FAQs
We hope your questions are answered below. If not please contact us on 07974 692628.
Q. How do I book a lesson?
First time clients are asked to call us on 07974 692628 and have a chat with Marjolyn. Marjolyn likes to assess abilities through an informal chat to make sure we place your child in the right class for them. We can then monitor progress for a session to ensure they are comfortable.
If we feel they would progress better in another class, we will telephone you to discuss changing classes. Please remember that your first class is free and you are under no obligation to book sessions if you are unhappy in any way.
For clients who have swum with us for 2 or more sessions can book a new session of lessons via our shop and members areas. If you do not have your client reference number, please ask your teacher or call us on 07974 692628 with your child's name, and their date of birth, and we can remind you of this.
You can also book via your teacher. Please speak to them and ensure you have paid in advance to guarantee your place. Please click here to contact us for more information regarding pricing and booking.
Q. How old does my baby or child have to be to attend lessons?
We take children quite literally from birth! Babies tend to join us from two or three months old, as soon as a parent feels confident to attend lessons, we are happy to have them!
All of our pools are specially heated to allow little ones to swim, and we very occasionally do cancel sessions due to low pool temperatures.
Babies cannot swim if the temperature is below 30 degrees centigrade. Parents should call us to discuss their children before joining a session.
Q. My friend wants to come with his/her child?
Please pass your friends details, telephone number and your client number to your class teacher or ask your friend to contact us on 07974 692628.
If your friend books one or more sessions with us, we will give you a choice of a voucher or a discount on your lessons!
Q. We can't attend for a week or two, will I lose my place?
If you miss 1 or 2 weeks you will not lose your place, however we still have to pay for pool hire and instructors wages for the missed lesson, so unfortunately the money you paid for the missed lesson cannot be refunded.
However if you know you are going to be away for a week or 2 e.g. on Holiday and you have paid for lessons, you can sell your space to a friend. In this way your friend (and not yourself) would pay for the week or 2 weeks lessons that you miss, then on your return form holiday you can continue to attend your lessons as normal.
You can also send another adult in your place with baby such as a grandparent or an auntie/uncle, so long as baby is 100% comfortable with that person.
Please advise us by email, telephone or in person if you intend to send a relative or friend in your place. If we have not seen you for 2 weeks, we will normally call you to ensure you are OK and still want your place.
If PoolBabies has to cancel a lesson e.g. the pool is being repaired or is too cold then PoolBabies will carry over any monies paid for that cancelled lesson.
If we do not hear from you after 3 weeks or more, we will have to allow another client to take your place.
Q. What do I need to bring?
Pool Babies clients need to ensure they have the correct swim nappies before we can allow you to swim. You will need a disposable and/or a reusable swim nappy.
Due to a recent rather unpleasant experience of nappy leakage in a pool, we absolutely insist on 'double wrapping' and we will need you to put two nappies on any child who requires nappies. You will also need a neoprene swim nappy. We can lend you one for your first sessions, but you will need to buy one if you wish to continue.
We do supply them via our online shop and via our teachers, but they are also available from some sports stores. Mummy and Daddy just need to remember their own swim kit, towels and baby's usual travel equipment including a changing mat! Some parents like to use a wet suit which we do recommend.
Please see our shop or your teacher for more information. We provide all toys and equipment used during the lesson. Swim School clients need to bring their swimming costume and a towel as a minimum.
Children may bring goggles if they wish however we do supply goggles. Some of our pools have lockers and some do not. We secure private pool sessions where possible but we cannot be responsible for any lost valuables.
Please use your common sense, leave your Tiffany diamonds & Rolex's at home and only bring what you need for the lesson!
Q. Do I need to provide armbands?
No! is the short answer! We do not recommend the use of inflatable arm bands anyway as they give a false sense of buoyancy.
We will supply swim discs to all new non-swimmers, but parents can bring their own.
Q. What do I need to know about immunisations before allowing my child to swim?
Babies and children do not need vaccinations before being allowed to swim. For more information, please see NHS Direct www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
If you have any concerns regarding your child's health and swimming, please speak to NHS Direct; or your local GP or health visitor. Although we can advise you within our experience, we cannot take the place of good old fashioned medical advise!
All clients are asked to complete a medical declaration before swimming.
Q. How soon can we swim after eating?
Usually a baby can swim 1 hour following a meal. Older children should wait two hours ideally but an hour as a minimum.
Q. Do I need to be in the water?
Parents are an essential part of the lessons for babies and toddlers. We cannot provide a teacher to take your place.
If you really do not want to be in the water with baby, we are happy for another adult to take your place providing baby is comfortable with that person.
We have dealt with the most nervous of parents and we guarantee you will love the lessons as much as your child! Swim school parents do not need to be on pool side or in the water.
Q. Can Daddy come too?
We positively encourage fathers, mothers, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, grannies & grandads to join in! Anyone who you and baby feel happy and secure with.
Our Saturday lessons tend to have more Daddies involved. Some parents have a toddler and a baby so mummy brings one child and daddy the other.
You will really make the most of your lessons, especially if you are on holiday as both mummy and daddy can have fun in the pool without one parent feeling left out.
Q. I can't swim! Do you teach adults?
Currently we do not run adult group sessions, but are looking to start in the future. Please contact us by telephone or email to register your interest and we will contact you with dates when they begin.
In the meantime, we can arrange one to one sessions with adult beginners if required. We also run bespoke courses for groups such as life saving.
Please ring 07974 692628 to discuss your requirements further. Parents attending baby or toddler sessions don't need to be able to swim as these sessions are in the shallow end.
Once you have taught your child to float and have fun in the water, you'll wonder why you didn't learn before!!
Q. I'm outside of the Pool Babies area, are you planning to run lessons near me soon?
We are looking to increase our area from York to cover the Yorkshire area very soon. Please complete the new client form by clicking on the Contact link, including your postcode and we will contact you when we are starting local sessions.
Q. I am interested in becoming a Swim Teacher
If you are a qualified Swim Teacher or Assistant Swim Teacher, we are very interested in hearing from people interested in running Babies lessons.
We do offer very competitive rates of pay & bonus schemes, first class STA & Birthlight training as well as the flexibility to run your own branded Swim School alongside Pool Babies baby & toddler sessions.
All we ask is that you remain enthusiastic, motivated, and work with us to expand and retain business in your area.
If you are interested in hearing more, please contact Marjolyn Hanselman on 07974 692628
