These terms and conditions cover how GO Gateshead's swimming lessons and aquatics programme will be delivered and managed.

Additional terms and conditions cover the management of the Direct Debit membership with our collecting agent Debit Finance Collections plc which can be viewed on the final page of the Direct Debit set up before submitting.

Please ask a member of staff if you do not understand anything in these conditions.

Course dates

1. Our lessons will run for 50 weeks of the year. There will be a two-week break over the Christmas period, the exact dates of which will be advertised in advance.
2. Lessons will not run on Bank Holidays and a reduction will be applied for missed lessons.
3. Go Gateshead reserves the right to make changes to dates of operation.

Payment methods

Direct Debit - all courses

1. The Direct Debit will start from the day of registration. The first payment will be made up of a one-off joining fee (where applicable), one full month's fees plus a pro-rata amount of fee to cover the remainder of the current month: number of days left in current month / number of days in the month + one full month's fees x monthly cost.  No payment will be taken up front and all fees will be taken with the first Direct Debit payment.
2. Direct Debit payments of fees will be a standard amount each month thereafter which is calculated as follows: per session cost for the price band x number of weeks per year / 12 months
3. The pupil will be able to start on the first available session date after the registration date. No refunds will be given if starting later than this.
4. Where lessons do not run on bank holidays, reductions will be applied to customers who would normally have a session.
5. There are no reductions made for the weeks the sessions are not planned to be in operation (Christmas/New year) as these weeks are already accounted for within the monthly fee. 
6. If your Direct Debit payment fails, then you must make a payment to bring your account up to date. The pupil will be allowed to attend for the first session after the failed payment (the grace period). After this the guaranteed space will be lost and the pupil will not be allowed to attend any further sessions until the account is brought up to date and they have been re-enrolled. Enrolment back into the same date/time/venue is not guaranteed.

Cash and card payments - all courses

1. Customers paying in blocks will be charged the per session cost for price band x number of sessions plus a one-off joining fee (where applicable). This payment will cover attendance until that number of sessions have been delivered (either on a weekly basis for weekly courses or on the advertised dates for crash courses). 
2. For weekly courses, if there are any planned breaks or cancellations the booking end date will automatically be extended for, and credits will not be offered instead.  For crash courses if there is a lesson cancellation, alternative arrangements will be made.
3. To continue lessons beyond the last date that has been paid for another payment will need to be made. Pupils will automatically lose their space unless this further payment is made before the start of the last paid lesson.
4. Sessions are non-refundable once booked.

Other fees and charges you may have to pay

1. Where applicable, joining fees are payable for all payment types at the point of first booking and if subsequently rejoining after a break.
2. Late payment fees may be added by the Direct Debit company if the payment is not made on time (for a breakdown of these check the terms and conditions of the Direct Debit).
3. Locker fees apply at Go Gateshead's leisure centres if you wish to use a locker.

Changing, cancelling or transferring the booking

1. The customer can change their session booking time to another available session at any point, however it is not possible to move sessions for a short period and guarantee a space back in the original class.
2. For the first booking there is a 14-day cooling off period (regardless of payment type) during which you can cancel and receive a full refund of any fees paid.  You are not obliged to attend sessions during the cancellation period. However, if you decide to attend sessions during the 14-day cooling off period, you will be deemed to have expressly requested the service to be provided and must pay for any sessions provided up to the time you cancel. You will only be charged for sessions attended, which will be charged at the per session cost for the relevant price band.
3. After this, Direct Debits can be cancelled at any time by giving notice by the twentieth of the month you want your last payment to be via email to Aquatics@Gateshead.Gov.UK Cash/card payments are not refundable after the first 14-day cooling off period.
4. We do not charge a 'month in hand' payment so the pupil's last session will normally be the last session of the month that the final payment is made. Cash/card payments will run until the number of sessions has been delivered.
5. If any sessions are cancelled by Go Gateshead during this final month then the booking will be extended into the next month.
6. No refunds will be made for pupils who leave before the last paid session.
7. Non-attendance at sessions does not constitute cancellation and Direct Debits will continue to be taken until a formal cancellation notification is received.

