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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Going swimming in Year 2

78 replies

FallenAngel22 · 30/10/2011 10:32

Had a letter home before half term to say DD's year are starting swimming this week at the local Uni pool. Now although DD has been in the pool many times and is confident, she can't swim. I'm planning on speaking to her teacher tomorrow about how it's going to work but wondered if anyone here had any experience either as a parent or teacher. How many adults go with them? Do they usually have instructors in the pool? What if the water is deeper than DD can stand up in? She's small for 6!

Probably worrying needlessly but am sure I was around 9 or 10 before we went swimming with school!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

snowball3 · 30/10/2011 10:48

Our Reception children swim, in fact the whole school goes. Most of the younger ones can't swim, they have toggles and floats to keep them up and the youngest, smallest children have their own year 6 to look after them in the water , teachers stand on the side.
Don't worry, we haven't lost anyone yet!

Original poster

FallenAngel22 · 30/10/2011 10:52

Thanks snowball3! I seem to have this irrational fear that DD will drown or something!

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2littlecherubs · 30/10/2011 11:18

My ds does swimming every week with school and he is in reception. There are about 12 in his class. We did get a letter from school asking parents to help as they like to have 1 adult to each child at the beginning(as the kids are only 4&5) but there were also plenty of 'swimming staff' helpers too.

All the kids on week 1 got in on their own to show the teacher how well they could swim (over half the class could swim a width of the pool on their own unaided) and then the teacher kitted each child out with the necessary floats/waddles etc.

ByTheWay1 · 30/10/2011 11:28

the very very worst bit (they would never allow someone to drown so that is NOT included!) is that you may end up with someone else's clothes! Make sure EVERYTHING is labelled - they need to know which knickers/socks/vests are theirs too! I know they are told to make their own pile, put their clothes in their bag etc, but it still happens!! And please, please,please DON'T send her in tights on swimming day - wet legs, tights, 1 sq foot of space each - you can imagine!!!

spiderpig8 · 30/10/2011 14:34

YABU they are going to be with swimming instructors who spend all day every day teaching children to swim.Why would they not be able to cope with your DD???

Original poster

FallenAngel22 · 30/10/2011 15:42

Thanks for the good advice, I def won't be sending her in tights. Spiderpig, nothing was said in the letter about instructors or otherwise so I am going on my experience as a child whereby the teachers taught us from the side of the pool. So no, I don't think I am being unreasonable thank you.

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mrz · 30/10/2011 15:51

It is unlikely the instructor will be in the pool with the children staff have a far better view from the side if someone were in trouble so it's safer

snowball3 · 30/10/2011 16:22

You definitely can't expect the teaching staff or lifeguards to be in the pool, as Mrz says, they will have a much clearer view of the group from the side of the pool. But please remember, although this is the first time you have encountered your daughter swimming at school, the teacher/instructor will be doing this on a very regular basis and there will be nothing to worry about!

AChickenCalledKorma · 30/10/2011 16:42

There will be plenty of children in Year 2 that can't swim. In fact, when my older daughter went last year (in year 4), there were still a good few who couldn't swim. So don't worry - the school will have a plan for small people who can't swim. In fact, they will probably also have a plan for small people who can't swim, have never been in a swimming pool and are terrified of water. So your DD will be at an advantage, if she's happy in the water!

When our children go from school, they spend the first lesson assessing their ability and dividing them up into groups. Does the pool have a teaching/toddler pool? If so, that's where the non-swimmers will be.

Unlikely that their regular teachers will be involved in the tuition at all, unless they are specialists. The pool's own staff will provide the tuition, the teachers will be there for supervision during travel, changing etc. (And I have to warn you, when I have called into our local leisure centre during school sessions, it is not unknown for at least some of them to be in the cafe, enjoying a well-earned coffee before herding all the children back to school!)

snowball3 · 30/10/2011 16:50

Not ours! All teachers are qualified swimming instructors and we have our own pool, so no coffee breaks for us

teacherwith2kids · 30/10/2011 16:55

"Unlikely that their regular teachers will be involved in the tuition at all, unless they are specialists. "

Depends on the school. Big primaries, where perhaps a year group of 60 go swimming (so 60x the 'swimming budget for 1 child), especially if they can walk to the pool (so no cost of buses) will often use swimming teachers from the pool exclusively.

