Swimming Admissions Policy

General Swimming Admissions

Swimmers are permitted into Sheffield City Trust swimming pools with the following conditions:

• Appropriate swimwear must be worn during all public swimming sessions.
• All swimming groups must adhere to the child/guardian swimming ratios.
• All children aged 3 and under and non-swimmers must wear floatation aids. The floatation aid must be attached to the child. We will only allow armbands, floatation vests or a float with an attachment. Swim rings without a seat or handheld woggles are not accepted as floatation aids.
• Non swimmers must remain in designated areas.
• Swimmers should be fit, well and not experiencing any symptoms of illness. Swimmers who have suffered from sickness and/or diarrhoea must not swim until symptom free for 48hours or 14days if diagnosed by a GP with Cryptosporidiosis and/or giardiasis.
• Children not yet toilet trained must wear a double nappy system, a disposable swim nappy must be worn under a neoprene reusable swim nappy.
• All swimmers should shower and use toilet facilities prior to entering the swimming pool.
• Swimmers attending lane swimming must be a strong competent swimmer able to swim a minimum of 2 full lengths of the relevant pool, non-stop using a recognised stroke.
• Avoid swimming within 2 hours of consuming a meal.
• Never swim if you have consumed alcohol or under the influence of drugs.
  
  

Swimwear Guidelines

• 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 see through (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 should also not be worn.
• The clothing should be hygienic. Clothing worn for everyday use should not be worn in the pool, the items should be specifically used for swimwear.
• The clothing should be safe. Anything too baggy which may become tangled with limbs causing difficulties while swimming should not be worn.
• The clothing should 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 head covered, an appropriate piece of swimwear should be used. This can be in the form of a swim cap, or other 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.
  
  

Pool Information

• Concord Sports Centre: Main pool shallow end 0.9 metres and deep end 1.5 metres. Teaching pool shallow end 0.6 metres and deep end 0.9 metres 
• Westfield Sports Centre: Pool shallow end 1 metres and deep end 1.45 metres
• Heeley Pool: Pool shallow end 0.9 metres and deep end 2 metre. Pool length is 25 yards.
• Springs Leisure Centre: Pool shallow end 0.9 metres and deep end 1.9 metres
• Hillsborough Leisure Centre: Beach leisure pool shallow end 0.00 metres and deep end 2.00 metres. Blue slide - Up to 2 children can ride with an adult. Black slide - Only one person minimum height 1 metres can ride at one time
• Ponds Forge International Sports Centre - Competition pool depth is 3 metres and leisure pool shallow end is 1 metre deep and deep end is 1.5 metres. 
  
  

New Policy from 1st February 2024

Child/Guardian Swimming Admissions and Ratios

Hillsborough Leisure Centre

For weekday sessions until 3pm (term-time only), accessible swim sessions the following ratios apply:

• Children aged 9 and under must be actively accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+) on a two to one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take up to two children aged 9 and under swimming.
• Children aged 10 and over who are “strong, competent swimmers” can enter the pool unaccompanied.
• Children aged 10 and over who are weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+).
• All swimmers aged 9 and under and all weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accommpanied in the water. Actively accompanied means being within arms reach of the swimmer.
• All responsible guardians must be able to support the child in the water.
• All children aged 3 and under and non-swimmers must wear floatation aids. The floatation aid must be attached to the child. We will only allow armbands, floatation vests or a float with an attachment. Swim rings without a seat or handheld woggles are not accepted as floatation aids.

For weekdays after 3pm (term-time only), weekends from 10am, bank holidays and school holidays sessions, the following ratios apply:

• Children aged 3 and under must be actively accompanied by a responsible Guardian (16+) on a one-to-one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take one children aged 3 and under swimming.
• Children aged 4 to 9 must be actively accompanied by a responsible Guardian (16+) on a two to one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take up to two children aged 4-9 and under swimming.
• Children aged 10 and over who are “strong, competent swimmers” can enter the pool unaccompanied.
• Children aged 10 and over who are weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accompanied by a responsible Guardian (16+).
• All swimmers aged 9 and under and all weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accommpanied in the water. Actively accompanied means being within arms reach of the swimmer.
• All responsible guardians must be able to support the child in the water.
• All children aged 3 and under and non-swimmers must wear floatation aids. The floatation aid must be attached to the child. We will only allow armbands, floatation vests or a float with an attachment. Swim rings without a seat or handheld woggles are not accepted as floatation aids.

