Swimming lessons

[SaintVal]

My DS7 is refusing to have swimming lessons. Obviously I want him to learn how to swim and his Dad (we're not together) is pushing for him to have lessons. DS says he is not going and that's the end of it. I know we're the parents but how do you bodily force a child to have lessons? He's not scared of the water or even putting his head underwater so I don't know why he is reacting this way. He has agreed to go to a pool with me and I teach him - this is because Grandad said 'all Mum has to do is lead you along and you'll be swimming in half an hour' so he has it in his head that's the way it's going to be. I am happy to do this btw but I'm not a qualified instructor.

Anyway, I'm really not sure how to handle it now. Can anyone give me some advice please?

Does his school not take the children swimming? All the schools around me have swimming on the curriculum (though not during lockdowns of course); if they don't have their own pool, they arrange a coach for the children to go to the nearest swimming baths.

I don't think you should insist on him having lessons as he is so adamant he doesn't want them, however he will eventually start to swim, maybe on holiday and when his friends go swimming.

No it's not part of the school curriculum here. Not at the moment anyway. Several of his school and football friends have lessons and say they enjoy them but he's having none of it. I learned to swim on a holiday to Weymouth when I was 7 so for me, it's not such a huge issue but his Dad is pushing and saying it's not up for debate. He's taking him on holiday in August and wants him to be able to swim. To be honest, I'm feeling the pressure from him and seeing my son upset and it's getting me down.