General Information
a) Timetable of the Blocks
There are three blocks within the year which fall in line with the school terms. The block which commences in August will continue until December with a break for the October school holidays. Specific class dates will be on the notice boards of each venue or sent with your invoice should your venue not have access to a notice board.
b) Payment of Class Fees
All fees should be paid prior to the start of the block of lessons. Invoices will be issued approximately four weeks prior to the end of the block and all fees to be paid by the date due. In the event of non payment of class fees the place will be allocated to a child on the waiting list. A reminder letter will not be sent and therefore should you envisage a problem with payment or wish to discuss your child’s allocation please contact the Admin Co-ordinator on 01224 814568/814569 or Swimming Co-ordinator for your area, as soon as possible, to ensure your child’s place.
Specific instructions for payment of lessons is given on the invoice.
Access to Leisure Card holders are entitled to a 50% discount.
c) Cancelled Classes
In the unfortunate event of classes being cancelled, the swimmer will be put in credit for the value of the lesson. This credit will be taken off the invoice for the next block of lessons.
d) Enrolment and Waiting List Procedure
All children within the programme will automatically be offered a place in the next block, therefore it is not necessary to re-enrol. The invoice for the next block is your confirmation that a place has been offered and payment of this by the due date, guarantees your place.
If you have another child or a friend who wishes to join the programme they must complete the application form. These are available from local swimming pools, community centres and libraries or by telephone from the central administration office on 01224 814567.
When our Administration Team receives your application, it will be acknowledged and you will be placed on our database. You will then be contacted before the next block of lessons with information on allocation. Allocation sessions will take place at various sites across the City, where the Swimming Co-ordinators will be there to advise and allocate places. You will be required to pay for the lessons at this time. If you cannot attend any of these allocation sessions please contact the Administration Team to state if you are still interested in a place for the next block.’
When an allocation has been made an invoice with full details of the class will be sent to you. All class fees must be paid prior to the start date of the class. Should you refuse the offer the application will be deleted unless you request the application to remain on the waiting list for the next block.
e) New Members
All new members will be issued with an Aberdeen City Aquatics Programme swimming cap. Whilst we do not insist that the caps are worn all long hair must be tied back as this is more comfortable to the swimmer during lessons. The cap can also be a benefit in terms of health and safety, as there have been instances in swimming pools of long hair being drawn into vents under the surface which could cause injury.
f) Family or Friends Spectating
Parents, relatives or friends of the swimmer are permitted to spectate if a seated area is provided at the pool. However, should a spectator be distracting the swimmer and/or a smaller brother/sister causing distraction then the adult or adult and child will be asked to leave the pool area.
The following pools are not suitable for spectating: Bucksburn, Dyce Primary, Dyce Academy, Hazlewood School and Summerhill. Linksfield pool has a viewing gallery which overlooks the 25m pool but not the teaching pool.
For those pools where spectating is not permitted there may be an opportunity to view specific classes during the block to enable you to view your child’s progressions. Information will be given with the invoice or on the notice boards.
The following pools have spectator facilities: Bridge of Don, Tullos, Northfield, Hazlehead, Beach Leisure Centre, Kincorth and Aberdeen Grammar School.
Where a seating area is available it is very beneficial to watch your child’s lesson as you will have the opportunity to see the skills being taught in the lesson and therefore can practice with the child in a family session. This additional time in the water is vital to the progress of the child.
Please note that children under the age of eight must be supervised on poolside at all times.
g) Additional Practice
If you are keen to help your child in a family swim and wish further advice on the relevant practices please do not hesitate to speak to your child’s teacher or the swimming co-ordinator for your area. If, due to teaching classes, they are unable to speak to you, please leave your telephone number and a short note and someone will contact you with the relevant information.
h) Procedure for Receiving Information of Emergency Cancellation of classes:
Classes may be cancelled at short notice for a number of reasons:
- Maintenance problem at pool
- Child being sick in pool
- Teacher off ill at short notice
- Severe weather
In the event of the above it is essential that we have a contact telephone number in order to advise you of the closure. As soon as we have been notified that a class or classes require to be cancelled, our administration staff will attempt to contact everyone by telephone. If we cannot get you at home, we will leave a message on your answer phone, if available, or try alternative numbers which we may hold on our records.
If the closure has resulted in the cancellation of classes where we have not had time to alert people, prior to travelling, we can only apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Staff at the venue will make every effort to telephone you as soon as possible, however, this may be too late. Staff will remain at the venue in order to telephone all classes and posters will be placed on any outside doors informing you of the closure.
It is therefore very important that you take your child/ren to the pool itself and not drop them off as this may lead to children being left outside the building unaccompanied.
In the event of the classes being cancelled due to severe snow storms please check the following:
- Listen to Northsound Radio Broadcast
- Contact the programme Administration Co-ordinator (Tel 01224 814567) – if engaged listen to recorded message
- Contact the swimming co-ordinator
- Contact the Swimming Development Officer (Tel 01224 814783)
- Contact the pool (if appropriate), some school pools do not have public telephones
- Notice on the swimming pool door
Swimming Pools are venues where unexpected closures can happen and your co-operation in the event of a cancellation is very much appreciated.
i) Use of Video and Photographic Equipment
The use of videos and cameras is prohibited during lessons.
On occasion we may take promotional photographs which will be used in leaflets or posters. Information regarding such events would be circulated in advance and all parents/guardians will have the option of their child/ren not taking part.
The application forms have a section which parents/guardians complete regarding promotional photographs during the lessons and therefore additional forms will not be required to be signed at a later date. Information will be kept on record regarding parents/guardians wishes.
