Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about RINKA IRELAND
Children’s Fitness Classes Questions
Participant guidelines - is the class/camp suitable for my child?
We like to share the below guidelines with all parents when deciding if a RINKA class / camp is suitable for their child.
- Has your child completed a term in preschool?
- Is your child fully toilet trained?
- Is your child comfortable with taking instruction and following guidelines?
- Are they happy to attend class / camp without a parent?
- Are they happy to mix with children and leaders they don’t know?
If you have answered yes to all the above, we are sure your child would be happy and comfortable in the RINKA environment!
For the safety of our instructors and the other participants we cannot accept any behaviours that are negative to a group setting:
- Displays of defiant behaviour
- Kicking, spitting, biting etc
- Running away or trying to leave
- Not engaging with the group or taking directions from the instructors
Parents will be contacted if any of the above behaviours are displayed
My child has additional needs. Is the class/camp suitable for them?
At RINKA, we welcome children of all abilities and backgrounds. Our classes and camps are group-based, structured and designed to support children in developing confidence, independence and physical skills in a positive environment.
To help parents decide if the setting is the right fit for their child, we ask you to consider the following:
• Is your child comfortable participating in a structured group environment?
• Can they follow simple instructions from a coach?
• Are they happy to attend without a parent present?
• Are they able to engage safely alongside other children?
• Are they fully toilet trained?
• Does your child require 1:1 adult supervision to participate safely in group activities?
• Has your child ever displayed behaviours that may place them at risk in an open hall setting (for example, leaving the room unexpectedly)?
Our sessions operate with set coach-to-child ratios and are designed for independent group participation. We do not provide 1:1 support.
If you feel your child can safely and independently take part in this type of environment, we would love to welcome them.
If you are unsure, please contact us before booking. We are always happy to discuss your child’s needs and explore whether we can reasonably accommodate them within our staffing structure and duty of care responsibilities.
Do parents stay in the class/camps?
No, classes are drop and collect. It is our policy that parents don’t stay in our class or camps as it can take away from the supportive environment we like to create. Children who are very shy can be made to feel uncomfortable when there are extra adults in the room and children who love an audience can find it hard to settle when there are extra people watching! We also have it in our child protection policy that only adults vetted by RINKA can remain in the teaching space. Our instructors are very used to helping kids settle into class and will call you if there is any issue!
Can a support worker/sna attend with my child?
We are often asked whether a child may attend with their SNA, support worker or parent.
While we are committed to inclusion, we are unfortunately unable to allow additional adults who are not directly employed and Garda-vetted through RINKA to remain in sessions.
This is due to:
Safeguarding requirements
All adults present in our sessions must be Garda-vetted through RINKA and trained in our safeguarding policies. This ensures consistent child protection standards for every child in our care.
Insurance cover
Our insurance policy covers registered children and RINKA-employed staff only. We are not insured to have external adults — including SNAs or parents — participating in sessions.
Session structure
Our camps and classes are designed to promote independence within a structured group setting. Introducing additional adults into the space changes supervision dynamics and can impact the experience for all children.
However, we understand that every child is different. If your child can participate safely with their support adult nearby/on-call (but not in the session itself), please contact us to discuss options.
We are always open to conversation and will consider reasonable accommodations where possible, provided they do not compromise safeguarding, insurance conditions, or the safety and experience of the wider group.
What do they bring to class and what do they wear?
All they need is a drink of water and comfortable clothing! Please ensure that children wear runners and that long hair is tied back.
You will receive extra information on what they need to pack for camp days when you register for a camp.
How long is each term?
RINKA runs from September to June, with breaks for Christmas and the odd holiday in between! Camps are run at Halloween, Easter and Summer.
Must I pay in full or can I pay weekly?
Our classes are payable on a monthly subscription and can be cancelled any time by emailing bookings@rinka.ie
We do not accept cash and all our bookings must be done online via our booking in system
It says my preferred class is fully booked - can you squeeze my child in?
We take our adult:child ratios very seriously so if a class is fully booked you will be placed on a waiting list and informed as soon as a space becomes available.
I need to cancel a camp booking?
- 100% refund is offered if camp space is cancelled by you up to 14 days prior to the start date minus €10 administration fee.
- No refund will be offered on cancellations made in the 14 days prior to camp start date.
- We do not issue refunds for missed sessions due to your own circumstances.
- Payments will be returned if a camp has to be cancelled due to minimum numbers not being achieved.
I need to cancel my monthly subscription?
RINKA classes run from September to June. When you sign up for RINKA sessions – you do not have to commit to paying until June – You can cancel your membership at any time! Just send us an email to bookings@rinka.ie with 7 days notice before the 1st of the next month and we will cancel your next payment (payments go out on the 1st of every month) We do not issue refunds for any cancellation requests received outside the required 7 days notice
My child is 2 years old - can they attend class?
Unfortunately, we don’t take children until they are three years old and recommend that they have attended a term at pre-school before joining us. Please note all children must be toilet trained before attending class and happy to stay on their own.
Do I get a refund if a class is cancelled?
In the event of class cancellations caused by adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we regret that refunds will not be issued. We will, where possible, make efforts to reschedule the missed class or provide an alternative solution which may mean adding classes to the end of term (June/July)
Can someone call me to discuss my query?
As our admin staff is so small, we don’t offer phonecall support but we do monitor our emails as frequently as we can so please feel free to email us with any queries that remain unanswered for you.