To think £25.00 for 10 minutes swimming lessons ain't worth it?

[LankySara]

Hi all,

I have a DD (7)who has severe language needs as well as Dyspraxia. I've been trying to get her more involved in extra- curricular classes (expand her social circle, discover things she likes, encouraging her to take a hobby). But it doesn't seem to be working, due to her dyspraxia and having quite severe language needs (she processes language at a slower rate which takes a lot of mental energy) she gets much tired and could only cope in certain activities for 20-30 mins, sports is even worse.

I would like her to get into an enjoyable extra curricular activity ( more so with sports to help strengthen her muscles) and swimming seems to be the only thing she actually enjoys. She had swimming classes before but the swimming constructor was a bit out of his depth teaching someone with language difficulties as well as coordination difficulties so she didn't progress.

A very good friend of mine, who has a child with Down syndrome, recently recommended me a very good swimming company who really helped their DS learn how to swim ( he is fantastic). I then called up the company just to find a little but more info. They have swimming stages (which you will have), but they told me that as DD is basically a starter she will have to do the basic class, which is for 20 sessions but it's £25.00 for 10 mins . I made my excuses and didn't proceed.

AIBU to think that this is just ridiculous ? My friend has raved about it and it seems to have very good reviews but would I be stupid to even consider it ? It's just ridiculously expensive ! Why do some companies charge for that little time ?!

( Oh ! If anyone can recommend another swimming club, please let me know).

I paid £12 for 1:1 SEN sessions, each session was 30 minutes. There were other group lessons going on in the pool at the same time but the 1:1 bit is cordoned off.

Have you asked your local leisure centre if they do 1:1 sessions? My area offered reasonable sessions for kids over 5, 4 kids in the pool with 4 teachers.

Total waste of money, particularly given that it's not an SEN club. Your leisure centre is likely to have a swimming programme - I pay £4 per half hour lesson and my DCs are whizzing through the stages and are really strong swimmers. I was one of the only mums who thought the likes of Water Babies a rip OCD when they were tiny. Missing out on that has been no disadvantage at all.

Rip off

That's crazy. My daughter, who has learning difficulties, has one to one swimming lessons which cost £20 for 30 minutes. That's at David Lloyd, who aren't known for being especially cheap.

My dd's lessons are £6 for 30 minutes. It is a group session aimed at NT kids although I'm sure they do not discriminate. You are being financially penalised for having a child with sen. That's discrimination surely?

I have dyspraxia and used to be very much like your dd as a child when it came to anything physical really. Swimming actually made me turn the corner - for some reason I was really good at it. I think because we had lanes and I felt confident because it was there? Not sure but it worked. Rock climbing worked too because it encouraged me to think of my body in relation to the wall (rather than the other way around - which prob makes no sense to someone without the condition lol). Rock climbing is an all day activitity and you aren't supposed to climb for more than 10-15 mins at a time. def try that too if possible.

1:1 sessions are pricey for sure.
But what on earth do you learn in 10 minutes? By the time you get in the pool and have a couple of minutes to get uses to it, to warm up a bit, that leaves just 8 minutes of swimming. Hardly worth getting wet for.

I have a child with Down's Syndrome and our local (council run) leisure centre offers discounted private lessons for children with disabilities - £5.30 for 30 mins! They have several instructors that are experienced with disabilities too (London/Surrey border...)

Ds's 1-1 lessons were £12 for 20 mins (Scotland and community pool so probably very cheap). I was sceptical at first, but 20 mins is a long time when you are getting the full focus of a teacher. 10 mins seems short, £25 is ridiculous.

DD has council run 1:1 ASN lessons £4,30 for 50mins.

But depending on where you are try this awesome charity.

www.levelwater.org

My son is currently doing swimming lessons and he's autistic so I wanted him to have 1:1 as feel it will be better and learn quicker and also the instructor gets into the water with him and so can be hands on if he needs it e.g swimming on his back he panics as thinks his head may go under the water so she walks along with a hand either side so he knows he's safe so he'll do it.
He has a 30min lesson each week at leisure centre and costs £12.50.
Would normally be less but they said as he has SEN needs it's a bit more but I don't mind as what I wanted was for him to have 1:1 and an instructor who will go in the water with him and he has now. His DLA money helps pay for them.
£25 for 10mins is taking the absolute pee