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Swimming Lessons Are Back in Manchester

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Swimming Lessons Are Back in manchester

Swimming lessons in Manchester are back! We're pleased to let you know, that from Wednesday 2 December, we will be welcoming back children between the ages of 5 and 16 to our Swimming Lessons across Manchester.

Lessons will take place at community pools available to the public. A decision, given the comprehensive Government guidance, we have carefully considered. We will ensure we once again reopen safely, prioritising all our customers and staff, in the knowledge that our pools can carefully help the city get active again. See the full list below to check when your nearest available pool will be offering swimming lessons. 

IMPORTANT: All swimming lessons must be booked in advance online or via the app before your visit.

Before attending your booked swim lesson in Manchester, watch centre videos to get an idea on the measures introduced and differences to your usual visit across our centres for your reassurance and guidance. Below you can also watch centre specific videos in advance of any visit too.

Please wear a face mask. We have updated our guidelines related to wearing face masks or face coverings - to help keep both our staff and customers even safer. Just like when you visit your local supermarket, we are asking all of our customers to please wear a face mask or covering at all times when you are visiting your local MCRactive centre - apart from when you are exercising. 

As changing rooms and showers will be limited, we ask that all children arrive to the centre with their swimwear underneath clothing such as a tracksuit or onesie (something easy to remove). Once customers are at the Swimming Lesson Drop Off Zone, we will ask all children to ensure they have their swimsuit or trunks, swimming cap and goggles. If for any reason you cannot get your child pool ready before getting to the centre, we will have limited areas for them to change.

It is essential that when swimming lessons restart within our leisure facilities, they have appropriate measures in place to protect both residents and staff. Our operators have established several policies and procedures to ensure that facilities comply with regulations and provide reassurance to customers that they are safe.

To help get your family prepared for when we welcome our junior swimmers back, we encourage everyone to read the FAQs carefully before visiting a pool. If we’ve missed something, we are here to support you. Please contact us.

Pools will be open and swimming lessons will recommence. There will be some reduced opening hours on certain days and times, so please check in advance before visiting.

The following pools will be offering swimming lessons from 2 December: 

Wythenshawe Forum (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
Moss Side Leisure Centre (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
Hough End Leisure Centre (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
East Manchester Leisure Centre (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
Manchester Aquatics Centre (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
North City Family & Fitness Centre (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
Manchester Aquatics Centre 

What to expect...
 
In line with government guidelines and to ensure the safety of both our staff and our members, there will be changes to what you can expect from our Swim School. To help get your family prepared for when we welcome our junior swim schoolers back, we've created some handy Swim School FAQs.
 
If your child attends swimming lessons at following leisure centres, please read all you need to know in advance here from "what to wear" and "what to bring" to new features launching this September:

Moss Side Leisure Centre (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre  (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
Hough End Leisure Centre  (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
East Manchester Leisure Centre  (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
Manchester Aquatics Centre  (See VIDEO what you need to know in advance)
 
Unfortunately due to our current measures, the following lessons are not restarting yet. We are however working hard to ensure they can recommence soon:
 
•            Swimbies
•            Pre School
•            Adults
 
If your child attends swimming lessons at Wythenshawe Forum, find out more here and to see what the new lessons look like click here. 

If you’re a parent or guardian wanting to enrol a child onto our swim lesson programme. You can register your interest or sign up using the link below and we’ll be in touch as soon as we’re ready to begin enrolment. 

Moss Side Leisure Centre 
Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre 
Hough End Leisure Centre 
East Manchester Leisure Centre
North City Family & Fitness Centre 
Wythenshawe Forum 

A new Customer Journey ensuring we manage flow of customers before, during and after lessons enabling social distancing.

To allow only one parent to attend with a child, to reduce the number of people in the building.

When attending, please wear a face mask. We have updated our guidelines related to wearing face masks or face coverings - to help keep both our staff and customers even safer. Just like when you visit your local supermarket, we are asking all of our customers to please wear a face mask or covering at all times when you are visiting your local MCRactive centre - apart from when you are exercising. 

Where possible, we ask pupils to attend lessons readily changed in their costumes. This will avoid the need to use the changing rooms prior to the lesson starting.

A new delivery model that ensures our lessons are safe, progressive and fun for all children taking part.

A new syllabus with more rounded outcomes that celebrates pupil’s achievements as well an increased focus on developing water safety skills ensuring we catch up on the time children have missed out of the pool during the shut down period.

A reduced number of different classes. Pupils will be ability grouped and taught by a team of teachers to ensure proggression whilst making your journey with us far simpler. Pupils achieving awards won’t mean having to change times or days on a regular basis!

A clearer talent pathway enabling pupils to progress along towards becoming the best swimmer they can.

If your child attends swimming lessons at Wythenshawe Forum, please be aware of the further following changes or visit here for more information:

All pre-school stage 1 children will be required to wear arm discs. Parents may be asked to attend lessons in the water with younger children (only one parent, per child).

