Swimming lessons - is this expensive?

[countryhousehotel]

Hi - just looking for advice / information. DD is 3, for the last 2 terms (since Jan this year) I have taken her to swimming lessons once a week costing around £140 a term.

This is the only organised activity we do (apart from nursery which she attends 4 mornings a week).

However,now she's turned 3 the classes are unbelievably expensive around here (central London) and the same company seems to have a complete monopoly. For a term it will be over £300 which seems ridiculous.

Does that sound expensive to anyone or is it normal? We would just about be able to afford it because she starts pre-school in September and we are saving on nursery fees, but it will still work out at almost £1,000 for 3 terms. And we'll probably need to keep going for a year or 2 until she's swimming confidently if not longer.

I want to her carry on for lots of reasons. I am/was slightly phobic about water as was my mother, as a result my sister and I learnt to swim very late and have never been comfortable in the water. But I can't get over the cost!! Perhaps I'm just naive about how expensive these things are??

yes-i agree that she is too young to be in a group without a aperent. that is what i suggest-you do group lessons but with you in the water with her.

i honestly believe that having a parnt in with them makes them more confident.

it will help your water confidence too.

We paid £3.50 for 30 min group lesson

Just want to say something in favour of the lessons without parents. Ours do this from age 3 (about 4-6 kids to one teacher).

I've seen loads of kids who get on so much faster without the parent around. it is like the teacher expects them to do stuff and they just get on with it. Once they are back with the parents they seem to slide back into "baby mode". I'm not saying it is right for all, but for some this type of lesson can be great.

I really feel my own DD gained her water confidence and swimming ability from having fun in a group with parents.
(But everyone's different)

Ds only got into swimming lessons once he was school age and I wasn't in the water with him.

I pay $7 NZ dollars for a 30 minute class with one instructor and 6 children. We can also have a free son and mum swim any time during the week (which would normally be $6) so if we go twice a week the lesson only works out at $1 which is under 50p.

I think that will be the cheapest. Organised by city council.

Swimming lessons is one of those things where I think parents and teachers have different ideas. Parents tend to want their children to learn to swim well enough to have fun and not drown if they fall into deep water some where. Swimming teachers are concerned with that, but also with technique. I do think it's a bit depressing to see the 3 year olds at our pool religiously practising their butterfly. I would go for group lessons for 'waterproofing' a toddler if I were you.

Actually you saying that Seeker, that's what I'm finding with the lessons at the local leisure centre that my DD is doing now, compared with the private ones we used to do.
The leisure centre are very hung up on following ASA standards....perfecting technique, getting badges. While the private lessons didn't follow the ASA - but the DCs were jumping in the pool in their pjamas and doing more confidence sort of stuff.
I do need to be taking DD just for fun regularly, as these lessons now she's going in without me aren't so much fun.
The toddler lessons at the leisure centre were fun....but still a bit stuck on ASA goals.

My 3 year olds lessons last for 30 minutes. There's 8 in the class. It costs us £4.05 a week. Their at our local leisure cntre and are great!

You are being ripped off!

seeker, I would say that to quite a large extent good technique is needed to be safe if you fall in, so there is probably a fairly large overlap between the parents & teachers objectives. If you've ever unexpectedly fallen into cold water fully clothed you will realise that you do need to be a fairly proficient swimmer to stay comfortably afloat for any length of time & the streamlining and efficient paddling/kicking actions associated with proper swimming technique are all rather important. I agree that butterfly probably isn't necessary, but my experience is that young children actually love doing it in small doses.

Countryhousehotel I am in exactly the same situation. I know the company you are talking about, does it begin with a s? My ds has done one term like this courtesy of grandparents and he has learnt to swim on his back by himself and absolutely loves the lessons. My theory was get him swimming like this and then do bigger class when his confidence was up.

I have looked at all the options and there wasn't much choice either. The one place who didn't have places at the time was at the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre. I don't know if you are that end of Westminster but I think the London Swim School runs them. I have a friend that does them and she says they are really good.

Ours work out at about £3.50 a half hour lesson I think (term time only).