Less able child in swimming lesson

[swimminglessonadvice]

I’ve name changed as I’m aware I’m not coming across as kind or compassionate; an older less physically able child with physical and other special needs has joined my daughter’s swim classes. For context we pay £40 a month, there is 5 in the group and it’s a 30 minute lesson.

The swim teacher is having to spend a disproportionate time of the half hour handling the child who is less physically able and it’s leaving the other 4 kids treading water; waiting for a while, for example on backstroke, the rest of the children are able to lay back and swim a length. The less physically able child is having to be guided all the way on the length of water by the teacher.

I don’t want to complain but it feels like I’m just watching my DD paddle around waiting for what is essentially £10 a lesson.

I don’t want to move swim school but unsure on what to do.

Hi I’ve emailed the swim school. The owner is rarely there and has a lot of teachers work for him.

I’ve asked if my DD is in the right class for her level of ability due to the swimming teacher now entering the water to support children. I re-call a big thing about my DD moving into this class is the teacher would no longer be in the water with the kids!

this is the first time I’ve seen this teacher climbing in with them rather than instructing from the side:

No she isn’t. The way the lesson is structured is that the children take it in turns to do whatever activity they’re on. So my daughter and the others have to wait for 4 others to take their turn rather than 2 others as they would if the other kid wasn’t requiring one teacher to himself.

I will say op 5 in a class is not alot though I have 12 in my stage 4 but they are constantly swimming and stage 5, 6,7 have 14 7 in each lane and constantly swimming up and down.

You’ve paid for a lesson, you shouldn’t put up with the loss of time/teaching. I moved my daughter from a class that wasted time - she was literally going backwards in ability.

It could be that the they've put the new student in the lowest possible class that doesn't have a big age gap. So by putting the new student in the class below, that is perhaps more suitable for their needs, they would be swimming with children 4 or more years younger. Not saying it's right, just a possible reason.

YANBU OP. A group class should have everyone being given equal time as much as possible. If, for whatever reason, one child is getting a larger amount of teaching time when you're all paying the same amount, then an alternative needs to be considered (1:1, different group etc.) Swimming is set by ability for a reason.

Regardless of the additional needs, it is really difficult when the levels are too different. Really the teacher will always be spending the most time with the child struggling the most with a specific skill and that will always happen even if the kids are at a similar ability but if it shifts into being disproportionate then it’s not really fair on anyone.

YANBU and I say this as the parent of a child with additional needs. I'm currently at a class with one of my DC and there is a child who is always causing chaos and taking up all the teachers time constantly and it's driving me nuts. The parent was saying how wonderful it is that her DD is "so super confident " but I'd suspect some additional needs also so I'm trying to be empathetic

YANBU

The swim club/manager needs to have an additional instructor in the water for the child. If they fail to listen to you maybe speak to the child's parents and suggest they ask for this.

My child has additional needs and has a 1:1 teacher in the water (at no extra cost to us) we use the council run lessons.

What you're seeing is similar to what is happening in some schools. Inclusion of send children is obviously what we should be aiming for. But inclusion done well shouldn't mean other children budging up and accepting less. Successful inclusion needs to be accompanied with appropriate support and resources and this usually means spending money which nobody seems to be willing to do.

I feel we struck gold dust. My SEND boy has a high level of need. After hunting around I found a swim school who would provide a 1:1 assistant for him free of charge. He's been in the bottom class for 2 years now (the goal really is the exercise and therapy rather than swimming). Today in his lesson he was one of six with three adults (one was his adult)

I think your only option is to just request a different day / time. Ignore the poster that said to mention it to the kids mum - that’s shit but I agree I wouldn’t be happy paying for that.

I'll absolutely get flamed for this but I don't agree in inclusion at the expense of every other child in a class. I have complained in the past about this as well as about less able Children being in the group - I think it was stage 2 - you were only supposed to be in that group without armbands - there was a child who was still in floats and in a 30 mins lesson with 8 or more other kids in it they took up loads of time and energy of the teacher and meant all the other kids were slow to progress too

What's annoying more than the pool allowing it is the entitlement of the parents who stood on their phones for the 30 mins ignoring what was going on

Change the lesson time you go. I pay about the same for lessons and my child has additional needs.
I could see he was a distraction in a full class and progress was slow.

I now book the latest possible lesson time, it's always an empty class and he ends up getting a one on one lesson for group prices.

That’s the trouble though- you imagine you’re being nice and kind and compassionate to not mention it aloud, to react with horror at the idea of speaking to the parent, but we know you’re thinking it anyway. It’s the way you think that’s the problem.

So you're thought policing now?

I must admit when I saw this post I panicked and thought it was about my DD. But then I saw the time stamp I sighed a little with relief.
For context my DD has ASC and did use to have one to one lessons which was pricey but well worth it. But over the summer the swim school called and said she would be moved to a small group due to the shortage of swimming teachers. I didn't mind too much as ideally I would like her working in groups but I did explain her needs and we agreed we would review it after 6 weeks. The lesson today involved just my dd and another girl. The teacher was great with both but I did notice more time was spent with my DD as she's still a beginner - not a huge amount but it wasn't equal, it takes a while for her to process things and she lacks concentration at times. Today was the first session and I will definitely review it as the lessons go on. The teacher said up to 6 children can join the group and i think it's unlikely my DD would manage this if it happened as she would probably take up lots of the instructor's time although they did say if this happened another instructor would be present.
I suppose my point is I would/will speak to the instructor.

This is what our swim school does.

I’ve emailed the school, I’m prepared to make a bigger fuss if necessary, I spoke to a couple of friends and they agreed. It’s not about the child as such it’s about the swimming lesson and ability levels.

Hello they’ve said my DD should be in the next class up. Nothing was said to me prior to querying and we were lead to believe she’s started the term in the right group? Anyway I’m waiting for some options for them as they don’t have the class available at the same time which is a good time for us. Thanks for the advice to get in touch with the swim school.

@swimminglessonadvice that sounds a good outcome. I'm glad you contacted the school. Annoying they never mentioned about moving up a groups but hopefully a space will be found soon.

Thanks yes I’m glad I contacted them too, I imagine they were just waiting for a space to become available.