Swimming

[KirstyHer]

Hi I have a child at Primary age & has just started swimming lessons at school last half term. My child goes swimming outside of school every week with family & is doing well & is also happy to play in the sea. But has only managed to go in the pool at school twice due to anxiety. As they go twice a week at school for 30mins the anxiety lasts the whole school week. With worrying about it being a swimming day the following day. We have tears, not sleeping, faking illness or injury's even lying (very unlike my child they know how wrong that is) Working themselves up so much that there feeling sick & having really bad upset stomach. I read on an earlier post that we can only opt out with a doctors note. Can someone tell me if this is easy to do & if it sounds like we could get one? My child had an upset stomach this morning waiting in the queue for the school gates to open. I wanted to take her home but the head insisted that she stayed & tried the pool. I fed up of them bullying & putting un necessary pressure on my child to get in the pool for 30mins when's there's obviously a problem which they have witnessed at school several times & when I take my children swimming outside of school for longer then the school lessons are & there doing great. I'm sorry for the rant but I'm really upset & angry about this its to much pressure to put a little one when there's obviously such a big problem. I fear that if this continues there going to develop a fear of swimming & undo all the good work I've already done outside of school & if they push me I'll have to take my child out & home school for the next 7 weeks of school.

Has she been able to tell you exactly what it is about swimming she doesn’t like?
The getting changed / getting changed with other people?
The swimming baths environment (too hot, too echoey, too loud?)
The swimming teacher?

I have sat with children at the side during swimming lessons who for various reasons including the above didn’t feel able to go in the water. Sometimes they gave it a try, sometimes they didn’t and that was ok. We’d never force a child to participate in swimming as it’s not safe and risks putting them off being to learn an essential skill.

We’ve never had a parent say their child must not swim at all, but if it’s causing her that much anxiety I don’t think a firm “ask her once if she feels up to it, then leave her be” request would be out of order as a parent.

Swimming 25m is the only measured pe outcome for primary, can they already swim 25m? The anxiety has a cause, which you need to try and work out. If they don't achieve the 25m this year, they are likely to have swimming again next year. If they play in the sea, learning to swim is even more essential.

I think you need email the class teacher/head about this, as it certainly sounds like it could rock their confidence. Then you will have time to explain the way the anxiety presents itself at home. Then a formal meeting at school, their welfare and attendance is at stake.

If your child is learning to swim in a formal setting, I don't see why they should be required to swim at school. I'm not sure that there is still a requirement for children to be able to swim 25m by the end of primary. Our primary didn't have a pool but many parents arranged swimming lessons independently, so the school only arranged swimming lessons for those that didn't have that opportunity.

You could also check out the school's policies (should be on the website), and see if there is one that covers wellbeing or mental health. There might be useful material in there for your discussions with school.

As someone said above, do you know what it is that makes her nervous? From getting my own kids ready for swimming lessons in school I saw so many that felt under pressure to get ready to quickly etc, would it be something like that? Is one of the other children doing/saying something? I think opting her out without getting to the why might be counterintuitive as she might go into that mode when she finds other things tough in school (obviously depending on why).

Hiya,

Does anyone know good swimming classes around Thurrock clean etc for a 3year old ? Bannatyne in Chafford hundred is £28 per lesson

Is the pool on the school grounds? Have you seen the pool/changing room? I can see how some school pool facilities can be off putting.

Is your daughter at a private school (never heard of a state school taking children twice a week)?

If it is causing that much anxiety withdraw consent. Stuff the school. You are right not to want to put her off swimming.