My son is over weight - ie. I would be honest and say "fat". He is six years old and is losing wieght slowly but healthily.

I put him into a one week crash course of swimming lessons. It is a different to teacher to his usual teacher.

The swimming coach has called him names like "Fat" and slowcoach and I feel completely livid. Understandly my son does not want to go the other two swimming lessons I have booked. I feel angry as these swimming lessons cost £7.50 each. (They are 40 minute lessons)

Telling a child that they are fat does not make them lose wieght and if it puts them off exercise its counter productive.

Do you think I should just forget about the lessons I have paid for? I naively thought he would enjoy himself.

That's appalling. I would demand either my money back or an apology from the teacher to your ds and an assurance that it won't happen again.

I would complain and ask the company for a refund. That sort of behaviour is unacceptable and unprofessional.

Definitely ask the company for a refund and see if you can get an apology as well. Your DS doesn't need to be around a teacher that behaves like that. The teacher may be a good swimmer but it sounds like he has no idea how to treat people, and children in particular.

We had a swimming teacher who called DTD2 a liar because she said DTD1 was older than her. DTD1 is a good 4 inches shorter than her sister and looks a lot younger. I immediately stepped in and explained and the teacher apologized. The children liked the teacher and were happy to continue with him. That was the only thing he did to upset them though, your DS's teacher sounds like he is a jackass on a regular basis. There is a difference between a teacher having a one off bad day and lashing out in frustration, and one who is just generally nasty.

Good for you and your son that he is losing weight healthily and that he is learning to swim. I can imagine trying to diet and eat healthily at 6 years old must be hard work.

My neighbour complained about a Diving Teacher who was rude to her son. They gave her an hours private tuition for her son & his friend to make up for it, and transferred him to another teacher.

Said rude teacher no longer works there!

I have decided that my son won't be going to the last two lessons. It is a waste of £15, but if he is being made unhappy it is pointless.

I really wonder what people expect fat children to do. By all means have a go at me, but I think its dispictable a grown adult making fun of a child. I suspect that this woman like most bullies would be too much of a coward.

Its strange that my son has ended up fat as he has a good diet. I am very skinny, yet my husband is fat. We all eat the same diet.

I suspect that my mistake was partly portion control and partly him not getting enough exercise. Being obsese is not going to solve itself overnight. A child in that situation needs their confidence to be boosted.

I would complain. Don't let the teacher away with it.

You recognise that your son has a problem and you are taking steps to help him. Both you and he should be encouraged.

Totally unacceptable behaviour from the teacher. Complain. You don't have to justify why your child is overweight to this ignorant person. Nobody should talk to a child this way.

I always think 'good on you for doing something about it' when I see anyone overweight exercising. Terribly unprofessional behaviour on the part of the teacher. My 3 yr olds don't know what 'fat' means and long may that continue.
I hope you have the time to make a complaint before he belittles another child.

I'm not sure what problem is with 'slowcoach' -- if he is the slowest one in class. Some kids respond well to a challenge, and he only has to go faster than one other kid to stop being the 'slowcoach', But 'Fat' is over the acceptable line, for me, because it can't be changed as quickly.

He has a name, he was not christened "slowcoach", I expect a teacher to call my son by his proper name. He isn't actually the slowest in the class either.

The problem is that it is upsetting him and putting him off lessons. A teacher should never belittle a child.

I would be annoyed at slowcoach too. The teacher is not there to call any child names. The teacher is being paid to teach the child to swim. That means encouraging the child. Not belittling him.

I still think you should complain and ask for a refund.

I think you should def coomplain. I think you have done the right thing in stopping the lessons, you don't want this bully to put him off exercise altogether.

or let the bully get away with it, i am sure you ds is not the only one he/she talks to like that

utterly utterly unacceptable. What a wanker the teacher must be. I would have to be restrained from decking someone who said this to one of my children, I'm ashamed to admit. I'm so sorry that your son had to hear that, Reallytired. You are right- this kind of belittling bullying mean attitude is all wrong. Can you go in and tell the teacher just so your son sees you sticking up for him?

(sorry about rude username- being silly on another thread)

Please complain - that behaviour is atrocious. The teacher should be disciplined for speaking like that to a child. If a class teacher did that, the would get flattened by the LEA. A swim coach should not be able to.

I am so shocked

the man should be sacked

complain and demand your money back

I too am shocked. Disgusting behaviour from a teacher (or anyone). Please complain. My DS had swimming lessons when he was 3, for various reasons the teacher was not, IMO, very good with him. It took me nearly 12 months to get him to go back to a swimming pool with me. He could have really knocked your son's confidence.

There seems to be rather a lot of unpleasant swimming teachers around. Although my boys have always been lucky and had nice ones.

I would be so livid that I would confront the teacher and tell her in no uncertain terms who you feel about her "teaching methods" I would also complain to the centre manager, and try to get a refund if your DS really doesn't want to continue with this teacher. Is there any possiblity of changing the teacher?

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Please write a letter of complaint. You need to stand up for your son and stop this teacher hurting other children.

Well done for encouraging your ds to exercise. I have to keep an eye on my own ds weight wise and it is hard to find decent exercise opportunities in the winter months. My own ds has just started a disco dance class which he is really enjoying.