We want you to know about the changes we’ve made to swimming lessons at the RUH hydrotherapy pool so that you can make an informed decision about booking swimming lessons with us.
All current Government Social Distancing and Public Health England guidelines must be followed at all times by everyone using and entering our facilities. Everyone over the age of 11 must wear a face covering.
Please shower and use the toilet before you visit the pool. Please come with costume underneath clothes, showered and ‘beach ready’.
Illness and self-isolation:
Anyone feeling ill or showing signs or any symptoms of Covid-19 or any other illness should not attend the facility and follow NHS guidance. Before your first lesson, you will be asked to sign a COVID-19 health statement. This will be sent to the account holder to complete on behalf of their family.
We are under no obligation to refund or transfer your money in the event that you are unable to attend part of or the entire course. We regret that we are unable to offer an alternative for missed lessons. Unfortunately, what seems like one simple request is an impractical administrative task when spread across hundreds of clients.
If a pool cannot be used or if we cannot find a replacement teacher in the short term, we will endeavour, where possible, to re-schedule your lesson. In this instance we are not responsible for any travel expenses incurred. In the event of our having to cancel a lesson we will credit your account or if you prefer, provide you with a refund for that lesson.
Communication:
All communication must be done over the telephone or email. We are unable to speak to parents at the facility unless it is an emergency. This is to avoid unnecessary interaction and to ensure the safety of all.
Arrive on time – you may not be able to enter if you arrive late.
When you arrive, there is a hand sanitizing station by the entrance lobby and masks available. Adults please always wear masks indoors (children under 11 years are exempt).
Only one adult to accompany each swimmer inside the premises to reduce the number of people in the building. No siblings unless they are also having a lesson.
Swimmers must queue in their group (by socially distanced markers) outside the entrance to hydrotherapy and wait for the teacher to let them in.
Please arrive on time for your lesson. Water safety is paramount, and this door is kept locked during lessons. You may not be able to enter if you arrive late for the start of your class.
Be dressed ready to swim:
Swimmers to arrive no more than five minutes before the start of class and be “ready to swim” under a toweling robe or onesie.
On entry to the hydro reception area, remove your shoes (slip on shoes / flip-flops please!) and carry all your belongings to your cubicle.
We staggered our lesson times and designated areas for swimmers and their parents in the changing cubicles to allow for everyone to social distance.
Keep your belongings in your cubicle and in the care of a parent/guardian.
If swim hat and googles are needed, swimmers must have them properly fitted before they attend class and must be completely ready to swim. Parents / guardians must fit all non-swimmers with armbands (provided).
If a child needs hair adjusting / nose blowing / toilet visit or anything else! We will ask them to go back to their parent/guardian in the cubicle.
Safety Notices and Cleaning:
We will provide clear notices around the facility to remind everyone of Government advice and our cleaning of the premises and equipment will adhere to Swim England / STA and Public Health England guidance.
There is a break of 15 minutes between every session to allow time to clean all areas before the next class. Once the venue has been cleaned and ready to use again, your teacher will let you into reception.
Parents are not permitted on poolside. If you wish to view the swimmers, please look through the window, please ensure you wipe the areas you’ve been in contact with, using the disinfectant wipes provided.
Hand sanitizer and masks are available. If you choose to view the swimmers through the window, please ensure you wipe the areas you’ve been in contact with, using the disinfectant wipes provided.
Our Teachers will be teaching from the poolside to maintain social distancing at all times.
Non Swimmers: If you wish, one parent may accompany their non-swimmer into the water, they will only assist their own non-swimmer and will have plenty of room in the pool to ensure social distancing is maintained. It is our intention that parent support is for a limited-time only and we want to get the children swimming independently as soon as possible. Your teacher may discuss this with you in more depth.
Our swimmers have not practiced in a long while and we expect them to be nervous and rusty. Your teacher may choose to give swimmers extra floatation devices if they see fit. This is for their own safety during the lesson.
During swimming lessons:
We will ensure that our swimmers have plenty of room and will meet all Swim England/STA and Government guidelines with regards to required space to swim.
Number of bathers in the pool will be based on Swim England/STA and Government guidelines and will be continually reviewed.
The aim is to avoid people congregating in any area. If you wish to see how your child is getting on, please look through the window into the pool area and take it in turns to view. Once you are done, please use the disinfectant wipes to clean the viewing area ready for the next person.
Siblings
Siblings are considered to be in the same ‘social bubble’. Any siblings who have swimming lessons may wait with their parent/guardian in the cubicle until it is their turn to swim.
If your sibling is likely to want to escape from the cubicle in a bid for freedom, you must let your teacher know that you are leaving. If it is possible to let us know in advance, please contact Lisa (01225 800212 or email [email protected]) to let her know that you intend to take your sibling to the café while your swimmer is having their lesson.
DO NOT leave the site for any reason. We may need to contact you in an emergency. Please return in good time to help change your swimmer. Your teacher will let you back in once all the children are safely off poolside and in their changing cubicles.
At the end of the class
All swimmers will use their allotted changing cubicles to towel dry and get dressed.
Do not use the showers. They are all out of action. Please shower at home.
The toilet at the end of the changing corridor is available for use.
Parents and swimmers must endeavor to leave the premises within five/ten minutes after class.
Once ready to leave, put on your shoes and exit along the left-hand side of the corridor, follow the one-way system.
Siblings please leave the changing cubicle after the first lesson – there is a 15-minute gap between each session because the teachers need to disinfect the area. You are welcome to queue for the next session in the corridor.
Other rules to remind you of:
Prams & Pushchairs:Must be left in the covered, colonnaded area outside the hydro building. Please do not bring them into the building. We are not responsible for left or lost property.
No Food: No Food is to be brought onto the premises at any time. This is important because we have a swimmer with a food allergy, plus it takes ages cleaning up all the crumbs!
No Running Parents please do not let your children run around anywhere in the building, the changing rooms and toilet areas will be wet and can be slippery. You are responsible for your children and you must stay with them at all times, before and after class to ensure their safety and to ensure they follow social distancing guidelines.
Photography / Filming: No photography or Filming at any time. We use a professional photographer with DBS for our publicity photos and videos. We will inform you if a photographer is due to visit and you are welcome to their images of your swimmers. If you DO NOT wish your swimmer/s to be photographed, please select ‘NO’ to the Photography Consent section on your Swimcentral account.
Locked Doors: Locked doors are locked for a reason – Safety. Please do not force open, it sets all the alarms off.
Talcum Powder: Please do not bring talcum powder onto the premises. When it gets wet, it is incredibly slippery and very difficult to clean up.
Toilets: please go to the toilet before you come swimming. There is one toilet available. Parents must always accompany their children to the toilet and ensure it is left flushed and clean for the next user. Cleaning wipes are provided and please ensure social distancing is always maintained.
Have you seen our health and safety video?
If you’re unsure of what to do, please take a look at our walkthrough video below.
Questions, queries about your first swimming lesson back?
Please call 01225 800212 or email us: [email protected]
