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!

The should, but in fairness to the school this is a Y6 class and they should focus on the kids where it will make most difference. Sounds like they are taking "almost" swimmers not those who can already swim. But not complete non-swimmers.

Kids get far fewer lessons now than we did. Covid hasn't helped. There is a lot to cram in. The problem with school swimming lessons is they are based on cohort, not ability. Swimming lessons needs to be based on ability. Trying to teach 30 kids at once who vary from complete non swimmer to competent swimmer is virtually impossible.

I understand why OP is annoyed. I understand why she hasn't taken the kids to lessons, but you need to understand all those challenges (cash/distance/availability) also apply to schools. If its important enough to get this upset about maybe it should have been a higher priority earlier.

Hmm yes I have a child.

DS has been in boats since he was 9 months old. He still can't swim properly. He is confident in water.

You want to talk to paddlers with kids. They start kids in boats really really young.

The 5 might be the easiest to manage, but arguably benefit the least.

If there are limited resources (time / staff etc) more time should be spent on those that can't, rather than those who already can.

This isn't about my choices around swimming - or the OPs - but rather around whether choosing to BAN non swimmers from swimming lessons is the right thing to do.

In my opinion, it's very firmly nuts.

I think what they meant was knowing how to keep safe around water, to be confident around it so they don’t do something stupid. To trust the buoyancy aids (if appropriate) and the adults in charge of doing something. It’s probably more important for us non swimmers to recognise dangers than swimmers.

Completely agree that banning non swimmers is nuts. Just making the point that banning the ones who can swim is arguably not that helpful.

But in a state school it IS part of the schools responsibility to teach children to swim and be water safe. It is part of the National Curriculum and should be taught to all children in the same way english/maths have to be.

I don't think there's much excuse for getting to year 6 without being able to swim. Unless crushingly poor and slaving 7 days a week to make ends meet then it's a different matter. OP if this is you I apologise.

My dc have never had swimming lessons at state school. We have however had private ( local leisure trust ) swimming lessons from age 5. We are in a city and leisure trust provision is eroded and hard to get into so badly off people do pay for lessons at gyms and hotels. I just lined up lessons at 4 or 5 and then never came off the treadmill. I assure you this is more expensive than a 6 week holiday course for a 9yo. Or just arranging to go as a family from time to time. You are where you are so just start taking her as a family And she should pick it up quickly.

There’s no way an 11 year would learn to swim in front of their mates it would be mortifying that ship has sailed they could do council adult swimming lessons when they choose to

Yes. And its also important for swimmers to realise that even if they HAVE ability what the dangers are and not to be OVER confident. And that even they should be wearing appropriate safety equipment. Paddleboarders are a nightmare for this and I've lost count of friends with teenage kids who say its ok for their swimming kids to be going on paddle boards in the sea without one. Its a recipe for disaster and one thats caused a significant number of avoidable deaths.

You can also get swimmers who fall into water, and panic because they have the skill but not necessarily the confidence in water outside a pool.

Why is it baffling?

DH is the one who likes boats. I met him as an adult!

Agree with those numbers.

Six in my son's class did last week.

No one batted an eyelid. I think it might depend on the culture in the class.

Some kids are good at some things, and others at different stuff.

Do I really need to explain the concept of barriers to education and experiences?

Young carers - how does a disabled parent unable to access a pool (or get there in the first place), put a costume on, unable to swim themselves and is on a very low income do this? How does a parent who has a second very high needs child care for them at the same time when there's a fuckton of deep and cold water within a short sprint for a child? How do they do any of this when they're struggling with their own disability and can't even get in or out of a pool due to physical or mental issues? Or if they can't do it due to infection risk/a tracheostomy?

SEND - there's a dearth of lessons for children with SEND. Assorted physical or other disabilities can make it something a parent isn't able to teach and there's a world of difference in supervising and keeping safe, never mind teaching, a child with SEND affecting their perception of danger, sensory inputs, physical ability

Other ethnicities - are there single sex lessons or sessions for people who may not be able to swim themselves so that their children can learn? There is also a disproportionate number of families from other ethnicities in poverty . Some employment has a higher relative percentage of staff from other ethnicities - how does somebody working night shift or weekends take their child swimming if they can afford it on a carer's pay?

Most vulnerable - are the children that are being neglected and abused taken for swimming lessons or jolly splashes around by their abusers? The people who can't even prioritise feeding, clothing or not harming their children?

If it hadn't have been for six weeks of lessons with the school when I was 8, I would never have set foot in a swimming pool. And I'd have been far less likely to go to one when I was older and was earning my own money (the next time I went, nearly ten years later), because I wouldn't have learned how to get my face wet, float, not panic or that the water actually felt quite nice and that it made my hypermobile and arthritis buggered child joints move without sustaining injury.

Doesn't mean they don't exist.

HTH

Mine did. As did enough to fill a small coach

Fwiw it's not like I've had a lot of choice about how much time I've ended up spending time near water. Nor do I do it a huge amount. It's not my thing, it's DHs but I have done it as part of doing things with him.

I'm paying for my little kids to learn at a local gym. It costs me but it's a skill I need them to have. I chose this over dance/football etc.
Swimming is a life skill and I would rather sacrifice other things to ensure they have it.

Completely. All this.

IF we deem these skills important to life, then it is absolutely right the state does a cover all. it doesn’t matter the reason, there are so many reasons and who is the moral judge if the reason is good enough or not.
Ultimately we’ve deemed this skill important and the person missing out is the child. No child should be disadvantaged regardless of reasoning. Life is unfair enough for a lot of children.

the lack of funding. Entirely separate

I said I could do a ‘basic breaststroke’. Not a proper or good breaststroke. And that’s the problem. It’s fine for the shallow end of the pool but it’s not going to save my life if I fall in the water and I’m never going to be able to save anyone else. Which is why I paid for lessons for DD and don’t believe it’s as simple as ‘teach them yourself’.