Swimming Lessons

Arriving at the centre

For your first visit, please arrive at reception at least 10 minutes before your lesson starts. This will give you time to check in, collect your child’s swimming hat, make your way to the pool and use the changing facilities in good time so lessons can begin on schedule.

If you are unsure where to go when you arrive, our reception team will be happy to assist and direct you.

Please note that if a child arrives late, they may not be able to join the lesson. This is for the safety of all children, as teachers must remain focused on the swimmers already in the water and cannot leave the lesson to supervise late arrivals entering the pool.

Lockers and Changing Rooms

Where possible, please ensure children arrive swim-ready.

To help keep changing areas clear for all users, please do not leave belongings in cubicles, on benches, or on the floor. Instead, use the lockers provided.

Lockers require a £1 coin, which is returned after use.

Pool Viewing Area

Parents and guardians may use the spectator benches on poolside. When entering the changing rooms and poolside area, please remove your shoes or use the shoe covers provided in the dispensers.

Please note that filming and photography are not permitted in the pool area.

All swimmers must wear clean swimwear. You can find a guide to appropriate swimwear here.

To improve the safety and hygiene in our swimming lessons, we ask that all children wear swimming hats. They are also used to reward and recognise an individual's achievements from one ability group to the next, with different hats available as they progress.

We deliver lessons with a team of swim teachers in each session. The average ratios can be found below:

• Pre School class- (Adult required in water)- One swimming teacher to 9 pupils.
• Pre School class (Adult not required in water)- One swimming teacher to 6 pupils.
• Foundation classes - One swimming teacher to eight pupils within a team of teachers.
• Development classes - One swimming teacher to 12 pupils within a team of teachers.
• Academy classes- One swimming teacher to 20 pupils within a team of teachers.

All swimming lessons are paid for by monthly Direct Debit only. We do not offer block bookings or pay-as-you-go lesson payments.

When registering for a lessons membership, the initial payment includes:

• A small sign-up fee
• Your first month of lessons (pro-rata where applicable)
• A Month-in-Hand payment

Your monthly Direct Debit is calculated on: how many lessons are delivered in a year, multiplied by cost of each lesson. Then we divide the total into regular payments over 12 months.

The Month-in-Hand is a non-refundable fee paid for at the time of registration to a lessons' membership. It is equivalent to a monthly fee, and does not affect your first Direct Debit payment. It's a month worth of lessons that you/your child will get after your cancellation month.

For further details on the cancellation process, please see your membership full Terms and Conditions on our website here: https://www.better.org.uk/legal-policies/terms.   

No. Unfortunately, concession discounts are not available for swimming lesson in our Swindon centres.

We regret that we are unable to offer trial lessons.

However, if after your first lesson you decide that the membership is not suitable for your child, you can cancel your membership online and claim a full refund under the 14-day cooling-off period, provided the cancellation is made within 14 days of purchase.

Our refunds procedure can be found here:
https://www.better.org.uk/legal-policies/refunds-procedure

How payments work
Direct Debit payments are spread across 12 equal monthly payments. These already take the two-week festive break into account, so you're only paying for the weeks when lessons take place.

Do I need to request a refund for the break?
No, the Christmas break is already built into your payment plan. That means refunds aren't needed or issued, and any requests for this period won't be processed.

You may request that we freeze your access to lessons if your child is temporarily unable to continue participating for one of the reasons below:

• Injury/Long Term Medical condition – proof required
• Ramadan

During the requested freeze period (up to 3 months), we will apply a credit on your future payment collection. The pupil will be removed from the lesson register until they are ready to return and we will do our best to offer you a similar day and time, however this is not guaranteed.

Submit your request for a membership credit via a Customer Service Enquiry Form here.

While we're saddened to hear you're considering cancellation, we understand everyone's circumstances are unique. If there is anything you'd like to discuss with our centre's team so we can make things right, please email us at link@gll.org, we're always happy to help!

If you wish to proceed, with the cancellation, please follow one of the options below.

•  Online cancellation Form

Please complete the online request form here: https://www.better.org.uk/cancel-swim-school

For those participating in multiple lessons, please provide detailed information to ensure accuracy in the cancellation process.

Our Customer Services team will get back to you to confirm. If you need to follow-up on your request, please email: customerservices@gll.org.

• Cancel via desktop  
  • Log into the Better customer portal here
  • Select 'My Account'
  • Click 'Memberships' from the options on the grey navigation bar
  • Scroll down the page and select the 'Manage membership' button
  • Select 'Cancel membership' and follow instructions on screen
       

• Cancel via mobile or the Better UK app  
  • Log into the Better customer portal here if on mobile or tap the 'Buy & manage membership' button if on the Better UK app
  • Ensure you are logged in and select 'Account'
  • Select 'Memberships' from the drop down options
  • Scroll down the page and select the 'Manage membership' button
  • Select 'Cancel membership' and follow the instructions on screen
      

Please note: we require a notice on cancellations of 21 days from your Direct Debit due date, or your next due payment may still end up being collected. Your children last lesson will then be at the end of the month-in-hand.

Please see your membership full Terms and Conditions on our website here: https://www.better.org.uk/legal-policies/terms.