By joining us for lessons you accept and agree to abide by the following terms and conditions.

If you’d like to join us for weekly lessons, you’re welcome to start at any point during the term, subject to availability. For children who are completely new to swimming lessons, we recommend starting at the beginning of a term so they can progress alongside their class, rather than joining later once a significant amount of content has already been covered.

To book, simply complete our online booking form. Michelle, our Swim School Coordinator, will then be in touch via email to discuss class options. If you haven’t heard from us within 48 hours, please get in touch, as we may not have received your form. Once a suitable space has been confirmed, we’ll send you a welcome email with all the details you need to get started.

During the first few weeks of term, we assess all new and returning swimmers to ensure they are placed in the most suitable class. If, for any reason, the class isn’t the right fit, we will contact you to arrange an alternative. If no suitable alternative is available, you can either transfer your payment towards the following term or receive a refund for any lessons not attended up to that point.

All lesson fees are collected by monthly Direct Debit through our secure provider, GoCardless. Please note we are unable to accept cash, cheque, or BACS payments.

Payments are taken on the 2nd of each month. If you would prefer an alternative collection date, please email us to arrange this. Fees are collected in advance for each term:

  • December – March for the January term

  • April – July for the Summer term

  • August – November for the Winter term

If you join partway through a term, your payments may be adjusted and spread across two or three months as needed.

A £5 joining fee per child applies when you first register. This secures your place and includes a complimentary Seahorses swimming hat (for preschool, school-aged, and adult swimmers), which must be worn during lessons.

Please note, our prices are subject to a small annual increase in line with rising pool hire costs and teacher salaries.

Your child’s space is automatically carried forward each term. After half term, we will email you with details for the upcoming term, including how to request a class change or discontinue lessons, along with the deadline for notice. We will also send a reminder before this deadline.

If you wish to discontinue lessons at the end of a term, we require six weeks’ term-time notice. Notice received after this deadline may result in lesson charges to cover the six-week period if we are unable to reallocate your space (you are, of course, welcome to attend these lessons at the start of the new term).

If you have requested a class change and no suitable alternative is available, you will not be charged. Occasionally, we may also need to move your child to a different class to ensure they are placed in the most suitable ability group. In such cases, we may not always be able to offer the same day or time as your current class.

If you wish to change the time, day, or venue for the following term, please reply to our rebooking email before the notice period deadline. We will always do our best to find a suitable alternative, but we cannot guarantee availability.

All classes are reviewed at the end of each term. While most groups progress together, there may be occasions when a different class is better suited to your child’s needs. If this is the case, we will contact you separately after the rebooking email to discuss suitable alternatives.

All new and returning swimmers are assessed during the first weeks of term to ensure they are placed in the most appropriate ability group. If we feel another class would better support your child’s progress, we may suggest a change of day, time, or venue. Should we be unable to offer a suitable alternative, we can either carry your payment forward to the next term or provide a refund for any lessons we are unable to offer.

When you join Seahorses, you are booking and committing to your space for the full term. Please see our FAQ page for full details of our refund policy.

We do our very best to deliver every lesson as scheduled. However, there may occasionally be unforeseen circumstances where a teacher is unable to take a class at very short notice, or a lesson may need to stop once it has already begun. While we always try to cancel in advance where possible, our admin team is not available 24/7, and sometimes issues arise unexpectedly. The last thing we ever want is to have to disappoint swimmers once they have arrived at the pool.

On rare occasions, we may need to combine two classes that would normally run separately. In these instances, refunds are not offered.

Please note: no refunds are given for lessons missed by swimmers for any reason, including illness or holidays. This policy applies to both preschool and school-aged classes. Our lesson prices remain highly competitive given the quality of teaching and facilities provided, and we are committed to paying our teachers excellent rates to reflect the fantastic lessons they deliver. To remain sustainable as a small business, we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations.

In the unlikely event that we have to cancel a lesson (e.g. pool closure or teacher illness), the session will be credited to your account. Credits can be used for additional sessions such as swim weeks or other one-off classes, and they may be transferred to a sibling (for a class of the same price) or put towards a smaller group lesson. Cancelled lessons are often rescheduled during half-term or holiday periods.

Credits can also be carried forward to the following term if you are unable to use them straight away. However, please note that unused credits are forfeited if you discontinue lessons.

For baby and toddler classes, we understand that many families cannot attend make-up lessons on alternative days. As these classes do not usually run during Swim Weeks, we will instead refund any cancelled lessons at the end of the term.

Please be aware that lessons cancelled due to adverse weather conditions or other exceptional circumstances beyond our control will not be credited.

At Seahorses, we value every child as an individual and provide support tailored to their specific needs. All medical information is treated with the utmost confidentiality and is only shared with your child’s teacher, cover teachers, and other members of staff if necessary to ensure safety.

