Swimming lessons

[Rhombus79]

I have a question regarding swimming lessons.
Ds (7) has 1:1 swimming lessons and is nearly at Stage 5. He prefers the private lessons to group lessons and we don't mind paying for them and then maybe look into joining a swimming club once he is past stage 7.

His swimming teacher today asked if we have thought about putting him into group lessons. That question had me stumped because I can't think of a reason why that would benefit him?
All his strokes have quite a bit of room for improvement. I would have thought private lessons would be ideal to work further on his technique.
I told his teacher, that Ds really enjoys the 1:1 lessons, no waiting around, full attention of the teacher are just some of the reasons. Recognising that I'm not a fan of the idea, he added: 'or we can continue the private lessons'.

Cynical me thinks, they want to free up a teacher but the school has a very good reputation, so I doubt that's it.

Any ideas someone why the push into group lessons?

It really doesn't make much sense as surely the instructor is benefitting from you paying him for 1:1 lesson, yes he may have people on the waiting list but you are a known entity and already established and paying. I'd have to revisit with the instructor and see why they asked the question.

Group sessions are fine once they start just doing lengths as they get a good amount of swimming time compared to the tinies that need extra supervision so only actually get a short amount of swimming time. He needs less support with technique now and its more about building stamina. Swimming together as a group adds a competitive element too which many like.

I'd trial the group sessions and then using the money saved on 1:1 see if the school run the extra group lessons like diving, rookie life guards, synchro, water polo and precomp swimming - there are badges from level 7-10 but our pool let anyone grade 5+ join

I don't think they are "pushing" you into group lessons but rather are saying your child is at a stage and level where by they will make good progress under either route and you might not need the additional expense of private.

I think that's really helpful information the instructor so you can consider your options rather than being more cynical and continuing for as long as possible.

That's what I thought as well. It just doesn't make sense. Does he maybe think we are struggling to pay and wants to do us a favour? If we weren't there he would probably join another group as a second teacher, as there simply isn't enough space for another group. It's tight as it is.

Possibly your son would benefit from some competition?

Ask?

This is a good point actually. But there is still quite a lot he is struggling with, so I would have thought that swimming lengths isn't a priority, yet. I think, I just worry, that his technique stops improving once he hasn't got the teachers' full attention anymore.
Unfortunately, they don't offer anything else beyond the standard swimming lessons. We would have to change the swim school for that.

Most Children benefit from observing other children swimming especially at this stage. Maybe the instructor is thinking that to improve your child's stroke technique in certain strokes he would benefit from this?

I should add, that we have only joined this swim school 5 weeks ago. Starting at stage 3, he was moved to stage 4 after two lessons and is now close to finishing it. Everything just moves so quickly all of a sudden. That question about putting him into group lessons just caught me by surprise.
But you have all made some fair points that I hadn't thought about.
We have already booked the next block of sessions but we will think about moving him to a group after that.

That's a fair point. I had always assumed because his teacher is in the water with him, demonstrating himself, that would be enough.

Maybe the teacher might have thought you were just starting with a 1:1 to start off with. No biggie. FYI they start doing more lengths in stage 6, building more stamina etc. So maybe a group lesson is as good as a 1:1 at that stage.

Mine are at a similar stage and they really benefit from having others in the group, partly because they watch each other’s techniques but mainly for the competition!

The teacher is probably used to people only doing 1 to 1 up to a certain standard then moving to group. They were probably just letting you know they think he is ready for group lessons if you wanted to do them. Dont overthink it

He sounds a lot like my daughter, I taught her to swim and then at 8 put her in lessons to perfect technique so she went into G4 and then quickly moved up.

Another thing that helps in a group setting is that all the corrections aren't aimed at you personally but shared between the group therefore those children that take them abit personally find it easier. Perhaps keep him 1:1 this half term and then move him into a group session for the summer. There's no harm in trying and then if that doesn't work out how back to 1:1.

Competitive teams also often have a swim school element and might take him into the development squad around now. He really does need alot of stamina though, DD was a bit shocked and exhausted after her trial and an hour of non stop swimming from her normal 30 mins lessons I didn't think she'd wat to join after that but she did and swa competitive s for a good few years until COVID hit.