Concerned - reception swimming lessons

[Worriedlisa]

Very concerned about this
DS who is still only 4 is expected to walk 1/2 mile to the leisure centre and then have a group swimming lesson.
He can't swim and isn't fond of swimming but all the other parents have opted in and paid the fee.
It doesn't help last year a child left the leisure centre after getting changed and walked back to school alone, crossing a main road and nobody even noticed - well until he turned up in the reception area.
They're still so young, what a stupid idea.

[KP86]

My not-yet-2yo can walk that far so I wouldn't be too worried about distance.

I'm assuming since it's swimming lessons there will be lots of parent helpers to ensure the right adult to child ratio so they should be properly supervised for swimming and walking. (Albeit I acknowledge last year this must not have happened properly - no doubt the school have learned their lesson.)

As a final precaution, maybe also speak to your son to remind him to not go off without an adult or teacher?

[parrotonmyshoulder]

Half a mile really isn't far!
And the school won't make the mistake of leaving a child again.
There will probably be loads if parent helpers and it will be fun. Children are often more keen at school swimming lessons than with parents.

[ILoveMyMonkey]

As a parent no way would I agree to that - not the walking but to the swimming. As a teacher no way would I take responsibility for that - again the swimming not the walking.

Can you opt out? Or offer to be a parent helper?

[spanieleyes]

why on earth not? All our reception children swim each week-although we have our own pool so don't have to walk and haven't lost a child on the way to and from the classroom. The children swim in small groups of 8-10 with a TA in the pool, a swim instructor/trained teacher and a lifeguard by the side. A couple of parents come in to help with changing. The children love it and soon learn water confidence and even swimming!

[zoemaguire]

Blimey, my 2yo walks that most days!

[andadietcoke]

I used to help with reception class swimming when I was in sixth form and doing a lifesaving qualification. There were two of us in the pool with the kids and the swimming teacher and class teacher at the side. The children loved it.

[elevenweekstogo]

Yeah sorry but my 2yo will probably do at least 1/2 a mile "walk" a day then run in the garden, charge round the house, power up and down the stairs, wash the car with his dad etc etc etc.

Is the problem the physical exercise or the concern about safety on the walk? It's two separate issues. At the end of the day, if you don't want your child to take part...write a letter asking him not to take part. Simple.

[Fedup21]

As a parent no way would I agree to that - not the walking but to the swimming. As a teacher no way would I take responsibility for that - again the swimming not the walking.

They will be taught by a qualified swimming teacher, I assume?! What's the problem?

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Children are on the go all day ... They are able to walk that far and back.

Swimming is good for them and no 4 year old is a "fantastic" swimmer

Depends where you live but statistically children from cities are more likely to drown than those from seaside towns -

It's a life (saving) skill -

You should be grateful the school goes beyond the curriculum to make this happen

No swimming here till they are year 3 cut back from year 2 due to budget cuts.

[ILoveMyMonkey]

They will be taught by a qualified swimming teacher, I assume?! What's the problem?

Because as the class teacher if, heaven forbid, anything happened then I would be held accountable and personally liable (despite a qualified instructor being present) and that isn't a risk I'd be prepared to take. Imo reception age is too young for whole class school swimming. Like I said just my opinion.

[MidniteScribbler]

Good grief, our preps (like your reception year) start in first term. Swimming lessons are run by qualified instructors who work with small groups in their appropriate levels of skill (usually 3-5 students per instructor at that age). Most come to school having already done swimming lessons (My DS started at six months and at 4 is already an independent swimmer). It's an essential life skill as far as I'm concerned.

[ILoveMyMonkey]

It's an essential life skill as far as I'm concerned.

Absolutely agree with you but it's not a schools responsibility to teach all life skills. Parents can, and should, teach some of these; or at least organise the teaching.

[MidniteScribbler]

Absolutely agree with you but it's not a schools responsibility to teach all life skills. Parents can, and should, teach some of these; or at least organise the teaching.

Of course parents should. There are plenty of things that parents should teach, but don't. Which is why schools spend so much time teaching things that children aren't learning at home.

[ILoveMyMonkey]

Of course parents should. There are plenty of things that parents should teach, but don't. Which is why schools spend so much time teaching things that children aren't learning at home.

Exactly, which is why the school curriculum is so overstretched and why things are dropped off the timetable in order to fit other things in.

[kilmuir]

i was a parent helper when our school took KS1 pupils to local swimming pool for lessons.
Parents were asked to fill in a form with details of childs experience of swimming and children alloacted a small group accordingly.
Was very well organised event,

[jo164]

We take our children from year 1 onwards. They also walk half a mile then swim and walk back. They all enjoy it, are making great progress and believe it or not after a few weeks can all manage to dry themselves and get changed with little assistance. Oh and we have managed not to lose any yet ( in the 6 years I have been there). It would be a real shame to take your child out of swimming lessons.

[Canshopwillshop]

What a fantastic opportunity. It's an essential life skill and excellent for health and fitness - you should be embracing it! Could you offer to help out?

[WhattodoSue]

Our reception children walked and went on the bus. They loved it, highlight of the week. Kids are so protected, they don't have room to develop a sense of independence and responsibility.

[IoraRua]

Honestly I wouldn't have a problem with this. I wouldn't necessarily take my junior infant class (equivalent of reception - that is if I was teaching that age), ime the Irish schools take them later and they have better self-care skills (dressing, drying) when older. But other than that, no concerns.

[alltouchedout]

Oh, I'd be pleased! They don't get lessons til year 4 here and that seems incredibly late to me. School took us swimming when I was 5 in the 80s and I think that's a good age.

[JimAndTonic]

Fgs! What IS the problem here?

Less than half a mile to walk to the leisure centre? Is that really an issue - im sure ttere would be adequate adult supervision, walking in a crocodile line holding hands etc. Gives an extra opportunity to teach about road safety along the way and the exercise is invaluable.

Or is it the swimming itself? A life skill the earlier taught the better. There will be life guards and adequate supervision - why be THAT parent who wraps her child up in cotton wool and objects to everything just for the point of objecting ?

[Inkymess]

I'd be delighted if ours did it!! 1/2,- mile is a 10-15 walk only and swimming is brilliant opportunity

[WhatWouldFlopDo]

The walk wouldn't bother me so much, I assume they'd do a 'Sammy snake' and all hold a rope or walk in pairs holding hands with an adult at both ends of the line. I don't send DD (just turned 4) swimming with nursery, even though she'd love to, because it's 5 miles on a minibus with no age and weight appropriate restraints, just adult seat belts.

[Gobbolino6]

I don't see the issue. Half a mile is no distance and it sounds like a great opportunity.