Free Trial Swim Lesson Scorecard

Trying a trial class? Rate what you see from 0 to 2, tick any red flags, ask your questions and compare schools. This page keeps your eyes on safety, teaching and your child’s comfort so you can decide calmly.

WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

📝 Step 1: The Basics

Child’s name and age

School and location

Date and time of the trial

Instructor’s name

Class length and number of children in the group

What the trial includes (class, tour, assessment)

How to score. Give each item 2 for clearly yes, 1 for partly or unsure and 0 for no. Write a short note for anything you score 0 or 1.

🎒 Step 2: Before You Go

Ask what the trial includes and how long it lasts. Write it in Step 1.
Ask whether parents can watch. Follow the school’s rule on where to sit.
Tell the school about worries or medical needs. Fear of water, ear tubes, allergies or anything the instructor should know.
Pack swim gear, a towel and a warm layer. Use the swim lesson day checklist.
Tell your child what will happen. Keep it short, calm and positive.

🛟 Step 3: Safety and Supervision

Check	Score 0–2	Notes
The instructor can see every child in the group
Another adult is watching the pool area
Children wait in a set place and enter only when told
No child is left alone at the water’s edge
Doors and gates to the pool area are secured
The deck is tidy and free of tripping hazards

Safety first. A low score here matters more than a high score anywhere else. Ask the school about anything you scored 0.

🏊 Step 4: Teaching

Check	Score 0–2	Notes
The instructor greets your child by name and explains the plan
Skills are taught in small, clear steps
Every child gets turns in the water with little waiting
The instructor adjusts for a nervous child and never forces
You hear what your child worked on and what comes next

💙 Step 5: My Child’s Comfort

Check	Score 0–2	Notes
My child was interested at some point
My child became more comfortable as class went on
My child says they are willing to go back

Remember. A child who cries or clings has not failed the trial. Note how the instructor responded.

🚩 Step 6: Red Flags — Stop and Ask

The instructor was on a phone or not watching the group. Ask who is responsible for watching the water.
Children waited unsupervised at the edge. Ask how the school supervises waiting children.
A child was pushed, dunked or held under against their will. Ask about the school’s teaching approach.
No clear answer about who is responsible for safety. Ask again, in writing if you can.
Pressure to sign up and pay on the spot. Take the paperwork home and decide later.

Any ticked box deserves a question before you enroll. If the answer does not settle your concern, try another school or watch another class.

❓ Step 7: Questions to Ask the School

How are children placed in levels? Ask what your child would start in.
What does progress look like? Ask how and when you will hear about it.
What is the total cost? Ask about registration, equipment and any other fees.
How do make-up classes and missed weeks work? Ask for the policy in writing.
What is the class size and who teaches? Ask whether the instructor stays the same.
What happens if my child is not ready? Ask about re-placing or pausing.

Answers I want to remember

Person I spoke to

📊 Step 8: Compare Schools

Area	School A	School B	School C
Safety and supervision (max 12)
Teaching (max 10)
My child’s comfort (max 6)
Red flags ticked
Price and convenience notes

Weigh in this order: safety and supervision, then teaching, then your child’s comfort, then price and convenience.

✅ Step 9: Our Decision

School we chose, or what we will try next

Date we will decide by

Questions still open

First class date

A lesson is one layer, not the only one. Close, undistracted supervision, a designated water watcher, barriers around pools and a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket near open water all matter. Lessons do not make a child drown-proof, at any age.

Created by WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

This scorecard is a family planner, not medical or legal advice, and does not describe any particular school’s policies. Trial classes, observation options and fees differ by school, so follow each program’s written policy. Guidance: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Drowning Prevention); American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org).

Back to the full guide · Pool tour card · School comparison worksheet · Lesson day checklist

Free Trial Swim Lesson Scorecard

📝 Step 1: The Basics

🎒 Step 2: Before You Go

🛟 Step 3: Safety and Supervision

🏊 Step 4: Teaching

💙 Step 5: My Child’s Comfort

🚩 Step 6: Red Flags — Stop and Ask

❓ Step 7: Questions to Ask the School

📊 Step 8: Compare Schools

✅ Step 9: Our Decision

Read the Detail Behind This Scorecard

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