Booking
Our courses run throughout the year, with regular breaks in line with school holidays, bank holidays, Easter and Christmas. Term details are always available on this website. Courses may be pre-booked by completing the online application form. Customers must pay for their lessons in full at the time of booking on our website. From time to time we will offer a priority booking to swimmers who are already in our classes. Following any priority booking period, lessons will be on a sale to everyone on our website on a first come first served basis. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
Refunds and Cancellations
Customers will receive a full refund for cancellations made up to two weeks before the course begins. Once the course commences Little Fishes is under no obligation to refund or transfer your money in the event that you are unable to attend part of or the entire course. However a refund may be possible if there are customers on the waiting list who are able to take the place. If the course is being paid for by someone other than yourself, you are responsible for informing that person of our payment policies, deadlines, etc., and relaying any communication with regard to rebooking or payments of any sort. We regret that we are unable to offer an alternative for missed lessons. In the event of a pool closure due to unforeseen circumstances, we will endeavour, where possible, to re-schedule your lesson. In this instance Little Fishes is not responsible for any travel expenses incurred. In the event of us having to cancel a lesson and not being able to re-schedule, we will issue a credit against your next term’s fees or issue a refund within 5 working days of the end of the term. When a pool is not available on a longer term basis (in excess of one week), on public health or other grounds outside of our control (not including operational issues with the pool), then we cannot be responsible for providing any further lessons during that time. If this occurs, and in the event that it is not possible to reschedule the classes, we will use best endeavours to either refund the unused balance of your course fees or to recompense you in services or refunds in a future cycle. Should a lesson already in progress or about to start have to be cleared due to a fire alarm or water contamination then Little Fishes is under no obligation to refund the lesson or part thereof.
At the end of the 9 week course we normally hold one week in reserve to provide added on classes in case of pool closure. We may also offer catch up sessions during school holidays. Please consider this as part of the term schedule. When the catch up session is provided, refunds for cancelled sessions will not be offered.
Parent and Baby Level 1 Discounted Price
Discounts are from time to time available on our Parent and Baby Level 1 classes. These discounts are can only be used once per child. All babies who complete the Level 1 classes will be ready to progress to Level 2 so Level 1 should not be booked more than once for any child. If a child is re-booked on Level 1 having previously completed that class, they will be either moved onto Level 2 and charged the full price, or the booking will be cancelled and refunded minus an administration fee to cover our work in processing the booking and refund and the costs our payment providers charge us associated with the booking and refund.
Adverse Weather
Little Fishes is under no obligation to refund lessons that may be missed by local adverse weather when the venue and environs are safe and accessible and lessons are held. We regret that we are unable to offer automatic refunding or rescheduling of lessons in the event of adverse conditions local to yourselves preventing you from attending a scheduled class.
Video and Photography
No photography or video recording of lessons is permitted. Little Fishes expressly forbids the right to reproduce any part of our lessons in any form (e.g. on the internet, DVDs, photographs etc). Anyone suspected of filming or photographing the lessons for any purpose of publication will be asked to stop filming and leave the course. All Little Fishes photography, logos and illustrations are the copyright of Little Fishes. Any scanning or reproduction of any of the above without our written agreement will be regarded as being in breach of our copyright and dealt with accordingly. Little Fishes reserves the right to use our underwater photographs for publicity purposes. However, in each instance we will endeavour to inform you first. Little Fishes cannot be held liable for the actions of third parties, and, therefore excludes to the fullest extent possible by law, any liability arising from a breach of this section headed “Video and Photography” by any party.
Valuables and Jewellery
All property left in changing rooms or on poolside, and all property (including prams) left in entrance halls or outside, is left at your own risk. Little Fishes cannot accept any responsibility for the loss or damage of any personal possessions. Please remove all jewellery (except wedding rings) before entering the water.
Medical conditions
It is the customer’s responsibility to inform Little Fishes of any existing medical conditions for any persons taking part in the swimming lessons including parent, carer or the baby. You agree to inform Little Fishes of any changes, including pregnancy, as soon as you are aware of them. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
Illness
Should any participant child or adult develop any known or suspected medical condition please consult your doctor before attending the lesson and inform Little Fishes in writing via email or post. All information received is treated in confidence and with sensitivity. Never bring your child swimming if they have any illness such as an ear infection, diarrhoea, chicken pox, impetigo, conjunctivitis or a bad cold. Please wait until your doctor has given the all-clear before returning to classes. In the instance of sickness and diarrhoea your child must have been clear of all symptoms for at least 48 hours before attending a lesson.
