Policies
Edge Swim School
Edge Swim School is committed to providing a safe environment in which children can participate in swimming lessons.
Our lessons take place within swimming-pool facilities and are delivered by appropriately qualified swimming teachers. Health and safety is considered throughout the planning and delivery of every lesson.
Supervision
Children are supervised by their swimming teacher throughout their 30-minute swimming lesson.
Staffing and supervision arrangements are determined according to the number, ages, swimming abilities and individual needs of the children attending, together with the nature of the lesson and the risks associated with the activity.
Parents and carers remain at the swimming facility throughout the lesson and are responsible for their child before and after the lesson and whenever the child is not under the direct guidance of the swimming teacher.
Swimming lesson safety
Swimming teachers will ensure that activities and exercises are appropriate to the children’s swimming abilities and are delivered in a safe and controlled manner.
Teachers may adapt, restrict or stop an activity or lesson where they consider that continuing would present an unacceptable risk.
Children are expected to follow the instructions of their swimming teacher at all times.
Parent and carer responsibilities
Parents and carers are responsible for:
- Remaining at the swimming facility throughout their child’s lesson.
- Ensuring their child arrives on time and is ready to participate.
- Informing Edge Swim School of any medical condition, injury, allergy or other relevant information that may affect their child’s participation.
- Ensuring their child follows the swimming facility’s rules.
- Supervising their child before and after their swimming lesson.
- Ensuring children waiting for a lesson remain settled and do not run or play on poolside.
Poolside behaviour
Running, pushing, inappropriate behaviour or behaviour that could place a child or another person at risk is not permitted.
Parents and carers are asked not to interrupt swimming lessons, as this can distract or unsettle children and affect their concentration.
Accidents and emergencies
Any accident, injury or significant incident occurring during an Edge Swim School lesson will be dealt with appropriately.
Where necessary, first aid or emergency assistance will be sought and parents or carers will be informed.
In an emergency, Edge Swim School staff will follow the emergency procedures of the swimming facility.
Risk assessment
Edge Swim School considers the risks associated with swimming instruction, the pool environment, equipment and individual swimmers.
Appropriate measures will be taken to reduce identified risks.
Facilities
Parents, carers and swimmers must follow the rules and procedures of the swimming facility, including requirements relating to changing rooms, poolside access, footwear, hygiene, parking and emergency procedures.
Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary.
Edge Swim School
Edge Swim School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child who attends our swimming lessons.
The safety and wellbeing of children is our highest priority. We aim to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment in which children can enjoy learning to swim and develop confidence in the water.
Our role
Edge Swim School provides swimming instruction and does not provide childcare.
Children are supervised by their Edge swimming teacher during their 30-minute swimming lesson. Parents or carers remain responsible for their child before and after the lesson and are expected to remain at the swimming facility throughout the session.
Parents and carers must ensure that their child follows the instructions of the swimming teacher and the rules of the swimming facility.
Professional conduct
All Edge Swim School staff are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with children at all times.
Staff must:
- Treat every child with dignity, respect and fairness.
- Use appropriate language and behaviour.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Never use threatening, humiliating or inappropriate behaviour towards a child.
- Never engage in conduct that could place a child at risk.
- Report any safeguarding concern through the appropriate procedures.
Safeguarding concerns
All staff have a responsibility to remain alert to signs that a child may be experiencing abuse, neglect or other harm.
Any safeguarding concern will be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.
Where a concern is identified, Edge Swim School will follow its safeguarding procedures and, where necessary, refer the matter to the appropriate safeguarding authority.
If there is an immediate concern regarding a child’s safety, appropriate emergency action will be taken.
Physical contact
Swimming instruction may require appropriate physical contact to teach, support or assist a child safely in the water.
Any physical contact will be appropriate, proportionate and related to the child’s swimming instruction or immediate safety.
Parents and carers
Parents and carers are encouraged to speak to the swimming teacher or Edge Swim School management if they have any concerns regarding the welfare or safety of their child.
All concerns will be treated seriously and sensitively.
