Zest

Swimming Lessons

• Arrive punctually for the session, accessing changing rooms no earlier than 10 minutes beforehand. Late arrivals, more than 10 minutes after the lesson starts, may be denied entry to maintain the teaching environment.
• Wait for instructions from the swimming teacher before entering the water.
• Maintain responsibility for your child until the teacher takes charge at the lesson’s start and promptly collect them at the end. Parental responsibility resumes after the lesson.
• Throughout lessons, parents/guardians are kindly requested to refrain from interrupting or engaging with the instructor, as well as avoiding actions that may divert the attention of the children.
• Avoid waiting on the poolside or in changing rooms / entrance to the changing rooms. There are designated seating areas in reception or foyer.
• We reserve the right to remove any clothing left in the changing cabins during lessons. Kindly use the lockers provided or take your clothes with you while awaiting for your child.
• During a fire alarm, children will be supervised by the swim teacher and escorted to the assembly point. Parents must exit via the nearest exit and refrain from going to the poolside.
• We kindly request that you remain in or near the building during the lesson. If you opt to leave, please ensure you can be reached via the provided telephone number.
• Please refrain from bringing any valuables to swimming lessons, as Zest cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to personal belongings.
• Zest supplies all required equipment for your child’s lesson. Children will be asked to remove any arm bands or swimming aids not provided by Zest, although some may opt to bring their own woggle.
• We recommend that your child comes ‘beach ready’ which speeds up the process of preparing them for lessons.
• Disorderly behaviour, such as running, diving, or shouting, is prohibited. Persistent misbehaviour may result in the child being asked to leave the lesson
• Supervision of non-participating children is mandatory, and they must refrain from entering changing rooms or poolside areas during lessons.
• During one-to-one swimming lessons where the instructor is working alone, we ask that you remain on poolside where you have a clear view of the swimming pool to ensure continuous parental supervision of your child.
• For parking, kindly use the car park at Shipton Street if space is available or adjacent side streets. Please refrain from using the area in front of the building, as it must be kept clear for emergency service access at all times.
• Swimmers should not eat for at least an hour prior to swimming
• Swimmers should make use of the toilet facilities and showers before their lesson to help keep the pool clean and maximises their learning time.
• Long hair should be tied back off. Swim hats can be worn but please ensure these are well fitting and fitted ready for the start of a child’s lesson.
• Appropriate swimwear must be worn at all times in the swimming pool and communal changing areas.
• Swimming goggles may be worn, however, we reserve the right to remove them for certain activities and discourage their use in stage 1 and 2 lessons.
• Jewellery, including earrings, poses a hazard and should not be worn during swimming.
• No smoking, vaping, or alcohol consumption is permitted on the premises.
• Buggies must be left in the foyer. Please do not obstruct the fire exits.

If you or any accompanying individuals fail to comply with staff instructions, exhibit inappropriate behaviour toward team members or others, or cause damage to property, you may be excluded from participating in further swimming lessons. See our Code of Conduct for further information.

While present at the venue, please demonstrate respect for all property. Access to the premises and its surroundings carries inherent risks, and any additional amenities should be used in adherence to our regulations.

Other Sessions: Before your swim

• Please shower before entering the pool
• Use the steps or ramp to enter the pool
• Swimming Admission Policy must be adhered to
• Children under 8 must be accompanied by a paying adult in the pool.
• Do not leave bags on the poolside, lockers are provided, please bring a padlock. Zest are not responsible for personal belongings.

Other Sessions: During your Swim

• Stay within arms reach of young children who can not swim without aids
• Actively supervise your children
• Non Swimmers must wear aids to float and remain in the shallow end. Do not pass the “No non swimmers pass this point” sign
• No large inflatables in pool. Including lilos, large hoops, Large shapes
• No diving masks, snorkels, flippers or hand paddles
• No diving, bombing, twisting, jumping in backwards or pushing
• No running
• No spitting
• No fighting or rough play
• No hanging onto the lane ropes unless in emergency
• No shouting
• No dunking
• No gymnastics or acrobatics
• No underwater swimming or hyperventilation
• Listen to and respect the lifeguards
• Wear appropriate swimwear – see below
• No Photography and Video Recording is allowed in pool and pool area. See below
• No Smoking vaping in the Pool area or building.
• No chewing gum
• No Alcohol is allowed to be consumed in the pool and pool area under any circumstances.
• No Glass objects to be brought on the premises.
• No littering
• No food or drink on poolside apart from plastic water bottles with lids

Customers can purchase tickets for multiple sessions but must vacate the pool after each session is completed.

This is not an exhaustive list and lifeguards may curtail other unsafe activities.

Photography & Recording

Due to child protection regulations, photography including camera phones and video filming are not permitted during any swimming session, in changing areas, and in toilet facilities.

We may provide the option for a professional photographer to be present in the pool area to take pictures of swimming lessons. However, this arrangement will be organised in advance, communicated to you, and will proceed only with your written consent.

 We may provide the option for a professional photographer to be present in the pool area to take pictures of swimming lessons. However, this arrangement will be organised in advance, communicated to you, and will proceed only with your written consent. 

Swimming Admission Policy

Our admission policy can be viewed here.

Appropriate Swimwear

Items of clothing worn in the pool should ideally be designed for use in that particular activity. This means that anything which is deemed unsuitable and does not comply with the criteria below would not be allowed to be worn.

• The clothing should not offend decency. This means that any items of a material which could go transparent (for example boxer shorts or Bermuda shorts) would not be permitted.
• The clothing should be made from a suitable material. This means anything which may become heavy when water is absorbed such as cotton should not be worn. Items such as this pose a danger to both the wearer and other users by restricting movement. Denim is not allowed.
• The clothing must be hygienic. Clothing worn for everyday use should not be worn in the pool, the items should be specifically used for swimwear.
• The clothing must be safe. Anything too baggy which may become tangled with limbs causing difficulties while swimming must not be worn.
• The clothing must not pose a risk to the wearer or other users. Any items which do not meet the above recommendations should not be allowed in the water.
• For religions which do not allow the wearer to reveal any of their body, there are several items of clothing which have now been designed to be worn specifically by these groups, such as one piece costumes covering most of the body, arms, legs and head.
• For wearers who wish to keep their heads covered, an appropriate piece of swimwear should be used. This can be in the form of a swim cap, or another available garment which allows the user to feel comfortable, not compromise any religious beliefs and keep in line with any health & safety concerns. Items of headwear not complying with any of the other points should not be permitted to be worn in the pool.

Examples of suitable swimwear

• Swimming costume or swimming trunks
• A bikini (Do not wear thong style swimwear)
• Lycra-based bottoms or tight fitted leggings
• Lycra-based tops – short or long sleeved – a dark colour not white
• Rash vest, short or long sleeved
• Burqini/Hijood or other similar swimwear
• Leggings and a t-shirt over a swimsuit

Failure to Comply

If you or any accompanying individuals fail to comply with staff instructions, exhibit inappropriate behaviour toward team members or others, or cause damage to property, you may be excluded from participating in activities at Zest.

While present at the venue, please demonstrate respect for all property. Access to the premises and its surroundings carries inherent risks, and any additional amenities should be used in adherence to our regulations.