Learn to Swim stages - how long per stage?

[Mountainmamma]

Just wondering what others experiences are with these lessons.

DD started them when she turned 4, did stage 1 for 8 months and has been in stage 2 for 5 months (she turned 5 a month ago).

Just wondering what the norm is for each stage, and at what point did you consider 'good enough' to stop lessons? Is it all the way up to 7?

Its expensive and she doesnt love it so I dont know whether to encourage her all the way through the programme or if up to a certain level is fine.

We stopped after the one where they swim lengths. Possibly stage 5?

I wanted mine to be able to swim a decent distance as it’s part of the national curriculum (up to 25m I think) and also required sometimes for water based activities (normally 50m) so that felt like the basic life skills they’d need. One of mine was keen so kept going a bit longer.

Not sure if the stages in our programme relate, it has 8 stages. When looking into this before, I think I read swim England guidance that a reasonable expectation is 3 stages per year. However, if your child doesn’t enjoy it, or perhaps was afraid of water at the start, I wouldn’t worry too much about the ‘slower’ start. In my experience for some stages they take a while, some they get through surprisingly quickly.
I would say after level 4 they are a reasonable swimmer, eg able to swim a full length of a pool.

My son has spent between 7-10 months in each stage. He’s now 8 and is in stage 6. I am considering stopping when he completes it as his swimming is now strong. But he does also enjoy it so I might just carry on for as long as he’s happy!