Newsletters
[updated 1st July 2021 @ 5.50pm]
NEWSLETTER - JULY 2021
Well this has certainly been a very strange year for all of us. We would like to thank all of our customers for their understanding and support in all the changes we have implemented to make the pool a safe and secure place for the children to swim. You have all been amazing in your compliance and understanding of the measures we have put in place. Without you and your support the swim school could not have kept operational. So from all of us 'Thank you'.
During the recent months where we have had to make adaptations to the way we operate we have found some aspects have worked very well for us. The feedback we have had has been very positive and we would like to carry some of the better methods forward into our regular teaching programme.
We have found that teaching from each side of the pool and splitting the class has worked extremely well. We will continue this way of teaching going forward, however to allow us to extend again to 30 minute lessons we will increase the class numbers to 6/7 at the shallow end and 8/9 in the deep end. This number is then split in half again so 3/4 or 4/5 on each side of the pool. We believe this will give us the benefit of both good teacher to pupil ratio and longer length of time.
One of the other areas we have found to be extremely beneficial to the instructors and the childrens progress is not having parents spectating. We have noticed that the pool hall is a lot calmer and quieter whilst the lessons are taking place and the children are more focused on their lessons. We do however understand that as parents you want to see your childrens progress throughout the term so what we propose is 2 watching weeks throughout the term before the next assessment week.
To be able to cater for everyone we will have to split the weeks with one week being for the shallow end groups and the following week being for the deep end groups. We anticipate that this will work as follows:
- All shallow end groups will have their 2 watching weeks:
- Saturday 18th – Wednesday 22nd September
- Saturday 23rd – Wednesday 27th October
- All deep end groups will have their 2 watching weeks:
- Saturday 25th – Wednesday 29th September
- Saturday 30th October – Wednesday 3rd November
As things stand at the moment we anticipate being able to return to normal in September with no social distancing needed. We therefore will be returning to using the front door only and the changing rooms will be in full use. Showers will be able to be used, however we would like to suggest that the showers are used just to rinse off the chlorinated water. We would ask that you do not use shampoo or soaps but do this when you get home. This will prevent a queue at the showers and less people being held in the pool hall.
If things change before the start of term and restrictions do have to be put in place, we will of course let you know. If anyone has any issues with any of the above please do let me know.
RE-BOOKING FOR THE SEPTEMBER COURSE:
Next term we will be reverting back to 30 minute lessons. As we will be changing the timetable EVERYONE will need to complete an enrolment form (available at the desk). The only exception to this is those families with 3 children swimming with us you may rebook immediately at the desk today. Please ensure all forms are completed and returned on the day the assessment form is received. A copy of the new timetable is available either on the notice board or left on the chairs around poolside. A copy is also available to view on the website. All assessment forms will be handed out at the beginning of each lesson. Anyone who cannot return the form on the day should email to the address noted above or text on 0794 173 8984 with the 3 preferred options. The enrolment options MUST reach me before Thursday 8th July @ 9am. (any received after this day and time I would not be able to guarantee that we could accommodate).
COMPLETING THE ENROLMENT FORM
When completing your options of new classes; if we are unable to accommodate the times you ask for, we will text you on the 8th and offer the classes that we still have spaces in. Please bear in mind that some classes are more popular than others and if you list only these times it is quite possible you may not get your options. The more flexible you are able to be the easier it is for us to be able to accommodate everyone. Please also be aware that if you only note 1 option of time and we cannot immediately accommodate that day and time, then you will only be offered classes that we have spaces left in at the end of the day once everyone else has had their class allocated. Please also note on the form if you are tying in with a sibling and what time their lesson is.
PAYMENT
Places will be held after reserving a space in a class until the following week to allow you time to make payment.
ANY PAYMENTS NOT RECEIVED BY THE LAST DAY OF THE TERM – WEDNESDAY JULY 21ST WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CLASS LISTS WITH NO FURTHER CONTACT.
We fully appreciate that some parents with more than 1 child may wish to stagger payments and we are quite open to this option. Please make your intentions known before the end of term if you wish to make alternative arrangements. Those who have 3 pupils swimming with us and receive the 15% discount and who wish to stagger payments must now make total payment for one child before the end of the current term – unfortunately we have had incidents where we have held 3 spaces in good faith and then payment has not been made. Fees should be paid for by either BACS or cash.
Badges & Certificates
The next 2 weeks all pupils will be working towards the badges and certificates available in their current level. These can be ordered on your return to the pool for collection of your child (this will prevent cross over of our one way system). Payment for these should be made either in cash or via bacs and the cost is £3 per badge and certificate. If you order within the next 2 weeks and payment is received then the certificates will be available for you to collect on the following week. Any ordered on the last week of term will be ready on the first week of the following term.
Costs for next term
We have not increased prices at the swim school for over 2 years but I’m afraid next term we are going to have to raise the price of a lesson to £9.70. This will mean that the next course of lessons from September to December at 14 weeks is a total of £135.80. I do hope all of you find this is acceptable.
TERM DATES:
The next course will start from Saturday 4th – Wednesday 8th September and run for the following 14 weeks with the last date of the course being Saturday 4th – Wednesday 8th December.
We will run lessons as usual through the half term and each weekend either side of that week.
IMPORTANT: THERE WILL BE NO LESSONS ON SUNDAY 7TH NOVEMBER AS ZARA WILL BE GETTING MARRIED ON SATURDAY 6TH. THE COST FOR ANYONE WHO BOOKS IN ON A SUNDAY WILL BE £126.10.
MAKING UP LESSONS
When you book a course of lessons for the term that is then your day and time for your child. Most pupils will miss a couple of lessons each term due to parties or illness. We put a limit on the number of pupils we have in each level and each class. When people book into classes one of the first questions asked is ‘how many pupils are in the class’. Once a class is full we do not have the facility to be able to offer make up lesson at that time. Therefore if your child misses a lesson please do not feel that it is expected that they will be able to make up their lesson in another. If we did this as a regular occurrence then classes would become over full and we would then get negative feedback on that issue. We try to accommodate everyone as much as we can but we do need to consider everyone.
FUN WEEK
This will be held during normal lesson time this term.
May I take this opportunity on behalf of all the instructors to wish you a very good summer and we look forward to seeing you all next term.
Best Wishes,
Anne
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