STA’s ‘STAnley’ HELPS KIRKLEES FAMILIES STAY IN THE SWIM
01.10.2004
Leisure managers in West Yorkshire have adopted the Swimming Teachers’ Association’s new STAnley Competence Award to ensure that families who fear exclusion from their local pool by strict new industry guidelines can stay in the swim.
Concern is growing nationally about new recommendations that state there should be an adult for every child under four years in a pool, and a grown up for every pair of four to seven year olds in the water. There have already been cases of groups and families being turned away from pools simply because they have too many young children.
Now Kirklees Active Leisure, the trust that manages council-owned pools around Huddersfield, has adapted the STAnley scheme as a way of helping families continue swimming together.
It is trying out the scheme at its popular Scissett Baths, and is now looking to extend it to six other leisure centres around Kirklees, which together attract more than one million bathers a year.
The STA’s award, created in conjunction with ILAM, allows qualified pool staff to assess whether a child is a competent and safe swimmer, and then to decide how many adults need to be present to oversee a group of youngsters.
Mark Dunstan, regional manager for Kirklees Active Leisure, said: “Many authorities are interpreting the regulations in ways that effectively stop family trips to the baths for many groups, particularly single parent and large, young families. We’ve already had families who live outside Kirklees coming to us because they’ve been turned away from pools on their own doorsteps.
“Many local authorities have faced public backlashes over the inflexible way they’ve implemented the regulations. But if you look at them closely, and use schemes like STAnley, you can implement the regulations in a safe, sensible way.”
Mr Dunstan said the Scissett trials were due to run to the end of the year, but it was already probable that they would be adopted permanently at all of Kirklees’ pools, including Dewsbury, Batley Spenborough and Holmfirth.
STAnley candidates are tested on four key safety skills: swimming specified distances; treading water; stroke technique and confidence in the water. Only professionals – STA Qualified Full Swimming Teachers or equivalent; pool managers, or those appointed by pool managers, who are qualified NaRS Pool Lifeguards or equivalent - may assess.
Successful candidates can buy a STAnley ID Card, which carries a passport photo and details of their skills, to show pool managers that they are competent swimmers.
STA operations director Steve Franks said: “The STA believes that working in partnership with its customers is the way to develop suitable standards that benefit the leisure industry and promote a common sense approach that will be appreciated by the public.
“Once the trials have been evaluated the STA will be in a position to promote the STAnley Swimming Competence Award to the rest of the leisure industry as a safe way forward.”
For further information, please telephone the STA on 01922 645097 or email sta@sta.co.uk.
