School swimming

[jampots]

ds (year 3) goes swimming each week with his class. There is only 1 male teacher and the headmaster. Sometimes when the head cant accompany the boys to the swimming baths, the caretaker goes - i found this out yesterday from ds and not sure how i feel about it. How would you feel?

[Miriam2]

Wouldn't like it. Although he will be police checked, he's not part of the teaching staff. Unless he's just going to accompany them on the coach to satisfy adult: child ratio? ...but not if he is 'helping' with the lesson.

[starlover]

what is it that bothers you about it jampots?

I don't have a child at school yet, can't really say how I would feel tbh... but I can't see a problem with it... if he has been police checked etc then it's really no difference from anyone else going with them is it?
I do think it's a bit odd that they use the caretaker rather than another teacher... but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are at risk or anything...

Why don't you ask the school what's going on?

[Aniles]

I'd be fine with it, but I know my dd's school caretaker. As far as I know the school staff are there just to supervise. It's the pool swimming instructors that actually do the lesson.

[RTKangaMummy]

Does he go into the changing room?

I would deffo not like it

But if he never goes into the changing room and is just for coach and there are women teachers as well then ok

Why can women teachers not go into changing room

At DS school when they do swimming women teachers go into changing room to gee them up getting changed

[starlover]

what does it matter if he goes in the changing room?
just because he is male doesn't mean he is going to molest them or something, and quite frankly a woman is just as capable of doing something like that as a man is.

and why would there need to be women teachers there too?

[RTKangaMummy]

There deffo needs to be a teacher on a school trip for insurance and H&S etc

A caretaker cannot be in charge of a trip away from school

So really hope that a teacher is going as well

[jampots]

they have a female teacher to supervise the girls getting changed and a male teacher to supervise the boys getting changed.

I know the caretaker would be police checked and he is a nice guy - however I dont really expect my children to have that sort of relationship with the caretaker or his wife to be honest. Obviously they know him and speak and treat him with the same respect they treat the teachers but somehow I just dont like it.

In addition, this caretaker's son (19) also lives at their house (on site) and whilst he is also a nice lad he once had his friend to stay over for several days who was hiding from the Police after threatening a child with an air rifle.

[RTKangaMummy]

I think that I would very much be unhappy with situation

Why can't another womaen teacher go too?

or TA ?

What do other mums think?

Why were you not informed by school

[jampots]

Im not sure if they need a token male to go. As i said i only found out yesterday when ds said "i dont like it when Mr F comes swimming"

[SoupDragon]

I wouldn't have a problem with it. I have 2 DSs and the only adult male in their primary school is the caretaker.

Is the swimming in a public baths? If so, a female teacher wouldn't be allowed to go in the male changing rooms to supervise changing. I would prefer that my sons be supervised by a police checked adult male that they are familiar with.

I'm not sure exactly how this differs from having the head or other male teacher go - unless the children are regularly taught by these 2 people, then there's no difference IMHO.

[FIMAC1]

I would be extremely concerned if my dd or ds came out with a statement like

Im not sure if they need a token male to go. As i said i only found out yesterday when ds said "i dont like it when Mr F comes swimming"

That would immediately start alarm bells ringing with me. Otherwise why the statement? You need to follow these concerns up at the school.

PLEASE

[SoupDragon]

Have you asked your DS why he doesn't like it? Obviously dont ask any questions that could put ideas in his head though.

[RTKangaMummy]

Do they hire the pool for lessons?

If so why can't a woman go into boys changing room?

At DS school they have their own pool and the changing rooms are next to each other and boys and girls both close the door while changing

The PE teacher is MALE but doesn't go into either The class teacher does though and whichever parent is helping

When my DH is helping he would NEVER NEVER go in girls or boys

But when I am would go into either boys or girls but only when they are nearly dressed ie putting on shoes or socks or ties etc

Girls need help with swimming hats etc.

Parents are there so that if there is an accident they can alert the school office and then the teachers can supervise the rest of the children

[RTKangaMummy]

They open the door when they are all dressed IYSWIM

[RTKangaMummy]

Perhaps you ask other parents what they think

[jampots]

I asked my friend what she thought and although she didnt know before, she was ok with it