Swim Academy Policies

As part of City of Lincoln Pentaqua Swimming Club, our policies and ethos are that of the club; our aim is for children and young people to achieve to their fullest potential in the sport of swimming, and that they enjoy participating in the sport.

Pentaqua has a proud history of supporting swimmers in the city, and many former Pentaqua swimmers are household names (Paul Palmer, Marc Spackman, Simon Wainwright, Tracey Atkin and Mark Foster)

The club is managed and operated by a volunteer committee, with the only paid posts, being the Learn to Swim Academy teachers and the club’s Head Coach. Without the assistance and support of our volunteers though the club would not continue to grow and thrive. We are always keen to welcome helpers, and you don’t need to solely be interested in teaching swimming, an enthusiasm for the sport is the only qualification needed. If you are interested in learning more about roles within the club, please contact us HERE.

Complaints

Should you have any concerns about anything within the Learn to Swim Academy, in the first instance you should address your concerns to the Swim Academy Manager, however the Club Secretary can also be contacted via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. should you feel unable to contact the Swim Academy Manager. Complaints will be dealt with using the internal club dispute resolution system. The club is bound by the relevant ASA Judicial Rules for handling Internal Club Disputes (“the Guidelines”).

Constitution

The club is governed by a management committee who work within the terms of the club’s constitution.

Equal Opportunities

Pentaqua is committed to treat everyone equally within the context of their activity, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation or any other relevant characteristic. Pentaqua is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from the threat of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and abuse.

All members have a responsibility to challenge discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity. The Club will deal with any incidents of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to the club’s internal disciplinary procedures.

The Club will ensure that equality as stated in the club rules is incorporated in all aspects of its activities and also recognises and adopts the Sport England definition of Sports Equity:

Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure that it becomes equally accessible to all members of society, whatever their age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or socio-economic status.

The Club also seeks to fulfil the ASA’s Equality Policy Objectives and the ASA Equality Policy and further useful information and equality guidance can be found here

Safeguarding 

Pentaqua aims to offer swimming teaching and coaching of the highest standard in a safe environment. As a club, Pentaqua adopts and abides by the Amateur Swimming Association’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures (Wavepower – a copy can be downloaded here) , and this governs our approach to all safeguarding issues relating to swimmers in our Learn to Swim Academy too.

Medical Conditions 

It is your responsibility to inform the Swim Academy Manager of any medical conditions that your swimmer may have. We would request that any swimmer who is ill or infectious does not swim for the full duration of their illness and for 48 hours after the last symptom occurs.

Photography

From time to time Pentaqua may wish to take photographs of individual and groups of swimmers under the age of 18 and that may include your child during their membership of the club. All photographs will be taken and published in line with the ASA Photography Policy (Wavepower). The club requires parental consent to take and use all photographs, and all parents will have been asked to sign a Photograph Permission form. Parents do have a right to refuse agreement to their child being photographed.

Pool Rules 

The swimmers are requested to arrive in good time for their lesson, ready to swim with hat and goggles, and having been to the toilet. Swimmers are requested to allow at least one hour between eating food or snacks before the start of their swimming session. There is to be no running, pushing or general playing about on poolside. Food should not be brought onto poolside either. Parents must remain at the pool for the duration of the lesson.

Property 

Please take great care of your personal property. Neither Pentaqua nor The Priory Witham Academy accept any responsibility for damage to of loss of personal property.

Swim 21

Swim21 is the ASA’s recognised kitemark offering national recognition that Pentaqua provides a quality service for our members. Swim 21 is awarded to clubs across all aquatic disciplines, regardless of size and is about creating the best possible swimming experience for all. Pentaqua as a Swim 21 accredited club provides high quality, safe, effective child-friendly services for the benefit of swimming and non-swimming members.

Swim 21 accreditation proves that Pentaqua meets all the ASA standards in terms of swimming activities and that the club has an effective and sustainable development plan in place to continue to grow and thrive.