Nappies and Changing your Baby
All babies under the age of three years must wear a neoprene swim nappy (the Happy Nappy from Splash About) over their usual swimming nappy to prevent leakage. Little Fishes reserves the right to refuse entry to any child who is not suitably attired. Little Fishes requires all parents/carers to change their babies on the floor using a suitable changing mat. Do not use any raised areas such as benches, trolleys or tables. This is to prevent babies from rolling onto the floor from high surfaces which can easily happen. Please take all your used nappies away with you unless a clearly marked bin has been provided. Never leave nappies in an open bin (including those within the venue grounds).
Withdrawal of service
Little Fishes may, at its own discretion, withhold the right to refuse entry to a customer to its courses if it is felt that the customer’s behaviour is unreasonable or threatening. In this event no refund can be given.
Health and Safety: Pool/Poolside
Outer footwear or prams are not permitted on poolside or in changing rooms. Please use blue overshoes (if available) or go barefoot. For reasons of hygiene please make an effort to shower both yourself and your child before entering the water. Removing body lotions and perfumes etc. before swimming contributes significantly to maintaining water quality. Little Fishes politely request that customers keep poolside noise down to a minimum so that all lessons can take place in a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Please always wait to be invited into the pool by your teacher. Parent/ Carers are responsible for the supervision of any children they bring at all times: on poolside, in the changing rooms and on the pool premises. They should always be under the direct supervision of an adult who is not taking part in the lesson and never be left unattended. No person is permitted to run on wet surfaces such as the poolside. Little Fishes reserves the right to ask anyone to leave the poolside at any time on health and safety grounds. Only one adult is permitted in the pool at a time with each child. However, we are happy for other members of your family, friends, or child minders to bring your child to classes. Anyone new to the class must let the instructor know at the beginning of the session, so they can provide the extra help and advice that will be needed.
Teachers
Little Fishes strive for continuity in lessons. However we may need to change a teacher from time to time in case of illness or for training purposes. Unfortunately we will not be able to give advance warning when this may happen and, whilst we always try to limit it, it is a necessary part of our commitment to quality.
Exclusion of Liability
In the absence of any proven negligence, lack of due diligence or breach of duty by the instructor(s); Little Fishes or its employees; all participants including adults, children and spectators take part at their own risk.
Car Parking Policy
At our Valence School Venue, they have a strict car parking policy. With the safety and security of the children in mind, driving up to the top car park by the swimming pool is not permitted. The school have security cameras installed and anyone breaking that rule will not be allowed enter the school in the future. In the case that any customer’s are barred by the venue from entering the premises any fees paid to Little Fishes for lessons not yet complete will not be reimbursed.”
Changes to Terms and Conditions
From time to time we may update these terms and send the updated version or notification of minor changes to existing customers who are currently doing courses. You are free to not accept these changes but we would ask you to notify us in writing of your non acceptance within 14 days of your receipt, failing which we will be entitled to treat our agreement with you as being subject to the updated version.
Covid 19 Rules and Guidance
Please find the goverment guidlines regarding Covid-19
Pool Rules
- Do not come to swimming if you are showing any symptoms of Covid-19 or feeling unwell.
- On arrival to the pool please remove the shoes.
- Please arrive as close as possible to your lesson time, wait to be invited to enter and exit promptly.
- To minimise time spent within changing areas, please arrive/bring your child “swim ready” with the costume on, except for babies who can be changed on poolside. Baby Change Mats will no longer be kept on site, please bring your own change mat. The roll up versions are very easy to travel with. Alternatively, an extra towel will suffice. You may use changing rooms after the lesson, but we would ask that this takes place as quickly as possible, and you are existing the building within 15 minutes of your lesson finishing.
- All swimmers must shower at home pre and post swimming – come ‘beach’ ready. Do not enter the shower areas.
- For baby and toddler classes we allow one adult per baby or toddler in the water.
- Please do not wheel your pushchair inside the pool area. There is a sheltered space for pushchairs outside the pool entrance.
- Children must always be supervised on poolside.
- Do not enter the pool until invited by your instructor.
- Used baby nappies must be taken away as nappy bin will not be provided. Please do not put used nappies in the rubbish bins.
- Strictly no photography or videos on poolside.
- Use of baby powder is not permitted on poolside/changing rooms.
- Food, baby snacks and coffee, drink (other than water) are not permitted on poolside, please bring your own named ‘pre-filled’ water bottle.
- Please strive to vacate the poolside as soon as you and your child are ready after your session is finished.
- The school grounds and other facilities are out of bounds.
- Smoking on school grounds is prohibited.
- Dogs are not allowed on school grounds.