Saturday Seals wants you and your child to enjoy and make the most of our lessons. To ensure you know your rights and responsibilities when using our swimming lessons it is important that you read and understand this Agreement. 

1. Teaching policies, procedures and parental responsibilities 

1.1. Swimming Teachers will all hold recognised swimming teaching qualifications. 

1.2 Swimming Teachers will take responsibility for pupils during their swimming lessons, but any parents/guardians are required to remain nearby (in the designated viewing gallery) so that if required the parent/guardian can deal with toilet breaks or any behavioural issues. 

1.3 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. 

1.4 Parents/guardians must never distract the teacher during a lesson and should direct all communication through the managers Lynne or Sarah. Parents/guardians should not 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. 

2. Pupil illness 

2.1 If your child is unwell, we recommend that you do not bring them to their swimming lesson. 

2.2 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. 

3. Swimming lesson programme 

3.1 The majority of our Swim classes are held over a 30-minute timeslot, however our length sessions can run up to 1 hour. This includes time to take registers and assessments. 

3.2 Pupil to Teacher ratios are developed in line with Swimminng Teachers Association guidelines 

3.3 Saturday Seals reserves the right to combine classes at short notice if necessary. 

4. Swimming lesson dress code and hygiene 

4.1 All children should wear appropriate fitting costumes/trunks and shorts specifically designed for swimming. Baggy costumes/trunks can hamper movement.  

4.2 No jewellery should be worn during a swimming lesson. Religious or medical bracelets are allowed but should not distract the swimmer from their lesson. 

4.3 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. 

4.4 All swimmers should shower before their lesson. Please ensure that all hair gel/body lotions 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. 

5. Pupil progression 

5.1 All pupils on the will follow Swimming Teachers Association Learn to Swim framework. 

5.2 Swimming Teachers continually assess all pupils’ progression throughout the term. 

5.3 Progression of all pupils will be at the judgment of the swimming teacher and in accordance with the progression within the criteria of the “Swimming Teachers Association framework 

5.4 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 the movement to take place. 

5.5 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, and will be working on developing skills appropriate to the new stage. 

6. Swimming lesson payment 

6.1 All fees for Saturday Seals must be paid in full within 3 weeks of the course starting. Current fees can be viewed on the child swimming lessons or adult swimming. For questions about the fees, please email sarah.cherry39@gmail.com  

7. Changing and moving lesson 

7.1 You may request a change of time, day or Swimming Teacher and we will try to 

accommodate your request, provided space is available.  

7.2 Swimming ability and speed of progression will vary depending upon the swimmer. 

8. Pool closure and cancelled swimming lessons 

8.1 In the event of a pool closure we will make every attempt to contact our customers as soon as possible. Contact will be via email or phone. 

8.2 In the event of an unexpected pool closure, customers will be offered an additional lesson. 

9. Missed lessons 

9.1 Lesson fees are non-refundable where the pupil has either missed lessons or decided to withdraw from the programme altogether. 

9.2 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. 

10. Changing teacher 

10.1 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. 

10.2 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. 

10.3 In the event a teacher is away for a long period of time we will try to keep the same teacher for the duration of the absence where possible. 

10.4 If a teacher is absent, the club reserves the right to join classes together if considered appropriate and safe according to swimming Teachers Association 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 cancellation.   

11. Communication 

11.1 We like to encourage communication and welcome issues to be raised with our staff. 

11.2 The managers Lynne and Sarah will be the people to resolve any poolside issues, and where needed will utilise Sport Centre staff. Any problems or issues should be conveyed through them.  

11.3 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 to the next stage of lessons or for any cancellations. 

12. Viewing 

12.1 Parents/guardians are not permitted on the poolside except in exceptional circumstances but must sit in the pool viewing areas. Parents must not interfere with the lessons or distract the swimming teachers. 

12.2 We do ask that all spectators remain in the seating area in order to prevent any unnecessary distractions for the teachers and make every effort to ensure that all footwear is clean. 

12.3 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. 

12.4 No photography or filming is permitted on poolside or in the changing area  

13. Behaviour and conduct 

13.1 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. 

13.2 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 alternative arrangements cannot be made, no refund will be provided.  

14. Liability 

14.1 Saturday Seals liability pursuant to these terms and conditions is limited, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to the fees paid by the user. The club does not accept liability for loss or damage to personal belongings brought into the swimming pool facility.