Photography and recording
Photography and video recording are not permitted anywhere within the swimming facility. This includes poolside, changing rooms, toilets, reception and other areas of the building.
This applies to adults and children and includes mobile phones and other smart devices.
Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary.
Edge Swim School
The health and wellbeing of all swimmers is a priority at Edge Swim School.
Parents and carers should not bring a child to a swimming lesson if they are unwell or have an illness or condition that makes swimming inappropriate or could present a risk to the child or others.
Our detailed guidance on illness, swimming with health conditions and when not to swim is provided within our Parental Information and FAQ pages.
Medical information
Parents and carers must inform Edge Swim School of any medical condition, allergy, injury, additional need or other relevant health information that may affect their child’s ability to participate safely.
Parents are responsible for providing accurate and up-to-date information and informing Edge Swim School if circumstances change.
During a lesson
If a child becomes unwell, injured or otherwise unable to safely continue during a swimming lesson, the swimming teacher will take appropriate action.
This may include:
- Stopping the child’s participation.
- Providing appropriate first aid within the teacher’s level of training.
- Seeking assistance from the swimming facility.
- Contacting the child’s parent or carer.
- Contacting the emergency services where necessary.
Accidents and incidents
Any significant accident, injury or incident occurring during an Edge Swim School lesson will be recorded appropriately.
Parents or carers will be informed of any significant accident or injury involving their child.
First aid
First aid will be provided in accordance with the training and competence of the staff member involved and the procedures of the swimming facility.
Where a situation requires medical attention beyond the level of first aid available, appropriate medical assistance will be sought.
Medical emergencies
In the event of a serious medical emergency, the emergency services will be contacted where appropriate.
Parents or carers will be contacted as soon as reasonably practicable.
Parents and carers
Parents and carers remain responsible for their child’s medical needs and should remain available at the swimming facility throughout the lesson.
Any emergency medication required by a child should be brought by the parent or carer and remain readily accessible to them.
Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary.
Edge Swim School
Edge Swim School recognises that some children may have medical conditions or require medication.
As Edge Swim School provides swimming instruction rather than childcare, parents and carers remain responsible for the management and administration of their child’s medication.
Administration of medication
Parents and carers are responsible for administering any medication their child requires.
Edge Swim School staff do not routinely administer, store or manage medication on behalf of children attending swimming lessons.
Parents and carers should ensure that any medication their child may require during their lesson is with them and readily accessible.
Medical information
Parents and carers must inform Edge Swim School of any medical condition or medication that may affect their child’s ability to participate safely in swimming lessons.
This information should be kept up to date and Edge Swim School should be informed of any relevant changes.
Emergency medication
Where a child has prescribed emergency medication, such as a reliever inhaler or adrenaline auto-injector, the parent or carer should have the medication with them throughout the lesson and ensure it is readily accessible.
Parents and carers should make the swimming teacher aware of any relevant emergency medical requirements.
Medical emergencies
In the event of a medical emergency, the swimming teacher will follow the emergency procedures of the swimming facility and seek appropriate emergency assistance.
Parents and carers will be contacted as soon as reasonably practicable.
Responsibility
Parents and carers remain responsible for ensuring that their child’s medication is available and appropriately managed during their visit to the swimming facility.
Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary.
Edge Swim School
Edge Swim School is committed to providing an inclusive swimming environment in which every child is treated fairly, respectfully and with dignity.
Every child should have the opportunity to participate in swimming lessons where their needs can be safely and reasonably accommodated.
Additional needs
Parents and carers should inform Edge Swim School of any medical condition, disability, learning difficulty, behavioural need or other additional requirement that may affect their child’s participation.
We encourage parents to discuss their child’s needs with us before lessons begin so that we can consider the most appropriate arrangements.
Individual consideration
Every child is different and individual needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Where appropriate, the swimming teacher may adapt:
- Teaching methods.
- Instructions.
- Activities.
- Equipment.
- The pace or structure of a lesson.
Any adjustments will be considered alongside the safety of the child, the teacher and other swimmers.
Personal care
Edge Swim School provides swimming instruction and does not provide personal care.
Parents and carers remain responsible for toileting, changing and any other personal care their child requires.
