Version 1.3
1. Course Bookings
1.1 Group Lessons operate during school term times and are booked and charged for on a per term basis
1.2 Private Lessons are individual lessons tailored to the needs and objectives of the pupil. The number of lessons, times and associated costs will be agreed at the time of booking
1.3 Intensive Training Courses (also referred to as Crash Courses) operate out of term time and are booked and charged for as a block of lessons
1.4 When making your course booking with JSA we will agree with you the type of course that you or your child will enrol on and the number of lessons, time and the agreed fees for the course. This will form the basis of the course booking.
1.5 Classes will follow ratio guidelines in accordance with both Swim England and the Swimming Teachers Association.
1.6 Existing pupils taking Group Lessons will be offered renewal places prior to the commencement of the new term and will be advised of any changes in the time, location, price or other details of the new course provided.
1.7 A student’s class allocation will try and take pupil preference into consideration in regard to day, time and ability level. The JSA will, at its sole discretion, offer you a place on the course of its choosing having considered the ability of the pupil, the composition of the classes and the wider needs of the school as a whole. Our intention is to provide a learning environment that is stimulating for all of the pupils concerned and ensure that the classes are balanced in ability and temperament.
2. Payment and Confirmation
2.1 All Group Lessons and Intensive Training Courses are offered on a first come, first served basis and will only be confirmed once payment has been received in full. This applies to both new pupils and Renewal Places.
2.2 If you choose to accept the place offered then your booking will only be considered as confirmed once payment for the course has been received in full. Payment should be made prior to the first lesson of the course in question. If such payment is not made then JSA may, at its sole discretion, cancel your booking and JSA will not be obliged to teach the pupil.
2.3 The payment method will be advised to you as part of the booking process
3. Cancelation and Force Majeure
3.1 If, after making a booking, you wish to cancel a course you may do so by contacting us in writing or by email within seven days prior to the commencement of the course. You will receive a refund of the tuition fee paid, less the pro rata cost of one lesson to cover the costs of administration.
If you decide to cancel the course after it commences JSA will not be obliged to provide either credits or refunds
3.2 If it becomes necessary for us to either cancel or reschedule lessons then either a replacement lesson will be offered a refund will be issued. All refunds are limited to the course fees only.
3.3 In the case where we have to close due to unforeseen circumstances or an incident outside of our control no refund or replacement lesson will be offered.
3.3.1 Such Force Majeure circumstances might include (but are not limited to) damage to the pool, severe weather conditions, power failures, industrial action, civil unrest and other events that JSA has no reasonable control over or prior knowledge of.
4. Attendance
4.1 Pupils should be at poolside five minutes before the start time of their lesson fully prepared to participate.
4.2 Pupils that arrive late by more than 15 minutes, may be asked not to participate in the lesson if it is deemed that this might be disruptive to the other pupils. The JSA will not be obliged to provide a refund or credit for lessons missed by pupils.
5. Changes
5.1 If you wish to make changes to the days or times of courses you have already booked then please make us aware and we will try and find a suitable alternative.
5.2 If a teacher is unable to attend a class we will substitute the teacher with a qualified alternative.
6. Illness and Medical Conditions
6.1 If your child has a pre-existing medical condition it is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to ensure that it is safe for the pupil to attend swimming lessons. Please make us aware of any such condition when booking your child’s lessons and we can then discuss potential risks and any necessary mitigation that might be required to ensure their health or safety is not put at risk.
6.2 We want to make swimming an accessible and enjoyable sport for all and will try to accommodate your child’s needs if we can.
6.3 If your child has developed an illness such as an ear infection, diarrhoea, chicken pox or conjunctivitis then please wait until your doctor has given the all-clear before returning to classes. In the instance of sickness or diarrhoea please ensure your child has been clear of all symptoms for at least 48 hours before attending a lesson.
6.4 Refunds are only offered on proof of medical condition, from local health care services.
7. Behaviour
Swimmers, parents, guardians, siblings and other associates must:
7.1 Observe any rules that are in effect at the facility that the lessons are being given in
7.2 Behave in a manner that is conducive to ensuring the safety of themselves and others
7.3 Ensure that their behaviour does not place anybody in a position of unnecessary risk.
7.4 In the event of a swimmer, parent, guardian or other associated party either refusing to follow an instruction from a member of staff, behaving in an unruly manner or causing damage to pool premises, fixtures, fittings or equipment then the pupil will not be allowed to continue their lesson and the party will be asked to leave.
7.5 In such an event JSA will have the right to terminate the contract without further notice, penalty or requirement to refund any fees. JSA also reserves the right to charge for any consequential costs.
8. Complaints
8.1 We pride ourselves on offering the very best teaching and coaching to our pupils. If you or your child are not satisfied with some aspect of our service however then please let the teacher know in the first instance and we will try our best to resolve the matter.