Smaller schools, who by virtue of numbers in the school take fewer children swimming (smaller budget for swimming, therefore), and who may well be rural so have a long and expensive coach journey to take into account, may not have the budget for 3 or 4 swimming teachers so will train up a few of the normal staff to do it.

2littlecherubs · 30/10/2011 17:08

If you are worried why don't you ask if they would like additional help and offer. As stated my school encourages the parents to help in the pool (although we prefer not too ) Although we are expected to be there to help with changing - but this is reception class
The main swimming instructers are on the side of the pool watching and instructing but I imagine if someone got in to trouble they would be the first to jump in

Northumberlandlass · 30/10/2011 17:08

DS is in year 3 and has just started school swimming lessons this year. They were assessed on their first trip to the pool, in water they could stand up in. They were split into 'ability' groups. They now work each week in those groups, there are non swimmers and they do things to encourage them in the water/ basics etc.

The other groups work in accordance with their levels.

They are supervised by trained instructors.

I am surprised you are questioning this actually with all the H&S procedures surrounding schools.

Our school did ask for parental help, but that is to walk the kids down through our very busy town.

Northumberlandlass · 30/10/2011 17:14

I should add just for clarification, that DS class size is 30. The usual staff are present at the pool, but the instructor stays on the side to teach.

Original poster

FallenAngel22 · 30/10/2011 18:03

I fully intend to speak to her teacher tomorrow and find out exactly how they are running this. I would offer my help in a heartbeat but I will be at work plus it's an independent school where we're not even allowed to volunteer in the classroom.

My point to this thread was to merely garner experiences from both teachers and parents who had experience of this. Thanks for sharing, I feel somewhat better about it now.

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Original poster

FallenAngel22 · 30/10/2011 18:05

Also it's a university pool that is 5 lane 25m according to the web. I don't think it has a training pool element for young children.

OP posts:

2littlecherubs · 30/10/2011 18:14

My ds goes to a private school too so I dont see why you would not be allowed to go alongif you wanted? They appreciate it when we help with swimming and forrest school.
I would not worry too much - I am sure they know what they are doing

Northumberlandlass · 30/10/2011 18:25

Fallen, our local pool is a 25m 5 lane pool. It does have a shallower end! They aren't going to be chucked in you know...I understand you are worried & I am sure that once you have asked your questions tomorrow, the answers will be satisfactory.

The pool DS uses has an adjustable floor so they can make the pool all one depth, which is good.

piprabbit · 30/10/2011 18:26

DD was in Y2 when they started swimming. The school took all 45 Y2s. In the first lesson their abilities were assessed and the children put in groups according to their ability. The non swimmers stayed in the shallow end and the better swimmers were in slightly deeper water.

Your DD won't be the only non-swimmer, they fact that she is confident in water will be enough for her to enjoy the lessons and get something out of them.

coccyx · 30/10/2011 18:27

Hmm, i would check where the non swimmers go if its likely to not have a shallow end.

spiderpig8 · 30/10/2011 18:55

'So no, I don't think I am being unreasonable thank you.'

Well why bother asking .Then I wouldn't have wasted my time answering you.

Original poster

FallenAngel22 · 30/10/2011 19:03

Err Spiderpig where on this thread did I ask AIBU?? If you've got experiences to offer based on what I asked, then please do share.

coccyx - that's what I intend to ask first! I'm sure it will have a shallow end but doubt DD will be able to stand in it comfortably.

Northumberlandlass - wow, a moving floor? I've never heard of that before, but what a good idea!

Thanks everyone else for your thoughts. I'm sure by this time tomorrow, I'll have all I need to know once speaking to DD's teacher.

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exoticfruits · 30/10/2011 19:08

She will be fine-great opportunity.

PointyBlackHat · 30/10/2011 19:24

My DD is in Yr 4 and about a third of her class are still non-swimmers so your DD will be catered for - they will be working on water confidence and some basic techniques using floats. I also think you are being perfectly sensible to ask the teacher how the sessions will be run, it's a new thing and you're entitled to have all the information, especially if you can't be there!

exoticfruits · 30/10/2011 19:29

Any year 6 class will have a few non swimmers so there are bound to be some in yr2. The whole purpose is to teach them to swim-a bit pointless if they all swim like fishes already!

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