Swimming in primary

airy fairy

Is it compulsory?
My 8 year old is being told by school that unless there's a doctor's note, she is required to pay €90 for 8 lessons, bing bussed there an back.
Thing is, my daughter can lready swim, I already pay for her lessons at weekends, and finding €90 for something like this is hard, it could be better spent.
My other kids disliked this part of the school year, standing at the side of an old council pool, shivering, getting about 6 widths of the pool per class.
Am I required by the state to leave her go?
A very strongly worded letter saying she has to go came home yesterday.
I am willing to collect her for the duration of the lesson so supervision on the school side wouldn't be an issue.
Advice please

freedominacup

airy fairy wrote: »

Is it compulsory?
My 8 year old is being told by school that unless there's a doctor's note, she is required to pay €90 for 8 lessons, bing bussed there an back.
Thing is, my daughter can lready swim, I already pay for her lessons at weekends, and finding €90 for something like this is hard, it could be better spent.
My other kids disliked this part of the school year, standing at the side of an old council pool, shivering, getting about 6 widths of the pool per class.
Am I required by the state to leave her go?
A very strongly worded letter saying she has to go came home yesterday.
I am willing to collect her for the duration of the lesson so supervision on the school side wouldn't be an issue.
Advice please

€90 is very expensive. Pc sub the transport here by about €10 per child and cost to parents is around €45-€50. Those lessons sound badly run. Kids always enjoyed it here. Big downside was that they split kids mainly by age not the level they might have attained in lessons outside of school. That's an annoyance. Lessons with the school were well run apart from that. Plenty of coaches and run along the same lines as lessons outside of school.

I can't see how there is/could be a state requirement. Do you want your child to be the only one not going though? What possible sanction are they threatening if she doesn't go? If you feel that strongly about it call their bluff. The supervision bit is hardly a problem unless the entire school is going at one time.

byhookorbycrook

Do you mean they are only in the water for the time it takes her to swim 6 widths?

As a general rule, opting children out of PE is not done- one of the reasons being that it can set a precedent that parents could pull children from say maths/English /Irish if it were to be allowed. Religion and Irish (under some particular circumstances) are really the only two subjects from which children can be exempted. Aquatics is part of the curriculum and is usually covered through swimming lessons.

I know you say your child can swim, but I wouldn't see a problem in letting attend lessons even so. The lessons for schools usually have some fun games and it would be a pity to miss out on the social aspect if nothing else!

Sabre0001

Can't comment on the pricing, I'm afraid, but as byhookorbycrook says, there is a social benefit to attending the lessons. Also, it's added practice and an extra bit of physical activity, the benefit of which should never be overlooked.

Thoie

Can you just tell the school that you appreciate the intention, but that you just can't afford €90, even in installments, particularly as she can already swim, and what do they suggest?

GalwayGrrrrrl

I thought water safety was part of the school curiculum so all children should take part. The PTA might fund the classes for you if you can’t afford to pay. I know our pta subsidise the bus and lessons in our school, but it still works out at about 60 per term.

byhookorbycrook

If it's a money issue, I'd approach the school. Most schools wouldn't let a child miss out due to money-even though they are cash strapped.