We just wanted to update you on what moving to Step 4 of the Government Roadmap means for
your swimming lessons. We know things have been different regarding teachers out of the water,
spectators, changing rooms, mask wearing and more and we are so appreciative of all your cooperation and patience. We hope you agree that our lessons have been the same high quality and fun for you and your little ones but we know we all want to go back to ‘normal’ as soon as possible.
The Puddle Ducks experience may still not be the same for everyone across the UK due to different rates of releasing restrictions in Wales and Scotland and because some pools may still insist on certain procedures to ensure the ongoing safety of everyone who uses the pool.
What you can be assured of is that, along with our governing body, STA, we will continue to put your safety and the safety of our teams as our top priority. To this end, we wanted to cover the main areas that have been affected by Covid restrictions and how these might now start to look.
We have also updated our FAQs so if you would also like to read about what, as your chosen swim school, Puddle Ducks is doing to keep you, your child and our team members safe, we have
summarised all the steps we are continuing to take here.
Arrival time
As per pre-covid procedures, arriving no more than 15 minutes before the start of your lesson
should be plenty of time to get ready and be poolside before the start of your lesson.
Changing rooms will be available once again at all pools and you will no longer have to arrive
Arriving swim-ready – what does that mean?
We still recommend you arrive swim ready where possible to limit time in the changing rooms, i.e. with your swimming costume/trunks/swim nappy on underneath your clothes.
We appreciate that those children still in nappies might need a nappy change just before their
lessons. Ideally this can be done in the car before entering the building but if not, please take a
change mat to the poolside with you and make sure you have nappy bags and another bag in which to put the nappy bag to ensure there is no waste left visible at poolside.
Please bring only the essentials (keeping valuables to a minimum) and one bag to put everything in as this will be left poolside (in some cases, customers will be allocated a box/bucket in which to put your bag).
We advise that you all bring a change mat that can be rolled up and placed in your bag, especially those of you who have little ones who would normally use a change table or a bench.
Spectators
With the restrictions lifted around social distancing, many of our venues will be able to
accommodate spectators once more.
Spectators will be allowed at the following pools:
Sellincourt School
Whiteley Village
Aspire Centre
Riversdale School
The Mall School
Heston Hyde Hotel
Chessington Safari Hotel
Unfortunately, spectators will not be allowed at the following pools:
Strathmore @ Grey Court School
The practical layout of some of our pools means they may have not allowed spectators pre-Covid but some pools are in environments with particularly vulnerable people (such as hospitals or special needs schools) and these may have decided to maintain a no-spectators policy to keep everyone as safe as possible.
If you require assistance due to a disability (either your own disability or your child’s), then you are able to bring a spectator to help as necessary.
Poolside Assistants
Poolside Assistants will be present at most of our lessons still to assist customers and to clean
equipment and touch points in high traffic areas. Where Poolside Assistants are present, they will
also be registering your arrival.
Face Coverings
Whilst these are no longer a legal requirement in indoor settings, we will be encouraging the adults who attend our lessons to still wear a Face Covering inside the pool building (but not in the pool).
Entering the pool area
Please continue to wash your hands before entering the pool area. At some venues this may be hand sanitiser instead of soap and water.