Water Smart Award

The RLSS UK’s Water Smart Award sets out a national standard for water safety. It is the essential skill-based programme to ensure safety and competence around water. It is a standalone award and provides a gateway for participants to go on to complete further awards to develop skills and knowledge to keep themselves and others safe whilst enjoying the water.

About the Water Smart Award
School swimming curriculum
Want to qualify as a Water Smart Instructor

As the UK’s leading provider of water safety and drowning prevention education, RLSS UK has produced an award that sets out a national standard for water safety. Everyone should have fun and be able to enjoy the water – take the opportunity to learn some essential water safety skills for life to help keep yourself and others safe.

Find a Water Smart Award provider near you!

About the Water Smart Award

RLSS UK created the Water Smart Award to establish an essential skill based programme, that as experts we consider everyone in the UK & Ireland should achieve to ensure safety and competence around water, which ultimately supports our ambition to prevent drownings.

It has been designed as a standalone award from our other water safety programmes and provides a gateway for participants go on to complete further awards to develop skills and knowledge to keep themselves and others safe whilst enjoying the water.

The award’s focus is on five main areas, these include:

Water Safety Awareness
Getting In and Out of the Water Safely
Safely Staying Afloat
Safely Moving in the Water
Performing Rescues Safely (Optional)

School Swimming Curriculum

The Water Smart Award has been developed in line with the Curriculum Swimming outcomes and supports the development of these skills in the UK and Ireland.

Find a Water Smart Award provider near you!

Want to qualify as a Water Smart Instructor?

Already a member of RLSS UK?

If you’re a member of RLSS UK and already hold one our water-based Instructor qualifications you’ll be able to update to deliver this award for free.

Please note: You will need to be in current RLSS UK Membership and hold a valid Trainer or Instructor Qualification. Anyone that has probationary status will not be eligible for this opportunity until they are fully signed off.

Check the opportunity area of your RLSS UK Account

For a guide on how to view available updates and opportunities, click here.

Login to your RLSS UK account (powered by tahdah)

New to RLSS UK?

If you hold a valid Instructor or Teaching qualification with another organisation from the list below and would like to take your skills to the next level to become a Water Smart Instructor, you can do this by clicking below.

Swim Teacher Level 1
Swim Teacher Level 2
Swift Water Rescue Technician (DEFRA Level 3)
Youth Group Leader (Scout, Guide, Cub Cadet)
School Teacher (Fully Qualified)
AET Qualification
RLSS UK Rookie Instructor
Instructor Other Organisation (SLS GB/ SLS Wales/ STA/ Irish Water Safety)

Please note: You will need to be in current RLSS UK Membership in order to deliver the Water Smart Award, one of the payments you will be asked to make during the application process will include payment for an annual Lifesaving Academy membership.

To access the Water Smart Instructor Application, please either login to your RLSS UK Account (powered by tahdah) or create your account if you are new to RLSS UK. When you have successfully logged in, please view and complete an Instructor/ Trainer application click here for a step-by-step guide.

New to RLSS UK

Create your RLSS UK account (powered by tahdah)

Already hold an RLSS UK award or qualification

Activate your RLSS UK account (powered by tahdah)

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