Swimming lesson gripes

My biggest gripe with current lessons (having removed them from lessons where the instructors openly disliked DD1 - she can be hard work, and were just downright impatient with DD2...and would leave them stood at the side while they spent 80% of the lesson time with the other two kids in the class whom they adored) is with the situation DD2 is in. She's dyspraxic - things come slower to her and we're as OK with that as we can be - but she's teetering at the upper end of the beginners group, being demoralised when every time classes are rebooked for the next set of lessons she doesn't move up, which again, we can work through as it's par for the course with her set of difficulties - but then each course of lessons brings new kids joining the beginners group and obviously needing more attention... which means DD2 just gets left to her own devices and ignored for weeks until the new children are more confident in the water. No wonder the poor kid's making minimal progress really when she gets like 1/3 of the actual block of lessons really compared to everyone else! Can't afford 1:1 lessons for her so it's about all we can do.

I am somewhat sceptical of the ASA stages because the way I saw my children and a friend's children being taught seemed very slow at best and counterproductive at worst. I can't recall the details any more but at one point something that was being required at one level essentially meant a skill had to be retaught in a different way at another level. I gave up on swimming lessons about 6 years ago with my youngest having tried about 3 places. This summer one of my priorities is to get him in a pool several times a week and perhaps some private lessons, not before time. (there are good reasons why he has been too busy for several years to do much)

So, and this is said partly from my experience of teaching other things, maintain an expectation of progress and look out for things that work and things that don't work. Be prepared to change what or how you do things either for an individual or in general if you see that something isn't working.

I like the sound of someone expecting 4 yr old starters to be competent swimmers by 7 or 8; that wasn't the trajectory we experienced. I was always puzzled by what I saw here as my own experience of graded swimming classes in Australia was of much more rapid progress and I was decidedly non-sporty and uncoordinated, much more so than my own children.

My DD started at the LA pool at age 4. It took around 9 months to get her Level 1 - I put this down to class size (8 sometimes 9 or 10 as children were earmarked to move up a group children in a group with a teacher and a helper). Lots of hanging around and turn taking.

In the stage 2 group, she plateaued as a result of a group of 10 children with 1 teacher and too many "fun" activities that created too much excitement and not enough focus and practice. Again, lots of time waiting for her turn. Inconsistent staff didn't help.
She had 18 months worth of lessons at the LA pool in total and didn't move from level 1, despite having lots of fun.

A place came up with a private swim school and we snapped it up (waiting lists at all possible schools in our area). This is her second term and she is about to get her level 2 award. It is far and away better than the LA set up. The main differences are:

The same teacher every week

5 children in the class max (usually less due to absence)

swimming continually - no waiting for her "turn".

teacher has high expectations of behaviour and effort - she is sensitive to each individual child's confidence levels, but takes no nonsense and expects them to try their best.

teacher has planned on a 10 minute buffer between lessons for identified 1:1 work with children struggling or needing a bit more practice at a particular skill. Will also briefly answer any questions from parents in this time. Her lessons start promptly and she will communicate by text or email if there is no time between lessons. She always responds if you request an update.

using the whole length of the pool shallow and deep end (DD has stopped putting her feet down instinctively when tired/bored since learning in deeper water)

The last 5 - 10 minutes is more fun but still very focussed eg - retrieving objects from the bottom, swimming through an underwater hoop, Jumping in at the deep end, floating competitions etc. so still working on the skills needed for that level.

recent swimmers and non swimmers in the same group - this has spurred my daughter on no end.

Good luck with it!

The majority by far do! window

Most start at four then are well on there way to complete the stages by seven/eight It’s not nonsense I’ve spent a decade teaching it! Obviously you get the odd few that are older but like I said the majority start at 4

whattheactual not all children start lessons at the same age. How on earth can you say that most kids should be finished by 7
Nonsense

sir most older kids can see through a filler certificates but 4- 7 which is where the main fundamentals of swimming is grasped DO appreciate a certificate. Ten years experience shows me that. And why the hell should the parents permission be asked ? A child losing respect because they have been given an award that’s not a completed stage 😂😂

Most kids (if they are any good) should be finished and completed by seven especially if the teacher is worth their salt.

There are many awards available around the early stages from just being able to travel with or with out floatation. An experienced teacher all ways be able to find something suitable.

Kids need awards. Make them up if need be

Seriously don't do this, at least don't do this without asking the parents if they are a kid that needs a reward, lots of kids can completely see through made up awards and lose all respect. Those are also often kids who need genuine recognition of achievements they personally respect.

(The rest of Whats advice sounds very good, including goals, but that's not a made up award, its targets within their current stage)

Awards need to be AT LEAST one in 12months. Very different to aiming for one in 12months. Not every child manages a stage a year or term, many get stuck at stage 2/3 for longer so I will use others alongside

That explains it a bit better. I am fully aware that not every child completes a stage a term - but a year is too long, especially with only four kids in your class. We worked on a rolling course of 12 weeks. So we/I expected my kids (class of 10) to be out of that set after two terms. If they were starting a third then I wasn’t doing something right.

However I really do recommend you spend some time working for a LA pool as they will be fully up to date with teaching standards/ practices and proto call to ease you in as they do change. Also you will be able to see the progression rate. Also take a child protection course as obviously you are in a position where children may disclose issues- this really needs to be done.

Please remember your only as good as your last teaching update. Training is on going and continual.

Good luck !