Disruption and cancellation of sessions by the centre and sessions missed by the pupil

1. If there is any disruption to the sessions then wherever possible customers will be informed in advance by email/SMS.
2. If the session cannot go ahead, where possible a reasonable alternative session time may be offered on the same evening. Where this is within an hour of the original session a credit will not automatically be applied.
3. If a session is cancelled by Go Gateshead and no reasonable alternative can be offered the customer will receive a reduction to the next available month's Direct Debit to the value of the per session fee (or an extension to the customer's booking dates for cash/card customers). This includes planned cancellations (such as Bank Holidays) and unplanned cancellations (such as the pool heating failing).
4. If there is disruption to part of a session (for example caused by a child being sick in the pool) recompense will be at the discretion of the Go Gateshead management team depending on the amount of the session disrupted. There is no guarantee provided by Go Gateshead that recompense will be provided in this regard.
5. Where the pupil misses one or two sessions in a row for reasons such as sickness, holidays, family emergencies, travel delays, no refunds or replacement sessions will be given.
6. Pupils who are absent for three or more sessions in a row caused by certified medical conditions, illnesses/injuries, operations, accidents or observance of religious festivals Go Gateshead's management may at its absolute discretion agree to offer a credited session for each missed session. Any credits will be subject to notifying Go Gateshead within one week of the first absence and providing suitable evidence to aquatics@gateshead.gov.uk. Payments must be kept up to date during the absence period. If credits are offered for the missed sessions they would be applied when the pupil returns.
7. Pupils who are absent for three weeks or more due to extended holidays or travelling will not be entitled to credits.

Additional needs and medical conditions

1. It is the customer's responsibility to provide information on any special educational needs, disabilities, medical conditions, language issues of the pupil.
2. Go Gateshead will operate sessions on an inclusive basis and, wherever possible, pupils will be encouraged to access mainstream sessions.
3. Where individual needs require specific provisions, these will be assessed on a case-by-case basis so that all pupils have fair and equitable access to learn to swim up to passing the standard of Stage 7 (or as close to this standard as they are physically able to achieve.)
4. Go Gateshead cannot be held responsible if individual needs are not disclosed by the customer and this leads to a failure to provide adequately for the pupil.

Progression through the aquatics programme

1. Pupils will be continuously assessed by the teacher and will be given the opportunity to move up to the next stage as soon as they have met the necessary criteria. The move will usually be completed automatically for pupils moving from Stage 1 to 7 where spaces are available in the same time slot.   Where a space in the same time slot is not available, the parent/guardian must complete the move via the HomePortal (opens new window), via email to aquatics@gateshead.gov.uk or at reception.
2. If there are no spaces suitable for the customer, then the pupil may be left in the current class until a suitable space becomes available in the next stage.

What Go Gateshead will provide

1. A suitably qualified teacher or coach will be provided for every session.  
2. The same teacher each week cannot be guaranteed but consistency will be provided as far as reasonably possible.
3. Suitable pool space will be provided to achieve the outcomes expected for the stage and for an appropriate number of pupils based on industry guidance.
4. A rolling scheme of work will be used to ensure that every outcome of each stage can be taught and assessed a minimum of once within a 6 week rolling period, regardless of which teacher is teaching the class.
5. The pupil's electronic progress record will follow the pupil and be available to the teacher of any class that the pupil is booked into and is available online for the customer to see. Assessment data will usually be updated within 24 hours of the session.
6. A maximum of five minutes per session will be allocated to registration and recording achievement.
7. Free Swim England stage badges and certificates 

