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Original poster

Swimming lesson confusion

12 replies

Crunchymum · 26/01/2019 16:04

Due to a terrible fear of getting hair and face wet (bath time has always been a joy!) we've been rather lax about sorting out swimming lessons.

As a result I have a 6yo who would need to start at the very beginning.

I also want to send the 4yo pre schooler as well.

Looking online it's very confusing. Classes seem to be by age not ability?

So would I need to send the 6yo to "junior - stage 1" and the 4yo to "preschool - stage 1" ?

I have called but need to call back on Monday, ideally I'd like them in the same class.

Unfortunately there is no availability for private 2-2-1 lessons anywhere locally as that would have been my preference.

Any insight is appreciated.

OP posts:

AndWhat · 26/01/2019 16:09

Our swimming lessons are based on ability so we have between 4-6 in my DS foundation class

Sunshinewithshowers123 · 26/01/2019 16:12

Yeah mine went to beginners lessons. DS6 and DD4 together. DS6 progressed quicker so moved up a stage sooner.

Gizlotsmum · 26/01/2019 16:13

Ability here too but they may start a slightly older child in a slightly higher stage than absolute beginner

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catkind · 26/01/2019 16:18

A lot of swim schools have separate lessons for school age and preschool children. I guess school age learn quicker, and they can expect better cooperation and maybe make it more focussed and less play based. But also so older beginners don't feel embarrassed going in with tiny 3 year olds.

Might be easiest to leave it one more year then put them in together; or find a different school that doesn't split the same way.

Youmadorwhat · 26/01/2019 16:19

@Crunchymum that is strange as it is normally done by ability!? What would they do if they had a young swimmer who was very competent I wonder??! My DD is 5.5 and is v competent (level 4). They start at level 1 (usually at age 4) and it goes up to level 6. They all go at their own pace obviously so after starting age become irrelevant, they don’t move up a stage until they pass a swimming assessment for each level. Level 1 & 2 are in the small pool (depth up to 1m I think) level 3 in shallow end of large pool and level 4+ in the deep end.

Original poster

Crunchymum · 26/01/2019 16:20

It does seem to be split by both age and ability?

So beginner 4yo would need to be in "preschool stage 1" and beginner 6yo in "junior stage 1".....

Only day that have lessons at same time is a day I work (go back in 5 weeks time from ML)..... Will be getting free childcare so can't really ask lovely relative to take 2 kids swimming and wrestle the 1yo too. Although I know my lovely relative would do this for us.

I'll keep looking and give them a call on Monday.

OP posts:

Thesearmsofmine · 26/01/2019 16:20

Here the lessons start at 5(before that an adult goes in with them). Starting at stage one, one of mine started at 5 and one at 7 and then they progress according to ability.

Original poster

Crunchymum · 26/01/2019 17:11

I've booked an intensive course for them both (stage 1) for the half term. Although I realise they may not let the 4yo go into this class.

Will have to ring them on Monday.

OP posts:

catkind · 26/01/2019 17:56

Other thing to look out for is whether preschooler stage 1 is actually beginners; some schools do ducklings 1-4 first with preschoolers so by the time they reach stage 1 they can already swim. Whereas school age stage 1 actually starts with beginners.
As I say, different swim schools do things differently so just talk to them. Perhaps even if they do normally split they'd make an exception for a well behaved older preschooler going in with sibling.

Equimum · 26/01/2019 18:45

The swim school we use now puts all ages together by stage. The council-run pool we used to use had separate schemes for pre-schoolers and school aged children, with the pre-schooler lessons being during the school day. If you little one is already four, though, they may be happy for the child to join an after school lesson.

Doyoumind · 26/01/2019 18:48

Whoever is providing the lessons will judge which class they need to be in. The places near me do some kind of assessment before confirming a class.

YourEggnogIsBetterThanMine · 26/01/2019 18:49

Where we are preschoolers go to preschool lessons as they have 2 teachers per class (one on the side and one in the water with them). There is a preschool 1 beginners and improvers.

After that it's just stages 1 - 8 and purely on ability. So a 4 and 6 year old would start in preschool 1 and stage 1 but in a years time, at 5 and 7, they could both start in stage 1 together.

That might just be here though...

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