8.2 If you are not satisfied with the explanation or outcome you receive as a result of speaking to a teacher then please direct your concerns directly to the Swim School Coordinator by emailing sportandwellbeing@southampton.ac.uk
9. Valuables
9.1 JSA will not accept liability for the loss of or damage to any personal effects brought to any session and you are therefore requested to ensure that no valuable items are brought to the swimming lessons
10. Re-assessment
10.1 If you are unhappy with your child’s progress -assessments can be requested via reception, at additional cost of £7.50, to go through areas of concern, this will last no longer to 30 minutes
11. Rules and Regulations
11.1 Parents must remain on site at all times whilst children are in the Jubilee Sports Centre. It is your responsibility to make sure an up to date emergency contact number is given.
11.2 Swimmers must shower before entering the pool.
11.3 Children aged 8 years and above should get changed in the correct sexed changing rooms.
11.4 Swimmers MUST WEAR a swimming hat, for reasons of hygiene & safety one silicone hat is provided per pupil. Alternative hats can be worn such as latex & cloth
11.5 No outdoor shoes are to be worn on poolside – If you wish to speak to a swimming teacher then please either remove shoes & socks or put on shoe covers provided, before you go onto poolside.
11.6 There must be no recording, filming or photographic equipment including mobile phones with camera facilities used in the building. This is in accordance with terms and conditions and child protection rules. Please refer to STA Child Protection Guidelines, available on request.
11.7 By agreeing to a course with the Jubilee Swimming Academy you agree to the Terms and Conditions laid out above.
| Stage | Age | Entry Criteria | Ability of children having completed the stage |
|---|
| Stage 1 |
From 4 Years |
Children with no previous experience of swimming. |
Development of water confidence and ability to kick 5m with two floats on front and back. |
| Stage 2 |
From 4 Years |
Children with some swimming experience and some water confidence. |
Development of water confidence; being able to swim front paddle; and kick while on their back with no aids for 5m. |
| Stage 3 |
From 4 Years |
Children who have completed stage 2, able to swim 5m with no aids. |
Development of basic stroke technique for front crawl and backstroke; development of breathing. |
| Stage 4 |
From 4 Years |
Children who have completed stage 3 and able to swim 10m front crawl and backstroke; ensuring good body position. |
Development of front crawl and backstroke technique. Introduction on Breaststroke and Butterfly. |
| Stage 5 |
From 4 Years |
Children who have completed stage 4 and able to swim 25m of front crawl and backstroke. Basic understanding of butterfly and Breaststroke. |
Further developing front crawl and backstroke. Working on Butterfly and breaststroke timing. Developing water skills somersaults and handstands. |
| Stage 6 |
From 4 Years |
Children who have completed stage 5 and able to swim 25m of all four strokes. |
Development of correct timing of all strokes and correct breathing patterns. |
| Stage 7 |
From 4 Years |
Children who have completed stage 6. Able to swim 25m of all four stokes with correct breathing patterns. |
Last stage of the LTS (Learn To Swim) framework. All children must be able to demonstrate all stoke to Swim England standards, working on stamina. |
| Stage 8 |
From 4 Years |
Children who completed the LTS (Learn To Swim) framework, this is the first step in competitive swimming. |
Development of all four turns and working on stamina. Swimming longer distances to 400m whilst maintaining good technique. |
| Stage 9 |
From 4 Years |
Children who have completed stage 8 and able to demonstrate correct turns for all four strokes. |
Development of all starts whilst remember under water kicking for 15m; practicing IM work. |
| Stage 10 |
From 4 Years |
Children who have completed stage 9 and able to demonstrate correct turns and starts from stage 8 and 9. |
Combining skills from 8-9 working on starts and relay take over. Being able to swim a distance of 1,500m with good stroke efficiency. |
| Academy Squad |
From 4 Years |
Children who have completed stage 10, interested of further developing stroke technique. |
Developing stamina and stoke efficiency. |
FAQs
How long will it take for my child to learn to swim?
The number one question any swim school is asked is: How long will it take for my child to learn to swim?
Every child is different and therefore it is impossible to give an exact answer to this question. But the good news is that practice and exposure to water are the keys to learning to swim. If you want your child to learn quickly, they will need to visit a swimming pool regularly. How regularly? We recommend once a week in a lesson and at least one other swim per week as a family. While your child can learn basic swimming skills like breath control, floating and propulsion quickly in lessons, parents should be under no illusion, mastering good swimming technique and water safety skills will take years to accomplish.
Now I can hear your mind ticking over…. yes, you’re right, you’re going to invest hundreds of pounds on swimming lessons. Notice I said invest, trust me, it is the best investment that you will make.
Not only will it make your child safer in the water, it truly is a gift that will last a lifetime. Your child can go on to enjoy a huge range of either competitive or recreation activities around the water including swimming, diving, sailing, fishing, and surfing just to name a few.
Another bonus is that teaching your child to swim actually makes your child smarter. There have been several studies on early years swimming that prove that those children who received swimming lessons in the early years were more socially, emotionally and physically advanced that those who were not given the opportunity.
