What should my child wear to lessons?
Clean, suitable swimming attire is required for entry to the pool. We request that children up to the age of 24 months wear swim-appropriate nappies – these are either disposable ‘aqua’ nappies or waterproof fabric nappies with tight fitting elastic waistband & leg bands. *Please note: everyday disposable or cloth nappies are not permitted. Students are required to shower prior to entering pool & we recommend showering directly after.
When does my child earn their certificate?
Certificates of participation and achievement will be issued by the teacher upon completion of a level. Students will progress through levels of the program as they attain the skills and confidence. The rate at which each student will progress will be assessed on an individual basis.
When is the payment of term fees due?
All lesson fees are invoiced in advance each swim term. All money is to be paid in full prior to commencing lessons. Failure to do so will result in your child/ren losing their place in that term’s lessons. To ensure this does not happen please make it known of financial hardship before due date of invoice so we may be able to work out a payment plan. Should you seek an extension of payment & not meet the agreed terms you will be charged 10% on top of your outstanding balance, failure to comply will result in your term being forfeited & places will be offered to those waiting.
Why don’t you guarantee make up lessons?
Every program is different and must do what works for them. Here are some of the reasons that we don’t believe make up lessons are a good idea for our program.
We don’t want to make a promise we can’t deliver on.
As we get busier, our classes become fuller and sometimes there is no room to place people into another lesson time. It can be disappointing to our clients when there is no space for make up classes.
What works for us may not work for you.
We know everyone has a very busy life. Make up lessons may be scheduled on the week that a family is away or at a time that doesn’t suit. This brings us back to the first point of promising something that we can’t deliver.
It disrupts the quality of the lesson.
By moving swimmers in and out of classes frequently this can stop the flow of the lesson. Our teachers plan and deliver lessons with the aim of achieving the best aquatic experience for each and every swimmer in the class. This is hard to do if the class changes week-to-week.
Our bills continue to arrive.
Our teachers must be paid. Our pool hire, insurances & qualifications need to remain active & paid. We continue to provide the service of swimming lessons to the rest of the class when our clients are away. We want to provide good quality swimming experiences for all of our clients. We hope that you enjoy what we do offer and continue on your swimming journey with us.
Can I credit my fees towards future lessons if my child can not attend?
Credit for future terms will only be given if advised before the commencement of terms. An example would be if your child injured themselves and had to miss multiple lessons before they could re-enter the pool. You could contact us and ask the cost of missed lessons be credited to the next running term.
Can I get a refund for missed lessons or terms?
We do not give refunds for lessons. Whether you are sick on holidays and or you decide to pull out of lessons part way through a paid period. Please refer to the above regarding make-up lessons.
Can I film my child during lessons?
Parents and Carers are not permitted to film their children during group swimming lessons, primarily to ensure the safety and privacy of all participants. Filming can distract both the child and others in the class, potentially compromising their focus on learning essential swimming skills.
Moreover, it respects the privacy of all children and their families by preventing unintentional recordings of others. The pool’s policy aims to create a secure and comfortable environment for all participants, prioritising their learning and enjoyment without unnecessary distractions or intrusions.
When should my child NOT enter the pool?
Austswim provides a set of health guidelines, outlining a list of medical concerns/symptoms which would prevent your child from participation in lessons. Please click on the list here and keep your child at home if they are unwell.
What happens if a lesson is cancelled?
In the unlikely event that the pool is closed or lessons are cancelled at the fault of Little Fish Swim School, you will be given a catch-up date set up by Little Fish Swim School usually this is made in the first week of the next school holidays.
What should I do if my child is not participating or following direction?
Every step will be taken to ensure all children are corrected on their skills, listening & following directions safely each age group guidelines are slightly different however your child’s teacher will expect these guidelines to be followed. No running around pool deck. No hitting, kicking or screaming at teachers or fellow students.
As children do not always behave as per the book each week (we all have our moments & we understand and appreciate kids are kids!) should we find a student is not behaving as expected, your child’s teacher will explain what is needed to be done should a student not follow these guidelines and continue to ignore instructions a warning will be issued this is verbal directions and time to sit on the side line will be offered to calm the child down, should this be unsuccessful and the student becomes upset or leaves the spot they’ve been sat in we ask parents to come and help. Some calm words and reminding them that all children must follow these rules to ensure everybody’s safety & wellbeing are met would be appreciated. Should a student continue this behaviour and not settle into class or become distressed we may choose to end the lesson for the student.
What should I do if my child’s lesson is ended early due to difficult behaviour?
In this event please remain calm, ask your child to sit with you, and talk through their feelings. There are four approaches to follow next:
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Step 1
My child calms
If your child calms, and is ready to try again, have them re-join the class. No more will be mentioned (other than a congratulations for remembering our rules & giving it another go)!
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Step 2
My child remains upset / uncooperative
Shower your child and remain on pool deck for duration of class once they are calm. This way your child can see what they’ve missed, and also that their classmates are enjoying the time spent in class. At the end of the class please come over to your teacher and debrief with child and teacher, it will be beneficial to ensure your child hears it is a shame, but we can try next week and start fresh. High five and a sticker at parent approval.
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Step 3
My child cannot calm / or refuses to swim
It is best to leave the pool building and take your child outside. If previous week’s attempts to stay and calm have failed & your child will not swim it may be at this point we talk about taking a break & re-joining in a term’s time.
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Step 4
My child’s behaviour continues in the following weeks
Should you feel no progress can be made using the above-mentioned strategies, you may withdraw your child from their lesson. Please note: no issue of refund or credit will be issued in this circumstance.
Lesson-time can be busy, when can I reach out to have a chat?
There may be some weeks where we don’t get the chance to talk to you, we try to make the most of each session and swim as much as possible during this time. Should you ever need to speak with us or to chat to Jasmine in person please make it known. We encourage and welcome all feedback and love to hear of important milestones or adventures in our little fish lives.