Leaving school 10 minutes early each week for swimming lesson

PattyPower · 2021-10-02T14:05:57+00:00

Hi all Just wondering if it’s unreasonable to ask headmistress if I can pick up my year 2 DC 10 mins early for a swim lesson every week? He is academically able but is very unsure in the water. He has been having some 1-2-1s with a swim teacher he loves and is getting his confidence - it would be a shame to stop. Unfortunately she now only has availability at 3.30pm - which would mean DC pickup at 3.05. Normally DC finishes at 3.15 and is in playground for pickup. Weekend lessons seem to be booked solid... I think it wouldn’t be that unreasonable but really grateful for thoughts. Thanks!

cardibach · 02/10/2021 15:11

Swimming is a vital skill. It’s once a week and the last 5 mins at least of any lesson is likely to be recap and checking of knowledge play packing up (I teach secondary so May be different in primary). I would say take him.

Cruiser11 · 02/10/2021 15:14

I think it’s U, if every parent asked to take their DC out of school 10 minutes early for such and such reason there would be chaos in the classroom and this would impact the learning.
Wait until weekend slot comes up or look for a half term crash course.

RedskyThisNight · 02/10/2021 15:16

The problem is not so much him missing 10 minutes of school but the disruption to the class caused by taking him out every week. I'm afraid I think you are BU. Put your DC on the waiting list for the next slot that comes up.

donutosaurus · 02/10/2021 15:17

I also think YABU - it will cause disruption to the lesson every single week. I wouldn't ask tbh but would wait for an alternative time/day to become available

BelleOfTheProvince · 02/10/2021 15:17

I used to teach primary. Lots of kids leave early due to medical reasons. The last few minutes are feverishly tidying up and getting bags and coats and lunch boxes to go home, so as long as your child could do it quickly, not a problem.

However, what I would say is that the head might be reluctant because it sets a precedent. Soon you'll get lots of parents just taking out early so they can avoid the school traffic etc.

Talk to the head. Give a good idea of how long the lessons will run(hopefully a short term thing) all primary children leaving year six need to be able to swim so might be worth saying that this will help the school reach their targets (and that you'll pass on the swim coaches' information once you are done to year six parents perhaps.)

I hope you do get it as sounds like it would be beneficial. Don't be too disappointed if you don't though. It won't be anything personal just a logistics thing.

Notimeforaname · 02/10/2021 15:18

Yabu and ridiculous.

underneaththeash · 02/10/2021 15:19

There's absolutely no way they will agree to that.

Just do 20 minutes rather than 30.

BlackberrySky · 02/10/2021 15:21

The reason that time slot is available is because it's not on to leave school early every week!

Cosyblankets · 02/10/2021 15:23

@BlackberrySky

The reason that time slot is available is because it's not on to leave school early every week!

Agree

ChoporNot · 02/10/2021 15:28

No. Just no.
Where does the school draw the line? Swimming? Vital football training? Art class? Bonding with Granny in John Lewis Cafe....

Loads of things are more convenient during school work hours. But life does not work that way.

As PP have said, wait for a suitable slot. Take them swimming yourself weekly to ensure they continue to practice and build confidence.

Just no.

PlanDeRaccordement · 02/10/2021 15:30

Just start swimming lesson ten minutes late and have it be ten minutes shorter. Most swimming lessons are an hour long anyway so 50mins is still a benefit.

BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 15:30

I also think YABU - it will cause disruption to the lesson every single week

My daughter leaves every single class ten minutes early and has done al, through primary school and now in to high school. Is she supposed to feel bad about the “disruption” she is causing to everyone else? Or, is the disruption thing just a load of nonsense and a kid can leave a class before it is over without it causing any problems at all? It’s just an excuse people use when they can’t think of an actual reason why it shouldn’t happen but just don’t agree with it.

minimecantrollerskate · 02/10/2021 15:31

YANBU to ask. Our school happily let them go early for swimming lessons. It was only for a short while because when they moved up a grade they go to a different time slot.

It doesn't set a precedent if they only allow it for swimming lessons. It doesn't mean they have to grant it for other reasons.

Swimming is on the curriculum but our school only offer 1 term of swimming in Year 5 and it's too late by then because a lot of kids have already had private lessons by then.

It's such a shame, when I was in primary back in the 80's I had my 2000m badge and my Bronze life saving award by the time I left. Now they get nothing like it in most schools .