So now that you know that you’re going to have to make both a financial commitment and a time commitment to your child’s learn to swim journey, let us give you some tips on how you can enhance the process.
1 Arm yourself with knowledge
Get all the information you need on the learn to swim process. This will help you understand what your child is learning and how you can help when you swim as a family. There are huge variety of free articles available online but your best resource are our swimming teachers, feel free to talk to them and ask questions. Paul, our Swim Coordinator, is available and more than happy to help. He will be able to explain what the teachers are doing with the children in lessons and why.
2 Don’t have a break over winter
A lot of people drop out of swimming lessons during the winter months. This only results in disappointment come the following summer when children are back to square one and need to revisit skills previously learnt. Winter is actually the most important time of year for swimming lessons because children have less exposure to play situations around water like the beach, lakes or during any other recreation swimming activity.
3 Use holiday intensive courses to speed up children’s learning
Intensive courses are a great opportunity for fast skill progression because the children get to practice every day. Parents always notice a huge improvement in their child even in just a week. For this reason if children are frightened, have plateaued in their learning, or need to master a specific stroke/water safety skill; it will certainly give them a kick start. Intensive courses can sometimes be financially discounted and therefore prove to be great value for money in terms of price and progression. Even family holidays around the pool can make huge improvements to a child’s swimming progress.
4 Enjoy family time around the water
Exposing children to a variety of play situations in different aquatic environments is essential for their learning. Parents can help children learn about the different dangers that exist in different environments. Through play under strict adult supervision, children can also learn their limitations and boundaries. Children love having dedicated play time with parents, the water provides a perfect and unique opportunity. Parents can access some free resources from the STA website to help teach their children about water safety. https://www.sta.co.uk/news/2016/06/03/sta-offer-top-water-safety-tips-for-parents/
5 Don’t rush the process
If you want your child to have good swimming technique that will last a lifetime don’t rush the process. Good swimming teaching is about building good swimming skills. Focusing on the basics like breath control, submersion, floating and propulsion is the key. Swimming skills must be repetitive, and it is vital to develop good skill execution. Lots of repetitive swimming drills are necessary to develop good muscle memory. Swimming short distances with good technique is much more important than swimming long distances with poor technique.
Now that we have given you some tips, I hope you are ready to enjoy the learn to swim journey with your child. You are giving a gift that will last a lifetime and potentially save your child’s life.
Do you offer trail lessons?
At Jubilee Swim Academy we do not offer trial lessons, these are often used by other swim schools to get customers in through the door. We believe that children learn quicker and are happier in a comfortable and safe environment. This can only be achieved in lessons where the child is able to build a strong relationship with their teacher and the environment, they are swimming in. This cannot be achieved after one 30 minute lesson and as a result we feel that trial lessons to do not offer a true representation of our swim school or the lessons we provide over the whole learn to swim program. We understand that choosing swimming lessons is an important decision and one that we do not take lightly. We invite any prospective customers to come down and watch our lessons before signing up. We will do everything we can to make you and your family welcome and take the individual needs of the children in to account. If you have any concerns about your child’s needs, please feel free to talk to us and we will be able to explain the whole learn to swim process and how we can best aid your child on their journey.
Will my child have the same teacher each week?
Yes. We always aim to allocate one teacher per group for the whole term. Holidays and sickness are the exception to this rule.
Do I need to get in the water with my child?
No, all of our beginner children’s lessons (Stages 1-3) are taught with a teacher in the water. Parents can sit and watch the lesson remaining dry. However, if you would like to swim whilst your children are having lessons, there are often public lanes available.
Is there somewhere for parents to sit and watch the lessons?
Yes, there is seating available to sit watch the lessons in our reception area. Currently there are restrictions on the number of parents in allowed in the reception area due to covid and social distancing. If there are more than 14 people in the reception area our staff may ask you to wait elsewhere until numbers are reduced.
Can parents bring younger children to the pool to watch?
Yes, you are welcome to bring young ones to sit and watch with you. Please bear in mind that children must be supervised at all times and are not permitted on poolside as this can be dangerous due to the proximity to water.
Do the children work towards badges and certificates?
Yes, the children work towards Swim England’s Learn to swim scheme. Badges and certificates are available to purchase every time your child moves up a group.
Why is my child playing games?
Children learn through play and when they are having FUN they are more likely to try new skills.
What can I do to help my child progress?
Have Fun! If possible, take the children to the pool have fun and let them explore what they are capable of in the water. As a JSA customer your children will receive a free pass to use the pool during any of our general swimming sessions making practice a little more convenient and cheaper for families. If you are interested in practicing specific skills with your children talk to their teacher or our Swim Coordinator. They will be able to suggest skills to practice and what to look for. It is important that children practice good technique when performing certain skills so as not to build bad habits. Your child’s teacher will be able to advise you on what to practice and
