Class Procedures 

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By booking or attending swimming lessons with SwimVibe you, the customer/parent/guardian, understand and accept these terms and conditions. SwimVibe reserves the right to vary these terms and conditions at any time.

VENUES AND ACCESSIBILITY

Free parking is available. Parking is at your own risk. SwimVibe do not accept any liability for your vehicle or your personal possessions.

Classes are held at Graeme High School (Callendar Rd, Falkirk, FK1 1SY) Please use the rear staff/sports entrance.

Please follow the signs to the pool.

Please be reminded that we are guests at these schools and request that facilities are treated as such. Please note that when on their premises, the school’s rules and regulations apply.

Please arrive in sufficient time to allow the class to begin as scheduled (5 minutes is adequate).

CHANGING FACILITIES

There are two communal changing rooms with toilet facilities.

School changing room policy:

 

Adults should be in the correct gender specific changing rooms for themselves, children aged 8 and under can be in either, but ages 9 and above should be in the correct changing room for their gender. If a child aged 9 and above still requires parental assistance, please request a pop up tent on poolside.

Outdoor shoes to be removed and left outside the changing rooms. We recommend bringing indoor shoes for hygiene purposes and to avoid slipping.

Please wait in the changing room until the start of lesson to avoid congestion on poolside. Once swimmer has finished their lesson, please move into the changing rooms to shower, dry and change, and to consider those parents wanting to watch their children swim.

Please leave the pool, social areas and changing rooms as you would like to find them.

Please do not leave any litter on the property, in the swimming pool area, toilet or changing rooms. There are bins provided.

No food or drink to be taken into the pool area or changing rooms please.

Swimmers should not eat a large meal for at least an hour before swimming lessons. A drink and light snack are recommended after the lesson, on leaving the premises.

Lessons start promptly on the hour and half hour so please ensure your child has been to the toilet, showered and is ready to swim with caps and goggles in place at the start of their class.

Please ensure swimmers shower before their lesson to keep our swimming pool free from contamination.

SwimVibe will not be liable for any loss, damage or injury whilst on pool premises. Any personal belongings are left at the owners’ risk.

We use two whistles to let teachers know when lessons are coming to an end. The first whistle will be blown 5 minutes before the end of the current class and swimmers for the next class will make their way to the pool entrance from the changing rooms where the coordinator will allow them access into the pool area and registration will be taken.

Adults will immediately exit the changing rooms and make their way around to the pool entrance off the social area where they will be allowed access onto poolside to spectate once the adults from the previous classes have exited the pool area with their swimmers into the changing rooms.

On the second whistle, spectating adults and swimmers exiting the pool will move to the changing rooms.
Showers are available, please allow time for other swimmers to use the showers.

Please change and exit promptly via the changing rooms within 10 minutes, to allow the coordinator time to sweep away excess water and to ensure changing rooms are left clean and tidy before the next swimmers arrive. Please do not use talcum powder in the changing rooms. Using soaps, gels, shampoos and conditioners can contribute to slippy floors. Please take care when in the showers and be courteous and rinse away soaps after your shower. SwimVibe will not be liable for any slips, trips or injury in the changing rooms and showers. Parents and guardians will be fully responsible for ensuring the safety of their child in the changing rooms, showers and school premises.

Last classes of the day. You may see the pool coordinator packing-up equipment during the last lesson of the day as SwimVibe has only 15 minutes after the end of the class to vacate the building and to leave the pool area clean and tidy. Please ensure you exit the changing rooms within 10-12 minutes from the end of the class.

SWIMWEAR

For safeguarding and hygiene reasons we must request that all swimmers wear the appropriate swimwear. Please dress girls in full swimming costumes and boys in well-fitting swimming costume or shorts. Children arriving to lessons in underwear may be turned away from their lesson.

Children who are still undergoing toilet training must wear swimming nappy/pants. SwimVibe reserves the right to refuse entry into the pool without the appropriate swimwear. Please note we have to close the pool for 24 hours if your child has an accident.

Goggles to be adjusted and ready to wear. If swimmer cannot put their own goggles on, they should be placed on head ready to pull down over eyes.

Hair to be tied back away from face and eyes or swimming cap worn.

Due to the risk of water contamination, please ensure swimmers are not wearing any makeup, cosmetic products including sun creams and oils.

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

Jewellery and watches can be a hazard and should not be worn during swimming.

SWIMMING LESSONS

Make your way to the seating area. Spectators should ensure they do not distract swimmers and teachers - noise and movement should be kept to a minimum. Siblings awaiting lessons should be kept occupied.

SwimVibe will be responsible for swimmers during their swimming lessons and parents/ guardians are responsible at all other times. The swimming lesson begins when the Swimming Coordinator accepts charge of the swimmer and ends when the lesson finishes.

