Admissions policies in the swimming pool environment

GUIDANCE

Do you need an admissions policy for your pool? 

A swimming pool that sells entry to the pool will generally have an admissions policy in place. Where entry to the pool is free of charge and open access (without restriction), a pool will still typically have rules of use which will include parental responsibility for children. 

What should be in an admissions policy? 

Content of an admission policy is a matter for the operator but may include: 

• The number of children under 8 years old allowed into the pool under the supervision of a single responsible person aged 16 or over. 
• Key hazards in the pool environment. 
• A duty to act responsibly when using the pool. 
• Any requirements relating to appropriate swimwear for use in the pool. 
• The right of the pool operator to refuse or withdraw permission to use the pool where the admission rules are not complied with.

Who is the primary supervisor of those requiring supervision? 

Parents have primary responsibility for the safety of their children, including whose care they may leave their children under supervision of (Children Act 1989, s.3). A responsible adult has secondary responsibility for those under their supervision where the parent is not present. 

Lifeguards and the pool operator have special knowledge of the environment, its respective hazards, and available risk mitigations. They are placed on notice of those risks by their legal duties, risk assessment, training and operating procedures. An operator has a duty to prevent persons using the pool from exposure to a risk of harm (HSWA 1974, s.3). A lifeguard has a duty to take reasonable care of others (HSWA 1974, s.7). For further discussion of parental, responsible adult, and lifeguard duties and how they interact. 

Parents and responsible adults may need to be educated about how to keep those under their supervision safe when using the pool (HSG179:2018, para. 70). As a lifeguard, you should not assume a responsible adult can swim simply by virtue of their age or status. English may be a second language for responsible adults and those they supervise, so signage, hand signals, and instructions from lifeguards need to be effective in communicating safety messages.  

Do I need to include an adult-to-child ratio in my admissions policy? 

HSG179:2018 refers to adult-to-child ratios as "an essential consideration for safeguarding children" (para. 69). It would be advisable to consider including adult-to-child ratios in your admissions policy. 

What adult to child/vulnerable person ratio should I include? 

In the national guideline GN014 produced by CIMSPA in 2014, the guidance states that the starting point should be 1 adult to 2 children. Adjustments in both directions may then need to be made to accommodate the particular circumstances of the pool. 

A ratio of 1 to 1 may be appropriate where the child or vulnerable person: 

• Has additional needs that place them at greater risk of drowning. 
• Is to be supervised solely by the parent (there is no lifeguard on the poolside). 
• Has poor water safety awareness or little experience. 
• Is prone to running off or otherwise becoming separated from the supervisor. 
• Is prone to seizures, choking, and other conditions which may inhibit the adult from climbing out of the water to activate the alarm without exposing the child/vulnerable person to additional danger.  

A ratio of 1 to 3 may be more appropriate where the children/vulnerable persons: 

• Are competent swimmers. 
• Have good water safety awareness and experience. 
• The pool is within standing depth.
• Are participating in a session where constant poolside supervision is in place.  

When should I stop further admissions to the pool? 

You should stop further admissions to the pool when occupancy approaches a  relevant occupancy limit. For more information on occupancy limits, see our article here. 

References

CIMSPA. (2014). Parental and operator guidance for child supervision policies in swimming pools. (GN014). 

EN 15288-2:2018. Swimming pools for public use. Part 2 safety requirements for operation. 

HSE. (2018). Health and safety of swimming pools. (HSG179, version 4). 

Swim England (2017). Swimming pool admissions policy. (28th July). Available at: (link) accessed 27th December 2021. 

Citation: Jacklin, D. 2021. Admissions policies in the swimming pool environment. Water Incident Research Hub, 28 December.