Parent Information Pack

Aquatics Co-ordinator: Katie Lynch Contact Number: 0151 794 3290 Email: [email protected] Website: www.liv.ac.uk/sports/swim-school

Welcome to Sport Swim School; here you will find all the relevant information to make sure your child receives the best quality teaching experience.

Meet our Aquatics Coordinator - Katie

Katie has been teaching for over 20 years. As an ex-national swimmer, Katie knows what it takes to get the very best out of your child to help them in their swimming development. Katie oversees all of our swimming teachers and helps plan each term of lessons. All of our lessons are lead by Swim level 2 or 3 qualified teachers and all of our assistants are at least Swim England level 1 qualified so we guarantee your children are in the best hands!

Sport Liverpool Swim School has low teaching ratios of 1 teacher to 6 swimmers per group. Teaching in the water during the early development stages (1-2) this allowing children to build confidence whilst learning fundamentals.

Meet our Swimming Teachers

Megan - Megan teaches throughout all swimming stages.

Damian - Damien teaches our adult classes.

Naomi - Naomi teaches our stage 1 and 2 swimmers.

Abi - Abi teaches our stage 1 and 2 swimmers

Deb - Deb teaches our stage 2 and 3 swimmers

Meghan - Meghan assists throughout all stages.

Amber - Amber teaches our stage 1 and 2 swimmers

Chris - Chris teaches our stage 4/5 & 6 swimmers

We cater for a wide variety of different ability and age. Your child can start our beginner’s class from 4 years of age; however we will accept children from 3 years if they pass an initial water competency test. For further information on this please contact Katie.

Parent's Feedback

We appreciate any type of feedback as we always strive to provide the best service possible. We request that at the end of each term children/parents fill out our lesson feedback cards. Please do not feel that you have to wait until the end of term, Katie is always available to contact at any point during the course. Katie Lynch – [email protected] or 0151 794 3290

Our Learn to Swim Programme follows the Swim England Learn to Swim Framework – Stages 1-7:

Stage 1 (Sport Liverpool Swim School Beginner 1) –Developing basic safety awareness, the ‘class’ scenario, basic movement skills and water confidence skills. Swimmers will use aids.

Stage 2 (Sport Liverpool Swim School Beginner 1/2) – Developing safe entries to the water, including jumping in, basic floating travel and unaided rotation to regain upright positions. Swimmer may use aids.

Stage 3 (Sport Liverpool Swim School Beginner 2) – Developing safe entries and including submersion, travel up to 10 meters on the front and back progress rotation skills and water safety knowledge.

Stage 4 (Sport Liverpool Swim School Intermediate 1) - Developing the understanding of buoyancy through a range of skills, refining kicking technique for all strokes, swimming 10 meters to a given standard as directed by the ASA.

Stage 5 (Sport Liverpool Swim School Intermediate 2) - Developing watermanship through sculling and treating water skills, complete rotation and also performing all strokes to the given standard as directed by the ASA.

Stage 6 (Sport Liverpool Swim School Advanced) – Developing effective swimming skills including coordinated breathing, developing the water safety aspects and understanding of preparation for exercise.

Stage 7 – (Sport Liverpool Swim School Pre comp) – Developing quality stroke technique up to 100 meters incorporating skills learnt and combining them to develop a linked routine and complete successfully an obstacle course that combines a variety of skills accomplished throughout stages 1-7.

Once completed all stages your child is given information on how they can continue onto stages 8, 9 & 10.

FAQ’s

 “How long will it take my child to pass each stage” This will vary with every swimmer depending on their skills and experience.

 “What happens if by the end of lessons my child hasn’t achieved all outcomes” Your child must complete all outcomes in order to be awarded the ASA National Plan award. If a child continues to struggle in completing all outcomes over a considerable amount of time your child’s swimming teacher will inform Katie who will come and asses.

 “Will my child receive a certificate at the end of the course?” Yes children will receive a certificate, NTP stage badge, distance badge or a swim school well done.

Child Safeguarding Policy

Wavepower 2016/19 is the Swim England Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures manual and replaces all previous Swim England Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures documents. Sport Liverpool Swim School adopts and implements Wavepower 2016/19. If you have any concerns about the welfare of a child you should report it directly to the Aquatics Coordinator.

