Quick poll - School Swimming Lessons - any good?

[TomCruisesLegalTeam]

I am using an alias as shall be talking about my DCs' school and don't want to be outed.

My DCs are in Yr4 and 6. From Year 3 onwards the children go swimming on one morning a week, for one half-term a year. Parents are expected to contribute to this.

I don't know how long they get in the pool, but it has made no difference to my DCs learning to swim. But neither did group swimming lessons at the weekends, which I stopped. They now have 1-1 swimming lessons which are pricey but they love them and progress every week.

So, questions:

Do you think your DCs school swimming lessons are worthwhile?

How often do they go?

Do they make progress?

How much does it cost you?

I am asking because I thought for years that swimming is part of the National Curriculum, so the school had to do this. Then I was recently told that it's not and they don't. Oh! So when I heard that measures to cut costs at school, due to budget cuts, were being discussed, I suggested that they stop the swimming lessons. To my surprise I was told that the swimming is totally funded by the parents' contributions.

I was

For my perspective, I am paying for my DCs to come out of the classroom one morning a week (only one half-term a year) to go swimming, but this does not improve their swimming one iota. This doesn't have to happen, and I am paying for it. I can't help but think: what the fuck?

But maybe other people's DCs have actually learned to swim at school swimming lessons?

Hence my poll.

Sorry for long post.

I have a different experience with the Dd's school. In key stage 2 they swim for a term, we do have to pay but I think it only works out about £3 a week. The Teacher at the pool is excellent and the school staff have groups too.

Occasionally they don't get long in the pool due to traffic or missing kit or something unavoidable.

It is great fun and the children love it, they are so excited on the coach and it gets them out of school. There is usaully 2 Teachers, 1 TA and me [parent helper].
They are well looked after and constantly supervised.

Some of the children who go would not learn to swim without this opportunity.

I presume DS1's school uses qualified teachers - either that or he's a genius having now mastered the basics of swimming.

Shall be taking all 3 DS's swimming in the school holidays now he (Ds1) can swim a little - so am very

Oh and to add, all the children, boys and girls have to wear a school swimming hat, so not so much wet hair and they are easily identified. No hat no swim.

I agree with Ineed2 - some children would never learn to swim if it weren't for these lessons, so we're v lucky that these lessons are provided free. I think it's because our local leisure centres (London) are run by a not-for-profit organisation, who have an agreement with the Ed Authority

DD is 8y and has school swimming lessons. She is in Y4 at a small girl's prep school.

Do you think your DCs school swimming lessons are worthwhile?

Yes, now that they have moved lessons I believe so. Until a year or so ago they were held in another pool and I was not impressed with them at all for various reasons. After complaints school moved them to a new pool and it is so much better. The lessons are actually where DD has group lessons at a weekend and they use the same instructors. Until the children are a certain level the instructors are int he poolw ith them and the children are int he pool all the time.

They follow the same curriculum as the out of school lessons from what I can gather.

How often do they go?

For approx an hour once a week for one full term a year. Starts in Y1 and continues throughout the school to Y6.

Do they make progress?

Yes, on the whole they do at the new location. Until Christmas (when DD stops her out of school lessons) she spends a term doing two lessons a week, so they complement one another.

How much does it cost you?

There is no additional fee for the swimming lessons and the pool is within a 15 min walk from school. No parental assistance is needed either.

But maybe other people's DCs have actually learned to swim at school swimming lessons?

DD could swim before she started school lessons.

Do you think your DCs school swimming lessons are worthwhile? Yes
How often do they go? Once a fortnight, from Reception onwards
Do they make progress? Yes, my eldest two learnt to swim with only school lessons and I am confident that my youngest will too
How much does it cost you? Nothing

The infant school all mine attended had its own pool, and one of the teachers was a qualified instructor. Lessons were brilliant; each class divided into small groups by ability so no-one got bored; the teacher went into the water with the non-swimmers, parent helpers just assisted with dressing/undressing.

They had a "ribbon" system so children could see their progress, and almost all the children leaving in Year 2 could swim competently (although many had separate lessons elsewhere). The pool was open after school on most days so the children really picked up a lot of water confidence.

We had to pay a small amount, but nothing too pricy.

The Junior School also has a pool, but I'm not sure the lessons are run quite as well.

Actually, I think that in general, it can be very good for children to get their first exposure to certain activities at school. For instance, last year, DS2 did tennis at school (age 6/7) and he and several of his classmates have developed a real love for it. I am not into tennis and would not have taken him to tennis lessons otherwise. I think the same could be said for swimming

Do you think your DCs school swimming lessons are worthwhile? Yes

How often do they go? Twice a week for one term in P5

Do they make progress? Yes

How much does it cost you? Nothing

DD1 really enjoyed them and it enhanced the other lessons she was having. The variety of swimming aptitudes was vast but the class was split into groups and they all swum with similar ability. It was another of these school things that you don't actually see but really impressed........