Additional support
Where a child’s needs require a level of support that cannot safely be provided within our standard swimming lesson arrangements, we will discuss this with the parent or carer.
This may include considering whether a different lesson format, additional adult support or another arrangement would be more appropriate.
Respect and behaviour
Discrimination, bullying, harassment or inappropriate behaviour towards children, parents, carers or staff is not acceptable.
All members of the Edge Swim School community are expected to treat others with respect.
Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary.
Edge Swim School
Edge Swim School is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all children attending swimming lessons.
Photography and video recording
The taking of photographs and video recordings is not permitted at any time within the swimming facility.
This includes:
- Poolside.
- Changing rooms.
- Toilets.
- Reception and foyer areas.
- Other areas within the swimming facility.
The restriction applies to adults and children and includes mobile phones, tablets, cameras and other smart devices.
This restriction applies regardless of whether photographs or recordings are intended to be kept privately.
Mobile phones
Parents, carers and visitors should keep mobile phones and other devices away while watching swimming lessons and must not use them for photography or video recording.
Staff mobile phones
Swimming teachers should not use personal mobile phones during lessons except where required for an appropriate work, safety or emergency purpose.
Personal use of mobile phones must never interfere with the supervision or teaching of children.
Social media
Edge Swim School staff will not publish photographs or videos of children on social media without the appropriate consent.
Parents and carers must also comply with the swimming facility’s rules and Edge Swim School’s restrictions when sharing content online.
Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary.
Edge Swim School
Edge Swim School aims to provide a high standard of swimming instruction and customer service.
We recognise that occasionally a parent or carer may have a concern or complaint. We take all concerns seriously and use feedback to help improve our service.
Raising a concern
Parents and carers are encouraged to raise concerns with Edge Swim School as soon as possible.
Where appropriate, a concern relating to a swimming lesson can initially be discussed with the swimming teacher. More formal complaints should be directed to Edge Swim School management.
How complaints are handled
Complaints will be considered fairly and objectively.
Where appropriate, we will:
- Acknowledge the complaint.
- Establish the relevant facts.
- Speak to the appropriate members of staff.
- Consider any relevant information or records.
- Provide an appropriate response.
- Take reasonable action where an issue has been identified.
Confidentiality
Complaints will be handled sensitively.
Information will only be shared with those who need to know in order to investigate and respond to the complaint appropriately.
Behaviour
Edge Swim School expects parents, carers, swimmers and staff to communicate respectfully.
Abusive, threatening or intimidating behaviour towards staff will not be accepted.
Outcome
Where a complaint is upheld, Edge Swim School will consider what action is appropriate to address the issue and, where relevant, prevent the issue from happening again.
Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary.
Edge Swim School
The safety of children, parents, carers and staff is the priority during any emergency.
Edge Swim School operates within swimming facilities and therefore works in conjunction with the emergency procedures established by the relevant pool or leisure facility.
Emergency evacuation
If an evacuation is required, the swimming teacher will follow the emergency instructions and procedures of the swimming facility.
Children will be removed from the pool safely and directed to the appropriate assembly point or other designated safe area.
Parents and carers must follow the instructions given by swimming-facility staff and Edge Swim School staff.
Parent and carer responsibility
Parents and carers remain responsible for their child when they are not under the direct guidance of the swimming teacher.
During an emergency, parents and carers must remain with their child where it is safe to do so and follow the instructions of the swimming facility and Edge Swim School staff.
Pool closure
A swimming lesson may be cancelled, delayed or stopped if the swimming pool or facility becomes unavailable or if conditions are considered unsafe.
This may include:
- Pool or building emergencies.
- Equipment failure.
- Unsafe water or environmental conditions.
- Emergency evacuation.
- Facility closure.
- Any other circumstance that prevents the safe delivery of the lesson.
Communication
Where a lesson is cancelled or stopped due to an emergency or facility closure, Edge Swim School will communicate with parents and carers as soon as reasonably practicable and will deal with any replacement lesson, credit or refund in accordance with the applicable Terms and Conditions.
Review
This policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary.
