School Guidance for Parents

Updated 2018 Page 01 Guidance For Parents

Dear Parent your child is due to start their School Swimming lessons, please take the time to read the guidance below to help ensure that they make the most of this opportunity.

The Schools’ Swimming Service We have created this information is dedicated to providing the guide to explain some of the opportunity for all children in policies in place. Nottinghamshire to access swimming. HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICIES in relation to your The Service endeavours to child’s school swimming lessons. enrich all pupils’ swimming experiences and offers participation in gala events. The Schools’ Swimming Service offers swimming lessons to approximately 125,000 pupils a year throughout Nottinghamshire. Swimming Instructors adhere to strict health and safety policies to make sure that your child has a safe environment for their swimming lessons. Page 02 Swimwear

Boys require tight fitting trunks or shorts with no pockets and which are no longer than mid-thigh length. Those pupils wearing “jammers” will be ok. Acceptable boys’ swimwear is shown below:

Girls require a snug-fitting one-piece . Acceptable girls’ swimwear is shown below:

The following pictures show unacceptable swimwear. Page 03 Goggles

Goggles can be worn however, Goggles must be of the correct it is the responsibility of the size (for primary age children parent/ carer to ensure that the these will be the junior goggles) child is able to adjust and fit the for the child to ensure a correct goggles correctly and to sign seal around the eyes and should and return the consent form to not be of a “mask” design. school. There must be no sharing of Occasionally children are goggles. asked to remove their goggles - for example when jumping Acceptable goggles in, learning to dive, and taking part in personal survival and water polo sessions. Exceptions may be made for those wearing prescription goggles. Unacceptable goggles

Jewellery

All jewellery must be removed. studs removed for the duration Swimming Instructors, school of the lesson as long as they are teachers and observers are not replaced again immediately after allowed to do this for your child. the session. Earrings cannot be taped over New piercings should be done or covered by a hat, they must ideally at the start of the summer be removed. holidays. Children should be encouraged to move the Recent medical advice has piercing around to help with the shown that newly pierced ears removal. (after a few weeks) can have the Page 04

similar length to those demostrated below. similar length to those demostrated It is unacceptable to leave the hair down or uncovered if or uncovered the hair down it is ofIt is unacceptable to leave a onlookers alike. onlookers of which to the individuals concerned are distressing and the in lane ropes. Hair can be caught in filters Hair can and around ropes both in lane ropes. cover the eyes should also be tied back to prevent it getting tangled it getting tangled to prevent should also be tied back the eyes cover Hair which is longer than jaw length regardless ofHair which length regardless is longer than jaw whether it will cover with a swim hat. with a swim cover Below are examples of ways to tie up your child’s hair or to hair or to of child’s examples Below are to tie up your ways Hair covering the eyes can easily cause disorientation and panic. cause disorientation can easily the eyes Hair covering wet and must be tied back (or up) or covered with a swimming cap. cap. with a swimming covered (or up) or be tied back must wet and Long hair has the tendency to fall forward, covering the eyes when the eyes covering to fall forward, has the tendency Long hair Long Long Hair If is diagnosed as child your should epilepsy they having observer a dedicated who have knows the signs and symptoms of your to the condition relevant be easily must child Your child. by use of identifiable a coloured band worn sweat on the wrist. an All pupils who have water epileptic fit in the will be to hospital as a matter taken of unless the individual’s course otherwise and care plan states all lead professionals providing there is are in agreement that no possibility of secondary drowning. Medic alert be worn bracelets may must they however in the water, a coloured sweat by be covered band. Medic alert necklaces and dealt with should be removed by or covered in the same way or similar. wearing a rash vest

All medication must be clearly be clearly must All medication name child’s with your marked check Ensure you and dosage. the shelf of life child’s your particularlymedication, the and put a reminder date EpiPens calendar to request your on your prescription. repeat If has a medical child your condition which requires asthma, e.g. medication then the diabetes; allergies, be brought to must medication alongside the pool and placed group. swimming child’s your Medication Medication Medical Conditions and Conditions Medical