For lane swimming, the following ratios apply:

• All swimmers, regardless of age must be "strong and competent swimmers" to access lane swimming.
• "Strong and competent swimmers" are defined as being able to swim two lengths of the lane swimming session they are attending, non-stop using a recognised swimming stroke.
• Children aged 9 and under, who are "strong and competent swimmers", must be accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+) on a two-to-one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take up to 2 children aged 9 and under swimming.
• Children aged 10 and over who are "strong and competent swimmers" can enter the pool unaccompanied.
  
  

Ponds Forge

Weekday sessions (term-time only) and Little Swimmers the following ratios apply:

• Children aged 9 and under must be actively accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+) on a two to one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take up to two children aged 9 and under swimming.
• Children aged 10 and over who are “strong, competent swimmers” can enter the pool unaccompanied.
• Children aged 10 and over who are weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+).
• All swimmers aged 9 and under and all weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accommpanied in the water. Actively accompanied means being within arms reach of the swimmer.
• All responsible guardians must be able to support the child in the water.
• All children aged 3 and under and non-swimmers must wear floatation aids. The floatation aid must be attached to the child. We will only allow armbands, floatation vests or a float with an attachment. Swim rings without a seat or handheld woggles are not accepted as floatation aids.

For weekends, bank holidays and school holidays sessions, the following ratios apply:

• Children aged 3 and under must be actively accompanied by a responsible Guardian (16+) on a one-to-one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take one children aged 3 and under swimming.
• Children aged 4 to 9 must be actively accompanied by a responsible Guardian (16+) on a two to one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take up to two children aged 4-9 and under swimming.
• Children aged 10 and over who are “strong, competent swimmers” can enter the pool unaccompanied.
• Children aged 10 and over who are weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accompanied by a responsible Guardian (16+).
• All swimmers agedand under and all weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accommpanied in the water. Actively accompanied means being within arms reach of the swimmer.
• All responsible guardians must be able to support the child in the water.
• All children aged 3 and under and non-swimmers must wear floatation aids. The floatation aid must be attached to the child. We will only allow armbands, floatation vests or a float with an attachment. Swim rings without a seat or handheld woggles are not accepted as floatation aids.
  
  

For lane swimming, the following ratios apply:

• All swimmers, regardless of age must be "strong and competent swimmers" to access lane swimming.
• "Strong and competent swimmers" are defined as being able to swim two lengths of the lane swimming session they are attending, non-stop using a recognised swimming stroke.
• Children aged 9 and under, who are "strong and competent swimmers", must be accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+) on a two-to-one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take up to 2 children aged 9 and under swimming.
• Children aged 10 and over who are "strong and competent swimmers" can enter the pool unaccompanied.
  
  

Concord Sports Centre, Heeley Pool & Springs Leisure Centre 

For all leisure swimming sessions, the following ratios apply:

• Children aged 9 and under must be actively accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+) on a two to one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take up to two children aged 9 and under swimming.
• Children aged 10 and over who are “strong, competent swimmers” can enter the pool unaccompanied.
• Children aged 10 and over who are weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+).
• All swimmers aged 9 and under and all weak- or non-swimmers must be actively accommpanied in the water. Actively accompanied means being within arms reach of the swimmer.
• All responsible guardians must be able to support the child in the water.
• All children aged 3 and under and non-swimmers must wear floatation aids. The floatation aid must be attached to the child. We will only allow armbands, floatation vests or a float with an attachment. Swim rings without a seat or handheld woggles are not accepted as floatation aids.

For lane swimming, the following ratios apply:

• All swimmers, regardless of age must be "strong and competent swimmers" to access lane swimming.
• "Strong and competent swimmers" are defined as being able to swim two lengths of the lane swimming session they are attending, non-stop using a recognised swimming stroke.
• Children aged 9 and under, who are "strong and competent swimmers", must be accompanied by a responsible guardian (16+) on a two-to-one ratio. This means one responsible guardian (16+) can take up to 2 children aged 9 and under swimming.
• Children aged 10 and over who are "strong and competent swimmers" can enter the pool unaccompanied.