Advice please: Dulwich Dolphins or DCSC

[birnehelene]

My 5 year old is a strong swimmer. She has been going to swimming lessons at Dulwich College Sports Club and is progressing quite fast. We had signed her up for the waiting list for the Academy at Dulwich Dolphins at the end of the summer (simply because lessons are on Sundays and that could work well for us). She has now been offered a place with Dulwich Dolphins so I wondered if anyone has experience of Dulwich Dolphins or has experience of both DD and DCSC? I have to make a decision next week and would be great to know if anyone recommends one over the other?

Just to add its for regular swimming lessons not the club level swimming at Dulwich Dolphins...

Thank you!

[bonaome]

Go Dolphins. Teaching is great, coaches are lovely, but more to the point, they'll teach her with a view to progressing to club swimming from the outset.

[birnehelene]

Thank you for your reply.

[birnehelene]

After a year swimming at dulwich dolphins in the regular swimming lessons I would like to give some feedback here. Whilst dulwich dolphins is excellent for club level swimming and some of the instructors for regular lessons are also good, my daughters lessons have been a real disappointment. Lessons are often not the full 30 minutes, they allow up to 12 children per level which is more than at other swim schools, teacher was unmotivated and often looking away and not teaching, teachers from different classes talk to each other during lessons, prices have increased to ?10 per lesson and now they have changed the set up so children are no longer swimming the length of the pool but only a third as they have in introduced extra classes at same time. My daughter has now moved to tiger sharks on a sunday. Instructors are motivated, give the children feedback and lessons are 1 hour in a 25 m pool. Having spoken to other parents who shared similar concerns and thought they were being fobbed off I think it's a shame that dulwich dolphins are letting themselves down with their swim school. I would still recommend for club level swimming though.

[Sol]

As far as I know Dolphins does competitions and Tiger Sharks doesn't. Dolphins training can be quite intense when progressing up to 3 or 4 times per week. My daughter tried it but I didn't want to commit to

One sport plus the driving around to training lessons and competitions put me off. It depends of what you want for your child

[birnehelene]

As I stated in my post this is for the regular swim school NOT the club swimming. You are quite right Tiger Sharks do not have club level swimming. However in my view Dulwich Dolphins swim school at the lower levels does not even provide your child with an adequate amount of teaching. You might as well stick with any regular swim school (especially given the steep cost as well and the large number of children per class compared to most swim schools) and then transfer only once you think your child is ready for club level swimming (which were are a long way off at present). I should also add that at swim club (or Academy level) level at Dolphins training is once per week for 30 minutes not the three or so times that the higher levels train as you state. Tigersharks however have slightly longer sessions even for swim school. Its still once per week but I believe the lower levels have 45 minutes and my daughter swims for 45 minutes. Again I want to reiterate that I agree that the club level swimming is excellent at Dulwich Dolphins.

[Capitals]

In addition to Dulwich Dolphins, there is also a small club based at Seven Islands Leisure Centre called southwark aquatics sc. You might find that SASC meets needs of your child. My children used to swim with them and they loved it.