Page 05 Page 06 Ear Infections* of increased risk Due to the and potential cross infection canal, damage to the ear not swim until the children should cleared infection has completely up. After suffering infections from ear when taken caution should be than greater diving to depths increased 1.5m due to the pressure on the ear drum. Please ensure the Swimming Instructors are made aware.

then inhale slowly then inhale slowly

with an asterisk (*) with an It is not permissibleIt is of with any to swim marked following the of the same type and dosage. or adults inhaler providing it is it is or adults inhaler providing them, can share another child them, can share another child reason has not got one with reason has not got one with to use an inhaler, who for any who for any to use an inhaler, Any child or adult requiring Any child or adult requiring dosage. repeated as directed by the the repeated as directed by This procedure must be procedure must be This directly into the lungs). directly coughing) down is taken the medication back ofback and inducing the throat counting to ten (ensuring medication from hitting the from hitting the medication (this will prevent the the lungs (this will prevent Exhale slowly to empty the to empty the Exhale slowly CHILD SHOULD: INHALER IS USED THAT THE THE THAT INHALER IS USED PLEASE NOTE THAT IF AN IF AN THAT PLEASE NOTE administer their inhaler. administer their Your child must be able must be to self- child Your Asthma Conjuctivitus* Conjunctivitis is a common not serious, condition. It’s eye it can be uncomfortablebut and irritating. is Inflammation suspected if a reddish there’s in the peripherychange of the a pus- often accompanied by eye affects It usually discharge. like Nose Clips getting water enjoys No-one nose however up their nose, are not to be wornclips during lessons, swimming school a doctor or by unless directed purposes. medical consultant for Instructors children will teach to stop them getting techniques up their noses. water If needs a noseclip child your they medical reasons, for should know how to use the item correctly without help from staffschool or Instructors. responsibility child’s It is your of any keep to ensure they the a clean medical items in above cross container to prevent and Instructorsinfection and StaffSchool can not be held loss or damage for responsible of these items. Grommets alert you Please ensure that the Swimming Instructors if your may has grommets as they child need to adjust their teaching can child position to ensure your hear clearly. These can be worn ifThese directed care doctor, however your by can make as they be taken must child to hear. your for it difficult Ear Plugs

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Head Lice providing can swim child Your 24 for been treated the lice have child Please ensure your hours. does not share their towel, hair brush or comb. Ring Worm If for been treated has child you ring worm 48 hours for (72 hours if are allowed the scalp) they on to swim.

sharing of towels. changing and there must be no be no and there must changing Care must be taken during during be taken Care must exiting the pool. exiting the pool edge in readiness for the pool edge in readiness for and then leave any footwear at at footwear any and then leave to walk from the changing rooms rooms to walk from the changing poolside footwear, i.e. flipflops, flipflops, i.e. poolside footwear, Pupils should wear appropriate Pupils should wear appropriate Pupils with verrucas can swim. Pupils with verrucas can swim. Verrucas will depend upon the cause. the cause. will depend upon many causes and the treatment causes and the treatment many more than the other. There are are There more than the other. day or two. It may affect It may one eye or two. day and spread to the other after a other after a and spread to the although it may start it may although in one eye both eyes at the same time – time – the same at both eyes Treatment involves the use of involves Treatment antibiotics. Chickenpox* Chickenpox* (also called Chickenpox is a common and varicella) childhood infectious extremely also affectsdisease that adults on occasion. It produces an blistery typically rash that itchy, lasts about a week and is sometimes accompanied by or other symptoms. a fever easily are chickenpox recognised and in most cases than unpleasant rather merely can almost treatment dangerous, be carriedalways home. out at Impetigo* caused by A skin infection less or, the staphylococcus the streptococcus often, by firstbacterium. The sign of ofimpetigo is a patch red, itchy skin. it is contagious and easily personscontracted by who the affectedmight touch person. If to be is well enough child your should be allowed they school at unless advised not to to swim, or if a doctor, a they have by very runny nose. Coughs and Colds Colds Coughs and If has a large/deep child your wound then your cut or weeping should not swim. child If a small cut or has child your can swim. then they graze Open Wounds

