In this guide (8 sections)
🔄 Why Substitutes Happen
Instructors get sick, take time off, move between pools and swap shifts, so a substitute is a normal part of lessons. A good school keeps the same level goals no matter who teaches, and a substitute should know the plan for the day. Your job is to make the handoff easy. If you want to understand how schools handle staffing changes, read our guides on instructor turnover and continuity and the instructor continuity worksheet.
📞 Before Class: Prepare Your Child
If the school tells you ahead of time, tell your child in a calm, simple way: “Today a new teacher is going to help you swim. The pool, the games and the rules are the same.” Name one thing that will stay the same, like the class song or the swim bag routine. If goodbyes are hard, use the steps in our separation anxiety game plan, and use the night-before prep routine and the swim lesson day checklist to keep the morning steady. Arrive a few minutes early so your child can see the new teacher before class starts.
📝 What to Share With the Substitute
Do not assume the substitute has read every note. Say it yourself, briefly: your child’s name and nickname, current level, what helps when they are nervous, the skill they are working on and any health, allergy, medication, sensory or safety needs. Our instructor questions checklist has useful questions to ask, and our goal-setting worksheet can help you name the current goal. If your child is new to the pool, see how levels are decided.
👀 On the Deck
Stay on site for the whole class and keep your eyes on your child. Keep your phone put away and follow the school’s pool deck rules; our watching-a-lesson checklist shows what to look for. Notice how the group is organized, whether children get turns and whether your child seems comfortable. Children should never be left alone near water, and a substitute day does not change that. If you use the school’s bathroom break routine, see our bathroom and potty break checklist.
✅ After Class: Follow Up
Ask open questions: “What was the best part?” and “What did the new teacher do?” Praise effort, and note one thing that went well and one question for the regular instructor. Our after-class debrief checklist helps. If the substitute shared tips, write them down. Ask the front desk how notes reach the regular instructor so the next class picks up where this one ended.
⚠️ When Something Feels Off
If you see unsafe behavior, speak to the substitute or the lifeguard or deck supervisor right away. If your child seems frightened, cold or unhappy after class, or if you have feedback, tell the front desk or manager calmly and give specifics. Ask about the school’s makeup lesson policies and use our missed class makeup tracker if you need a different class. For a broader view, see our swim lesson quality checklist.
🖨️ Get the free printable checklist
The printable is one page. It covers before class, what to share, a deck checklist, after-class notes and a family plan.
Open the printable substitute day checklist →
🏊 Ready to Find the Right Class?
Every school sets its own staffing and substitute policies. For families in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, our pages on British Swim School in the Jersey Shore area and Northwest Philadelphia point you to the official location pages, where you can ask how substitutes are handled and what a first visit looks like. You can also browse swim lessons near you.
📚 Authoritative Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): child development, swim lessons and drowning prevention guidance for parents.
- American Red Cross: water safety and swimming education for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do when a substitute instructor teaches my child’s swim class?
Greet the substitute, share your child’s name, current level, comfort cues and any health or safety notes, and tell your child ahead of time that a new teacher is coming. Then stay on site and keep watching as usual. Ask the front desk how the school hands over notes so the substitute knows where your child is in the level.
Will my child lose progress with a substitute instructor?
Usually not. Skills are built over many classes, and schools generally use the same level skill lists for every instructor. One class with a different teacher may feel slightly different, so ask the regular instructor or the front desk how the school keeps skill records so the next class picks up where the last one ended.
What if my child cries or refuses to join with a substitute?
A new face can be unsettling, especially for young children. Introduce your child to the substitute before class, use your usual calm goodbye and let the instructor lead. If your child stays upset, tell the instructor or front desk. Do not force it, and ask about options such as a short warm-up together or a makeup class.
Should I tell the school about allergies or needs before a substitute teaches?
Yes. Do not assume a substitute has read the notes. Mention any health, allergy, medication, sensory or safety needs yourself at the start of class, and make sure the front desk has them on file. Keep this information short and specific.
Who supervises my child while a substitute teaches?
The instructor teaches and watches the group in the water, but parents and caregivers still supervise from the deck according to school rules. Stay where you can see your child, keep your phone put away and never leave a young child alone near water.
Can I ask for a makeup or a different class if I am not happy with a substitute?
You can always ask. Policies vary, so check your school’s makeup and change rules. Share specific feedback with the front desk in a calm, factual way, such as what the substitute did or did not do, and ask what the school can offer.
