Laois school cancels swimming lessons over adults sharing pool
Laois school cancels all of its swimming lessons in Portlaoise Leisure Centre
At least one Laois school has cancelled all its swimming lessons at Portlaoise Leisure Centre, in concern for child safety at a new policy change.
From September, paid up adult members are going to be permitted to use one swimming lane in the pool during school swimming lessons.
Laois Leisure’s manager Sean Quirke says it is common practice in other centres, makes financial sense and offers a better service to members.
However for at least one school it spells the end of their pupils learning to swim.
Scoil Bhride NS in Knockmay sends nine classes a week of its third and fourth class pupils.
Principal Michael McEvoy told the Leinster Express / Laois Live why he has halted lessons.
“We were informed by management that from September, members of the public have access to the pool. We see this as a huge issue, in terms of child protection and safety.
“At the moment they have access to the gym and we have a risk assessment to counteract that. I don’t see how we could have one for this.
“We have risk assessments for everything we do. This is just a no-no.
“Our parents have been informed. In general they are supportive of the action we’ve taken, but generally they are not happy that their children are not going swimming,” the principal said.
He is hopeful that the policy will be reversed, and says other schools have cancelled too.
“We would love it if they changed their mind. Swimming is an important part of our PE curriculum, it’s an important life skill. We have been bringing pupils there since 1998. I’d like to see swimming go ahead but unfortunately we can’t. We are looking at any avenue we can to address this,” Mr McEvoy said.
Scoil Bhride NS Parents Association has a petition for parents. It has formally complained to the board and management of Laois Leisure, and to Laois Sports Partnership saying “non-garda vetted adult members in the pool area during school lessons significantly increases safety risks.
“Ensuring adequate supervision becomes more challenging when the pool is shared, particularly for younger children and children with additional needs or limited swimming ability,” their letter says.
They say that it “raises legitimate concerns regarding supervision, privacy, and compliance with best practice in child protection”.
“It also reduces the physical space in the water.”
They are not satisfied with a suggested partition and say there is “unease” amongst parents.
Mr Quirke had commented on social media defending the decision.
“Sufficient access to 25m swimming lanes for pool and full members has been an ongoing issue for many years on both sites but has been worse in Portlaoise due to the more intense group programming.
“Membership is a very significant revenue stream and we know of many people who are left choosing facilities with 15m, 16m, 18m pools due to far more open access to them than we have previously been in a position to provide.
“This change will help to address this issue and enhance the value proposition for members while continuing to provide a safeguarded space for school swimming lessons.
“We are continuing to provide for many school swimming lessons and after school swimming students in a safe and appropriate manner.
“We are upgrading our offering to include a checked-in member lane. While we would greatly prefer that no schools take a pause in their programme, we are satisfied that this system works perfectly well in many similar facilities in neighbouring counties and we are confident that it will also be successful in Laois Leisure… during group hire, school swimming lessons and after schools lessons.
“Those facilities and in particular the relevant schools have the same safeguarding responsibilities as the schools in Laois and they successfully meet those with this system in place,” the Laois Leisure general manager said.
Parent Elaine Duff who is the chair of Scoil Bhride NS PA, has also pulled her child from private swimming lessons.
She said her other two children completed their private lessons but says her trust and customer confidence has turned to deep concern.
She said the company’s decision is “fundamentally flawed” and creates “unnecessary risk”, in a letter of complaint.
“I am calling upon the Board of Directors to review and overturn the Manager’s decision”.
She asks for a copy of a Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment carried out in relation to the policy change. She asks how the decision aligns with recognised child safety policies and best practice standards. Ms Duff also wants details of consultations or approvals obtained prior to the decision.
Laois Leisure has been asked for a comment in reply.