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Colostomy Bags adjustment to A reasonable can be made for swimwear bag. pupils with a colostomy Swimwear should be worn as whilst tight fitting as possible, the still maintaining discretion for pupil. be necessary It may the for pupil to wear a tight fitting t-shirt feel to ensure they as well comfortable. Gastroenteritis can also have have can also Gastroenteritis ofa number other causes, or infection a norovirus including food poisoning, although these in adults. are more common

hands after going to the toilet. infected person doesn’t wash their personinfected doesn’t food, objects and surfaces iffood, the infection. It can be transferredinfection. to (faeces) of with the someone virusthe stools is passed out in virus called the rotavirus. This This virus called the rotavirus. is a in children gastroenteritis The most common cause ofThe Gastroenteritus* of up the first picking mite. itchiness will begin within hoursitchiness With subsequent infections, the the subsequent infections, With of to six weeks). (four weeks notice any itching for a number a number for itching notice any with scabies, he or she may not not or she may he with scabies, first time someone is infected to the faeces of The the mite. due to a reaction within the skin within the skin due to a reaction always caused by scabies is is scabies by caused always The intense itching almost almost intense itching The a tiny mite (Sarcoptes scabiei). scabiei). mite (Sarcoptes a tiny contagious infection caused by caused by contagious infection Scabies is a relatively is a relatively Scabies Scabies*

Where 1-1 support 1-1 Where in is given will then that room the class the pool. at also be required support that Initially should be is the aim however, in the water the supportto withdraw to allow become an the individual to independent learner. If is no support there in given still may you room then the class and support to come be asked either from the pool child your under the side or in the water, guidance of the Instructors who This points. teaching will give is particularly helpful when the is needs or behaviour child’s distracting the Instructor’s focus from the group. Additional support to SEN pupils through Bridging Clubs helps develop the specific the specific helps develop needs of creating individuals, and opportunitiespathways of development for skills within ofthe limitations their disability. Enquiries should be made to: schoolsswimming@ nottscc.gov.uk

The school will be required school will be required The to carry out an Individual risk assessment, generic templates can be requested from the service. A preliminary visit can be arranged with all partners at the pool. to ensure that they are adequate are adequate they to ensure that and meet the needs of the individual. Adequate supervisionAdequate be must rooms. in the changing given Prior notification is required for the use of flatbeds and hoists The serviceThe be made must ofaware which conditions any affectmay of the teaching learning ADHD, e.g. swimming and disabilities and physical either problems, behavioural the first or at session. before If teaching there are specific are known to work that strategies be shared with then these must the Swimming Instructors so that can adapt their sessions they accordingly. The Schools’ Swimming Schools’ Swimming The Service works and is inclusive with many partners to ensure in is effective its provision supporting each individual’s needs. Disabilities

Page 11 Page 12 Swimming Instructors and strict school teachers have to the guidelines in relation number of they are pupils to teach at various allowed oflevels ability. As a result your be placed in the not may child same area of are the pool they private in for used to swimming lessons. Swimming Instructors and school teachers working outside of their teaching ratios are not insured. a lesson will receive child Your according to their ability ofregardless where are they in the pool, as the majority of activities taught in the deep end can also been taught in the shallow water.

area of the pool. that they are placed in a suitable are placed in a suitable they that relation to their ability to ensure to their ability to ensure relation Every pupil will be assessed in Every will be assessed in pupil water. water. procedures before they go in the go in the they procedures before policies and also of emergency will be reminded of above the On their first session pupils Instructors. the School’s Swimming Swimming the School’s must be carried out by

DETERMINE THE GROUPS INITIAL ASSESSMENTS TO INITIAL ASSESSMENTS TO guidelines are adhered to. guidelines are adhered ensure that all the relevant all the relevant ensure that sessions are monitored to to sessions are monitored undergo regular training. The The training. undergo regular They are highly qualified and and qualified are highly They swimming sessions. sessions. swimming teaching and lifeguarding the the and lifeguarding teaching role they are responsible for both both for are responsible role they The InstructorsThe carry out a dual

