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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To cancel the swimming lessons

108 replies

HungryHippo11 · 14/08/2021 05:08

My DD is 4.5 and is a complete beginner at swimming - we have only been about 4 times in the past year due to pool closures etc. An opportunity came up for a week of reduced swimming lessons at a local private pool, so I booked her on. Website said that parents could watch from the poolside.

I phoned yesterday to check the details such as what to bring along, because I hadn't had any confirmation email or anything. Apparently due to covid, parents aren't allowed poolside, or in to the building at all, and have to drop the kids off at the entrance swim ready and pick them up an hour later.

WWYD? My instinct is to cancel the lessons - I don't think I'm OK with sending a young child into a place she has never been, with instructors neither of us have ever met, to do a potentially dangerous activity at which she is a complete beginner.
BUT I think the swimming will be a really good thing for her to start learning as she has been so little and its a life skill.

Am I overreacting? I know kids swimming lessons the parents aren't usually in the water but they would at least be in the same building?

OP posts:

KihoBebiluPute · 14/08/2021 05:23

I wouldn't go along with that, no. Find a different class location that is better set-up. It's fair enough for that organisation to set its rules to what they feel safe with, but there is no obligation on you the customer to commit yourself to them if the setup doesn't suit you. I recently did taster sessions with 4 local swimming class options before choosing one - one council and 3 private. The council one and one of the private ones had large observation galleries where parents could watch while maintaining social distancing. One of the others allowed me to be in the pool for the taster lesson but would have had the same rules as you describe for "normally" (didn't go with that one). The other had
windows through to an outdoor area so parents could peep in (windows patterned with opaque and transparent areas so peering through gaps) but couldn't hear what was going on. We chose one of the ones with a proper gallery. I think being able to be there watching is a vital part of giving a child confidence in the water.

Oldtiredfedup · 14/08/2021 05:26

Not a chance.

Mintjulia · 14/08/2021 05:37

How does your daughter feel about it? Is it something she is excited and enthusiastic about, or less so?

In September you'll have to hand your dd over to her school and let them all get on with it. Could this be a first step to that change. I think I'd be guided by how keen my dc was to have a go.

KellyJonesLeatherTrousers · 14/08/2021 05:41

You’re well within your rights to say that the advertised lessons with you poolside have changed and therefore you’re cancelling.

Just as a counter to this though, it’s not a dangerous activity is it - they’re qualified instructors (presumably!) and actually, kids tend to ‘get on with it’ much better if parents aren’t there. Is it any different to sending her off into school? I understand though that you’d feel much more comfortable if she was a few more lessons in and you’d had a chance to be there prior to this.

Ultimately, if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t do it.

Sadiecow · 14/08/2021 05:43

Ridiculous! I wouldn't send her.

UnsolicitedDickPic · 14/08/2021 05:48

Who helps them get undressed and dry at the end of the session, are they expected to do that themselves? I wouldn't be happy leaving DD at the door like that when she'd never been there before.

Original poster

HungryHippo11 · 14/08/2021 05:52

Thanks all. She said she still wants to go, but I think that's because she likes swimming and is a bit too young to understand what i am thinking about with her not knowing anyone there. I am concerned she will be fine going in, then change her mind and be put off going again in future.

I think it's different to school because at school we have both met the teachers in advance, she has been there for induction visits and has friends in her class.

I would say swimming can be a dangerous activity. She cannot swim at all and the pool is 1m deep so she won't be able to touch the bottom. I might feel differently if it was, for example, a dance class where there was next to no risk. However I still don't think I would be that happy sending her in alone without meeting the instructors or seeing the set up first.

The instructors are trainees, which is why the lessons were so heavily reduced, but they are supervised by qualified instructors.

OP posts:

Homeofthe · 14/08/2021 05:52

Our children lessons are a similar set up, as in can't stay in the building. However we take them to the change room swim ready, wait with then for instuctor and then have to go sit in the car. At the end we meet them in a different change room to get them dried.
It's attached to a school so the change rooms are only small and without lockers or cubicles, and no spectator area.

I think it's common in smaller pools where they can't social distance.

I Wouldn't accept it if it was a large leisure center pool as they do have the space , especially in the change rooms

Original poster

HungryHippo11 · 14/08/2021 05:53

@UnsolicitedDickPic

Who helps them get undressed and dry at the end of the session, are they expected to do that themselves? I wouldn't be happy leaving DD at the door like that when she'd never been there before.

They have to arrive "swim ready" and aren't allowed to use the changing rooms. We can get them changed into a onesie or tracksuit (presumably outside?) afterwards. Apparently this is common at the moment due to covid restrictions.

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 14/08/2021 05:55

I think they need to stop using Covid as an excuse now...

We've been going to normal family swim sessions at our local pool and there have been spectators at the main pool.

These are swimming beginners with unqualified staff. I'd call and say you'll be attending and staying poolside as per their adverts to be honest. It's one of the few situations id insist of being 'that' parent.

Original poster

HungryHippo11 · 14/08/2021 05:57

I think part of my issue is the lack of communication. I had to phone to find the time, equipment, map etc. So that's made me feel that they're not the most organised and I feel less likely to put my trust in them.

