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Original poster

School offering zero swimming lessons, son is now in year 6 and cant swim

681 replies

Jobseeker19 · 21/09/2021 13:53

Is it compulsory for a school to do swimming lessons?

My son has never had them and is now in year 6.

When I was a child we did it every year.

I asked them today and was told that they are not doing it because of covid, when I told them my child is in year 6 and never had them they told me they only do it in year 5 for one term thats it and thats how all primary schools do it.

They are chatting shit as I have had an older child through there who also never had lessons.

What can I do about it?

OP posts:
BlackberrySky · 21/09/2021 14:08

I think you are over estimating the quality of school swimming lessons. If your children cannot swim at all, the ones provided by the school would not leave them able to swim without supervision anyway. Most schools offer about two terms of lessons to each child (so about 20 lessons) , but they don't learn much each lesson.

SummerHouse · 21/09/2021 14:08

It absolutely is part of the curriculum. There is a responsibility on schools.

duckme · 21/09/2021 14:10

Swimming is done in one year group where I work. It is part of the compulsory education here, as far as I've been told.
They are utterly pointless though. The class lasts half an hour, there's no way they're getting a class of non swimmers swimming in that time. More time is spent on the side explaining what is going to happen in the class. The child will perhaps do a width and that will be that (and that's if they're already swimmers).
If the leisure centre isn't offering it, there's not a lot they can do. Plus the staffing may be an issue. You need staff of both sexes going and I think at least 2 per class. If there is an issue in school with covid which causes staffing problems, they'll not be able to attend swimming lessons potentially.

Porridgealert · 21/09/2021 14:11

Take him and teach him yourself. It's not rocket science. And he'll probably get more attention out of a one yo one session with you than he would in a class. Get him a board and start kicking.

Invisimamma · 21/09/2021 14:11

Pay for lessons like everyone else does.

Yes the juggling around work and having children in lessons at different time is an inconvenience but that's what most people do if they want their children to learn how to swim.

MarcelineMissouri · 21/09/2021 14:12

Our primary did half a term swimming in yr 3, and my eldest has now gone to middle school and is in yr 5 where he will also get half a term of lessons. School swimming lessons will never be enough to teach a child how to swim. It is just a supplement to them learning outside of school.

batmanladybird · 21/09/2021 14:12

There are weekend lessons
There is also a book called "teach your child to swim"
Hth

PoolNooodle · 21/09/2021 14:12

My kids school only do swimming lessons in year 4 for 6 weeks, I was shocked to hear other schools do it from reception, mine missed out due to Covid

Original poster
Jobseeker19 · 21/09/2021 14:12

How did I learn to swim then at school if they they were so shit?

Everyone i know learnt how ro swim from school. I never had lessons outside of school.

OP posts:
shoofly · 21/09/2021 14:12

DS1 had a term of swimming in P6 and P7 (we're in Northern Ireland, so last 2 years Primary school)
DS2 has never had a lesson with school, due to Covid.
Swimming is part of the curriculum but there is no way any child would be a competent swimmer from school lessons

Original poster
Jobseeker19 · 21/09/2021 14:13

@batmanladybird

There are weekend lessons There is also a book called "teach your child to swim" Hth
I'm sure the book will be very useful thanks.
OP posts:
themidnighttrain · 21/09/2021 14:13

Is it on the curriculum now? It wasn't when I was a kid - my school couldn't afford it, so we didn't get any lessons.

My DM took me to (paid for) lessons instead. It wasn't free, and it was an inconvenience for her, but it's a life skill and she felt it was important.

Frazzled2207 · 21/09/2021 14:14

@BlackberrySky

I think you are over estimating the quality of school swimming lessons. If your children cannot swim at all, the ones provided by the school would not leave them able to swim without supervision anyway. Most schools offer about two terms of lessons to each child (so about 20 lessons) , but they don't learn much each lesson.
indeed. My husband had to rely on school lessons to learn to swim He can just about save himself from drowning (in pool conditions!) but he's useless anywhere near water. If you want them to learn to PROPERLY swim you need to pay like everyone else does.
FrownedUpon · 21/09/2021 14:14

Oh for gods sake, schools are doing their best. You’re the parent. You chose to have 3 children. Take them to swimming lessons if you’re so worried about it.

Nothanksverymuch · 21/09/2021 14:14

@Jobseeker19

I have 3 children I can't afford swimming lessons for all.

Plus I think the school is doing a disservice.

You don't need to pay for lessons.

You can take them to your local leisure centre once a week and teach them yourself like everyone else has to.

I have two kids and work full time BTW, as does DH.

PileOfBooks · 21/09/2021 14:15

Jobseeker it sounds like you learnt as you were in the unusual position of having swim lessons every year at school. I only know of one school in my borough that does that and that's because theybhave a pool on site.

Most schools offer 6-8 sessions at some point which will give some water confidence/introduction but not teach you to swim really.

Original poster
Jobseeker19 · 21/09/2021 14:15

My school in the 90s must have been ahead of its time then.

OP posts:
bakingdemon · 21/09/2021 14:15

I agree that this is too important to leave to schools and that time in the water to ensure they're confident and happy is really important - and only family time can really do that.

But you are also right that it's in the national curriculum: www.swimming.org/schools/swimming-national-curriculum/
If the teachers aren't responding, take it up with the school governors (I was one for years). They are responsible for allocating the school budget, which will include pool hire, and ensuring that the school is delivering what it should. It'll be more effective if you can get a number of other parents to back you up, maybe coordinating via a WA group.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 21/09/2021 14:15

I taught my son to swim myself for his own safety.

Starlightstarbright1 · 21/09/2021 14:15

@Jobseeker19

I have 3 children I can't afford swimming lessons for all.

Plus I think the school is doing a disservice.

This is one of the most infuriating reasons. People give for not doing something. You had 3 children, feeding 3 children costs more than feeding one, everything costs about 3 times as much.

Schools usually do swimming in year 5. It was missed last year due to covid. The current year 5's will now have the pool space.

.pay for lessons one at a time if you can't afford all 3. Take them swimming as a family and teach them all.

I think one of the bigger problems is the school can't take responsibility for everything - reading and writing yes but you need to find a way for your child to learn to swim.

purplemunkey · 21/09/2021 14:16

God people are awful. So many posters on MN cannot seem to imagine people living in circumstanced other than their own. Not everyone can afford to pay for activities outside school. And yes, it is on the curriculum.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 21/09/2021 14:16

Swimming is on the national curriculum- and it's not optional for schools. The school is not following the NC if they fail to provide swimming lessons to its students at primary (England).

Irrespective of whether the OP should also provide swimming.

Frazzled2207 · 21/09/2021 14:16

@Jobseeker19

My school in the 90s must have been ahead of its time then.
no, I think schools in the 90s were enormously better funded than they are now! If you can properly swim you probably went every year. Two terms is normal these days.

It is however unfair that kids miss out 'cause of covid'. Ours were rescheduled but not cancelled. You should take this up with the head.

dementedpixie · 21/09/2021 14:16

@Jobseeker19

How did I learn to swim then at school if they they were so shit?

Everyone i know learnt how ro swim from school. I never had lessons outside of school.

Conversely I don't know anyone who learned to swim through the school

I never had lessons and we were sent off to the pool and learned to swim by ourselves. It was the way it was done 30odd years ago

SylvanasWindrunner · 21/09/2021 14:17

I was a late swimmer. Non-swimmers at our school lessons just got left to their own devices in the shallow end and not taught. The vast majority of children could already swim to some degree by the time school lessons started so lessons focused on improving their swimming, not teaching total non-swimmers.