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Water Safety
"Every year we hear of tragic accidents taking place in Scotland’s waters as many young people are not aware of the dangers of swimming in open water. That is why we welcomed the opportunity to work with Water Safety Scotland to develop educational materials that aim to increase awareness of water safety. We hope that this information will reach as many children and young people as possible, to ensure they are aware of the dangers that come with going into open water."
Gayle Gorman, Chief Executive of Education
In partnership with Water Safety Scotland, Education Scotland has brought together partner agencies and public sector groups, including RNLI and Scottish Swimming to create these learning resources and support water safety education across all ages and stages.
A comprehensive range of learning resources has been developed by Water Safety Scotland.
Water Safety Scotland aims to drive a generational change in aquatic activity in Scotland with a key focus on promoting the Water Safety Scotland Code.
Parents and carers can find out more about how to keep children safe in and around water on Parentzone - Keeping your child safe in the water and Water safety from Parent Club
It is important that we all stay safe in and around Scotland’s waters. Conditions in open water sites such as the sea, rivers, lochs and quarries change constantly and can be dangerous. On average, around 97 people drown in Scotland each year.
The Water Safety Code has been developed by Water Safety Scotland and represents the key information needed to help keep people safe around water. There are two versions: the full original version and an illustrated version.
Many partners are currently working with schools to deliver and enhance water safety education including:
Specific content within the Scottish Curriculum, with the exception of Religious and Moral Education, is non-statutory. The Scottish Government expects schools to continue to work towards the provision of at least two hours of good quality physical education for every child each week.
The Physical Education curriculum enables the provision of a broad range of physical activities appropriate to the schools context. Swimming and other water-based activities are one possible context schools can use to deliver experiences and outcomes for Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport – an organiser in the Health and Wellbeing curriculum.
The Physical Education curriculum:
- provides learners with a platform from which they can build physical competences, improve aspects of fitness, and develop personal and interpersonal skills and attributes
- enables learners to develop the concepts and skills necessary for participation in a wide range of physical activity, sport, dance and outdoor learning
- enhances physical wellbeing in preparation for leading a fulfilling, active and healthy lifestyle
Education Scotland is working with Scottish Swimming to develop a framework for school swimming, where there is capacity, and resources that practitioners can use to effectively develop basic swimming competency within a school context.
Sports Coaching Award SCQF level 5 - SQA
Sporting Activity Participation and Performance: Swimming SCQF Level 5
Sports Coaching Award SCQF level 6 - SQA
PDA Sports Coaching SCQF levels 7 and 8 - SQA
Sport and Leisure SVQs - SQA (These can be delivered through swimming)
PDA Swimming Teaching SCQF level 7 - SQA
PDA Sports Coaching SCQF levels 7 and 8 - SQA
Swimming Pool Lifeguard: Skills and Practice
HNC/HND Sports Coaching and Development - SQA
SVQ Achieving Excellence in Sports Performance at SCQF level 8 - SQA
One of the best ways to stay safe around water is to know how to swim. Going swimming at your local pool is a great way of spending time together as a family. The Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC) is free of charge to children and young people living in Scotland. They can use their Young Scot National Entitlement Card in some local authorities to gain discounted or free access to local swimming pools. