We have developed this page to address some of the common questions we receive about our Learn to Swim redevelopment project. Please feel free to scroll through our various answers in order to find the information you are looking for.
If you cannot find the information you need, please click the link below to send us your question and a member of the team will get back to you.
Send us the question you want answered here
Swimming Lessons FAQ Page last updated: 5 December 2012
Q – How do I register for the new scheme?
A – Please see the below details for each scheme:
Adult & Child Programme: There is no waiting list for our Adult & Child swimming lessons. To book a space for your child, please book this at main Reception. Bookings for these classes (children aged 6 months - 5 years) are taken on a first come/first served basis (no waiting lists).
Learn To Swim Scheme: For a place on the Learn To Swim Scheme, you are required to register your child on the junior swimming waiting list. During the review, the waiting list was suspended but will reopen on 31st January 2013. Children must be in P1 before gaining access to the scheme.
Q – My child is having lessons. If I don’t rebook, does that mean that the lessons stop?
A – Yes. If you are a Highlife card holder, you will only require to re-book when your child is ready to move from one level to the next and your swimming teacher will advise you of this. If you pay for your lessons, you are required to re-book and pay for your lessons every ten weeks. If you do not re-book your lesson, you will lose your space.
Q – Can you book in a child on behalf of a friend?
A – No. One of the main reasons for the alterations to the scheme was to implement fair systems in the programme. Having people queuing to book with friends cards would not be fair for all customers.
Q – Do you have an online booking facility?
A – We currently do not have an online re-booking system but the option of this is currently being investigated.
Q – Is there still a Swim Confidence class?
A – No. We will no longer be running a Swim Confidence class. The entry point for swimming lessons is Swim Start. If there are children in Swim Start who have water confidence issues, our Swimming Lesson Assistant will be on hand to offer them additional support.
Q – Are there any classes on Saturday mornings?
A – Yes. We have classes of all levels on Saturday mornings.
Q – My child has been on the waiting list for just under a year, is their place secure?
A – Yes.
Q – With the new Adult & Child six-weekly activity class – can I book into consecutive blocks, i.e. can I rebook my child into the same class again for the next six week block?
A – No, in order to allow fairness to everyone a child can only be booked into every second activity block. Parents will be given information by the our qualified instructors as to what to practice with their child when the come swimming after having attended one of the Adult & Child activity blocks.
Q – Does the new Adult & Child activity still take children from 6 months old?
A – Yes.
Q – How long is the waiting list being suspended for?
A – We obviously have a fairly substantial amount of work to undertake and we will be doing what we can as quickly and efficiently as we can. However, we expect to re-open our waiting list in the early part of 2013.
Q – If my child is already in the existing scheme are they going to be removed or have to reregister?
A – If you child is in Junior Swimming (confidence, start, back crawl, front crawl and breaststroke) then they will continue in the existing scheme and you do not need to do anything. However, if they are in butterfly, distance or Club prep then you will be asked if your intention is to progress to the Inverness Swimming Club. If no, then you will have completed the Inverness Leisure LTS Scheme. If yes, then your child will undergo an assessment in order to be registered for the new Club Pathways scheme in association with the swimming club.
Q – My child is in the current Parent & Toddler lessons, what is going to happen to them as I understand the scheme is changing?
A – The new Adult & Child five-stage activity will commence in January 2013. You will remain in your current Parent & Toddler programme until December this year. After this the new Adult & Child activities will operate on a six week block (week commencing 7 January 2013) on a first come served basis. If you want to take part in the new Adult & Child programme you will be able to book into the appropriate age category from 26 November 2012. Those in the current Parent & Toddler lessons should note that they will not be given preferential transfers over into the new Adult & Child activites.
Q – My child is in the current Parent & Toddler lessons, will they automatically be transferred to the waiting list for Junior swimming lessons?
A – No. However, your child’s teacher will shortly be giving you a form allowing you to confirm whether or not you wish to have your child transferred to the new waiting list.
Q – Can I just book into consecutive blocks of Adult & Child to replicate what I have been doing in the current Parent & Toddler lessons?
A – No. Children can be booked into every second block depending on availabity.
Q – When can I put my child’s name on the waiting list?
A – Our new Junior Swimming Lessons allow individual children to actively take part in the programme once they are in Primary 1. Your child’s name can be put on the waiting list up to 12 month before they are due to go to Primary school.
Q – What happens if my child is older that Primary 1 age and I want to add them to the waiting list, can I do this?
A – Yes. You can add a child at any point as long as they are in Primary 1 or older at school.
Q – Is there no longer 2 weeks of rebooking at the end of each term?
A – No, as the new scheme operates on a continual assessment basis your child can be moved to the next class at any time.
Q – So when do I rebook my child into their swimming lessons?
A – Rebooking is only required when they move from one class to another, however this may not be every term as the child will move up at their own pace.
Q – How do I know when my child is ready to move up?
A – Your instructor will provide you with a slip which can be taken to reception where you can book into the next class.
Q – I hear there is no more fun-week, is this true?
A – Yes, having looked at the overall programme we established that fun week was actually ‘using up’ 4 weeks per year where a child was not receiving lessons. This meant that over 8,000 lessons were being lost per annum. In addition, the fact we are now operating on a continual assessment basis makes having a fun week almost impossible.
Q – Are lessons still included in the High Life card?
A – Yes, all group lessons are included in your High Life card.
Q – How long will I have to wait to get into Junior lessons?
A – Part of what the review has been to get more children into our swimming lessons, therefore we are confident that we will reduce our swimming lessons waiting list. At this point of the review we are estimating it will take approximately 12 months for a child to get into the actual programme from the date of registration on the online list.
Q – What days and times will each level of the New Adult & Child be available?
A – Click here to view the Adult & Child 6 Week Block timetable.
