Mum's the Word -
Jonah's lesson going swimmingly - (by Sarah Steele, Wakefield Express)

After a plea from Jonah, I finally went to watch him at his swimming lessons and got the shock of my life. Not only has he developed so much confidence in the water, but after a year-and-a-half of weekly lessons, he can now swim better than me!

Learning to swim is an essential life skill even in today's society, but getting lessons for children is no easy feat.

When Jonah was four I took him to Lightwaves for his first introductory lessons. At the time he had become very nervous about being in the water, despite being taken regularly as a toddler, so it seemed the perfect opportunity and filled a week in the summer holidays. In total there were four children with a parent each, and classes were taught in the baby pool. Jonah enjoyed it so much that we extended it to full lessons when the new term began in September.

The problem began with the full lessons. At one point there were about 15 children in the pool, each with an adult at the the request of staff, and again this took place in the baby pool.

Not only was it cramped beyond belief, but it defeated the purpose of the lessons which was to develop confident swimmers. After a few lessons of this Jonah was petrified of going in the water, and the response of Lightwaves was to refund money rather lay on extra classes, which was clearly a need.

So after several failed attempts at teaching him ourselves, it came as a great relief when I noticed an advert for Atlantis Swimming Club in the Express. For Jonah, it means attending at QEGS on Thursday nights for half an hour. It is a little more expensive than public swimming lessons, but not outlandish - but what sold it to us is that he is taught in a group of no more than five children, giving him the attention he deserves.

What was clear from watching him on Thursday was just how much care and attention has been bestowed on him. Not only was he swimming front and back crawl confidently, but his strokes were meticulous, and his front crawl consisted of swimming with his head under water, only rising for breath.

Credit where credit is due, Mark has done a fantastic job, and Jonah has changed from a boy who was extremely nervous around water, to a controlled swimmer who spends most of his time underwater. No wonder I can never get him out of the bath lately! Even when he pulls the plug out he insists in doing a deep sea dive!

With Jonah making such fantastic progress, Lincoln and I are keen to take the kids swimming more regularly, therefore our task is to find a suitable place.

Sun Lane baths is fantastic but really for swimmers, and much as you are made to feel welcome by staff, you can't help but feel in the way of others. And my gym, Bannatynes, is too cold and definitely not child-friendly.

What we;re really after is a clean pool, possibly with a separate children's pool. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.