We try to have strict control of all classes to ensure that every precaution is taken to keep your child safe. Should your swimmer misbehave or disrupt a lesson we will give them a verbal warning. Should they persist with bad behaviour, they may be requested to sit outside of the pool or even leave the pool area. Please explain that this is a time to learn and not misbehave.

Swimmers may not run around the pool, surround, nor enter the water before or after their lesson without the instructor's permission.

For our adult and child classes we ask that one adult must enter the water with each child. That adult is exclusively responsible for the safety of the swimmer both in the pool, changing rooms and the surrounding areas.

Avoid feeding swimmer too close to your lesson time.

Only enter the pool when told to do so by the teacher. Never enter the pool if the teacher is not on poolside.

Teachers will be in the pool with beginner swimmers and with other classes where deemed necessary by the teacher.

There are platforms in the pool for younger swimmers who cannot touch the pool floor.

Please bring a dry towel or poncho for after the lesson.

Qualifications and PVG disclosures are available to view on request.

OBSERVING SWIMMING LESSONS

Please note NO outdoor shoes are to be worn in the changing rooms or pool area. We suggest bringing non-slip rubber-soled indoor shoes to wear as we will no longer be supplying blue shoe covers as this plastic is not recyclable.

Only one adult per child on poolside to view classes.

One parents/guardian per swimmer is very welcome to sit on poolside, however we ask when observing a swimming lesson please do so quietly and show consideration to others. It is imperative that noise is kept to a minimum so that those in the pool can hear the teachers and so staff can maintain the safest possible environment.

Any siblings that are on poolside and not taking part in a lesson must always be supervised by an adult. Please ensure siblings remain seated and entertained otherwise should go out to the main corridor.

A parent/guardian should be available to take younger swimmers to the toilet during a lesson.

We request parents remain close by whilst the swimmer is in their lesson. This is imperative in case of the unlikely event of a medical emergency, building evacuation or other emergency situation.

All parents/guardians are encouraged to supply us with a mobile telephone number for quick communication purposes.

Please take care when walking on poolside or around the shower and changing areas as they can become slippery when wet.

We know that children love their parents/carers to watch them during their lessons to acknowledge what they are doing. Please be aware and present with your children during their lessons as it is supports and encourages them.

PROGRESSION

Swimmers are placed into appropriate ability levels allowing all swimming skills to be covered progressively each week.

We follow a specific program which is incorporated into the lesson plans to ensure all skills and strokes are taught.

Swimmer progression is monitored and assessed continually throughout the lessons.

Swimmers will progress through the levels in their current class and time slots where possible.

SwimVibe reserves the right to move swimmers to different classes or time slots to ensure they are in an appropriate ability group thus ensuring continued progress for all the swimmers.

All our levels incorporate water safety and survival skills appropriate to class level of ability.

Parents may sit on poolside so you can see swimmers and they can see you; you can give a smile for support and a thumbs up for encouragement and recognition of a skill achieved.

Please bear in mind, no two children are at the same level and each child has different strengths in different strokes and skills.

Remember, we only swim for 30 minutes once a week and the number of lessons attended will affect progression!

 

Completed skills and strokes will be updated on the customer portal in June and in December of each year.

SICKNESS, ILLNESS, MEDICAL AND LEARNING ISSUES

We would appreciate it if you could notify us of any absences via the customer portal.

Please do not attend swimming if you, or your swimmer, have been unwell with sickness or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours.

If your child has any illness that is contagious, in fairness to other swimmers, please do not allow them into the swimming pool.

If your child has Chicken Pox, they will not be able to swim until all spots have healed and any scabs have disappeared. Besides possible scarring, it is not hygienic to have scabs floating about.

To ensure that all swimmers are given the best opportunity to succeed, and, to keep them safe we ask that you inform us of any medical conditions or difficulties your child is experiencing at home, school, etc. as their emotional state of mind also affects their swimming performance and progress. This information should be recorded on registration and will be kept confidential.

AUTOMATIC RE-ENROLMENTS AND PAYMENTS

To give existing SwimVibe swimmers priority for lessons each term, we use an automatic re-booking system.

This means enrolment is continuous and swimmers are automatically re-enrolled into the next term of lessons to continue swimming in their current time slots, unless you inform us prior to the end of term that you either wish to change day or time, or alternatively that you wish to stop altogether or otherwise notified by SwimVibe.

Please note that swimmers progress through the levels in their current time slots, therefore we cannot guarantee or advise if or when spaces in other time slots will open up.

We will add you to our waiting list and priority is given to existing swimmers for alternate times.

New enrolments can join a class at any time where place is available.

Payments

Swimming Fees are charged per school term and the amount will reflect the number of lessons per term. If a term includes 10 weeks or more, invoices will be split into two payments.

Swimmers can join at any time during a term and fees will be charged pro rata.

