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Policies and Procedures

Wantage Gymnastics Centre follows the British Gymnastics Codes of Practice Health and Safety, Ethics & Equality and Child Protection. The Code of Conduct is designed to support the club’s child protection policies. It works in conjunction with the club procedures and British Gymnastics coaching guidelines. It exists to promote a safe and enjoyable gymnastics experience for the members of our club.

Gymnasts' Code of Conduct

A WGC Gymnast must:

Show respect to coaches, judges, officials and other gymnasts.
Listen to and follow the instructions of his/her coach.
Support and encourage his/her teammates.
Always train with a positive attitude.
Support and encourage his/her teammates.
Attempt to do every move with good form.
Take care of the Club’s equipment.
Take pride in their Club and make sure that they do their part in keeping the gym clean and tidy.
If your child brings in a lunch/snack box to the gym due to a long training period(more than 3 hrs) then a balanced diet will be desirable. Gymnast’s food intake prior and during training affects their training efficiency.
A gymnast must always drink plenty of fluids during training, i.e. water/squash only.
Our coaches wish to maximise coaching time with their group of gymnasts, therefore if you wish to speak to your child’s coach, please do so either before or after the training session.

Parents' Code of Conduct

Ensure that your child wishes to participate in Gymnastics. Encourage your child to participate, do not force them. Focus on your child’s efforts and performance rather than winning or losing. Never punish or belittle a child for poor performance or making mistakes.
Encourage your child to learn the Centre rules and to abide by them.
Ensure that your child comes appropriately dressed for their session and brings a full water bottle.
In the case of absence, a message should be left with the gym, prior to the start of the training session.
Park your vehicle responsibly on the estate, any problems with parking could result in the Centre being forced to close.
No shoes are to be worn or food to be eaten in the gym.
Parents must stay in the waiting area unless permission is granted from the senior coach.
The viewing area should be left clean and tidy – Please use the bins provided and clean up after yourselves.
Children must be supervised at all times.
Noise levels must be kept to a minimum in the waiting area whilst a class is in session.
Parents should not attempt to communicate with their child during their class except in the case of an emergency.
Show an appreciation of volunteers, coaches, officials and administrators.
Show an appreciation of volunteers, coaches, officials and administrators.
Criticism of other people’s children / coaches can be upsetting to all and is frowned upon by this Centre. Please refrain from this.
Never undermine your child’s coach in front of any parents or child and do not talk negatively about any coaches, parents or gymnast in front of your child.
Use appropriate language at all times on Centre premises and at events/competitions.
Remember that children learn best by example. Set a good example for your child by recognising good sportsmanship and applauding the good performance of all.
Respect coaches’ and other officials’ decisions and teach your child to do likewise.
If you have any issues regarding your child and you wish to discuss them directly with the appropriate coach, you can speak to them briefly before the start of their session, via e-mail or arrange a longer chat at a time that is convenient for the coach and that doesn’t take them away from a scheduled training session.
Concerns and complaints about any aspect of the Centre should be raised via e-mail and through the appropriate channels. (For policies see Centre website)
Always collect your child promptly at the end of the session and remind them that they must wait in the building until collected.
Please update any contact/medical details if they change (a new form can be obtained from the coaching team).
Please use the Centre's notice board, website, Facebook and e-mails to keep up to date with notices and Wantage Gymnastics Centre information.
Please pay fees promptly.
We only refund if the class is cancelled by ourselves. In unforeseen circumstances that are out of control refunds will not be given.

Gymnasts/Parents Guidelines

Hair must be neatly tied up, out of the gymnast’s face
Gymnasts should wear a leotard or T-shirt and shorts
No jewelry what so ever, including ear studs or body piercing adornments to be worn at anytime during training or competition. This constitutes a safety hazard and BG Gymnastics and their Insurers have made it a no-tolerance policy.
If your child is expected to be away longer than 2 weeks, please let the gym know by email if possible.
Gymnasts should arrive a few minutes before the start of training. It is particularly upsetting for the younger children to arrive after all the others have started. All gymnasts should attend and take part in the warm up. It is an essential part of the training that helps the prevention of injury.
Please do not drop off your own, or other children, early to watch the classes unattended. The Gym Club cannot be responsible for these children until their coach is ready to take the session.
Please ensure you are punctual collecting your children and remind them that they must wait in the building until collected.
Please advise the Gym Club of any change of circumstances, i.e. medical, change of address and particularly Mobile Phone No’s.
Our coaches wish to maximise coaching time within the gym, therefore if you wish to speak to us about anything to do with the classes, please either speak to Russell if he is not coaching or drop us an email.

Fire Policy

The whole of WGC is a SMOKE FREE ZONE including by the side of the building.

In the unlikely event of a fire occurring during a training session an alarm will be sounded and the following procedures will be implemented:

Gymnasts and coaches will move in an orderly way to the exit doors at either end of the gym and line up at the side of the centre and make their way to the front of R and D McBain.
Parents and others in the waiting area will likewise move to the main entrance door and wait at the front of R and D McBain.

Club Complaints Procedure

If you have a complaint or concern about any club member – be it a gymnast, coach, committee member or another parent please let us know as soon as possible.

How to Complain:

We hope that most problems can be sorted out quickly, often at the time that they arise and with the person concerned.
If your problem cannot be sorted out this way and you wish to make a complaint please speak to or email Russell Smith at office@wantagegymnasticscentre.co.uk
Parents are reminded that for safety reasons they should not approach any of the coaches during classes and that in any case Club matters are the responsibility of the Committee not the coaches. If it is considered to be necessary the club will pass on the complaint to the Club Welfare Officer.
Ideally this should be as soon as possible after the incident concerned, in a matter of days or at most two weeks while the incident is still fresh in the memory.
Written complaints should be addressed to Club Welfare Officer who will then arrange an appointment to speak to you in order to discuss your concerns.

What the Club will do:
Your complaint will be acknowledged and we aim to have looked into your complaint within 2 weeks of the date that you raised the matter with us. A record will be maintained of all complaints and concerns – whether verbal or written.

Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy

Wantage Gymnastics Centre complies with the British Gymnastics Child Protection Policy.

WGC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young vulnerable adults and expects coaches and volunteers to share this commitment and adhere to and comply with WGC Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult Statement at all times.

The club will endeavour to promote the highest standards of care for all members, staff and officials by:

Providing and implementing procedures to safeguard the well being of all participants and protect them from abuse.
Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of all participants.
Adopt good practice in recruitment, training and supervision of all employees and volunteers, and provide guidance to parents and carers.
The appointment of a Welfare Officer to whom grievances or complaints can be made confidentially.
Ensuring that staff are suitably trained in Child Protection and Health, Safety and Welfare issues.
Ensuring that coaches and officials have been screened to confirm their suitability to work with children including Enhanced Criminal Record Disclosure and registration with ISA.
Ensuring that a minimum of two responsible adults are present at all training sessions or events.
Ensuring that the participants and/or parents are aware of the purpose of videoing, filming and photography during training or events.
Having a zero tolerance level of poor practice, bullying or any potential form of abuse.
Require all employees, members and clubs to adopt British Gymnastics’ Code of Ethics and Conduct, Health, Safety and Welfare Policy and the Child Protection Policy and Procedures.
Respond to all allegations and concerns, and implement the appropriate disciplinary and appeals procedure.