All teachers within the Sport Liverpool Swim School abide by the Swim England Code of Ethics.

Equity

Sport Liverpool Swim School is committed to treat everyone equally within the context of their activity, regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or political persuasion.

Sport Liverpool Swim School will ensure that equity as stated in the club rules is incorporated in all aspects of its activities and also recognises and adopts the Sport England definition of Sports Equity:

Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure that it becomes equally accessible to all members of society, whatever their age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or socio-economic status.

Sport Liverpool Swim School is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and abuse.

All swim school members have a responsibility to challenge discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.

The Sport Liverpool Swim School will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to the Universities disciplinary procedures.

Volunteers from the swim school have attended various sports equity courses, and have reviewed the club's operating procedures and equity policy accordingly.

A full statement of the Swim England Equity policy can be found on the Swim England website.

SWIMMING POOL SAFETY REGULATIONS

These regulations governing the use of the swimming pool have been drawn up in the interest individual and group personal safety and the enjoyment of other bathers.

1. All pool users are advised to follow the ROSPA Swimming Pool Users Safety Code which state:

 Spot the dangers  Always swim within your own capability  Follow safety advice and warning notices  Look out for yourself and other bathers  Learn how to help others and know who to call for qualified assistance

2. Behavior that might endanger the safety of one’s self; other bathers or cause offence will not be tolerated:  No running on the pool side  No pushing, fighting or ducking  No near to persons in the water  No gymnastics or acrobatics  No eating, chewing, spitting or smoking  No petting, shouting or screaming

3. Diving is a potentially dangerous activity which in some cases can lead to loss of life or serious injury

 No diving may take place into shallow water less than 1.5m deep  Running dives are prohibited  The deepest water available should be used for teaching diving  Diving boards may only be used during supervised sessions when the  Diving entry area will be sectioned-off from the rest of the pool

4. Pool users should enter and leave the water by using the steps situated on either side of the pool

5. Swimming aids such as Snorkels, flippers and face masks may not be used except during specified sessions or for medical reasons for which approval has been given in writing by the Manager

6. In the interest of safety inflatable rings must never be used, armbands or similar flotation aids however may be worn within the shallow end only by learner and non-swimmers

7. Pool users must not climb onto or walk across the pool dividing bulkhead, hands and feet must be kept clear of the underside and side-edgings of the bulkhead

8. Pool users who have medical conditions which might affect their personal safety - heart condition; epilepsy and asthma for example, are advised to inform duty Lifeguards before entering the water

9. Pool Lifeguards are authorised to warn any bathers failing to comply with these regulations and/or in the instance of putting themselves or others at risk to immediately leave the swimming pool, failure to follow such an instruction will lead to the manager and/or University security officers being called to deal with the situation, and in certain circumstance could lead to a temporary or permanent ban from accessing any of the sports facilities.

Swimming Lessons Booking Procedure

New Enquiry – Reception

(walk in, phone call or email)

Reception gives lesson information

Application form and payment for No Availability chosen class

Waiting List

Receipt given and place confirmed

Returning Children

Progression ticket given at the end of term

Application form and payment

to be taken to confirm place

Code of Conduct

 Sport Liverpool does not take responsibility of pupils prior to their arrival on poolside or once they have left. Parents/Guardians are responsible for children in the changing village and other areas of the Sports & Fitness Centre.

 Pool shoe covers must be worn by all parents/guardians whilst on poolside.

 If a parent/guardian wishes to talk to a teacher they must wait until the lesson has finished. Teachers will not answer questions during lesson time.

Sport Liverpool Swim School wants to give your child a quality teaching experience; we want your child/children to have fun and enjoy their sessions. We request that children remain safe and listen to their teacher; below are our guidelines which we encourage you to follow:

 Arrive on time  No eating for at least an hour before lesson  Dress correctly  Go to the toilet before the start of lesson  Shower before entering poolside  No jewellery to be worn e.g. watches  No running on poolside  Please wait with your child until teacher takes register.