Child Admission Policy & Swim Test
Child Admission Policy
In accordance with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport & Physical Activity (CIMSPA) Guidelines and our own risk assessment we enforce the following policy at Tonbridge Swimming Pool and Larkfield Leisure Centre.
Children under 4 years must be accompanied in the water by a responsible person over the age of 16 on a 1:1 ratio. However the ratio becomes 1:2 if any child under 4 is wearing a suitable buoyancy aid. Buoyancy aids are deemed acceptable if they fully support the child’s weight in the water and remain secure both in and out of the water (e.g. armbands or a float suit). Buoyancy aids that are hand held are not considered appropriate.
Children aged 4 to 7 years must be accompanied in the water by a responsible person over the age of 16, with no more than 2 children per responsible person. If any of the children pass the Competent to Swim Test they still need to be accompanied, but no longer form part of the parent to child ratio.
Children aged 8 to 9 years must be accompanied in the water by a responsible person over the age of 16 years with no more than 2 children per responsible person, unless they pass the Competent to Swim Test. Once passed, they no longer need to be accompanied in the water, but a responsible person over the age of 16 must remain in the Centre.
Children aged 10 years plus can attend unaccompanied.
The responsible person must not leave children under the age of 10 unattended or beyond easy reach.
Competent to Swim Test
The Competent to Swim Test can only be taken by children aged 4 years and over. It involves the following tasks, which are undertaken in the Fitness Pool:
- Jump into the deep end of the pool
- Tread water for one minute
- Swim 50 metres in two minutes using a recognised stroke
The test is readily available on request, and upon completion will be awarded to the successful child and this information we will be added to our computer system. Once completed customers will be able to swim at both Tonbridge Swimming Pool and Larkfield Leisure Centre.