£14 per swimmer per 30-minute lesson.

£14 once-off administration fee on enrolment, includes a swimming cap.

Payment is due in advance, either in one instalment or can be split per school term (due in advance on the first lesson of each month).

Payment Methods:

CASH (EXACT AMOUNT in marked envelope please with remittance slip) and handed to the Swim coordinator at the pool.

BANK TRANSFER (SwimVibe Ltd Account #12265761, sort code 80-22-60 (ref: swimmer name)

Payment must be received one week prior to the first lesson of each term/month to secure your place or advise if paying cash at first lesson. If the term is being paid for by someone other than yourself, you are responsible for informing that person of our payment policies, deadlines etc., and relaying any communication with regards to re-booking or payments of any sort.

As a requirement of our insurance policy, anyone who has not paid for their block of lessons or had a payment returned as unpaid will be unable to participate in their lessons until the term fee has been paid in full.

LESSON CANCELLATIONS, NOTICE AND REFUNDS

Swim School Cancellations

Please be aware that management at Graeme High school may cause swimming classes to be cancelled at short notice due to school events taking place. Unfortunately, we have no control over these events or notice periods but will inform customers as soon as we have been notified.

In the event of a cancelled lesson we will endeavour to contact our customers as soon as possible via the Customer portal, by email and text. Please note, however, we cannot guarantee that this will happen—especially if a closure is decided at short notice. In the case of extended closure, we will keep you informed of when lessons will be recommencing.

Please ensure your contact details are up to date.

In the event of a pool closure or cancelled class, a credit will be given in lieu of future payment for the following month/term.

If, after the first lesson, this class is not suitable and no other places are available, a full refund less one class (or more if attended) and enrolment fee of £14 will be given.

Customer Cancellations

Missed lessons cannot be refunded or transferred in any circumstances.

Unfortunately, due to the increasing number of swimmers we have and the full classes, it is impossible to manage even if we are notified in advance of absenteeism’s. We have also found it to be disruptive for the teachers and existing swimmers to adapt to a new swimmer for a once off lesson, especially for our younger swimmers who need a more consistent, structured and familiar class and environment.

We appreciate there may be medical or personal reasons as to why you cannot attend one or multiple lessons. However, as we are a small business and only have four swimmers in a class, we do need to cover all our expenses for each class and as such, we do need to charge the full class rate to keep your place. If you would prefer to give up your place, we can advise on class availability at the time you are ready to return but cannot guarantee availability.

Two week’s written notice is required to terminate your child’s swimming classes.

If a swimmer does not attend their lesson and payment is not received by the payment dates stipulated on the invoices, the lesson will be allocated to a new swimmer.

If you wish to discontinue lessons, we would appreciate you letting us know, so your place can be offered to another swimmer.

In accordance with the Consumer Contracts Regulations, anyone booking lessons for the first time is entitled to a 14-day cooling off period. The 14-day cooling off period commences from the date of payment. People wishing to exercise their right to this must contact us in writing within 14 days of purchase. Refunds will be made back as per the original payment method.

Should lessons have already commenced, the cost of any lessons taken within that period will be deducted from the amount refunded. We ask therefore that you ensure your child is ready for lessons before booking them in. After this period, we cannot offer refunds or credit notes if you are unable to attend lessons.

PRICING POLICY

At SwimVibe we are committed to providing the best value for money. We will constantly monitor other local private swim schools’ prices to remain competitive.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Please note no photography or filming is permitted on poolside without prior consent.

Photos at the end of the class of just your child may be permitted but prior permission must be obtained from SwimVibe.

Photos and videos may be taken for promotional purposes for SwimVibe.

We will always check with the rest of the class before allowing any photography and photo consent must be indicated at registration.

SwimVibe would encourage all users to report any suspicious activity to a member of staff as soon as they can.

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY

SwimVibe will always abide by its Normal Operating Procedures and the Emergency Action Plan. We continuously review, revise, and update our risk assessments.

In the event of an emergency all swimmers and spectators will immediately stop what they are doing and wait for further instructions.

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.

A member of staff will take charge once the swimmers have left the water.

Evacuation will take place through the Emergency exits leading outside directly from the pool area.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Behaviour that is perceived as threatening or abusive towards a member of our staff or member of the public will not be tolerated. Anyone breaking this rule may be asked to leave and not return. Anybody requested to not return will not receive a refund.

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COMMENTS, FEEDBACK AND GETTING IN TOUCH

SwimVibe welcomes your feedback and suggestions for improvement to our services, or to discuss any issues you have about your child’s swimming. To avoid disruption to lessons, please get in touch with us by emailing us at tanya@swimvibe.co.uk, our website www.swimvibe.co.uk or via the customer portal. Alternatively you can find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SwimVibe/
 

We hope that you and your child will enjoy learning to swim with us!