Terms & Conditions

Welcome to Southport Aquatic Academy Swimming School. We guarantee to provide safe, quality swimming lessons that build confidence and ability, using qualified swimming teachers at all times. It is important for all members of Southport Aquatic Academy Swimming School to agree and adhere to our Terms & Conditions and Code of Conduct, detailed here:

1. Enrolment Conditions:

  1. Full Payment is required with the enrolment/re-enrolment form. A place cannot be confirmed unless payment has been made.

  2. Payments can be made by Cash, Cheque or Bank Transfer. Any cheques should be made payable to “Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd” and there is a 50p charge.

  3. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis. Demand can be high so prompt registration is advised.

  4. All parents and swimmers must agree and adhere to the Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd Terms & Conditions and Code of Conduct and sign on their booking in form to say they understand and agree to them. 

  5. If you wish to take a holiday during the term, you will still be charged for the full term. You will of course retain your place on the course for that term.

2. Data Protection:

The member consents to Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd processing any personal data they provide as a result of enrolment/re-enrolment. Data will not be sent to any third party. 

3. Waiting Lists

  1. There are a maximum number of participants for each session. Should classes be full then a waiting list will be put into operation.

  2. As soon as a new place becomes available, in the appropriate ability level, you will be offered that place.

  3. Please inform Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd as soon as possible if you no longer wish to be kept on the waiting list.

4. Cancellations 

  1. All requests to cancel membership must be made in writing with supporting medical evidence if relevant.

  2. Cancellations received 7 - 14 days prior to the start of the course will be subject to a cancellation charge of 20% of the specific term's full booking fee. 

  3. If you cancel your place within 7 days of the start of term that you have enrolled and paid for, we will refund 50% of the fees.

  4. If you cancel your place after the start of the term, then no refund will be given.

  5. Refund/credits are not given if your child refuses to get into the water or you change your mind. 

  6. Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd reserves the right to change or cancel a course at any time. Arrangements will be made to reschedule where possible; if not refunds will be payable.

  7. Missed classes cannot be refunded or carried over to following courses but may be taken on another day if space is available – maximum 2 catch up lessons per term. These are non-transferable to a new term.

  8. Any cancellations due to power cuts, adverse weather, disasters, terrorism, war and pandemics will not be refundable, as these are out of our control. 

  9. If you have issues you would like to raise in relation to your child's lessons, please contact the Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd Office straight away, as it is more difficult to address these if you leave it until the end of term.

  10. Private lessons may be cancelled by giving not less than 24 hours (1 working day) notice to the office. Notice of a cancellation of any lesson within 24 hours of a lesson will result in the full lesson fee being due or being deducted from any credit balance as appropriate. For lessons scheduled on Monday cancellation would be required by 5pm on Friday.

  11. Should a lesson already be in progress or about to start and must be cleared for any reason then Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd is under no obligation to refund the lesson or part thereof.

  12. Holidays - if you wish to take a holiday during the term, you will still be charged for the full term. You will of course retain your place on the course for that term. 

5. Medical

  1. When you sign our terms & conditions, you take responsibility for the fact that, should you answer ‘yes’ regarding any medical conditions you or your child might have, you’ve checked things out with your doctor before starting with us. This responsibility is passed on to any other parent or carer who might bring your child swimming.

  2. Medical conditions must be disclosed to Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd regarding the health of you, your child or those who you have placed your child in care with for the purpose of attending swimming sessions. All information received is treated in confidence and with sensitivity.

  3. If your child has a heavy cold, sinusitis or an ear infection we recommend they do not swim. Refunds are not given for missed lessons due to sickness, please contact the Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd office about applicable catch up lessons. 

  4. Following on from sickness we request your child be clear of any symptoms for 48 hours prior to attendance at class.

  5. Adults and children must not swim if they have had a diarrhoeal illness in the past 14 days, as advised by the NHS.

  6. If a swimmer has broken a limb, requires an operation or has been given a medical reason why they cannot attend the remaining lessons, then we will consider transferring the lessons to the next term, or offering extra lessons if we can accommodate this. This is subject to a doctor’s note being received. Only the number of weeks remaining from the term will be held and carried over and the weeks cannot be backdated for missed lessons.

