical bracelets are allowed but should not distract the swimmer from their lesson.
4. The use of goggles is permitted but pupils will be asked to remove them if they are providing a distraction and when performing certain skills (unless there is a medical reason for goggles to be worn). We recommend the use of dioptre corrective goggles for anyone with a visual impairment.
5. All swimmers should shower before their lesson. Please ensure that all hair gel/body lotions etc are removed. This will help to keep the water clean. Make sure your child uses the toilet before the lesson commences. Please ensure your child showers after the lesson.

Pupil Progression

1. All pupils on the ‘learn to swim’ programme work towards the “Swim England Learn to Swim Framework.
2. Swimming Teachers continually assess all pupils’ progression throughout the term.
3. Progression of all pupils will be at the judgment of the swimming teacher and in accordance with the progression within the criteria of the “Swim England Learn to Swim Framework”
4. Pupils will be moved up to the next class when they meet the skills criteria required and if there is adequate room in the next Stage for movement to the next Stage.
5. Upon completion of a Stage, the parent/guardian will be contacted explaining that the child is ready to move up to the next Stage via e-mail/phone.
6. Due to the continuous progressive nature of our programme, and the variety of ability levels within each session, we cannot guarantee a specific time slot on progression, as a space within the next stage may not always be immediately available. Those waiting for spaces will be kept in their current stage until a place becomes available.

Swimming Lesson Payment

1. All fees for swimming lessons must be paid in advance of the lessons.

Changing and Moving Lesson

1. You may request a change of time, day or Swimming Teacher and we will try to accommodate your request, provided a space is available. If you cannot be accommodated at that time your child will be added to the movements list and we will notify you when a space becomes available.
2. Swimming ability and speed of progression will vary depending upon the swimmer.

Pool Closure and Cancelled Swimming Lessons

1. In the event of a pool closure we will make every attempt to contact our customers as soon as possible. Contact will via e-mail/phone.
2. Customers will be provided with a catch-up lesson to replace the missed session. In the event catch up lessons are not available a refund for the missed lesson will be issued.
3. In the event of a planned pool closure the course length will be shortened and fees adjusted accordingly. 
4. St Hugh’s School reserves the right to cancel classes should numbers fall below our minimum numbers per group (50% of class capacity). If this happens you will be offered an alternative lesson of the same level.

Missed Lessons

1. Lesson fees are non-refundable where the pupil has either missed lessons or decided to withdraw from the programme altogether.
2. Lessons run consecutively; the lesson credits will be utilised as each lesson takes place regardless of pupil attendance (with the exception of pool closure/lesson cancellation).
3. In exceptional circumstances management may exercise discretion on refunds or credit notes but this would only be on production of a medical certificate or documentation from a medical centre, hospital or GP.

Changing Teacher

1. We will use reasonable endeavours to provide the same instructor for each lesson within a course. However, relief instructors may be used without prior notification.
2. We reserve the right to appoint a new teacher at any time and may, at times need to provide an alternative teacher for a class or classes due to illness or for any other unforeseen circumstances.
3. In the event a teacher is away for a long period of time we will try to keep the same cover teacher for the time period where possible.
4. If a teacher is absent, the centre reserves the right to join classes together if considered appropriate and safe according to Swim England guidelines. We would always try to put a replacement teacher in place immediately however, if this is not manageable, we would put the classes together in order to avoid the cancellation. This would be an extremely rare occurrence as additional teacher are usually available to cover any such eventualities.

Communication

1. We like to encourage communication and welcome issues to be raised with our staff.
2. The lifeguard staff off pool will be the people to resolve any poolside issues. Any problems or issues should be conveyed through them.
3. Questions regarding the progression of pupils should be directed towards the lifeguard staff off pool that will be able to pass on the message to the relevant member of staff, who will then contact you to discuss the pupil.
4. All parents/guardians are required to supply us with a valid e-mail address for quick communication purposes. This is essential so that we can inform you when your child is ready to move up a Stage of lessons or for any cancellations.

Viewing

1. Parents/guardians may view on poolside but must sit in the pool viewing area.  Alternatively viewing of the lessons can take place in the pool gallery upstairs.
2. We do ask that all spectators who remain in the seating area on poolside prevent any unnecessary distractions for the teachers and remove any outside footwear before entering poolside.
3. It is difficult for the teaching staff to gain full attention from their pupils if they are being distracted; progress can be affected if children are not fully able to concentrate.
4. No photography or filming is permitted on poolside or in the changing area without the prior approval from the School Management.

Behaviour & conduct

1. Parents accept that their child is under the supervision, control and care of the Swimming Teacher, during the lesson period. Should the behaviour of the child be unsatisfactory, and the class is being disrupted, the Swimming Teacher has the right to remove the pupil from the class.
2. The teacher may employ reasonable measures as are necessary to maintain the smooth delivery of the class. We reserve the right to request that your child should be removed from classes should they persistently disrupt or are seen to be putting themselves or anyone else at risk during the class. If a child is removed under these circumstances and suitable alternatives arrangements cannot be made, no refund will be provided.
3. If a swim school pupil causes the cancellation of a swim school session or individual class, we reserve the right to apply a penalty for loss of income for this activity. This will be administered and applied at the School management discretion.

Changing Facilities and Usage

1. Parents/guardians may help their children get changed where their child is in Year 2 or below.  The changing rooms of the adult’s gender should be used.  For example, if you have a daughter in year 1 and you are a Father helping with changing you should use the boys changing rooms.
2. Children in Year 3 and over should be encouraged to change by themselves in the relevant gender changing rooms.  Each changing room has a large cubicle style area for children without adult changing supervision to use.
3. NO adults are allowed in the large cubicle style changing facilities within each boys and girls changing room.  These cubicles are for children only to use when changing.

Changes to Terms and Conditions – St Hugh’s School reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions.  Reasonable notice will be provided to any changes and customers will be made aware of any changes.

St Hugh’s Swim School Terms & Conditions 2022