Pool admission guidelines (adult to child ratios)

A responsible adult, aged at least 16 years or over, should accompany all children under the age of eight into the swimming pool and maintain a constant watch over the children for whom they are responsible.

They are required to stay in the water with the children at all times and keep close contact with those children who are weak or non-swimmers. One adult can be responsible for:

Main pool
Two children aged 4 to 7 years old, or;
One child under 4 years old

Small pool
Three children aged 4 to 7 years old, or;
Two children under 8, where one or more may be under 4 years old.

Please note that these ratios are dependent on all non-swimming children wearing armbands or other buoyancy aids. We recommend that these armbands or buoyancy aids are approved to British or European Standards. All of the specified ratios are in accordance with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) guidelines.

Children eight and over must use the correct changing room for their gender. If you have any special requirements please speak to the duty manager.

Swimming in the Deep End – Pool Test

For weaker or younger swimmers who want to swim in the deep end, leisure attendants may ask you to undertake deep end pool test. Swimmers will need to swim 25 metres on their front and they should be able tread water out of their depth for a minimum of 30 seconds. Failure to perform these tasks will result in the swimmer being asked stay in the shallow end.

Please be aware, the leisure attendants reserve the right to ask you to perform a deep end pool test at any point during your swim if they feel you are struggling in the deep end. Some swimmers may lose power and strength during their swim session and it may have been safe for them to swim in deep end at the start of the session, but not later on.

Special assistance
Some users of the pool may find it difficult to do this test during a busy public session. If you feel you may come into this category please contact the leisure centre prior to your visit and the management team can arrange for you to do this test at a more appropriate or convenient time.