[bellygood]

Hi

I'd like to enrol my 4.5 yo in swimming lessons. She is not yet in school, she is born in August so will start prep next year.

There is one local pool, pretty well run, which runs 1/2 hourly lessons Mon-Fri 8-11am or so and in the afternoons 3-5pm. In other words, alot of lessons during the day at alot of different times.

I've put in a enrolment form requesting any day Mon-Fri, any time after 4pm. Reason being we both work and this would fit in with work/daycare commitments.

They've called and advised ALL afternoon places are for school age children only. In other words, children born in the same year as my daughter but because she is born in August she is not yet in school. It's not her age (4.5 yo) that is the issue, its that she is not in school. Even if there are places available, my daughter cannot join any afternoon lesson.

The only lesson offered is 8.30am Saturday - no prizes for guessing why there's so many empty places in that class - or the morning lessons Mon - Fri when of course we are at work.

WDYT? Fair enough policy, or discriminatory against households where two parents work? What the policy means is that working parents of pre-school aged children can only attend weekend lessons (or take time off work Mon-Fri to attend morning lessons).

IMO its fair enough that school age children are prioritised for those afternoon lessons as they definitely cannot attend morning lessons. But if places are free then surely putting a child born in the same year as prep children but not yet in prep won't make the sky fall down?

[JRA]

Today is not the day to ask me that question

It makes perfect sense to run school age classes after school. School kids cannot go during school, simple as that.

There are only so many classes that can be run or fit in after school, so it makes sense to do the school age kids.

There is only so much an organisation can do to cater for ALL parents, whether the organisation is a voluntary club, or a commercial swim school.

Many people are really happy to take the 8.30 class at swim schools I know, because after school (4pm) doesn't often help working parents either. The waiting list for the Saturday morning classes are normally huge

[bellygood]

I wouldn't think working parents were such an exception? I would have thought we make up a reasonable chunk of the demographic, though I am in a bit of a bible-belt big family kind of place so quite a few mums are SAHM. It seems the Saturday morning lesson here is the least popular (thus the vacant places). I know, I know, first world problem and all, but I still feel its a bit discriminatory.

[TherophosaBlondi]

So what's the problem ? Take the 8.30am Saturday lesson. I'm not seeing your issue

[emelsy]

I think it's fair enough. Keep the rule simple. What would happen if they gave it to you then a whole heap of other parents wanted the space and there were no places left for new school enrolments.
There has to be a cut off somewhere.
Also, maybe it has to do with organisation. There are 20 or so primary school children with 1 teacher so they (usually) can follow instructions and have a certain level of maturity. Not all 4.5 year old child can. This is a complete generalisation (I'm a primary school teacher so I'm aware of inconsistencies!) but I think it's easier for them to say 'only school children' rather than 'we'll take 4.5 year olds if there are spaces but you'll have to leave if a school kid wants the place and none are available and your child must be able to follow instructions to a certain level'

[Bam1]

I'm a working parent and I don't really see it as discriminatory, I couldn't even do 4pm. All it means is it is not the right swim school for you. I take my kids at 9am on Saturday morning (the 8:30 was already taken!).

[lafonda]

I think it's acceptable.

[Bacongirl]

As a 2 parent working family, we preferred the Sat am classes.

The kids were well rested and not feral after a day at kindy, school or care. Also we both worked full time. So no chance of leaving early every week to attend lessons as we would have to leave at 3 to make it to classes by 4.

Why can't you do an 8am class, then drop your child at kindy on the way to work? I assume if you are working full time, then you'd have to leave early to attend the 4pm classes anyway? What's the difference if you take the time off in the morning instead of the evening? Or is it just because the afternoon suits your work commitments?

I don't think its discriminatory at all. The centre offers times outside the general 9-5 day including weekend. If your complaint was that they only offered lessons from 9-5 daily, then, I would think it was valid.

[buttercup-bob]

not happy? find another swim school.
I had my son enrolled at a largeish swim school and they kept chopping and changing which didnt suit my schedule so I took him to a different place and the only time his lesson now changes is when he goes up a level. completely happy with the newer place.

[bellygood]

Fair enough, thanks for the opinions. It just seemed a little off to me but reading your comments I can see why there is that policy and why its perhaps better for it to be a black and white policy as opposed to a kind of grey area. Thanks all!