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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Swimming lessons - not allowed to stay

44 replies

Swimmum78 · 10/09/2019 19:19

My kids have swimming lessons with a private provider. The swim company use a small swimming pool of a private gym. It’s only 1 lesson at a time with 1 teacher. No life guard or other staff in the pool. It’s not a great pool, there’s no viewing area so I spend my afternoon hanging around a changing room while 1st child goes in, comes out gets changed then second child goes in. There is a gap in between the lessons.

The swim company have today sent a text and email stating that the gym have said parents cannot stay in the changing room during the lesson and we have to wait in reception, which is a walk through the gym.

Aibu to think it’s not appropriate to leave young children (ages 4 & 7) with only 1 teacher? If either of them need me, there’s no way the teacher could let me know. The 4 year old regularly has an ill timed poo for starters despite me taking her to the loo just before the lesson!!

OP posts:
drum123 · 10/09/2019 19:21

One teacher and no life guard? Find another provider, this is totally wrong.

PennyGold · 10/09/2019 19:22

What would happen if the swim teacher had an accident or a seizure?! It's unlikely but possible...
I'd find somewhere else to take them.

valentinoandme · 10/09/2019 19:23

Wouldn't be sending my children there! I'm guessing it's not cheap either, with it being one-to-one

ChaosisntapitChaosisaladder19 · 10/09/2019 19:25

I'm a swimming teacher op trust you're instinct do not touch this provider. Parents should be near by if they are needed. Ours are on poolside we have multi lessons and teachers or have 121 lessons but other teachers in the pool.

Original poster
Swimmum78 · 10/09/2019 19:36

Thanks wasn’t sure if I was being precious! To be clear it’s the gym who they rent the pool off who are pushing these rules onto the swim company. I’ve not been happy with the set up but my kids really like the teacher - he’s very good and he has no issue with the parents popping pool side/staying in the changing rooms. I think I will respectfully decline to leave my 4 year old alone for the remainder of this term and then look for another provider. It’s not 1-2-1 but the lessons are small- around 3/4 children per group.

OP posts:
ChildminderMum · 10/09/2019 19:37

Can you not sit on the poolside?

DobbyTheHouseElk · 10/09/2019 19:39

No way I’d leave my child in that set up.

PrayingandHoping · 10/09/2019 19:43

How many children are with the teacher at a time

I'm a sports coach (diff sport) and this screams a safeguarding issue! We are always told to always try and have another adult in eyeshot and if not possible always in earshot.

HavelockVetinari · 10/09/2019 19:44

Absolutely not, sounds dodgy AF.

PrayingandHoping · 10/09/2019 19:45

Just seen update. So 1 adult with 3/4 kids. What would happen if there was an incident....?! Sounds v unsafe let alone the safeguarding/child protection issue

Original poster
Swimmum78 · 10/09/2019 19:49

ChildminderMum No they have said we can’t stay poolside either

OP posts:
WhyBirdStop · 10/09/2019 19:50

DS has lessons at a local pool, 3 babies all with parents in the water, one instructor and a lifeguard designated for the lessons, aside from the lifeguards manning the main pool. The class before us is 4-5 year olds, 4 class members, parents at immediate poolside, one instructor and one designated lifeguard right next to the lesson at all times. We pay £28 a month and that includes free swimming for DS and an accompanying adult at any other time, until he'd old enough to swim alone, then the adult is half price. Your situation doesn't sound safe, and the tuition is on the same scale.

ChaosisntapitChaosisaladder19 · 10/09/2019 19:51

Theres alot of issues here op firstly safeguarding second if there is more than one child in his class and only him how is he suppose to provide effective classes in an safe environment. What would happen if one child went under he could save them but what about the rest of the class who is watching them? What about if one child banged their head and required first aid. I can tell you this is not in the guidelines for the training for any reach and rescue training or any policies and procedures he will have in place. It's an accident waiting to happen and that without the safeguarding issue if he was accused of anything inappropriate. We operate hiring from school pools and we would never operate under these circumstances.

Sleepsoon7 · 10/09/2019 19:54

Just no! This screams safeguarding issues - general and also the lack of lifeguard. Find somewhere else!

ChaosisntapitChaosisaladder19 · 10/09/2019 20:00

The very least he needs to do is have life guard on poolside

DobbyTheHouseElk · 10/09/2019 20:01

Massive safeguarding. I’d report him and the gym.

PrayingandHoping · 10/09/2019 20:01

I'm actually amazed the provider will teach under these conditions.... have you checked they are legit as in dbs checked etc??? I would def use this to question their safeguarding policies

In disbelief really.....

Original poster
Swimmum78 · 10/09/2019 20:06

They are a huge swimming lesson franchise company so yeah I would hope they are legit!

OP posts:
PrayingandHoping · 10/09/2019 20:11

Then you def need to challenge them on their poor safeguarding practise. Are they affiliated to Sports England??

Even their current practise of having you in the changing room does not meet national safeguarding policy

PrayingandHoping · 10/09/2019 20:11

And def make sure the coach is dbs checked

Sunshine93 · 10/09/2019 20:16

I'm with others in saying this is not safe. I would not allow this even for one lesson. I would even be uncomfortable with leaving the teacher alone with me in the changing room. As another person said what if the teacher has a seizure or one child has an incident and they are dealing with that and no-one is watching the other three. It's just bizarre.

Tartsamazeballs · 10/09/2019 20:22

Not a fucking chance. My eldest is in a class of 3-4 year olds and last week one of the kids was messing about/jumped off the step they were sitting on and went under whilst the instructors back was turned. Luckily us parents sit poolside so his mum was with him and pulled him out within seconds. Kids are dumb and drowning is silent.

SpaceDinosaur · 10/09/2019 20:22

Nope. Sounds dodgy AF

Beebeezed · 10/09/2019 20:30

Major safeguarding issue here and I’m totally surprised this is being allowed. Change pools OP.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 10/09/2019 20:37

This is breaching any clubs child protection rules. The teacher is putting himself in a really vulnerable position being alone in that kind of setting with children, not to mention what would happen in the case of an accident. The gym is also at fault as should have looked at their risk assessments and procedures before letting him do lessons there.