Saying this child should not continue to attend activity

[Glimpsey]

I run a children’s gymnastics class, one of the classes is a Saturday morning, 10-11am. It’s for Reception/KS1 children, pretty relaxed, generally we have skills stations where a leader will be at each one and the kids can learn a specific skill, they move round these as they wish.
We have one child who started in September, she is a young 4 (summer birth), very sweet girl and seems to do well naturally, picks skills up very fast etc.
However, she comes straight from a half hour swimming lesson, by the last 20 minutes she is too tired and just sits out at the side. She is no hassle though.
She also does 3 hours of dancing in the week (mum was telling me).
Usually we’d never say a child shouldn’t keep coming to the class, like I said it’s relaxed and meant to be fun. This child is “better” than most her age and seems to enjoy it. However she’s exhausted by the end of the class!!!
My manager and I were talking and thinking perhaps we need to ask the parents to bring her to a different class, either later on a Saturday or after school one day, saying that she is very tired in the current class and may do better at a different time, but make it clear she’s lovely to have in class and is good.
We put it to the rest of the team to decide but we can’t decide. Our two options are

• Tell mum it just isn’t working at the current time, up to half the class is wasted and another child (we have a waitlist) could make better use of the slot, offer her the 2-3pm class and weekday class immediately with no waitlist (we have children in both classes waiting to swap to the Saturday morning so it would just be a swap)
• Keep mentioning to mum how tired she is, that she sits out a lot, and we have other times available but leave it to mum to decide if she should be moved

She is a lovely child and her mum seems nice too and I don’t want to do anything that would lose their business in the future. Would I be unreasonable to go with option 1 or should we play it safe and go for option 2?

So she’s happy in class, is better than the others, is no hassle, and gets tired after 40 minutes so you want to kick her out?

Leave her be. Her stamina will increase or she will fall away on her own.

Make sure mum knows she regularly get tired towards the end but don’t stop her coming that’s for her parents to decide if she isn’t causing any issues

Option 1 for me.

Not kick her out, move to a different time that isn’t straight after her swimming lessons so she can fully participate in the activities.

Definitely tell the mum that she just sits at the side for nearly half of the class. She needs to know that she’s wasting her money! I’d also maybe drop into conversation ‘you know there is a 2pm class as well if you’d prefer not to be so rushed? X tells me you come straight from swimming.’

Does mum know there is another class available?
Does she know she sits out half the class.

If I was the parent I might be more than happy with 30 minutes if she is progressing and I couldn't make the later class.
Or if I didn't even know about the later class I would be glad of the option

Tell the mum what you've been noticing about her tiredness. Stress that you love having her in class and the girl engages really well, but that she might get more out of coming when she isn't so tired from swimming. You're happy to keep her in the class or move her if the mum wishes.

I think there's a middle ground between your two options which would be better. I think you do need to mention to mum that you've noticed that she gets quite tired and tends to sit out for the last 20 minutes. However, a conversation along the lines of

"Hi [Mum}, we've noticed that x seems to get quite tired towards the end of the session and tends to sit out for the last 20 minutes. She's great at gymnastics, we love having her in the class, and we really want her to be able to get the most out of her sessions with us. Would you like me to see if there's a different time she could join us that might work better for you and her?"

i.e. no need to tell her bluntly that it isn't working but you should say something.

Option 2 play it safe

This. Surely it is obvious that the first step is to let the mother know, suggest some possible options, and then see what she says?

I think that there’s a happy medium between your two choices. Something like telling the mum that you understand she has swimming in the morning and you’ve noticed that she’s worn out halfway through your class. She’s an absolute delight and a quick learner so you definitely don’t want to lose her, but you’re wondering whether they might like to swap with a student from the other class? And, if so, let you know as it’s something you can arrange to make sure they’re getting their moneys worth.

And if they can’t do the swap, just let her do the bits she can, especially if she’s a nice kid and no trouble.

Just let the mother know other times are available if she would prefer them and leave it at that. The class she does now might be the only one that is convenient for them for other reasons. Children di get tired but if she is enjoying what she does and joining in I don't see the issue

I agree with others that feedback to the parent and discuss options is the way to go.

Option 2.

Leave the ball in her mothers court.

Personally I’d do option 1. She’s not managing the whole class so it obviously ain’t right for her…..not because of lack of talent or effort but because she is simply too tired. I wouldn’t be comfortable working a child until they were shattered either.

Also I think you are over thinking it. Tell mum that every week she is too tired to join in the whole class so it’s not working for her, then offer her the option of joining another class or returning when she is a little older and can manage.

Let her stay in class and have a breather from her Mum. Poor little mite.

Poor kid. I would be tired doing a swimming session followed by what is technically a strength session straight after! And this kid is so young.

Let the mum know. It may be that she ends up moving the swimming class rather than yours etc.

I wouldn’t make the point about other kids could make better use of the slot. Make it about her child.

I would tell the mum that her lovely, talented child is not getting the most out of this slot due to being tired and sitting out for half of it. Also, gymnastics when tired is frankly more dangerous - that’s when injuries happen. I would tell her your other times and recommend that she moves to a different one if at all possible. Or that she looks into moving the swimming (this may work better for her than moving gymnastics).

I'd let the mum know. If you are keen not to lose her custom in future emphasize how well her daughter is doing, how able she is, but how she seems very tired by the end of the class, which may be limiting her ability to reach her full potential.

Or do what Morethanenough suggested and let the poor girl have a bit of a break!

Option 2, let the mum know, say you have space to move her if that suits them. But it might be that she looked at other times and this suited them better, and maybe she likes her DD having a sleep on a Saturday afternoon?!

Please don't assume they can do an alternative time or make them lose their slot.

You are right to ensure the mum knows she's sitting out a bit, but bear in mind she's very young, she's only just started school and clearly has a busy time.

I'm sure she'll grow into it before long.

Definitely option 1! If you go for option 2 Mum might take it to mean she has to tell her DD she must take part in the full class because you are “complaining” that she doesn’t, making the poor girl even more exhausted. Just be straight instead of skirting round the issue and hoping Mum picks up on what you’re saying.

I would explain to mum and suggest the move, but then it’s up to her if she takes you up on it

I would leave her be, she will grow into it. Its unlikely mum isn't aware there are other sessions and this time obviously works for them.