Sensory swim sessions at Riverside

For children aged 0 to 8 and all ages with sensory needs.

Join us for our tranquil sensory swim, where children and adults with sensory needs can enjoy the benefits of water in a calm and relaxing environment.

Our sensory swim sessions are held in our warm, shallow learner pool with low lighting and no music, with coloured lights creating gentle moving images on the walls, floor, and water to create a tranquil and safe environment.

We provide a variety of sensory toys in the pool for participants to explore and enjoy, creating a fun session where they can explore visual and touch senses.

Sessions take place as part of general admission in the learner pool. The age limit in the learner pool is normally eight years old, but if you have a sensory need, there is no age limit.

Our team will be on hand to offer support but will be supervising from the side.

Prices

Lite cardholders

Adults: £6.20
Adults (discounted): £5.70
Juniors (aged 5 to 21): £5.70
Infants (aged 0 to 4): £2.00

Plus cardholders

Adults: £4.90
Adults (discounted): £4.40
Juniors (aged 5 to 21): £4.40
Infants (aged 0 to 4): Free

Times

The sessions take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6.15pm to 7.15pm.

You can also view the full pool timetable.

The quickest and easiest way to book is using our free Chelmsford City Sports app, available to download from Google Play or the App store.

How to book

You can:

book online or via the app
call 01245 615050

The person making the booking must have an ourChelmsford account to book.

Not an ourChelmsford card holder? You can get an ourChelmsford Lite card for free.

Our pool changing area is on the ground floor with level access from entrance through to the pool.
We have a Changing Places unit, an accessible changing room and an accessible toilet in our ground floor changing area.
Our learner pool has a short set of easy access steps into the pool, with hand rails both sides.
We do not have a pool pod or accessible lift into this pool so participants need to be able to get into pool unaided, or with assistance from parents, guardians or carers.

Safety

To keep everyone safe, we operate adult to child ratios and maximum capacity at our swimming pools.

Children that are seven years and under can’t use the pool by themselves.

A person 16 years or over can accompany:

one child that is under four years
two children that are under four years if they are wearing buoyancy aids, such as armbands or a float suit
two children that are between four and seven years

Swim nappies

Children who usually wear nappies, must wear a swim nappy in the pool. You can purchase these from reception for £1.70 each.

Baby changing

The group changing areas have baby changing facilities available.

Booking is essential. We will then issue wristbands on arrival.

There are individual cubicles, a male group changing area and a female group changing area.
A Changing Places area and accessible changing facilities are available.
If you want to use a locker, you will need a £1 coin to release the key. You will get the £1 back when you return the key.