Swimming Lesson

[bluebell8329]

Hi

DD's class has started swimming lessons at the local pool. She has been about six times so far and said the pool is absolutely freezing! They take them in the water in groups of 5 and when you have had your turn you have to sit on the side, dripping wet, no towel, and wait for your turn to come around again. Each time I have picked her up from school after the lesson she looks grey, she is still freezing and this week has had a chest infection, most likely unlinked I know.

She is a competent swimmer, has done her lessons since being 3 and can swim unaided 25m. My question is, is it compulsory for her to go the swimming lessons with the school?

Thanks :)

What have school said?

The lessons are compulsory but that seems an odd way of doing it. When DS did it they split the year so everyone who went could go in the water at once - they were in quite large groups and sometimes had to take turns but waited at the edge but in the pool if it wasn't their turn.

Agree with the pp - I’d have thought it normal that kids wait in the pool for their “go”, although I can see they might get silly in the water so can see sense in having them out in that sense.

Anyone knows it’s actually very cold being wet and just waiting, how they’re doing it doesn’t seem sensible at all.

I’d be having a word here, surely the teacher can see your DD is freezing!

That sounds unusual. DC1 did it just before covid and they were split into multiple ability levels. The non swimmers are in one group in a shallow learner pool. The swimmers aren't left to wait on the side of the pool and getting cold. Does the class have a lot of non-swimmers? I'm thinking that might be the case because then they don't have enough instructors to look over 25 non swimmers.

DC1 said they only have 2 or 3 who can't swim and the rest of the class were doing lengths with instructor outside of the pool. Have a word with the teacher or the instructor and tell them the kids are cold and whether they can bring a towel or dry robe in.

They're split due to ability but apparently there are only 3 who aren't strong swimmers so I have no idea why they are making them shiver on the side.

School have looked into it and said it was only this way the first week while they assessed ability but it's week four now and still the same. She has taken a towel while she's on the side but because she's in and out it's not very effective.