Hobnobswantshernameback · 02/10/2021 15:33

Wasn't there an absolutely identical thread to this recently or am I losing my mind

Original poster

PattyPower · 02/10/2021 15:33

Thanks for all the comments much appreciated - I think the consensus is it’s U so that’s good to know. Appreciate how it might be disruptive to other children obviously don’t want that.

I didn’t think it was too ridiculous but possibly unreasonable ;)

Thanks to poster who suggested 20 mins good idea may do that so he has continuity.

Thanks again all for taking the time x

OP posts:

BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 15:34

Where does the school draw the line? Swimming? Vital football training? Art class? Bonding with Granny in John Lewis Cafe....

The kids in my daughter’s class who were part of dance schools of gymnastics clubs would often miss class to take part in training or competitions or exams. I don’t believe it led to every other kid leaving class to visit granny. Thankfully some schools realise it is not a one size fits all system and sometimes life matters too.

HoneyItAlreadyDid · 02/10/2021 15:35

Hilarious answers!

My DD is doing this at the moment for this exact reason. I didn’t even ask the head, just asked her teacher if she could leave early once a week.

I am a primary school teacher and I have had kids leave classes for this reason too, which is why I knew it would be fine. No chaos ensued. People have no idea what actually happens in schools if they think someone leaving ten minutes early at the end of the day would be a massive issue for the whole class. There are children and adults coming and going all the time for support groups, appointments, medication. Some even leave early on a regular basis to go home at the same time as older or younger siblings! Honestly, these responses are an eye opener!

BoredZelda · 02/10/2021 15:35

Appreciate how it might be disruptive to other children obviously don’t want that.

It wouldn’t be. I’d ask the school and see what they say. Only they can decide if it would be a problem.

Shellingbynight · 02/10/2021 15:35

@Hobnobswantshernameback

Wasn't there an absolutely identical thread to this recently or am I losing my mind

Yes I thought the same - I checked the date on the OP as I thought it was a revival of that other thread.

HuhWhatNow · 02/10/2021 15:35

Our school okayed this for some kids. That said, it's a small village and the pool and the school have close ties and they knew that the red swim group times changed to 3pm, giving parents no time to get their kids there (5 min walk from school gate plus changing time)
It was only a few months and once a week for a number of pupils.

You can always ask.

Soontobe60 · 02/10/2021 15:36

@BoredZelda

I also think YABU - it will cause disruption to the lesson every single week

My daughter leaves every single class ten minutes early and has done al, through primary school and now in to high school. Is she supposed to feel bad about the “disruption” she is causing to everyone else? Or, is the disruption thing just a load of nonsense and a kid can leave a class before it is over without it causing any problems at all? It’s just an excuse people use when they can’t think of an actual reason why it shouldn’t happen but just don’t agree with it.

Why does she leave early every day?

Soontobe60 · 02/10/2021 15:39

@HoneyItAlreadyDid

Hilarious answers!

My DD is doing this at the moment for this exact reason. I didn’t even ask the head, just asked her teacher if she could leave early once a week.

I am a primary school teacher and I have had kids leave classes for this reason too, which is why I knew it would be fine. No chaos ensued. People have no idea what actually happens in schools if they think someone leaving ten minutes early at the end of the day would be a massive issue for the whole class. There are children and adults coming and going all the time for support groups, appointments, medication. Some even leave early on a regular basis to go home at the same time as older or younger siblings! Honestly, these responses are an eye opener!

So who facilitates this? If I had a parent approach me to let their child leave early for a spurious reason I’d have to direct them to the Head. If I just let them go, the Head would, quite rightly, bollock me!

HoneyItAlreadyDid · 02/10/2021 15:45

Spurious? The parent is asking to take their child early for swimming/gymnastics etc and turns up at the office at that time to take them? I don’t see how that’s spurious?

AudTheDeepMinded · 02/10/2021 15:48

If kids can have musical instrument lessons in school time, why can't the same apply to swimming, arguably a far more valuable life skil.

GreyhoundG1rl · 02/10/2021 15:49

@BoredZelda

I also think YABU - it will cause disruption to the lesson every single week

My daughter leaves every single class ten minutes early and has done al, through primary school and now in to high school. Is she supposed to feel bad about the “disruption” she is causing to everyone else? Or, is the disruption thing just a load of nonsense and a kid can leave a class before it is over without it causing any problems at all? It’s just an excuse people use when they can’t think of an actual reason why it shouldn’t happen but just don’t agree with it.

Why does she do this?