If your child has a medical condition, it is essential that you inform us when completing the booking form. Failure to disclose relevant information could put your child at risk and may also affect their progress in lessons.

Please provide as much detail as possible, including any adaptations that may help us support your child in the water. Where appropriate, we can arrange for an additional assistant in the pool (at an extra cost), or offer private lessons if these would better meet your child’s needs. These arrangements are reviewed each term in consultation with you.

If your child wears glasses, please let us know—prescription goggles can be used by swimmers with eye conditions. If your child has grommets, it is important that you advise us and clarify whether they can take part in activities such as submersion or jumping in. Earplugs and headbands may be worn if required.

Please remember to update us immediately if there are any changes to your child’s medical information.

Please ensure your child is healthy and ready to swim each week. Children must not enter the pool if they have an open wound (even with a plaster), any infectious illness, cough, cold, ear or eye infection, head lice, or stomach upset.

Children showing visible signs of a cold, such as a runny nose or persistent coughing, should not attend lessons. Viruses can spread very easily in swimming pools, and while your child may feel well enough to swim, they could pass the illness to other swimmers or our teachers, potentially leading to lesson cancellations.

Swimmers should wait at least 14 days after experiencing unexplained diarrhea, or 48 hours following vomiting or a D&V bug, before returning to the pool.

If your child has a verruca, they may swim as usual; verruca socks are no longer required, as evidence shows they are ineffective and verrucas are not transmitted in swimming pools. Please cover any verruca with a waterproof plaster.

Children recovering from chickenpox must wait until all scabs have fallen off before returning to lessons.

Babies attending lessons do not require vaccinations.

All swimmers are required to shower before entering the pool. Showering with water alone removes up to 80% of skin oils and bacteria, helping maintain a pleasant swimming environment and allowing us to keep pool chemical levels lower.

Please note: we do not provide refunds or credits for missed classes or class swaps.

Any child who is not yet fully toilet trained must wear a double nappy system: a swim nappy (we recommend a washable or reusable nappy for environmental reasons, and because swim kit will need washing anyway) and a confinement nappy (not a standard nappy).

All swimmers should use the toilet before entering the pool.

Please do not leave used nappies in the bins or elsewhere at any of our pool facilities. All nappies should be taken home and disposed of responsibly.

Please note: In accordance with Wavepower safeguarding standards and our school policies, mobile phones are not permitted anywhere on site, except in the case of a medical emergency. Mobile phones must remain switched off and must not be used or visible in changing rooms or on the poolside.

We recommend that all swimmers arrive at their lessons wearing their swim kit under their clothes, especially when there may be traffic, to allow for a quick and smooth change before entering the pool.

At our Tongham pool, the changing facilities consist of a large communal/family changing area. A curtained section is available on the far right-hand side for added privacy if required. Please note that both male and female parents may accompany their children, and during our Birthlight baby and toddler classes, both mothers and fathers may swim with their little ones.

At our Grayshott pool, there is a communal changing area, as well as two additional curtained sections on the poolside for privacy.

At our Bordon pool, there are two large communal changing rooms with accessible changing areas, showers, and toilets.

Children aged 8+ should change with groups of the same sex, which includes parents/guardians.

If you have any concerns regarding the use of the changing facilities, please let us know so we can accommodate your needs.

Poolside Guidelines and Responsibilities

  • Mobile Phones: Mobile phones are not permitted to be used anywhere on site, including in changing rooms, showers, toilets, or on the poolside. Mobile phones should be kept in bags at all times, and are only permitted to be used on site in a medical emergency. If you see someone using a phone at the pool, please let us know.

  • Footwear: Everyone entering the pool complex must remove shoes and socks and place them on the shoe racks provided.

  • Attire & Comfort: Poolside can become very warm. Please dress appropriately and bring water to stay hydrated.

  • Siblings & Spectators: Siblings are welcome to watch lessons but remain the responsibility of their parents or guardians. They must be seated well away from the pool edge and under full supervision at all times. We strongly encourage only one parent/guardian per family on the poolside where possible, as space is limited. Seahorses cannot accept responsibility for spectators at any time.

  • Supervision of Swimmers: Our responsibility begins when we invite swimmers into the water and continues only while they are participating in the lesson. Children leaving the pool for any reason (e.g., toilet breaks) are the responsibility of their parent/guardian. Please inform the teacher before taking your child out, and wait for the teacher’s instruction before rejoining the class.

  • Poolside Conduct: When children are in the water, parents/guardians should avoid direct communication beyond simple encouragement, such as a thumbs-up or smile. This ensures children remain focused on their teacher and lesson for safety and learning purposes. If a child is consistently distracted, we may suggest that parents/guardians watch from the changing room.

  • Support During Lessons: Any adjustments required during the lesson (e.g., loose goggles, hat adjustments) will be managed by our experienced teachers. New preschoolers and younger children may take a few weeks to settle in, and our staff are trained to support them during this transition.

