Swimming instructor asked me to take responsibility for kids?

[RHarrison234]

I just want to get some opinions on this before I (potentially) escalate it to management. My son goes to a local swimming lesson and he's 4 years old. He can't swim yet and he's in the level 1 class. Last lesson the teacher called me over (I was watching from the wait room), and handed me a float and asked me to be his 'spotter' and watch the kids while he focused on helping two of the kids swim across the pool (thus leaving the remaining kids in my care). He said to use the float to help if a child fell off the 'step' which enabled them to stand safely in the water. He said to call for him if there was an issue. I was a bit taken aback and my son was thrilled I had been asked to help, so I didn't say anything, but I felt a bit uncomfortable watching other people kids and making sure they were okay. I'm not sure I would be happy with a random parent being responsible for my son had I not been there. I would welcome thoughts on this :) thanks x

Doesn't sound right to me. How many kids are in the class? We had lessons with two different swim schools when DS was four. One follows a 4:1 ratio but had two instructors and eight children in the class. The other is max 3:1 but has four classes in the pool at once, of different ratios, so there are four instructors and seven children in the pool.

I guess primary responsibility is with THE class instructor but having others around helps.

That said, if the kids are young enough/ potentially misbehaved enough they can't wait safely for their turn then I feel each parent should watch their own?

Absolutely not.

Is the class over-subscribed? We were never asked.

Um no

What fresh hell is this? Name and shame.

“Fresh hell” is a bit dramatic

I'm not sure that's legal. When my kids were that young, any of their swimming lessons einer had 2 teachers in the pool with them, or one in the pool and a specially trained watcher on the side, employed by the company who runs the lesson. I would have thought that a watcher needs to be trained in water rescue and first aid.
I would raise this with the management

No, in my local council run pool there's a teacher in the water and several lifeguards on the side of the training pool as well as lifeguards in their usual spots.

@Anothernamechangeee what would you like to use then?

I certainly don't want to be held responsible for the safety of a bunch of non swimming kids in water

Definitely wouldn't be sending my kids there. You can be my guest.

Is there no lifeguard?

Just a thought, was your child being difficult and not listening about staying on the step?

Complain about this. Also if there is no lifeguard go elsewhere as they don’t take health and safety seriously.

DH is a club swimming coach and they are told not to go into help as the lifeguard is trained to do so.

I've sometimes been asked to keep an eye on some of the children not doing the exercise that minute. Just involves standing closer and reminding them every 2 nanoseconds to stand still and stop playing underwater while they are waiting.

Never considered it an issue.

No that’s not right and I wouldn’t be happy to take that responsibility. At our pool there are several teachers at any one time and also lifeguards and often trainees too.
One of my dc teachers fell ill during a lesson once and was able to call on other staff to take the kids while she rushed out.

No this isnt right. There should be at least one life guard present. If he is teaching a beginners class ie non swimmers he should be paying attention to these children not others who are more confident. In fact those children should be in a more “advanced” class.

This is such a terrible suggestion - what if a child got into difficulty would you have assumed some kind of responsibility?
Would you be liable?
Do you have any pool life guarding or swimming teacher qualifications?

If one of the them inhaled water you'd find out why it was a problem...

Yes OP complain. Either the teacher isn't competent in not planning the lessons in a safe way, or they need another swimming teacher, or the teacher needs to ask the lifeguards.

We've had lessons in 2 places and at both there were instructors physically in the water for those in early stages. At the council place only 1 so quite a high ratio but there is also a lifeguard and other coaches around for other classes. It doesn't sound right, was your child messing about beforehand?

Don't go karening and complaining to the management it will resolve nothing and make you look bad

A woman making a legitimate complaint is not an issue. Being a misogynist makes you look bad too you know

Oh no, is "Karening" now a verb? Misogyny at its finest @cringelibrarian

At that age the instructor was in the pool and a trained spotter / lifeguard on the side aka some 17yo but they were very observant :) Our training pool was too deep for the little ones so it'd be easy to get into difficulty. They did put in a big platform so they could stand up. in the middle

No, not acceptable. The pool should have people who are competent and insured to be taking those responsibilities. Not some random onlooker (sorry, op!).

I'd absolutely let management know I didn't think that was appropriate. And not expect to receive misogynistic insults for doing so.

Where were the lifeguards?

This isn't sitting right, has he done this before that you are aware of?

I'm wondering what the set up is, is this in a leisure centre or an independent swim school?

They were no lifeguards at the pool DC had lessons in. It was a small hotel one and now they go to a small school one.

All the parents are right at the side anyway, nowhere else to wait. We all took turns occasionally watching and saying "Oi, head up. Listen". Nobody ever seemed perturbed by the request.

No you are not dibs checked or insured to do that