Whilst we are comfortable that Chlorine treated water is one of the safest environments for our pupils, we have also ensured that our lessons follow Government and industry guidance and that the whole customer journey and environment is safe for our pupils, parents and teachers. The key changes we have made are:

On arriving, there will be a one-way system in place, directing you and your child to the lesson.

All lessons have staggered start times to reduce the number of people in areas of the centre.

Introduction of Lead Swimming Teachers responsible for making all lessons COVID-19 Secure.

All Swimming Teachers will deliver from poolside for all swimming lessons.

All swimming lesson equipment is disinfected before, during and after all lessons.

All swimming lesson capacities have been designed to allow for both children and swimming teachers to social distance. This may affect the times we are able to offer customers.
 
Swimming lesson activities have been reviewed to ensure we can teach a broad range of skills while ensuring COVID-19 Secure measures are maintained.

Before attending your booked swim lesson in Manchester, watch this video to get an idea on the measures introduced and differences to your usual visit across our centres for your reassurance and guidance.

You can also watch centre specific videos in advance of your visit to get an additional understanding on what to expect before you visit;

Moss Side Leisure Centre (See VIDEO )
Arcadia Library & Leisure Centre (See VIDEO)
Hough End Leisure Centre (See VIDEO)
East Manchester Leisure Centre (See VIDEO)
North City Family & Fitness Centre (See VIDEO)
Wythenshawe Forum (See VIDEO)

We urge all staff and members to be responsible for creating a clean and safe environment for everyone. The following will be implemented to achieve this:
 

  • Training: Our staff have undertaken increased training modules on COVID-19 prevention and have been instructed to use cleaning kits as often as possible.
  • Sanitisation stations: Hand sanitisation will be compulsory when entering the centre and stations will be located throughout for access to sanitisation and equipment cleaning supplies
  • Protection: We have installed plastic protective shields at reception desks and will be providing PPE for our staff in line with Public Health England (PHE) recommendations
  • Enhanced cleaning process: Our team will be carrying out regular cleaning and disinfection regimes throughout the day and we’re asking members to support this by cleaning each piece of equipment before and after their workout.
  • Increased cleaning hours: The centre and equipment will be sanitised regularly throughout the day and will be deep cleaned every night when the centre closes.  Deep cleaning will also take place between every session ready for customers attending the next session slots.


For additional measures implemented for the following centres, click here;

Arcadia Leisure Centre
East Manchester Leisure Centre
Hough End Leisure Centre
Moss Side Leisure Centre
North City Family & Fitness Centre

For Wythenshawe Forum, click here.

Yes. Across all our centres, we’re confident in our competence to minimise the risk of infection and keep our members and staff safe. We’ll be implementing increased cleaning procedures to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness and disinfection and will have consistent social distancing measures in place to create a safe environment for you.

We’re also asking members and staff not to visit the centre if they feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms and there will be clear signage to reflect this.

Will hand sanitiser and cleaning supplies be provided in the centre? 
Yes. It’ll be compulsory for members and staff to use hand sanitiser at the entrance of all centres. There’ll also be numerous sanitisation stations located throughout centres. Antibacterial spray and blue roll will be provided for you to clean your equipment and mats before and after use. 

Will staff be wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)? 
In line with Public Health England and UK Active guidance, staff will be provided with adequate PPE to ensure both their own safety and yours. Public Health England guidance states that PPE should be used where physical distancing can’t be maintained, or the possibility for exposure is high so members of staff will be wearing PPE where the social distancing rule can't be adhered to, when providing care or undertaking close proximity work. 

Staff have also undertaken increased training modules on COVID-19 prevention and have been instructed to use cleaning kits as often as possible. 

How can I, as a member help? 
Please contribute to keeping our centres clean by sanitising your hands upon entry to the centre and using our hygiene stations and disposable wipes. We’re asking members to support hygiene by cleaning each piece of equipment before and after their workout.

Do members need to wear masks?
Across our facilities it is optional for staff & customers to wear face masks, and as per the latest Government guidelines, it is not recommended that customers wear masks whilst exercising. Current Government guidance also states that you must wear a face mask in concourse areas – which will apply to the Wythenshawe Forum only, but members are able to take it off once through the turnstiles and in the facility.

Will there be changing rooms and lockers available? 
All children and parents and/or guardians will have access to changing rooms after lessons. We ask that all customers keep to the 10 minute allocation to ensure we have time to keep these areas clean and keep our lessons running on time.

Please limit your personal belongings and only use a locker if absolutely necessary. Hair dryers will be available, but we encourage you to dry your hair at home. 

Can I use the sauna and steam room?
All saunas and steam rooms will remain closed. These facilities will open as soon as we’re able to do so.

Will the café be opening?
Cafés will remain closed until further notice.

Pre-booked sessions: All activities must be pre-booked via Better UK. For Wythenshawe Forum, customers can book via Everyone Active. 

Social distancing signage: Floor markers will be applied to show where to stand and where relevant, directional signs indicating one-way systems.