6. Re-enrolment

Swimmers already having lessons with Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd will have priority on places provided they re-book and pay on time. If we do not receive your payment by the due date, as advertised, then your child's place may be allocated to another person. If you have a change request, please write this on your re-enrolment form and return - we will then get back to you with possible spaces once all re-enrolments are in. Re-bookings are normally done towards the end of the second half of the term. All other places are booked on a first come, first served basis. Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd will endeavour to be flexible in its allocation of time slots. However, it may not always be possible to book or re-book your child's first choice. The group that the child is placed in will be at the teacher's discretion. Payment is due before the start of any lessons. Term dates are detailed on the Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd website and in the re-enrolment letter. 

7. Staff

  1. All Instructors are qualified, insured and experienced swimming teachers and hold the relevant ASA / STA certificate(s).

  2. We pride ourselves on our high Instructor to Swimmer ratio, ensuring your child will receive above average attention.

  3. As some physical contact with your child is unavoidable all staff adhere to Child Protection Procedures and are DBS (CRB) checked.

  4. Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd reserves the right to replace advertised coaches or programmes where unavoidable.

  5. If an instructor is unwell or cannot attend a session Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd will endeavour to provide a cover teacher.

8. Pool Closure

  1. Pool closures happen on rare occasions, making it necessary to cancel lessons. If it is possible, we will telephone all available numbers we have for you and email.

  2.  If a pool is closed due to a fault on our part that is within our control or on the pools part, such as pool plant failure, water heating, chemical or quality problems, then a deduction of the cost of 1 lesson from your next enrolment will be offered.
    If you are not re-enrolling for the following term then we are unable to refund any lessons, offered above.

  3. For pool maintenance closure for which advanced notice is given, you will be advised in your enrolment letter and cost of lesson deducted from your term’s fee.

9. Lost Property

Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd does not accept responsibility for any damage or loss of property or articles left on the premises (whether being worn or left in the pool/changing rooms) or within the grounds/car park of the premises.

10. Parking

  1. Our pools are on private property. On street parking available and we politely request courteous parking at all times. 

  2. Please make sure you are parked in the allocated parking spaces only. Please do not park on any grassed areas. 

  3. Parents/guardians must supervise children at all times inside and outside the pool building and parking areas. 

11. Responsibility

  1. All users of the private pools are to make themselves familiar with the individual pool’s rules. These are provided with your booking in forms and are displayed at each pool. 

  2. Parents/guardians are responsible for their children at all times in the changing area and entrance area. They should always be under the direct supervision of an adult who is not taking part in the lesson and never be left unattended. Children running on wet surfaces can very easily slip and hurt themselves. Children are not Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd responsibility until the instructor takes them.

  3. Parents should remain in the pool building when their child/ren is/are swimming.

  4. In the absence of any proven negligence, lack of due diligence or breach of duty by the instructor(s), Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd, the participation of you, your spouse/partner, child or those in whose care you have placed your child for the purpose of attending or observing Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd swimming sessions is done so entirely at your and their own risk.

  5. Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd shall not be held responsible for any personal injury or fatality that may occur.

  6. Responsibility for all applications of swimming practised outside of the Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd classes both now and in the future is borne by you and not Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd.

  7. Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd does not take any responsibility for the application of any Baby Swimming practices described or shown in books and videos.

  8. The recommendations, ideas and techniques expressed and described in Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd classes, as well as in books or videos endorsed by Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd cannot be regarded as a substitute for the advice of qualified medical practitioners.  Any uses to which the recommendations, ideas and techniques are solely at your discretion.

12. Photography 

  1. Please note that due to child protection regulations photography (including camera phones) and video filming are NOT permitted during Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd lessons or photo sessions arranged by Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd. 

  2. Official photoshoots may be offered by Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd during the year for which we will obtain signed consent. Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd reserves the right to use our over/underwater photographs for publicity purposes. However, in each instance we will endeavour to inform you first.

  3. All Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd photography, logos and illustrations are the copyright of Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd (or credited party).  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.

  4. Southport Aquatic Academy Ltd 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 “Photography” by any party.