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Original poster

Child hurt in pool

43 replies

Nadiamohamed · 07/08/2019 23:30

Hi everyone, I wanted some advice. My daughter was hurt in a pool by her swimming teacher- she dug her fingers into her sides to straighten her, pushed her forward and was mean and generally derogatory. I have gone through all formal complaint procedures and they are refusing to tell me anything saying that she is protected by HR confidentiality. They have still kept her on as an employee, despite her having other written complaints on file. She is also a local councillor. I took a photo of a large scratch on my daughter's side and they at first didn't even take it into consideration and are now saying that they expect scratches as part of accidental marks made by a swim teacher. I do not know where to go next apart from a lengthy and expensive court case but I am so worried about other children. Does anyone have any experience with this? Many thanks.

OP posts:
Heratnumber7 · 07/08/2019 23:32

How do you know she has other written complaints on file?

yorkshirecountrylass · 07/08/2019 23:33

If she's physically hurt her as a result of inappropriate/rough handling it might be worth a phone call to Children's Social Care (responsible for safeguarding)

Heratnumber7 · 07/08/2019 23:34

Also, re your statement I do not know where to go next apart from a lengthy and expensive court case
What are you hoping to achieve? Court case against the pool owners? Or the instructor?

PrayingandHoping · 07/08/2019 23:35

As a coach is she a member of any association?

I am a coach for another sport (freelance) and if there are any safeguarding issues thy are reported to the sports governing body

avamiah · 07/08/2019 23:36

My daughter is 9 and has been attending swimming club since she was 5 and I am really shocked to hear this has happened to your child.
How old is your child and what stage swimming ?
I ask this because my daughters swimming coach is not in the pool with them and teaches from the side.

Nicknacky · 07/08/2019 23:46

What sort of court case do you think you can proceed with? She’s a crap teacher and you daughter has been accidentally scratched. That’s it!

Isadora2007 · 07/08/2019 23:51

Maybe a safeguarding issue via local council if it’s a LGA leisure pool? Twitter to spread awareness?

jellycatspyjamas · 07/08/2019 23:54

What do you want them to do? Sack her? That’s not your call to make - her employer will deal with the issue as they see fit and that should be held in confidence.

Tattybogle89 · 07/08/2019 23:57

So possibly an accidental scratch unless you can clarify what you mean by mean and derogatory?
Aren’t there parents watching?

Heratnumber7 · 07/08/2019 23:57

It's nothing to do with safeguarding btw.

EBearhug · 08/08/2019 00:03

are now saying that they expect scratches as part of accidental marks made by a swim teacher.

They could happen, especially if the teacher is in the water too - but I wouldn't expect them. Pretty sure I never scratched anyone when I used to be a swimming teacher.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 08/08/2019 00:14

“What do you want them to do sack her.”

Would you blame op if she did. Would you accept it for your child! I’m telling you if any adult laid a hand on mine. I’d expect them to sacked or at the very least face disciplinary procedures. That’s abuse.!!!!
You can get your own kids removed for physically reprimanding them.

I agree with pp. This needs reporting to the SGO. She is dangerous and shouldn’t be working with kids.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 08/08/2019 00:15

Obviously if it was accidental that is entirely different. That goes without saying

avamiah · 08/08/2019 00:16

We are in London and my daughter goes to the local pool ( better.org uk ) and they run after school swimming lessons for all stages .
I have to say that it is a great place and they have 3 life guards watching from above and their is a viewing area for family to watch which is pretty close to see everything and then each class is in its own lane with the swimming coach who is pool side.
They have a toddler / young child pool and the swimming coaches are in the water with them .

Isadora2007 · 08/08/2019 00:30

@Heratnumber7
How is it not to do with safeguarding if you believe poor practice has led to the injury of a child in a coach’s care?

avamiah · 08/08/2019 00:40

A swimming coach should not have long nails if they are in the water and having one to one contact with a child.

jellycatspyjamas · 08/08/2019 06:57

@Awwlookatmybabyspider depending on circumstances yes, I’d hit the roof and want the person gone. Luckily that wouldn’t be my call to make, the coach’s employer gets to investigate and decide what course of action to take without my strength of feeling.

I’m not sure I’d be subjecting myself to a long, expensive legal process for the sake of a scratch.

PrayingandHoping · 08/08/2019 08:11

It absolutely is a safeguarding issue!!

I have do to continual training on how and when is appropriate to touch a child (or vulnerable adult) to coach within my sport

Original poster
Nadiamohamed · 08/08/2019 08:54

I was told by the swimming school itself that she has had numerous complaints, I have also been told that by other parents. I don't think unless you have see the photo- which is one of the points I am raising- that you can decide that it is 'just a scratch'. It was a deep mark, people I have shown have been shocked.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nadiamohamed · 08/08/2019 08:55

I have contacted the National Swimming Teachers Association and was told that it wasn't within their remit- that I should do directly to the swim school.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nadiamohamed · 08/08/2019 08:57

My daughter just turned 7 she is a tough cookie and I have never seen her in the state she was in when she came out of the pool. She was handled in a cruel and malicious way. I have also heard the teacher shouting at the children on other occasions, in different lessons.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nadiamohamed · 08/08/2019 08:59

It is actually to do with safeguarding. They are just saying that because it was a one off and not ongoing, the council cannot investigate.

OP posts:
IAskTooManyQuestions · 08/08/2019 09:01

My daughter was hurt in a pool by her swimming teacher- she dug her fingers into her sides to straighten her, pushed her forward and was mean and generally derogatory

What did she say that was derogatory? Ho0w was she ‘mean’ ?

I have gone through all formal complaint procedures and they are refusing to tell me anything saying that she is protected by HR confidentiality.

This is correct - you have no right to know what disciplinary action the individual had, could be a verbal or written warning, retraining

They have still kept her on as an employee, despite her having other written complaints on file.

How do you know what complaints? You won’t know the outcome. You wont be told. You are listening to gossip and conjecture. Complaints aren’t always upheld

She is also a local councillor.

I do not know where to go next apart from a lengthy and expensive court case but I am so worried about other children.

Exactly WHAT do you hope to achieve? Are you looking for a big compo pay out ?

Utterly irrelevant

Bookworm4 · 08/08/2019 09:02

Handled in a cruel and malicious way
what an odd description, were you not there? Apart from the visible scratch is this all on the say so of a 7 year old and gossipy parents?
I’ll assume your DD has left said class? You’ve complained, leave it be, if she’s that bad with ‘numerous complaints’ something will be down or already has, not everything results in sacking.

MynameisJune · 08/08/2019 09:06

So what do you want to happen? Are you expecting her to be fired? Do you want compensation?

What did she say that was derogatory. Why didn’t your daughter say something during the lesson rather than wait until the end? Do you watch the lesson?