  • Prohibited Items: No food, drink (except water in a plastic bottle), glass, or talcum powder is allowed in the pool complex. All litter should be disposed of in the bins provided. Smoking is strictly prohibited anywhere on site.

  • Parental/Guardian Presence & Contact: Parents/guardians must remain on site unless a prior arrangement has been made. We require a current mobile number at all times.

  • Behaviour & Respect: We reserve the right to ask anyone to leave the poolside at any time. All interactions with staff must be polite and respectful. Discussions about children other than your own are not permitted, either on poolside or in private.

In line with our Child Protection Policies, photography and video recording are not permitted at any of our pool facilities without prior agreement. Please respect this rule and do not attempt to take photos or videos without staff approval. Teachers do not permit any images or recordings taken without their knowledge to be published online. Mobile phones should not be visible at any time whilst at the pool complex.

We understand that parents may wish to capture a moment to share with family members who cannot attend lessons. We are happy to accommodate this, provided you ask in advance, do not include other children in your images, and ensure that filming or photography does not interrupt or delay the lesson.

Seahorses may occasionally take photographs or videos during lessons for use on our website, social media, or other promotional materials. When completing the booking form, please indicate whether you consent to your child being included. We will always seek parental permission in advance before taking any images of a class, allowing time to decline if desired.

Swimwear, Hats, Goggles, and Equipment Policy

  • Swimming Hats: All swimmers, except those in baby and toddler classes, are required to wear a swimming hat. Newly joining swimmers will receive a complimentary hat at their first lesson. Additional hats are available for £5 and can be collected at the pool, with payment taken via your direct debit account. We provide high-quality polyester hats in small and large sizes. Hats help keep our pools clean and keep long hair out of swimmers’ faces during lessons.

  • Goggles: Goggles are only permitted for children who have completed our Beginners award scheme. We do not encourage regular use of goggles as over-reliance can be unsafe; in an emergency, children may not have goggles available in unfamiliar water. For safety and skill development, lessons include activities without goggles, unless a medical condition requires them.

  • Swimwear: Please ensure your child wears appropriate swimwear. Excessively loose or baggy swimsuits or trunks can hinder progress. Our private pools are maintained at 32–33°C, so wetsuits are generally not required. Wetsuits can restrict movement and provide a false sense of buoyancy. If a child feels cold during lessons, wearing a wetsuit is permitted.

  • Preschool Equipment – Arm Discs: All newly joining preschoolers will begin lessons wearing arm discs (provided by Seahorses) for safety, particularly in pools too deep for them to stand. Arm discs are gradually reduced as children demonstrate correct body position, confident leg kick, and the ability to hold a woggle safely.

    Arm discs are designed to support safety, confidence, and independence in the water. They allow preschool children to practice more skills, swim longer distances during lessons, and develop independence without hindering progress or creating dependence.

Parking and Safety Guidelines

Parking instructions specific to your pool location will be provided. Please drive slowly and carefully around all sites, park courteously, and ensure that children walk to and from the pool quietly and sensibly. Parents are responsible for supervising their children at all times while walking to the pool, in the changing rooms, and on poolside.

  • Tongham Pool: Parking is available only in the designated layby opposite the pool complex and at the community centre. Parking on the road itself is strictly prohibited due to our commercial license agreement with Guildford Borough Council and for the safety of all children. Failure to comply with this rule may result in removal from the swim school without refund.

  • Grayshott Pool: Parents should park in the village. Multiple free car parks are available near the pool. Parking in the church grounds is not permitted, as these are private.

  • Bordon Pool: Parking is available in the school car park outside reception, including designated disabled bays.

  • Disabled Access: For parents or carers with a disabled badge or mobility challenges, a parking space is available on the driveway. Please notify us in advance if you require use of this space.

Thank you for following these guidelines to ensure the safety of all our swimmers and to maintain good relations with our pool partners.

We reserve the right to change or amend our terms and conditions at any time, with immediate effect.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

All personal information provided to Seahorses is used solely for administrative purposes and will not be shared with any third parties. You may request access to the information we hold about you at any time. All medical information is treated as strictly confidential and is only shared with your child’s teachers or other relevant personnel when necessary for safety reasons.

All written correspondence, including emails, between Seahorses and yourself is confidential and should not be shared with others, even after your child leaves the school. If you wish to have your personal information removed from our records upon leaving, please contact us to request deletion.

Code of Conduct and Complaints

Seahorses has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of abuse directed towards our staff or any members of our swim school. All swimmers and parents are expected to adhere to our rules, terms and conditions, and pool regulations.

Seahorses reserves the right to terminate lessons without refund if we determine that any abuse or violation of our rules or policies has occurred.

If you have concerns or are unhappy with any aspect of your lessons, please raise them in writing via email or by telephone. Discussions regarding complaints should not take place at the pool during or between classes.