OP posts:

Sadiecow · 14/08/2021 06:19

@girlmom21

I think they need to stop using Covid as an excuse now...

We've been going to normal family swim sessions at our local pool and there have been spectators at the main pool.

Agreed!

I do think Covid is the excuse for everything and no one can challenge it.

I've seen it trotted out of here so many times, just say you've been "pinged", just so jo because of Covid.

When are people going to stop using it?

Aprilx · 14/08/2021 06:32

Apparently this is common now due to covid restrictions

There aren’t any covid restrictions any more, other than self imposed ones. I am happy to comply with self imposed restrictions that businesses are requesting, but this one seems over the top.

lannistunut · 14/08/2021 06:39

I'm happy with these restrictions for my older children's lessons, the aim is to stop the instructors from catching covid - if they do, they can't teach ANY lessons for ten days.

But I wouldn't be happy with this for a young beginner, so I would wait or book 1-1 lessons.

However no point getting cross about covid - we live in a country with stupidly high cases, self-employed people will seek to protect their businesses as they get no sick pay, avoiding covid makes sense for them.

drpet49 · 14/08/2021 06:42

What Covid restrictions. This swimming people are being silly. Based on how unorganised they have been I wouldn’t continue lessons with them

underneaththeash · 14/08/2021 06:42

DD has the same restrictions for her lessons recently. They were very clear that she had to be able to get changed alone etc. She’s 10!
There’s no way I would let a 4.5 year old go in by themselves, you could really put them off lessons.

Btw - our week of lessons improved DD’s swimming immeasurably (she seemed to forget how to swim after lockdown).

Looubylou · 14/08/2021 06:47

When you said "swim ready", I imagined costume under Trackie, but if they can't use changing rooms at all, where do they leave shoes and clothes? Surely they aren't running in barefoot and in costume? How bizzare. Then running back out into the cold? Good job it's summer. What about toilets? I know it's probably only 30 mins, but little ones are unpredictable and my son's 10 and still comes out with enormous tummy having swallowed half the pool. I wouldn't worry re safety in the pool - they will be spot on. I would be worried about vulnerability outside of pool, though no changing room reduces that. If she's confident and keen, they walk in as group and straight to pool, and straight back out, I would go ahead. I still find it bizzare, as I went swimming with son on Monday, used changing room, lockers, toilets and showers. The only difference was booked timed sessions,with a everyone in and everyone out approach. This actually lead to packed changing areas, and my son is sneezing, coughing and feeling hot and unwell this morning 😞

Fleabiter · 14/08/2021 06:49

I'd just take your swimming with you, and leave lessons for when things settle down.

lannistunut · 14/08/2021 06:51

@drpet49

What Covid restrictions. This swimming people are being silly. Based on how unorganised they have been I wouldn’t continue lessons with them

Health and Safety law allows for this.

Self-employed swimming teachers don't have to get ill just because some people have decided covid no longer exists.

Would you be willing to risk your business shutting for two weeks? No income, no pay?

devildeepbluesea · 14/08/2021 06:53

Agree that the Covid line is trotted out too much now. It needs to be proportionate to the activity, and for kids so young I'd say that those measures are not proportionate any more.

I'm in Wales, so we still have some minor restrictions, and back before the end of term we had even more. But I was allowed to sit poolside during DD's lesson and then wait for her in the changing room to get her dry and dressed.

I think they're taking the piss tbh, and I'd tell them as much.

BritishSummertime · 14/08/2021 06:55

This is the process for us too, it's easier & quicker than it used to be, but I still get to say hi to the teachers & if you have young kids can help them get ready afterwards. At that age DD would have needed help afterwards with her hair & getting ready

Sadiecow · 14/08/2021 06:55

*Health and Safety law allows for this.

Self-employed swimming teachers don't have to get ill just because some people have decided covid no longer exists.

Would you be willing to risk your business shutting for two weeks? No income, no pay?*

Well if everyone cancels lessons and goes elsewhere, to people with a more pragmatic view, then their business is finished anyway.

I'm not sure where people have said Covid no longer exists?

lannistunut · 14/08/2021 06:57

@devildeepbluesea

Agree that the Covid line is trotted out too much now. It needs to be proportionate to the activity, and for kids so young I'd say that those measures are not proportionate any more.

I think they're taking the piss tbh, and I'd tell them as much.

Do you wear masks in Wales still?

Don't forget the government scrapped everything in England, the only option businesses have is keeping numbers in their buildings low.

If a swim teacher goes off, they have to shut and refund. That is a big financial risk.

Lockdownbear · 14/08/2021 06:57

I think I'd insist on being there. Very important for kids to learn to swim.

My 4 yo needs help with adult sized toilets, and surely they can't be expected to run though a sports centre dripping wet.

The door they are expected to be dropped off at, is it the main entrance door or a fire exit at the pool side?

Original poster

HungryHippo11 · 14/08/2021 06:57

Self-employed swimming teachers don't have to get ill just because some people have decided covid no longer exists.
I do agree with this but do you think having parents on the pool side is actually putting the instructors at risk? Maybe its putting the parents at risk because they might be close to each other, but not the instructors?
Ditto kids using the changing rooms, the instructors wouldn't be in there with them.

OP posts:

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