Swimming lessons - private tuition or classes?

[flubba]

My two DDs are 5 3/4 and 4 1/4 and neither can swim yet as we don't go very often. The older one isn't a big fan of swimming and is quite nervous in the water. My younger one loves the water and has no fear.

They both want to learn to swim properly and I'm wondering whether it might make more sense to have the two of them in one class under private tuition for £19 per 1hr lesson, or put them each into classes (whether they'd be in the same one or not, I don't know), for £5.50 each per hour (booked as a set of lessons).

Money IS an object, so obviously £11 an hour appeals, but am I right in thinking that the progress they might make with private lessons will be greater than in a class with others?

[ilovepowerhoop]

both mine do group lessons and have progressed well. Why not start with group lessons and see how they get on

[flubba]

That is very sensible! Hadn't thought of that . The only downside is I have to book 10 lesson slots (possibly 6?) so it's going to be £110 at the off and ten weeks along before I'll know or be able to change it.

Good to know yours in group lessons are progressing well - how big are the classes?

[Imaginethat]

It would depend on the length of the lesson. Your children are v young so a standard half hour lesson would be very draining. At their ages, 15mins 1:1 is plenty. Maybe 20mins for them both. But a small group has advantages too in that they get to see what the other children are doing, get little patches of rest when the others have turns, and quite often they enjoy the social aspect.

[KittieCat]

I'd definitely recommend group sessions as it really helps kids to see their peers swimming and encourages confidence.

If I were you I'd book the group sessions and then reassess in a term or two. There's no rush to have them swimming like fish, best to get them to be confident and enjoy the water and, importantly, with the right teacher group sessions are fun.

[KittieCat]

Ps. DS is only two and swims for at least 30 mins each lesson. I don't think that's too long, most importantly nor does he!

[flubba]

Thank you all. Sounds like group lessons are the way to go and yes, I agree that water confidence and enjoyment are more important at this age - particularly with the older one.

[Hattifattner]

when looking at group lessons, take a look at your local swimming club rather than your local leisure centre. Clubs are interested in getting your child swimming at a high standard as quickly as possible and into club swimming. Leisure centre are often interested in maximising revenue, so can hold kids back at lower levels.

[ilovepowerhoop]

My 2 started lessons around the age of 4. They have between 4 and 8 in a class and lessons are 45 minutes. We pay monthly about £19 for each. We use the council run leisure centre but they do feed into the swimming club too.

[poachedeggs]

pMine are going to council leisure centre group lessons. They're really enjoying these and I've seen incredible improvements in my water- phobic 5.5 year old in just few weeks. Yesterday he put his face under to pick up a ring which is something he would never do with me, so I think he benefits from some positive peer pressure. Peer confidence, I think :)

I should add that at his age there are 8 in the pool at a time, split into two groups, each with a teacher in the pool with them. It only takes one to be off sick and it's a 1:3 ratio!

[kilmuir]

I would go private. But thats because when i looked into group sessions there were loads in each group. My neighbour used to be a swimming teacher there, left when they increased group numbers.

[flubba]

Thanks. Will look into class sizes at the leisure centre and have pinged off an email to the local swimming club too to see what availability they have, although they want the children to be 'water confident'. Not quite sure my DD who clings to the side pretending to have fun counts as that!

[ByTheWay1]

What we did was have group lessons til they felt at ease in the water and could swim a width - then we booked an intensive week course in the Easter holidays (i hour a day) which built upon their confidence and gave them training in the strokes and increased stamina so much they can now swim a mile.

[ivykaty44]

I agree that hour lesson is a long time at five or six and wouldn't be happy with over forty five mins and much happier with thirty five.

Hattiesburg has good advice about swim clubs

My dd had lessons for one years with council pool and it was pretty hopeless and a big waste of money. So I went down the private route for six months then into swim club lesson, now years later she still swims but with a squad and is ver good standard

[flubba]

Right, have them signed up to start at local swim club starting next Saturday! Thank you all for the advice.