school swimming lessons

[triplets]

My trio are in yr 2 and today started swimming lessons ar our local pool. They already go there for lessons which costs me a fortune. The school say the lessons, there are 4 of them, are compulsory. I offered to help get children changed, so I was there to see the children assessed, divided into three groups. My three were placed in group 2, intermediate swimmers. Group 1 the non swimmers, ten od them were with a qualified instructor, as were group 3 who were confident swimmers, there were 10 of them. Group 2. where my trhee were placed were put in a small pool and virtually left to play being watched by their own student teacher and class LSA.I was told that thats the way it will be for the remaining 3 lessons. This is costing me £10.80p a lesson, do you think its right? I was annoyed that they were in the care of a student teacher, as good as she seems to be, and not a qualified instructor, I don`t have money to waste but feel this is a waste of time, this terms private lessons at the same pool has already cost me a £140!

[SoupDragon]

They are meant to be having swimming lessons and tbh, I'd complaim to the school about it.

[bilbs]

I was under the impression that out of school activities where funded by requesting 'voluntary contributions' from parents. What if you don't pay - what will happen? As far as I am aware Studnet Teachers and LSA are not fully qualified and insured to be responsible for pupils - but if others are around this may be okay? Also ask them if they are compulsary, how and where do they come into the National Curriculum for PE, and if those elements of the National Curriculum are compulsay, then shouldn't they be paid for via school funding, afterall you don't have to buy the paint for art lessons do you!

[triplets]

Good points. I also spoke to a friend of mine in Cornwall, she is a classroom assistent and school governer. She said that it is illegal to take the children on a bus without having a list of their names and addresses incase of any accident, also there should have been a risk assessment done on the pool. Does anyone know about this? It is by the way in the school curriclum and I was told last year that its not an option to opt out. But I am not going to pay for the reaining lessons if things don`t change.

[homemama]

Two points; LEA should do a risk assessment on the pool before any of their schools have lessons there. Also, student teachers have temp insurance to take class for all lessons other than P.E, this obviously includes swimming.

[FiveAlive]

Those are expensive lessons! I'm paying £8 for 12 30-minute lessons for my DD who is in Y3.

Swimming is only on the KS2 curriculum.

[triplets]

Hi,
Can I ask to see the risk assessment if it were done? Trouble is as I am an older Mum, well, ancient really, with three, the other mums are 20-30 years younger than me, and I have lost a child, I feel they all think I am being over protective and making a fuss which could spoil it for all. I am not, I really object to paying £10.80p a time and for my children to be left under the supervision of a student teacher!

[jampots]

I pay £2 per week for my ds to have school swimming lessons.

In addition Ive paid £45 for this terms private lessons for him

[homemama]

yes, you can ask to see the risk assessment. school should have a copy. They should complete a risk assessment for every trip out, which you are entitled to see. I'd make a big thing about the supervision too! good luck!

[zebraZ]

Triplets is paying for 3 children (hence her name) that's why it's so dear for her.

Have your 3 only had one lesson, Triplets? Maybe the 2 instructors will rotate around which group they work with from week to week.

Otherwise, I'm 99.9% sure you could campaign for your children to not go at all, considering they have private lessons; what if a child can't go into the pool for some physical reason -- surely they get excused? There must be get-out-clauses.

[triplets]

Hi Zebra,
Yes I have 7 yr old triplets! I am currently being asked for £10.80p a week for swimming lessons, we have just given £2 each towards their chosen charity at school, then yesterday they came home with a slip for a school trip to a zoo at a reduced cost of £7 a child!!!!!!!We are not made of money, Harry took early retirement in 1998 when they were born to help look after them so we now live on a merchany navy pension of £17,000!

[homemama]

Sounds very unfair. In schools where I have taught, discount has always been given to parents of twins so I cant believe they expect full price for three!
I'd be willing to bet that £5 of the zoo trip is to pay for the coach!!!! Always more expensive than admission IME.
Go in and see the HT. Explain that you always support school but that having three to pay for at once is a strain. Ask if they will accept 2.5 or maybe you could have a 'tub' in the office and pay a little in each month.

[triplets]

Hi Homemama,
Yes I can always pay in instalments, but it is still alot of money I feel. It makes me cross that they say it is a voluntary contribution but that if the full cost is not met then the trip will have to be cancelled! Blackmail!

[homemama]

It is a lot of money and surely they must realise that everything must cost so much for you and DH.
BTW, the guidelines actually state that if the trip is educational then no child can be excluded whether they pay or not. Of course if nobody pays then they can cancel but if everyone else pays and you pay for two they cannot deny all three from going.
BUT!!! swimming is part of the NC at KS2 and I have taught in v deprived areas where parents could only afford nominal contributions but we still had to take them and account for the cost in the PE budget.
Sorry to ramble but you seem to be trying your best to support the school and they should try to meet you half way.
Good luck!

[Milliways]

Quite a few years ago, 3 local children were drowned in a canal near here. 2 attended the local primary that my DS is now at. This was before National Cirriculam etc, & no swimming lessons were had at school. However, the Head decided that as a memorial, ALL children at the school should learn how to swim & the PTA funded the lessons. This has continued to this day with Yr 3 & 4 having free lessons.

The new Head (last yr) suggested introducing a charge, but those of us who could remember the original reason for the free lessons objected.

I think this is a lovely way of remembering those children.