Typos as I’m tired.

Kids need awards. Make them up if need be.

I’m sorry but your lack of knowledge on this matter shines through

Ah I see! Your not qualified yet.

lollypop30 with all due respect you will need to do your level one then level two. You will also need to do hours where you get assessed by your tutor after the written exam.

You NEED experience before you set a school up because it’s not fair on the pupils or the parents. New teachers shadowed me for 8 weeks before they were allowed to have their own classes to ensure quality and sound teaching. You will not have that when you first pass.

Like I said up thread go and get some experience at s local pool

I’m sorry but a least one award per 12 months and you will have kids getting bored and leaving. You should always for a goal then they now what they are working towards, you can’t just expect them to aimlessly wander through it.

Yes of course kids learn quicker through structured play. Have you not done the learning the FUNdementals course for beginner swimmers?

How much experience do you actually have lollypop30

What are the policies for the pool you are at? Because most pools will not allow a teacher in the water with no lifeguard watching the pool.

I've just moved classes and the main issues that caused me to move were lack of feedback for students (how anyone is meant to improve when there's no communication of what they're doing right and wrong I'll never know) and class size (grew to 12 from 7 when we joined ... utter chaos). Good luck! (You're not in the Shrewsbury area, are you? )

From personal experience:
Start on time, finish when you say not 5-10 min early for a half-hour lesson
Don't unexpectedly throw water in kids' faces and then say it's to make them more confident in the water - it does quite the opposite even on the ones who were still willing to continue the lesson
Don't act shocked that there are beginners aged over five. Lots of local swim schools will only let preschoolers in beginner lessons.
Consider what to do with kids with sensory issues who will not put faces in the water. Local centre refused to teach mine any more, ditto school lessons. Surely some heads-up breast stroke would be better than nothing?
Do you get in the water? That would be a big plus for me.

Key things I'd like to see:

• Teacher clearly audible to children (some pools have very bad acoustics). Also vary your vocabulary to make sure each child understands.

• Teaching actual swimming technique rather than just pushing further and further distance.

• More focus on breast stroke - many lessons are overly focused on front crawl I think. We're not trying to get to the Olympics.

• Clear rules for other parents - when your children are either waiting to swim or done swimming, keep them away from the pool so they don't disturb someone else's £££ lesson.

• More clear rules: parents should not ask for a detailed debrief from the teacher when the next children's swimming time has started. Deal with that over email.

• Shower and ideally spacious changing facilities.

Good luck!

I do agree with SirFred that I wouldn't be impressed with advertising that dc would be guaranteed an award per term or whatever. Awards need to be on merit and dc don't learn / progress in straight lines.

4:1 sounds nice, but also expensive.

I agree with the poster though that my biggest gripe over lessons over the years was the poor quality of changing facilities - be that cleanliness, temperature or lack of space. I'm guessing if you are in a private club that might not be the case.

lollypop apply to work at a local council/authority pool at get some experience and a feel for what is expected

Aiming for one skill award in 12 months 🙈🙈🙈 surely that must be a typo

@lollypop30 I’m an ex swimming teacher of ten years.

I think you should be aiming for an award per term. Parents and children like progress awards. If you are getting them of the ASA there should be loads you can use if a child isn’t reaching a specific target. Honestly I’d seriously be asking my teachers why the fuck a child in a class four hadn’t improved in 12 months. You will lose customers if you sent such a low slow progress target. Even my SN kids could work their way through a progress scheme in less time.

How much experience have you got ?? Have you ever taught before? Will you be also in charge or life guarding the pool?

Are you getting in the water with them

Why are your games not structured? Don’t waste a moment of that lesson. There is loads of books that teach learning through play and specific outcomes. You will get asked why the kids are just ‘playing’ at the end. And if you add that up (even five mins) over a term it can equate to a whole lesson of just ‘free play’

Most lessons are now rolling courses, what are you going to do over the six week holidays your going to lose a lot of money

Are you going to follow structures lesson plans which lead to progressive outcomes ?

Will you be doing ongoing training?

Honestly - rethink your business plan. You can’t just rock up and open a swimming school it’s much more complicated than that and it’s not fair to take money of customers when you haven’t got s sound lesson structure set up

DD stayed on level 3 for over two years before she gained it. She never got any badges for distances. The teacher wasn’t very helpful.

I would like to see badges gained for distance at every level, teachers in the water more, more feedback. More honesty so if the child isn’t progressing, stop taking the money and be honest with the parent.

What annoys me about some of the swimming lessons DD has had, is that the teachers didn't teach swimming technique. And that requires a teacher IN the water, at least some of the time, with a "hands-on" approach to correct strokes, leg position etc.

Swimming is a skill - in my book a pretty essential one. Honestly I think good teaching which leads to a competent and confident swimmer is more important than making it "fun".

I paid for 2:1 lessons for a week at Easter break once with Swimming Nature - DD learned more in those five days than she had for two and half years of our regular leisure centre classes. Unfortunately I couldn't afford to continue so had to finish the job myself.

I'm the other way re: term time lessons. We try to go away in the holidays and it's annoying to have to pay for lessons they're not attending.

Lollipop30 it wouldn’t necessarily put me off if it was term time only but I must say I was really pleased to find it and discover they run all year round. I think DS is really going to benefit from going every/nearly every week. I know it wouldn’t suit everyone though with holidays etc but we don’t go away much so I like it when activities can continue!