Right To Swim, a national group of parents fighting for children's swimming rights, has been emailed by parents angry about rules being enforced by bosses at Centre Parcs, Butlins and Alton Towers.
Some pools insist on a one-to-one adult-child ratio for children aged under four, fearing compensation claims, said the group. It launched this March after councils started heavily enforcing non- compulsory 12-year-old guide-lines on supervision (Children Now, News, 2-8 June).
Carolyn Warner, Right to Swim chairwoman, said: "When we have a list of how many pools are enforcing these guidelines we will go to the Government." Single-parent families and those with several children were hit hardest, she added.
"We need a national body because the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management, which sets the rules, is governed by no one," she said. "It is not acceptable to socially exclude or discriminate because of family background or make-up. It's scuppering family life."
Alton Towers, which opened Cariba Creek pool last year, stood by its policy of no under-fives without an adult.
"It is entirely fair: there are water jets and a tipping-water bucket and it's fairly frantic," said a spokeswoman.
Butlins, which insists on one adult for every two children aged under eight, said safety was foremost and the policy was set in accordance with the institute's guidelines.
Centre Parcs, which insists on one adult for every child under four, said its pools had islands and slides and it was "very hard to keep an eye on each child".
