Swimming lessons

[Lobe]

My 3 and a half year old son had a week of swimming lessons during half term. I knew he wouldn't exactly end up like Duncan Goodhew by the end of it, but he really gained confidence in the water. However, other mums were talking about all the children getting a badge at the end of the course but when it came to it, the instructor said he couldn't give my son a badge as he hadn't swum a full width by himself. Apparently the powers-that-be have changed the system and children don't get a badge just for completing the course. I was quite dismayed - fortunately my son was oblivious to it. But another mum who had two children taking part had one son, aged 4, who got the badge and one aged 5 who didn't! It was so horrible to see the little boy's disappointment. If the instructor had been handing out sweets and said - no you can't have any because you didn't live up to the criteria - imagine how upset my little boy would have been then. Anyway, I'm very angry about it.