Instructors Your Child’s School Swimming Swimming School Child’s Your

groups of or two pools children are requested then schools each to bring an observer for group. role ofThe the observer is very important are another as they pair of ask Most schools eyes. help in this role. parents for observersWithout the session place. cannot take Occasionally accidents do do accidents Occasionally to make have and they happen as to the most decision a quick to action to be taken appropriate your best outcome for the give child. getting into difficulty A child to get back will be encouraged to ensure that into the water end to the a positive have they lesson.

Observers are fundamental in the school swimming lessons. Schools are required to provide ofa minimum two observers where there are large however, Observers are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check if helping on a regular basis or supervising / assisting in the changing of the pupils Observers The School Swimming Swimming School The Instructors are all qualified responsible and are lifesavers at safety child’s ensuring your for all times. If is required hospitalisation communicated then this will be nominated or the other to you the contact at emergency All earliest opportunity. are accidents/ incidents monitored and if necessary new are policies and procedures up to reflect the new risk drawn assessment. If any requires child your to be then this has treatment the centre and recorded at reported to the service. First Aid First

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Observers to monitor are advised different week and each groups of be aware must the danger of just on their child. focusing Observers ensure they must undertakeare fit to their It is advised responsibilities. to prevent water drink they that be in a must this dehydration, plastic bottle. Observers a signal are given horn which is essential to their if be blown it must role, the Instructorsenter the has to to affectwater a rescue. also be used to alertIt must the Instructors staff and School of or person child who any may will ensure this be in difficulty, of evacuation the quick the pool. The serviceThe is very ofappreciative the support observers. by given

the centre) must be worn.the centre) must Identifying tabards (provided at at Identifying tabards (provided

have large heels. have shoes must not be stilettos or not be stilettos or shoes must overshoes must be worn be must and the overshoes If wearing outdoor footwear, If wearing outdoor footwear, footwear (flip flops may be worn). (flip flops footwear sleeved top and indoor only indoor only top and sleeved trousers / skirt / shorts, short suitable clothing e.g. lightweight lightweight e.g. clothing suitable very warm it is important to wear As the pool environment can be can be As the pool environment poolside for clarification. clarification. poolside for the Swimming Instructors on is unsure of ask their role must responsibilities. Any parent who Any responsibilities. understand their roles and observers they that stating signed by signed by A sheet must be is available from the school. from the school. is available A full list ofA full list responsibilities THE SCHOOLS’ SWIMMING SERVICE PLEDGE

The Schools’ Swimming Service is dedicated to providing the opportunity for all schools in Nottinghamshire to access a high quality swimming provision (in accordance with its health and safety guidance document), to ensure that pupils can strive to meet the National Curriculum statutory requirement in swimming during their Primary Education.

The Service welcomes feedback from all parties. Below is a extract from a letter of appreciation sent in to the service.

I wanted to let you know how proud Cameron’s swimming has greatly “we are of Cameron. Last Monday improved, this is due to the swimming (Bank holiday) we were on a family lessons he had had when in year three bike ride along Chesterfield canal. (with school). Whilst cycling near to the lock keeper, Cameron lost his balance on the bike I wanted to let you know of my and hit a bollard where he fell first appreciation of those swimming lessons, into the canal (along with his bike). it does not bear thinking about the incident if Cameron could not have swam. Cameron was extremely brave, composed himself and swam to the Cameron is amazing to have had side of the canal, where his dad lifted the confidence to swim back to the him to the grass verge. As you can side of the canal without panicking. imagine, Cameron was very upset after Thankfully apart from a couple the incident. When I asked him was he of bruises from falling off his bike scared in the water, Cameron said he and hitting the bollard Cameron is felt scared, but was not going to listen absolutely fine. ” to fear in his head and would be brave Kind regards and swim. Worksop primary school parent during year 3/4

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