Free swimming offer

1. For aquatics memberships that state they include free swimming, the pupil may swim for free during any general swimming session at any Go Gateshead leisure centre. Pool sessions with inflatables / other activities may incur an additional charge.
2. The pool admission policy must be followed at all times.
3. Free swimming during public sessions at all our leisure centres for the aquatics membership child and an accompanying adult (an accompanying adult is not required if the child meets the requirements of the admissions policy to be able to swim on their own).  
4. The free swimming is only valid for an adult who is taking the child to practice their swimming. The adult will not be allowed a free swim while the child is attending their lesson.
5. Access to free swimming will start from the day of registration. Upon cancellation of the booking free swimming will be available until the last day of the month in which the last aquatics membership payment is made (or the day of the last session for cash/card payments).
6. The free swimming entitlement will still be available during periods when lessons are not running (for example, the Christmas break) so long as the aquatics membership is live.
7. Free swimming will not be available if the aquatics membership is in arrears.
8. All free swims must be registered at reception immediately prior to the swim using the pupil's Go Gateshead card. This includes when swimming before or after the normal lesson.  If you are an adult accompanying an under four then you must advise the receptionist so that you are not charged.
9. Swimming prior to lesson times is not advised due to the risk of fatigue meaning the pupil will not be able to perform at their best during the lesson.
10. Pupils who cannot produce a Go Gateshead membership card must pay the standard admission fee.
11. There is no limit to the number of free swimming sessions that can be attended but during busy periods entry may be restricted or time limited.
12. Go Gateshead reserves the right to remove the entitlement to free swimming if the pupil or customer is found to be in breach of the above conditions.

What we expect from you

1. Pupils are expected to arrive on time. If the pupil is persistently late, access to the session is at the discretion of the teacher and may be refused with no obligation to recompense the customer.
2. The individual needs of the pupil and the mobile number and e-mail address of the customer must be kept up to date so we can contact you regarding fees, lesson cancellations or in an emergency.
3. Pupils must wear appropriate swimwear 
4. Customers and pupils must remove outdoor shoes (or wear overshoes) beyond the 'No outdoor shoes' signs.
5. Customers must not leave belongings in changing cubicles. Unattended belongings will be removed.
6. Parents/guardians should not distract pupils or the teacher while the lesson is running.
7. All swimmers to use toilets and showers before swimming.  Do not swim until 48 hours after symptoms of Diarrhoea or vomiting have passed.  If you have been told you have cryptosporidium please do not swim for 14 days.
8. Customers must abide by Go Gateshead's admissions policy, in particular:

• Children under eight years old must not be left alone in the building without a parent/guardian. If older children are being left, then appropriate collection/travelling arrangements must be made.
• Under eights are not allowed in the pool by themselves unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
• Instances of bullying or unwanted physical contact of any sort with another pupil will not be tolerated and could lead to the pupil being removed from the programme and the booking being cancelled with no refunds offered.
• Aggressive, abusive, or intimidating behaviour by any pupil or customer towards any other person will not be tolerated and could result in the booking being cancelled, the booking being cancelled and/or banning orders being implemented with no refunds offered.

Video, film and photography

1. Customers who wish to take still or moving images of activities taking place within the leisure centre must complete a photography form.
2. Photography or filming of any sort is completely banned in the changing areas.
3. Go Gateshead staff may on occasions wish to take photographs or videos of sessions for quality assurance, staff development or marketing purposes. In these cases, written permission will be sought from the pupil and/or parent/guardian (for under 18s).
4. Video analysis may be used by the teacher to aid the pupil's development. Written permission will not be sought for this however the pupil's consent (and parent/guardian's consent for under 18s) will be sought on each occasion which can be refused. All images will be deleted after the session.

Go Gateshead card

1. A Go Gateshead card will be provided as the membership card.
2. Membership cards used by someone other than the pupil to access activities, or by the pupil to access activities other than those paid for, may result in the whole booking being cancelled with no refund being made.
3. Replacement of lost membership cards will incur a fee.

Data Protection

1. Customer and pupil personal data will only be used for the purpose of delivering your booked sessions and for 'service' communications to keep you informed, for example, session times and cancellations. and to allow you to manage your bookings. It is not possible to opt out of this.
2. As part of the sign-up process you may provide express consent for us to use your personal data in other ways (for example, marketing), but this is optional.
3. Read the Privacy Notice for full details of how we use your personal data.

Liability

1. Go Gateshead reserves the right at its discretion (without prior notice) to terminate bookings, sessions and membership for any customer and/or pupil who misuses the programme or who does not comply with these terms and conditions at no liability to Go Gateshead.
2. Pupils and customers are subject the general terms and conditions of the leisure centre they attend and the limitations of liability therein. Liability is not limited in respect of death or personal injury caused by negligence or fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.