Shouldn't parents not schools sort out swimming lessons?

At the end of his first day in Year Three, Harry said the words I've been dreading: "We go swimming next week." 

I knew swimming lessons were coming up, but I didn't think they'd start right at the beginning of the year. Turns out they're going every week until Christmas. And I hate the idea. Obviously I'm not against children learning to swim - that would be ridiculous - but I do have issues with them going swimming with the school.

My friend Alex disagrees with me. She says, "Swimming is a useful, healthy life skill and sport that parents are probably least likely to teach (or teach well) themselves. Is it so different from teaching tennis, football or netball? Except that swimming is way more inclusive as you don't need to be super fit to do it reasonably well, and it's more accessible than many other sports for children with disabilities."

And while I do agree with her - the inclusivity aspect is particularly important, I think - swimming is different from other sports, for a number of reasons. 

When he goes to school I expect him to be at school

The leisure centre they're going to is in the next town. So every week for 12 weeks, Harry is going to be out of school, travelling on a coach for about 40 minutes (20 minutes each way) and then taking part in an activity that could, you know, kill him. 

This - from the letter the school sent home explaining why the children aren't to wear goggles - didn't ease my anxiety: "The children swim in large numbers and sometimes in crowded conditions. Beginners do not always have full control of arm and leg movements. These factors may increase the possibility of being hit on the goggles." So if they're not wearing goggles, they get hit in the eye? Great.

Jo Eastgate, one of my oldest friends (perhaps because we're equally neurotic), and mum to seven-year-old Johnny also shares my fears. "Johnny does 30 minutes swimming every other week. I am an absolute wreck at that time every fortnight and cannot relax until I know he must have finished his lesson and, had he drowned, I would have been notified."

Claire Hills-Denyer, mum to seven-year-old Martha not only thinks the swimming is a good idea, but also that it's valuable just to be out of school: "I think getting on the coach, participating in a shared experience with their peers, and taking responsibility for getting themselves ready for their lesson are additional life skills to be gained wider than just learning to swim."

But shouldn't it be my decision? 

I honestly think it should be up to parents - not schools - to decide when their kids are ready to learn to swim and how they are taught.

Kelly Rose Bradford, mum to eight-year-old William, agrees with me: "My son started swimming lessons in Year Two, but I had been dreading them every since he started school. He does go to the pool a lot with his dad, but is not a hugely confident swimmer, or very keen on swimming. I dread him going, but feel powerless to remove him from lessons as a) it would really annoy the school and b) it would single him out amongst his friends, which I don't want, so I just grin and bear it. In an ideal world, swimming lessons would be left up to the parents - it is not the school's responsibility." 

But if not the school then who? 

A few of my friends have argued that if schools don't teach swimming, there's no guarantee that parents will, but I don't really understand that argument. Who decides which parenting gaps schools will fill? Sometimes Harry goes to bed without brushing his teeth - maybe his teacher would like to come round and do that for me? Or instigate a breath check at registration? (This is not as far-fetched as it sounds - our local authority does issue free toothbrushes and toothpaste to children through schools, because of the area's poor record of children's dental health.)

"I don't see the argument that it's a safety skill and that makes it compulsory," says Kelly. "Would they insist on teaching him to drive at 17, or give him road safety/Green Cross Code training at five?" Harry's school actually does teach pedestrian training in Year 1. I know because I helped out...

Swimming lessons are not cheap

Yvonne Towler, mum of three boys between three and 10, is delighted that her youngest, Niall, is going with the school. She says, "The cost of swimming lessons is huge - £48 per child per 11 week term. The boys would also have to go on separate nights because of their age, which is difficult with work and other commitments. I would love to be able to take them both myself at the same time but the baths wont allow two non swimmers with one adult, so school swimming really does help."

I totally understand that some parents may not be able to afford to take their children swimming, but why not a school swimming club rather than compulsory swimming as part of PE? Yes, there's the issue of teacher availability for an out-of-school activity, but there have been football clubs running consistently since Harry started at the school, why not swimming? 

The pyjamas and the brick

It's possible that my feelings about this boil down to how clearly I remember my own school swimming lessons. Shivering on the side of the pool. Worrying one of the boys would push me in. Being forced to jump in when I really, really didn't want to jump in. And, yes, I know teachers are probably more sensitive these days (at least I hope they are), but I still hate the idea of my little boy feeling the way I did and resent the school for pushing this on me before I'm ready.

Of course, Harry absolutely loved his first lesson and can't wait to go back…