Disruptive child in swim class, should I complain?

[Allme501]

So there is an older child of about 7 in my LOs swim class who is incredibly disruptive. Every lesson he whinges and cries throughout not because he can’t do it but because he doesn’t want to. I may be sounding harsh but it’s clearly a behavioural issue and the problem I have is how much time he is taking from the rest of the class as the teacher has to spend so much time with him.

Swimming lessons are not cheap and I am concerned that my child is missing out on swimming time because of this child. Should I say something to the swim school and if so what?

What would you like the teacher to do?

i would say you have grounds to talk to the swim lesson manager - who will be responsible for staffing that you notice that the needs of one child are impacting on the lesson for others -
I would NOT say : Every lesson he whinges and cries throughout not because he can’t do it but because he doesn’t want to.
because that sounds like you are talking out your arse - you have no clue about the motivations / reasons for the child’s behaviours and needs so don’t pretend that u do

I would definitely talk to someone at reception about your concerns as swimming lessons are expensive and your child won’t progress as quickly as he/she should if the teacher is spending the time dealing with this child. Maybe this child needs one to one lessons instead of group ones.

Ask to be moved to another class?

Yes you should speak to the swimming manager. I’m sure the coach knows how much time is being spent managing this child. Sounds like they may need an extra pair of hands in the pool.

I'd speak to the manager but focus only on your child, not the other child's behaviour eg my child spent 15 minutes of the last lesson sitting on the side, the teacher only checked on my child's technique once, my child is getting a lot less teaching in this class than I would expect.

Judging how this child responds in the water without knowing them from a bar of soap is wrong. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have a quiet word to the teacher at the end of the session to ask if your child is progressing satisfactorily? And if they have enough teaching time to continue to progress well (if they are)? And what can be done (if they are not)?

Ask to be moved to another class?
The teacher already knows believe me.

Welcome to the world of teaching in 2026. Nothing anyone can do about this atm. Moving to a class I can pretty much guarantee there will be another disruptive child, possibly in a different way.

What exactly would you like the teacher to be doing with your child that they can't?
Is there something that the lessons/swim school promised that isn't being done?

I think you can certainly have a word with the teacher about your feeling that your child isn't getting as much teaching/support as you are paying for. However don't comment on the child's behaviour specifically." I may be sounding harsh but it’s clearly a behavioural issue". Without knowing that child very well and knowing his medical history, you have NO IDEA whether that's 100% true 50% or 0% true. So don't say that.

I've had three children do swimming lessons and have never experienced a disruptive child to this extent so I don't think it's a given at all.
There's certainly things the swim school can do - move the child to a more appropriate class, tell the parent they need 1:1, remove them from the class if it isn't suitable.

Most likely you will get a better spot. Why not try.

This was my child. AuDHD. I eventually removed her but only because I’m privileged enough to be able to afford private lessons for her.
if it’s a GROUP session, then you’re going to have to deal with other kids in the group. You have no idea what’s going on with the child.
if you don’t like it - move groups or go to private lessons.

How is it judging them, it is a fact that the instructor has to spend so much time with this child that is clearly upset. The reason for them being upset every lesson is neither here nor there, the fact is other parents are paying for swimming lessons that their children are not getting. No judgement just fact.

No advice but some solidarity OP. It's very annoying to pay for a set of lessons, but how good those lessons are is dependent not on the teaching standard but on the behaviour of the other kids who sign up. My daughter's last set of lessons had two boys (aged about 9/10) who spent the whole time messing around, splashing each other and other swimmers, going under the water so they couldn't hear instructions, doing huge movements that knocked other children who were waiting patiently, saying rude things etc. I was really on the fence about saying something but in the end decided against as the staff there could see the issue and were doing their best to deal with it. My daughter told me later the boys were told at the end of each lesson to tell their parent to come through and speak to the instructor, but EVERY time they just disappeared off into the change room and went home - infuriating! We signed up for a differnt day after that and it's a lovely group of kids now.

Every lesson he whinges and cries throughout not because he can’t do it but because he doesn’t want to.

Because she doesn't know the child and is making an assumption = judgement.

How does she know he doesn't want to? Not her kid. Lots of judgement. He did appear to be struggling from her observational standpoint. But unless you know the child it's really unfounded to say why a kid is struggling - that's judgement.

Much like when people judge children in a supermarket. Fact: kid is lying on the floor of a supermarket. The judgement - without knowing why - is the second part - they could be epileptic or any other manner of things.

Anywhere where a child whom you don't know is acting in a way that draws your attention is always attention is always judgment until you get to the bottom of it.