Think safety, Swim safely.
As of 1st May 2015 Everybody Leisure Centre’s will be implementing a new Child Supervision and Admissions policy for general and public swimming sessions. This policy is for all Everybody pools in Cheshire East.
This policy aims to provide a safe yet balanced and practical approach to the safe supervision of children in swimming pools.
Guidance for Parents
The following guidance outlines recommendations for parents when using swimming pools with children. Compliance with these rules is of paramount importance to ensure everyone can use the facilities safely.
Please feel free to ask for a copy of these rules from the pool you wish to swim at so you can ensure that you clearly understand and comply with the operator’s (Everybody Sport & Recreation) requirements.
Parent and Lifeguard responsibilities –
Unprogrammed sessions (General public swimming sessions)
Swimming is not just a fun activity; it can also be a beneficial form of exercise, a great sport and a life saver. For these reasons it is essential that children are encouraged to swim as regularly as possible.
However, there are inherent dangers with water to which both parents and operators must give due consideration.
This policy is based on industry best practice and the CIMSPA GUIDANCE NOTE: GN014.
Thank you for your co-operation.
- All children under the age of eight must be accompanied in the water and changing areas during unprogrammed swimming sessions ( e.g. general public swimming sessions) by a parent. Such sessions are those that are open for public recreational swimming as opposed to those under the direct control or instruction of a group organiser or class teacher/coach.
- A parent for the purposes of this guidance is defined as someone over the age of sixteen or younger if the person is the biological parent of the child or children. The parent must be in the water with the children, must maintain a constant watch over them and be in close contact with those of the children who are weak or non-swimmers. Parents who are supervising children must themselves determine that they have the required competencies to undertake this task.
- Parents should also be aware that children over the age of eight, particularly those who cannot swim or are weak swimmers, may also require supervision of a similar level. Those responsible for the children must therefore consider the swimming abilities of all children and the appropriate supervision required, and heed the advice/instruction of the swimming pool staff.
- The ratio of parent supervision for all children under the age of eight (public swimming) is 1:2.
- However, children under the age of 4 years must be accompanied by a parent on a 1:1 ratio, unless the children under the age of 4 are wearing suitable flotation devices.
- Circumstances (such as the presence of flumes, wave machines, inflatables, water slides, fast river rides etc.) may also require a 1:1 level of supervision and this will be clearly advertised for any sessions where this is a requirement.
- For your safety, we strongly recommend that all non-swimmers, regardless of age, should wear appropriate flotation devices and should be accompanied by a competent adult swimmer.
- Please note that all non-swimmers must remain in shallow water, in a depth no greater than 1.35 metres.
(Under 8’s) Supervision & Admission Policy for General, Public Swimming Sessions
*Please note that children under the age of 4 years must be accompanied by a parent on a 1:1 ratio, unless the children are wearing suitable flotation devices.
Parents are advised to use only approved floatation devices compliant with BSN 13138 parts 1-3 – Buoyant Aids for Swimming Instruction as confirmed by the CEN mark.
Parents accompanying children to any of our pools are permitted to take under eights into an ‘opposite sex’ changing room, as we deem it is reasonable to assume that a child deemed too young to swim unaccompanied, is also too young to look after him or herself in a changing room unaccompanied.
Definition of terms
“Parent” For the purposes of this guidance the term ‘parent’ is defined as someone over the age of sixteen or younger if the person is the biological parent of the child or children. The term also includes guardians and other responsible adults in relation to their obligations for the safe supervision of children in swimming pools.
“Approved floatation devices” Approved floatation devices are those that comply with BSN 13138 part 1 – Buoyant Aids for Swimming Instruction. This standard lays down the various tests that any floatation device must pass before it is approved including buoyancy and strength. It warns that armbands should be worn under competent supervision and should be worn on the upper arm only. Approved armbands are endorsed with the standard EN 13138-1:2003 or later and marked ‘CE’. (Operators may wish to elaborate on what constitutes an approved floatation device as part of any local information/educational campaign.)
Programmed sessions- Programmed sessions are swimming sessions with a formal structure which are supervised or controlled and continuously monitored from poolside such as tuition, club training and lane fitness swimming. The more disciplined nature of such activities, with the presence of group or club organisers, may make it possible to reduce the number of lifeguards, particularly where the group or club has exclusive use of the pool.
Unprogrammed sessions – are all other sessions that are not programmed as outlined above and include swimming sessions without a formal structure, where bathers are able to play within the confines of the rules laid down by the pool operator.
Thank you for your cooperation. You can download the policy document here: Everybody Child Supervison and Admissions Policy May 2015 or request a copy from your local leisure centre reception.