To insist DD has her own cubicle (or one with a friend?)

I doubt if you'd be allowed to go in the changing rooms without being CRB checked (or whatever it's called this week). And if you take your baby in with you, that might create insurance issues.

But how many changing cubicles do these change rooms have? Surely not enough for each child to have one, or even pair up if there are any left for other pool users? Just go with the practical solution - send her into school with her swimming costume on under her clothes in the morning, and get her a changing towel to use to get changed back into her clothes afterwards. Practice a couple of times at home so she gets the hang of it.

At my DD's swimming club they all used poncho towels, not least because it was cold in the changing rooms. Easy to buy or make. I bought a big bath sheet, cut a slit in the middle and blanket stitched it. Amazon sell easy turbans for hair so that it is out of the way and drying while they get dressed. They will all probably want a poncho!

When I took a primary class swimming we would use the group girls’ and group boys’ changing rooms but there needs to be a member of staff in there with them (another school in there as well) or standing guard in the door (got it solely for our group). It’s harder if there’s no male staff member to stay with the boys- maybe that’s why they’re in cubicles together if there are others as well in the group room.

Rather than a poncho towel which she'd probably struggle to get a top on with, without having to take it off, what about a strip of velcro across the top of her normal towel? She can wrap it round and secure with velcro, pop her bottom half on, pop her top over the top, pull it down and unfasten the towel. No exposure needed.

Are the swimming teachers female/male or a mix? I've found some teachers have concerns about seeing pupils of the opposite gender undressed and might be using the cubicles to prevent that.

I was a bit surprised by it but then I'm not a swim teacher

I used to take school swimming. I hate group changing rooms. However we only ever had behaviour issues in them with boys. I’d wager that’s the issue, unfortunately for your daughter. If it were up to me everyone would have individual or paired changing rooms (there is room for that at our local pool).
Great idea for the poncho towel.

DD is 7 nearly 8 and is also uncomfortable getting changed around the other kids, they still get changed for PE all together boys and girls in the classroom.

I send her into school in her PE kit on PE days, so far school haven't raised it as an issue, if they do then I'll explain. On swimming days we have a Towelling Poncho from Next that she can get changed under. I bought it deliberately in a size way too big so she'd have room to manoeuvre.

The other change that made a big difference was buying pants for her in a shorts style so she has more coverage. Once she's in those she says it's fine and she doesn't need the towel anymore.

www3.next.co.uk/style/st786150/785021#785021

Pants like these

www3.next.co.uk/style/st766523/841505#841505

Unfortunately even so young there have been occasions where some of the boys in the class have asked girls to show them their boobs when getting changed for PE. None of them have boobs yet but that's besides the point.

When I took the children from my class swimming the only changing rooms avaliable were group changing rooms, it could be that that is all the pool provide for the girls at at almost double the number of boys they might not fit in a group cubicle. Staffing wise you need more people to supervise individual changing rooms too.

Op, boundaries are important, she shouldn't be expected to move them because she is young/a girl.

For now I would work on the large poncho swimming towels and perhaps practise using it with you at home. This will help her in future scenarios anyway like perhaps when at the beach or similar if she prefers to be like this, and a cubicle is not always available.

When I have escorted pupils swimming, we literally have to take whatever is available, whether members of the public are there or not. If, the boys are in cubicles, it could be due to a few reasons, lack of communal changing space, behaviour, Sen issues. My kids have to use the a communal area as items tend to get left behind in cubicles, and staff can keep the public out of that area.
I totally understand body changes and embarrassment, however it may be better to teach your dd how to change under a towel.
As for wear the swimsuit to school, the amount of kids who don't have underwear to change into after...

Right, cross post. Which assumes that it’s a different changing room set up. Still ask

But you have absolutely no idea what the boys changing arrangements are like. So ring the school first and find out.

You really do need to speak to school and clarify what the situation is.
You can ask and if there is no good reason why not then I’d expect them to agree to it.
I’m not sure you would allowed to go and get her changed as you would not be allowed in with the other children as they’re changing.

I understand. What about one of those big changing robes you can change underneath for the beach etc.

I'd phone the school and ask them what the changing situation is, dd may not actually know what the boys changing area is like, there may be no/limited provision of cubicles, and if dd gets one, everyone wants one.
It would be inappropriate for you to go along and get dd changed, do not suggest this as an option.

Speak to the teacher to find out why they are expected to share. Meanwhile, can she go to school in her swimming costume under her uniform, and instead of an ordinary towel, get one of those poncho types that she can pop over her head so she’s not trying to get dressed and keep a towel around her at the same time.

You certainly would not be unreasonable to ask and to attempt to understand why they have chosen to segregate in this way.
The whole changing thing really gets on my nerves with pe/swimming at school. Why should you HAVE to get changed in front of others just because you are 7/8/9.
My DS is 8 and they get a cubicle each at swimming - which probably means they get changed quicker as noone to mess about with!!