General Chat

Even when I had taught mine to swim at an early age, they still had to do the swimming sessions at school, and I used to help out.....they did not have to pay any money though...

the kids enjoyed it at whatever level, from the absolute beginners to the ones who were good swimmers and were taught life saving, and different strokes...they even won medals.....when I went to school we had swimming lessons too....the kids are really proud of their 25 and 50 metre certificates, and all of them could swim at the end....

I didn't know they had to pay now Penny.....

Swimming lessons, as has already been said, are part of the national curriculum just as PE lessons, Numeracy and Literacy etc and as such any child's class that are going for swimming lessons must attend.

In my school, the only payment taken is a contribution of 40p per child towards the coach. £36 per term is excessive to say the least. There have been children in the past who have had external swimming lessons and are competent swimmers. They still have to attend if their year group are taking swimming lessons. I suppose another way to look at it is this: You may have a child who is able in Literacy, because of that we wouldn't take them out of the literacy lessons. They attend and the work will be differentiated to suit their ability. Children who go for swimming lessons are grouped according to their ability and what is covered in the lesson is tailored to the ability of the different groups.

I would still say that £36 is excessive - what kind of coach do they travel on for goodness sake!? Do they serve caviar and cucumber sandwiches on the journey washed down with Champagne and coctails? lol

Lyn x

My grandson is in year 4 and has just started going with the school. He should have gone last year, but there weren't enough places available. The course is for just 7 weeks until October. The idea is that the children start in year 3 and then improve in year 4. As he doesn't swim at all, I do wonder how he will get on, having missed out on last year's lessons.

My daughter, who is on benefits, had to pay £21 for the 7 week course. This includes coach travel to the local baths about 2 miles away, but I still think it is an excessive amount.

Sue
xx

Charlotte and Jamie both went to swimming club with the school last year - they go at the same time as the classes, but are more advanced. Years 5 and 6 only have had the swimming lessons until this year, now they are extending it downwards to make it years 3, 4 and 5 (again, because of the SATs) and there is no longer a swimming club.
It has always been free for all pupils - the majority of parents would be unable to pay anyway.
Maz. XX

I had mixed feelings about my swimming lessons. I didn't enjoy learning to swim in a group - had swimming lessons from the age of five to eight at one local pool - but I was the despair of my mum because I used to hide away at the back of the group, hoping the session would end before I had to go in.

So I went to a different pool and had one-to-one lessons with a teacher who would get in the pool with me. By the time I left, though, he didn't get in the pool with me any more - I think the "powers that be" deemed it inappropriate. But I learnt to swim and actually enjoyed the one-to-one set-up.

Then I finished there just as I got to Year 4 and had to go back to the first swimming pool for school lessons. I knew I could swim but didn't like having to learn in a group. But I don't remember having to pay. (Could be wrong - it was twelve years ago.)

We didn't work towards certificates in our school lessons, but we were split up into "levels". Level one group were the least able, level five were the most able.

nudging for the morning crew

GRANDSON AT 7 HAD PRIVATE LESSONS AT DAUGHTERS GYM ONE TO ONE £16 EACH
SIX MONTHS LATER
HOPELESS STILL COULDNT SWIM
TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY
NOW 8
HAVING LESSONS AT LOCAL POOL £60
WHOLE COURSE FEW LESSONS SWIMS BRILLIANT,
JUST STARTED WITH SCHOOL AS WELL £40

My sons school dosen't start swimming until year 6 it is part of the national curriculum i don't have to pay only have to give him 20p for a locker.

My son is in year three and they have just started going swimming once a week costing the parents 50p a week to cover the coach hire.

amazing that its all so different!!