How confident at swimming were your DC when you stopped lessons?

[Eastie77Returns]

DD is nearing completion of Stage 7. Her instructor said she basically has to improve on one manoeuvre and she’s done. She has been taking lessons at a gym that offers advanced classes and also a swim club where kids can train to compete in local races etc. DD does not want to do any of that and has no interest in continuing beyond this latest stage.

That is fine but I’ve talked to a couple of friends who’ve said they regret stopping lessons once their DC were able to swim because they didn’t improve and in some cases lost techniques once they stopped taking weekly lessons. I should add that DD was a late learner and is now 12. Most of her friends reached her current stage 2-3 years ago so stopped when they were 9/10.

Once the lessons are over I can’t see DD swimming regularly and continuing to practice. I wouldn’t mind but in my opinion she is still not super confident in water and doesn’t really like to go out of her depth. I was thinking of a compromise whereby she maybe does intensive improver lessons for a few days once a year?

Most children stop regular swimming when they complete level 7 with some carrying on to level 10 to do the water sports etc, although not everywhere seems to carry on that far. However, as you say, most children reach stage 7 when they are around Y3 or early in KS2.

I think you do need to keep up with it for general stamina but the technique doesn’t matter if you aren’t planning on doing anything other swimming for fun and safety.

Most children don't have swimming lessons outside school at all so the number that continue to stage 7 must be very small.

That must surely vary hugely depending upon where you are in the country? There isn’t a child who can’t swim when they get to the compulsory school lessons that I’ve ever known in any my children’s year groups.

When DD had lessons in primary school, a sizeable number (around 10) in her class could not swim at all and many had only a basic ability. DD was one of about 5 children able to comfortably swim 25 meters.

The swimming lessons were organised in a block of daily lessons for 2 weeks and that was it for the entire duration of primary school. I think it was in Y5.

When I was at primary we attended weekly for years. It seems swimming lessons have fallen considerably as a priority in many schools.

Years ago someone asked a similar question on here and people said stage 5. My ds was a bit bored with it but I followed that advice and said he had to get stage 5. He ended up carrying on until he left to go to university and did adult fitness lessons as well as becoming a lifeguard.

I think if someone has reached stage 7 they are absolutely find to stop. But maybe something like Rookie lifeguard would reenthuse her? Being in London gives you more opportunities for things. I can understand her being bored - i swam as an adult for years and then one day I'd just had enough.

Absolutely, children from affluent backgrounds are much more likely to have families that can afford swimming lessons or even to go swimming at a local leisure centre.

It might be worth exploring rookie lifeguards both of mine are like fish so easy to continue but I do think they lose a fair bit with a gap. I’ve always said I’d transfer my eldest to rookie lifeguards if she got fed up of swim club.

I also suspect most children get no-where near stage 7. I am at an affluent primary and there were still a few kids who couldn’t swim in the y3 and y4 classes and a massive range therefore form competitive swimmers to those who still were doing basic stuff in the teaching pool. I really do think school swimming is largely unfit for purpose as it offered limited benefit to kids like my one but isn’t enough for those not swimming out of school.

3 eldest children had lessons up until year 6 , youngest had about 2 years of lessons as in his words I can swim mummy. It was such a battle with our youngest as he hated the lessons but was confident so we didn’t force it

DC1 had 18 years of swimming lessons and loved them. Only stopped due to going to uni.

DC2 stopped lessons at age 6 while in a stage 2 class. BUT..... in their gap year between school and uni, tbey worked full time as a lifeguard! They also got a lifeguard job at uni. DC2 has absolutely no interest in swimming and only swims in the monthly lifeguard training sessions!

My DS is 8 and is finishing stage 7 soon. He’s about to do his 800m certificate and I think that’s enough. He’s very confident in the pool but I’m not sure he’d want to join a club. He does lots of other sporty hobbies I think he’ll probably stop shortly.

Mine finished stage 10 and completed his rookie lifeguard gold. He can’t get a job as a lifeguard until 16 so swims lanes to keep up his fitness up.

my trio did swim lessons until they were allowed to go to the pool without an adult (which in the village I lived in was achieved by age 5 or so).
then they each did a stint with the swim clubs (yes to 6am pool times) and were strong independent swimmers by 8-9.
then switching to other sporting interests.

We always had the rule you have to be able to swim to save your life. So they had to get to the leave of competence at swimming where they were taught how to swim in clothes etc. they then could either continue or stop if they wanted to.

Budgets. They have the cost of the coaches if not walkable and the cost of the pool.

Theres a new thing gaining traction around my area... a portable swimming pool that visits the school for a couple of weeks. Then every class has a turn daily (or every couple of days).

Yes, it’s a real shame but the cost of lessons, coaches etc is just beyond so many school budgets. And as a a PP mentioned, children from less affluent families miss out as lessons are too expensive for a lot of low income families. Plus factoring in the time and effort because it can be all be a bit of a faff really.

I hated lessons at the time but recognise how important they are. Every time I read about a child drowning my heart sinks although I remember DD’s instructor once told me that it’s often kids who can swim who drown because they become over confident.

Swimming lessons here are over £100 a term; that’s out of the reach of many, particularly if there is more than one child! When DS was in primary in a mixed / deprived area loads of children couldn’t swim and had never been taken. Particularly Asian kids whose parents might not be able to swim.

I would look at the “cocktail test”. Would you feel comfortable having a cocktail by the pool on holiday whilst your kid is in the water? Ie can they look after themselves to a certain extent?

This summer, I felt DD (8) has passed this as I could sit by the pool having a drink (one or two before the MN pack comes for me!) and she was confident in the water, diving for objects, playing, jumping in. I have signed her up for another term to get stronger but she still enjoys the lessons. Once she starts to moan, she can stop.

Well you must live in a very affluent place and where no children have SN. Seems highly unlikely that every child could swim at 11.

I also want to reassure people whose children aren't swimming prodigies - my son was well into secondary school before he got to stage 7 Not in Y3!

@Eastie77Returns my DC stopped at level 7 but then we occasionally went swimming as a family for fun/exercise and in the summer they did things like Rookie Lifeguard or inflatables sessions at our local pool, or went to outdoor leisure complexes that used their swimming. Then, as soon as they turned 16, they both did the NPLQ lifeguard course and soon afterwards got casual contracts for lifeguarding shifts earning about £14.50 an hour. NPLQ trainers don't care about technique - just reasonable speed and confidence in the water.

No idea on levels.
DS1 had to swim 500m before I'd let him stop.

DS2 wasn't at that stage when covid hit, but easily spent an hour in the pool totally out of his depth, just not swimming contestant lengths. Took him swimming post covid, he happily jumped in, then clung to me telling me he couldn't swim. Took about 5 mins to "remember".

Neither can float for more than about 10 seconds. Apparently that means they would never have passed level 1?? But they can happily tread water.

DS(14) recently stopped at the end of stage 8.
DS(12) has recently gone from stage 8 to rookie lifeguard which he's finding much more fun. He's tried open water swimming (at a proper venue with measures like tow float) this summer following being in the sea and an aqua park.

My minimum was 50m as that's the usual disclaimer for water sports and as a non-swimming teenager, not being able to tick that box was somewhat crap.

Very confident. They were 7 and 8 and had both just completed their mile distance badge. Then DS1 broke his arm so we called it a day.

That’s a relief to hear re your son. I knew DD was a bit behind but hearing about 8 year olds doing Stage 7 freaked me out a bit. She is 12! 😂

I don't know what level 7 entails but for mine I said they had to complete a term at advanced level which means they are competent at all 4 strokes, can comfortably swim non stop for 30 mins, dive and have done survival skills training.