First Visit
Venue Access
St Crispins School is a secure facility which does lead to an increased complexity in navigating the site. On site there will be a Stepping Stones support teacher to help you navigate your way to and from the building.
There are two options for entry:
Enter through the main school entrance. Due to the secure nature of the school, the facilities are locked, and a staff member will be on hand at the door to guide you to the pool. This will require you to wait for our venue support to return to allow access this may be a few minutes depending on where they are in the building.
There is a fire exit that to the right of the main door that we will aim to keep open, during our let. This will allow families access without the need of our support staff, when you enter through the fire escape head to the next door and press the green "exit" button to allow you access into the school.
Pool & Changing Rooms
Once you are in the foyer area, the pool is located on the corridor to your right. the doors to the changing rooms are also secured. To gain access you will need the help of our venue support to enter the changing area.
• Staff will direct you to the pool and changing areas.
• Changing rooms are open for use before and after lessons, with male and female open-plan setups available.
Swimmers under the age of 8:
Swimmers should use the changing room of their accompanying adult e.g. Mum & daughter or son should use female change and Dad & daughter or son shoudl use Male change.
Swimmers over the age of 8:
Swimmers aged 8+ should use the changing room of their own gender, and accompanying adult must also access via their assigned changing room. e.g. If a Mum is attending with her son over the age of 8 they would have to enter poolside via separate changing area.*
*there is a separate disable change for older swimmer wishing a little more pricacy or swimmers arriving with parents of the opposite sex (older than 8 years old) please ask a member of staff if you require access to this area.
Identifying Staff
Our Stepping Stones swim team wears bright blue teaching tops featuring the Stepping Stones logo on the back.
Car Park
• Disabled parking bays at the front of the school are reserved for staff and visitor blue badge holders.
• All other parking spaces are available for customer use.
Spectating & Viewing
Poolside Spectating
• Spectating is currently allowed poolside, but space is limited and can become wet during lessons. (This may be reviewed if poolside becomes congested or unsafe for swimmers & staff)
• Please be considerate of other families, and follow any instructions given by Stepping Stones staff.
• Pushchairs & buggies are not permitted into the changing rooms or poolside areas
Settling Swimmers
• Some children may settle better without parents being present, as they can become distracted or clingy.
• If a team member suggests stepping away from poolside to help your child settle, please understand this is a common approach to aid their confidence and allow them to settle in the pool, please do not take this personally.
• If you’re uncomfortable leaving the pool area, our team will allow your child to exit the lesson and return to you. You are welcome to sit with your swimmer to watch the remainder of the lesson. (please note that our teachers will not have the opportunity to exit the pool and engage with your swimmer in this situation.)
Alternative Waiting Areas
• If poolside becomes too warm or crowded, there are other areas within the school where you can wait comfortably during the lesson.
Pick Up & Drop Off
Swimmer Drop Off:
Swimmers will be collected from the changing room exit on poolside. Parents and swimmers should wait poolside together until the start of your scheduled lesson time. The poolside coordinator will help show you round to your class teacher.
Swimmer Collection Point:
Please arrive in time for your lesson finishing, all lessons are 30mins in length. Swimmers will be accompanied by the lesson coordinator back to the changing room drop point.
Please note to ensure the safety of all our swimmers we have asked our teaching team to ensure that swimmers are handed over to a responsible adult at the end of each lesson this is regardless of age. Please arrive on time for the start and end of your scheduled lesson to ensure the smooth transition of classes.
* All lessons are 30mins in length.
W h a t t o b r i n g
Swim Kit
Swim Shorts:
We recommend that swim shorts do not pass below the swimmers knee.
Swim Costume:
It is recommended but not essential that swim costumes are one piece.
Goggles
Goggles are an essential piece of kit during the lessons.
Even if your swimmer does not like goggles we recommend bring a set along to each lesson.
This will help your swimmer speed through the programme.
Equipment
All other equipment will be provided poolside for use during the lessons.
Armbands and other floatation devices are not required for our lessons.
Our teaching team work with floats and noodles through the lessons to support all swimmers.