Can I be charged for National Curriculum Swimming Lessons?

moggitymog

we are asked to make a voluntary contribution for the transport £14 per term

milliebear00001

Just wanted to point out that while it is possible for schools to ask for a donation towards the costs of swimming, you are under no obligation to pay for it at all. Swimming should be budgeted for just like any other subject cost required of schools by the NC. My school makes no charge, neither does the school my daughter attends.

elisamoose

The NC requires all children to learn to swim with a target of swimming 25m by age 11. Most teachers however are not qualified swimming teachers . This means that swimming teachers at the pool have to be paid by schools and a contribution is requested from parents for this and any transport costs. At my school it is currently 1.50 per session (each class does a half term a year) and there is no transport involved.This does not cover the costs of hiring the pool and paying a teacher(the class teacher still has to teach half the class for half the lesson). Another member of staff also has to go with the class to supervise changing as the pool staff do not do this.

tarajayne

My kids can already swim to a life saving level, which is why we wanted to opt out but we aren't allowed. So our school said £42 a term, I said no thanks and they said I had to, how is that voluntary? We are on stand-off at the moment as I've refused. And what really drives me mad is the non-swimmers stay in the shallow end with the teachers, so they don't even get an instructor.

balletshoes

tarajayne wrote: »

My kids can already swim to a life saving level, which is why we wanted to opt out but we aren't allowed. So our school said £42 a term, I said no thanks and they said I had to, how is that voluntary? We are on stand-off at the moment as I've refused. And what really drives me mad is the non-swimmers stay in the shallow end the teachers, so they don't even get an instructor.

In your shoes I'd be refusing too.
My daughter did nearly 2 school years of swimming lessons once a week in year 3 and year 4, and still couldn't swim at the end of it.

slummymummyof3

tarajayne wrote: »

My kids can already swim to a life saving level, which is why we wanted to opt out but we aren't allowed. So our school said £42 a term, I said no thanks and they said I had to, how is that voluntary? We are on stand-off at the moment as I've refused. And what really drives me mad is the non-swimmers stay in the shallow end with the teachers, so they don't even get an instructor.

So what are they going to do to you if you refuse? I would suggest sending a letter saying you don't give permission for them to be taken and again outline your reasons behind this. It is most likely they are wondering what they are going to do with your children whilst the others in the class are swimming.

milliebear00001

slummymummyof3 wrote: »

So what are they going to do to you if you refuse? I would suggest sending a letter saying you don't give permission for them to be taken and again outline your reasons behind this. It is most likely they are wondering what they are going to do with your children whilst the others in the class are swimming.

No, don't do that! Just give permission for them to go, but don't pay. You don't have to.

Indie_Kid

tarajayne wrote: »

My kids can already swim to a life saving level, which is why we wanted to opt out but we aren't allowed. So our school said £42 a term, I said no thanks and they said I had to, how is that voluntary? We are on stand-off at the moment as I've refused. And what really drives me mad is the non-swimmers stay in the shallow end with the teachers, so they don't even get an instructor.

I'd refuse as well. If your children can already swim to a life saving level, what's the point of wasting your childrens' and swimming teachers' time?

Lunar_Eclipse

sh1305 wrote: »

I'd refuse as well. If your children can already swim to a life saving level, what's the point of wasting your childrens' and swimming teachers' time?

I wouldn't, because you could argue this point of view across any area of the National Curriculum, which would be incredibly difficult for a school to manage. At least it's "only swimming" and not Maths/English that they're exceptionally ahead in. It's not really viable to opt out; the schools try their best, whilst working with the lowest common denominator.

I agree it is frustrating though and wouldn't pay on the basis that it is part of the NC, assuming the child in question meets the curriculum requirements. A strong swimmer could still find 3/5 minutes treading water difficult, for example.

I think everyone has answered the original question. At our school, the children are taken for their NC swimming test at the beginning of Y5 in line with the NC requirements for Key Stage 2. Children who don't meet them, are offered swimming lessons that (most) parents pay for, by way of a voluntary donation.

In my daughter's year, everyone passed and thus no-one had swimming lessons during school hours, which delights the school! That in itself frustrates those parents whose children swim in a swim team for example and are tested on 25m and a few other points, in addition to sending £5 to cover the 1.5 miles in a coach! Maybe walking would take too much time away from more important subjects.

property.advert

When I went swimming at junior school back in the dark ages, we went to the local pool (about a mile or so walk - but kids could walk then). Three of us were already in training (I was going a few times a week by that point with the local swimming club) and we just either gave a demonstration (how that helped the others I do not know) or we were ignored. All in all, it was a waste of time for all involved I think.

We certainly never paid for swimming at school and I do not see why there should be a cost. If the head teacher has not budgeted for it, then they should be pulled up for it.