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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

Is anybody else worried about their LO doing swimming at school for the first time?

10 replies

Marne · 27/03/2009 19:45

Hi, my dd1 is in her first year (reception), after easter the school pool will be ready to use and the children use it every day through the summer (its a heated outdoor pool).

Up until a year ago my dd was so scared of water i couldn't even get her in the bath, since then i have managed to get her in a pool a couple times. When in the pool she starts off by clinging to me, she shakes for a while and eventually begins to let go but is to nervous to try and swim (she will happily walk along the bottom), as soon as she gets her face wet she gets upset but she's beginning to get better.

Dd1 has Aspergers syndrome and sometimes takes a while to adjust to new things, her motor skills are not great and she's hates trying new things.

When she starts swimming at school there will be no adults in the pool with her and i am really worried that dd1 wont be able to cope.

We go on holiday in 3 weeks and we will have the use of a pool for a week, i am hoping to get her used to the water but feel this may take some time.

Is anyone else in the same situation?

Is there any other way i can help her feel more comfortable around/in water?

OP posts:

TheProfiteroleThief · 27/03/2009 19:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DisasterArea · 27/03/2009 19:52

are they really planning on having a class of 5 year olds in the pool with no adults in there with them? surely not. even without the aspergers it would be asking an awful lot. does she have a named support TA who might go in with her?

Original poster

Marne · 27/03/2009 19:57

Aparantly it easier to spot a child in danger (drowning) from the side of the pool rather than having an adult in the pool . I hav'nt spoke to the school, my neighbour (who has a dd the same age) said she was told that they have no adult helpers/teachers in the pool for this reason, i really hope she is wrong. I think i will ask dd's teacher next week.

OP posts:

brimfull · 27/03/2009 20:13

So they are chucking in a classfull of 5 yr olds regardless of their swimming skills.
DS has had swimming lessons for about 2 yrs and the teacher is always in the pool with them.

brimfull · 27/03/2009 20:13

not at a school

happywomble · 27/03/2009 20:15

I think the swimming teacher needs to be in the pool for children who can't swim, otherwise it is hard to teach them properly.

For those that can swim it is not normal for the teacher to be in the pool.

Surely there should be a set adult/child ratio for each swimming group and also a life guard watching the whole pool.

Original poster

Marne · 27/03/2009 20:24

I hope my friend has got it wrong, it doesn't seem rite that no adults are in the pool, i am sure that most of them can't swim and would need help from an adult.

OP posts:

VanessaParody · 27/03/2009 20:41

Our school swimming lessons, which don't start until Year 2, splits the class of 30 into 4 ability groups. The non-swimmers/nervous have a TA in the water and a swimming instructor out of the water. The other groups just have an instructor.

Our private swimming lessons have 2 helpers in the water and the instructor out of the water until the children can swim about 10 metres unaided. I thought this was the norm, tbh.

I think you need to speak to the school before term finishes to establish what is happening (and then ask for help as necessary).

However, my 5yo son clung to me in the water and appeared to be terrified. When he started lessons he was completely different - putting his head under, attempting to swim etc. It was most extraordinary! Good luck.

Heifer · 27/03/2009 20:43

My DD has swimming lessons and the teacher is on the side of the pool. When the children start they wear muscles (hard arm bands), 4 on each arm, as they get better they wear less.

I was suprised at first that no one was in the pool with them but have seen the whole class going from not being able to swim at all, to DD (5) getting her 25m badge this week with no arm bands.

I think the teacher can teach much better from the side of the pool, he can see so much more and the children can see him better (tis funny to watch someone on dry land demonstrate the swimming action)...

Elibean · 27/03/2009 20:45

Wow, Reception is very young to not have adult helpers in the pool

At dd's school, they don't start swimming till Y3 anyway - but even then, if there are nervous children one of the teachers or helpers is always prepared to get in the pool to help.

Can you go as a parent helper? Or would you being there make it worse for her, iyswim?

dd1 has also hated having water on her face, and is only just now getting braver about it after swimming lessons and, frankly, time. She was 5 in December. If you can use the holiday pool to play at splashing water on faces, blowing bubbles in the water with your mouths, wearing goggles (water is less scary to put your face in if your eyes don't sting) and playing 'grabbing for toys' under water etc.....thats all the stuff thats helped dd1 to get comfortable.

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