School won’t teach non-swimmers!

[Platypuslover]

I don’t think I’m unreasonable just considering how far I may need to take this. Year 6 now lost out on swimming lessons because school is useless head was suspended last year and never returned and this has been a pattern for her from previous school. Not sure why other than incompetence but the grapevine said possibly to do with money. So kids didn’t get swimming lesson as no one thought to arrange them once lock down was relaxed the pools reopened.

They waited until end of year to do 2 session to asses swimming. Told we’d get an email if she can’t swim and will have further session.

No email arrived and I called today. So then was told they don’t take non-swimmers only the children that are confident and can almost swim independently and we have to pay for our own swimming lesson.

So I am expected to pay for someone else’s kids to learn to swim with my very hard earned taxes amidst a cost of living crisis and us barely being able to afford basics and we can not afford the extortionate private lessons.

Bet the letter they said they’d send us to give details to book those lessons are with the same company they use to take them swimming now. This reeks of an extortion ring to me why else would you not take the children that need it most!

Yes. It's quite expensive. But more important than many things because it's a basic safety issue. Also, I don't understand why teaching children to swim in the shallow teaching pool or the shallow end of a large pool would be a safety issue for an adult.

Ours were coached the half hour trip to the local pool.
an unacceptable additional cost, but councils gonna do what councils do and make cuts

What is your responsibility for teaching your child to swim? Have you never taken them to a pool or beach, on holiday or otherwise? Swimming is an enjoyable half day activity for families, I'm surprised you haven't given your child this lovely experience.

Because I can’t swim. So if I’m not confident in keeping them safe it’s a liability taking a child

I hate to think what I spent on swimming lessons over the years. Less than nursery, more than any other "hobby".
Yes it's a lot (our council leisure provider offer subsidised lessons if on low income) but is worthwhile, potentially more important to your kids than a car.

Random example. I visited a patient a few months ago in an inner London council block. It was disgusting. The mould was thick on the walls of all the flats. Not just the one we visited. Not the residents’ fault. The windows were left open when it was freezing outside in an attempt to ventilate. Possessions had to be thrown away. Kids were ill or sent to live with relatives in their own overcrowded housing.

This is just one example but you tell me if this family was in the right state to prioritise swimming lessons?? Should they be focusing on this ‘basic life skill’??

And I won’t even bother telling you about what the asylum seeker families are living with. Or the obstacles for parents with mental illness. There is no point and there would still be judgement.

Honestly some of you lot need to get out of your privileged righteous bubbles before squealing your preachy lectures.

The posts on here!

I don't think it's unreasonable for people to think that they can leave the swimming lessons to the school if they are told (which they are) that the school will organise it in KS2. However, you soon realise that school lessons are rubbish and hopefully most people find that out on the grapevine sooner rather than later.

As for a parent's responsibility to teach their kids to swim - hark at the financial privilege talking there! Lessons are expensive. At my local school they are now over £50 a month for one lesson a week. That is a council pool, by the way, albeit that it is run by a well known chain.

And no, you can't teach your own kids (in most cases). That's why we train and pay swimming teachers.

£50 a month at my local pool not school.

There’s canoeing places near me that run school sessions including non swimmers. Dd went with the school before she could swim. They had buoyancy aids and lots of staff to hoik them out

It's a life skill and that's why I paid for swimming lessons as soon as possible. I can't understand parents leaving it up to schools.

I think your case is very, very unusual and does not at all justify the astronomical cost of school swimming. The cost is just too much for the occasional child to be able to swim.

Our local pool has a 0.9m shallow end, I'm just over 5ft. All ladders to get into the pool. Fine for me as I can swim, but a non swimmer with a non swimming child? What about if you lost your footing, or the child slipped out of your arms, how would you be confident to get them out of the water?

The interesting thing I suppose about parents daring to leave it to schools is that’s what the rich do. Their kids get taught to swim at the prep school that has a swimming pool. It’s only the less fortunate who need to faff around with council swimming lessons on a Saturday morning.

OP, if your DC don't already swim regularly, do they even have a suitable costume, goggles and swim hat?

Along with the cost of lessons, it's such a barrier to learning to swim our Council libraries have a "swimming costume bank" where you can donate old costumes.

As PP said it’s a national curriculum requirement. Point this out to the school and say you will take it to the governors if necessary.

Your children are lucky you’ve been able to provide those things including swimming.
it is expensive and cost prohibitive for many to do so.

I don’t think I’m that unusual or it wouldn’t be on the curriculum

Isn't the point here that the opportunity is not being given to those children who would benefit most?

If it was a choice between my Y6 (who swims competitively) versus your child (who does not swim) your child should get priority.

It's irrelevant whether people think school swim lessons are worthwhile or not. Or why the child hasn't been to lessons beforehand.

The paragraph said canoeing, surfing and open water swimming.

Tbh, you'd need to do a lot more than school level swimming (as was) to be able to do open water swimming anyway....

Which is exactly why I didn’t risk it

Your spot on.

Okay but do you ever take your own children swimming?
Swimming is a necessity and all kids should know how to swim by year 6.
You don't have to put them in swimming lessons. My parents used to take us to the local pool every so often and teach us themselves.