Stopping Swimming Lessons Too Soon Could Put Your Child at Risk
– by Claire Harrison, GetSetGo founder
If you’ve ever wondered when to stop your child’s swimming lessons, you’re not alone. Many parents make this decision every year – and often, it’s sooner than they should.
A recent study from the STA (the UK’s governing body for swimming and water safety) revealed that many children are leaving learn-to-swim programmes too early, before they’ve mastered vital lifesaving and survival skills. That gap in confidence and competence can increase the risk of accidental drowning – even for children who can “swim a bit.”
It’s a sobering reminder.
While accidental drowning rates in the UK have fallen to their lowest levels on record, it still remains one of the leading causes of death in children aged 1 to 4 years (NSPCC).
So, when is “enough” enough?
As a parent myself, I understand the pressures. When your child can swim a width or two, it can feel like they’ve “got it.” Add in busy family schedules, cost, and competing priorities, and it’s tempting to wrap things up.
But swimming isn’t just a milestone – it’s a lifelong skill.
Beyond the basics, children build deeper confidence, stamina, coordination, and, crucially, safety awareness. It’s during those later stages that true mastery develops – when a child can swim smoothly across strokes, tread water for long periods, and instinctively respond to hazards.
At the very least, your child should be able to:
- Swim 100m confidently using three different strokes
- Tread water for at least two minutes
- Demonstrate survival techniques and hazard awareness
Even then, that’s just the beginning.
The longer your child continues, the more capable, confident, and safe they become – and the more they enjoy it.
Sadly, accessibility remains an issue. Since 2010, the UK has lost around 500 public swimming pools, with closures accelerating after the pandemic. At GetSetGo, we’re committed to tackling this by creating more high-quality, welcoming spaces for families to swim, learn, and grow.
So, parents, if you’re wondering whether it’s time to stop, I’d urge you to pause for a moment and ask yourself:
- Is my child safe in the water?
- Are they progressing and can they achieve more?
- Are they enjoying their lessons?
- What do you want them to achieve through their swim coaching?
If you have any questions, you should talk to your swim instructor who will be happy to offer their advice and guidance.
Our advice? Encourage your child to keep swimming. Every lesson builds confidence, skills, and safety that last a lifetime, so don’t stop too soon; their future in water depends on the progress they make today.
