To think it's worth the money ? Is it really

[Lankysara]

Hey !

So I don't know if you all remember a thread where I posted about DD having private swimming lessons for a number of years but just couldn't learn to swim ! She has Dyspraxia and other things.

A friend, who has a child with Down syndrome and learning difficulties, recommended me this particular swim school where they taught her DS to swim and her boy is a really good swimmer !

The downside is... it costs around £30.00 for 10 mins session (1:1). The majority of you agreed with me that it was a waste of money. After that, I persevered with DD's usual swimming lesson but she just wasn't enjoying it anymore, she felt like she wasn't progressing, was quite upset and we gave that up.

During the Easter, the expensive swim school were running a swimming crash course.. I buckled up and thought we could try this ( just for two days). Oh my goodness... when DD started the crash course at the expensive swimming school, I was just shocked. The swim school taught DD different techniques which I haven't seen at DD's previous lessons. I could instantly see why it was only for 10 mins... it's actually pretty intensive and DD progressed very well with short bursts of lessons, plus their pools are much smaller ( which is helpful for DD as she gets easily distracted). The swim school weren't fazed by her Dyspraxia.... DD progressed in her swimming with this swim school than her previous swimming lessons ( which she did for four years !). We went for a couple of more days and DD learnt how to kick her legs up and down in the pool !!

I know it doesn't seem like a huge deal but it was a huge deal for DD and I ! Because of them, DD's passion for swimming has returned and she's been progressing in her swimming skills !

DD wants to carry on with them in the upcoming term, this time the lessons will be longer (30mins) as DD has passed their first swimming stage programme. However , it's £500.00 for a term.

Is it worth it ? It just seems like so much money ( though really I can't talk as I was spending £25.00 a week for 1:1 lessons for two years ! And other failed group swimming lessons.

Should I pay for it ? Is it worth it ??

Meant to say there might be a time when her swimming skills might same someone elses life too!

If you can afford it, do it.

I bet there are people outshot paid100s for language lessons of music lessons and can't speak a word or play a note.

This could be a life saver.

Out there not outshot!

I think it is well worth the investment if you can afford it, and can see the progress being made. I would add that under the Children's Act 1989, the local authority have a duty of care towards children with additional needs and disabilities. They can help financially towards the costs of interventions and services that are assessed as being a need. Worth looking into what is available locally, as dyspraxia could qualify for funding for beneficial sporting activities with a doctors note or some other official proof of diagnosis. It might be a battle to get any money out of cash-strapped councils nowadays but there are certain legislative rules that set out entitlement so perhaps worth exploring?

Could you do a term and then stop the classes and do private practice for a term? One lesson a month might be better if the swim school can do it.

My Dyspraxic DS had expensive, intensive 1-1 lessons with someone who properly understood about co-ordination issues and the Dyspraxic nightmare of doing one thing with your legs and another thing with your arms while still remembering to breathe - it was worth every penny. He's capable of falling over thin air, so he'd be more than capable of falling into a river - it's good to know he'd have a chance of being able to swim out of it. So if you've found someone who can teach swimming that well then go for it.

Another massive fan of private specialist lessons here. Dd just cannot concentrate when there are other kids in the class and the one time we tried to transition her to mainstream she actually lost some skills.
The way I see it is if your paying $25 (aud) for a 30 min class with 4 kids, then you are getting getting less than 8 mins of the teachers devoted time. $40 for one on one is much more cost effective for us. We go for two terms and don't bother In the summer. So we spend less overall.

Swimming is an important life skill in my opinion, If you can afford it go for it.

My kids can swim well.

Never had any lessons.
I taught them both myself - on summer holiday abroad.

"My kids can swim well.
Never had any lessons.
I taught them both myself - on summer holiday abroad."

Well good for you Caille but if you had a child with Dyspraxia you'd realise that it's not as simple as that, it takes someone with specialist knowledge/skills to help them understand how to swim when they can't coordinate everything together at once.

I do have a child with dyspraxia.

That's why it was better to teach her myself.

Do it..people pay almost that for a horse riding lesson

Being able to swim can open doors to other activities which would also be particularly beneficial to dyspraxics - sailing, canoeing, supping for example, which build core strength and coordination - as well as enjoyment for its own sake. Think of it as a longer term investment.

If you can afford it then go for it. It's a life skill that all children should have

I have just pm'd you for the swim school details :)

If it worked, I think it is worth giving it a go. My son is 11 and is not a very good swimmer - even though he has had 2 years of private lessons in the past. For the last couple of years he has just been swimming at school - but I think it is time to try lessons again.

Callie it's not just about that. DD finds socialising very difficult anyway so I thought extra curricular activities will help with that. As she is more of a sporty type, she didn't like dancing, musical theatre etc etc.

However ! Due to her Dyspraxia, this has been a struggle even to the point tutors/coaches have told me that they don't think they can accommodate DD anymore. The football that she does occasionally over the holidays, she may not even stay there longer anyway as she can't keep up with the rest of the kids.

Swimming has been the only thing her body can cope with, the one thing she can actually enjoy rather than getting upset because her legs are sore etc. But with our previous swimming classes she was beginning to lose confidence as she knew she wasn't progressing, her previous teachers will tell me that DD will learn to swim in her own way.

I can teach her myself but I have NO water confidence, I can't even swim. I do take her swimming for fun. But I'm tired of being the teaching role, I've taken on being teacher for DD for many years, her occupational therapy, physio, writing, reading. This is the one thing that she can enjoy being led by a tutor and some pupils and not just good old mum have to extra teach DD another thing.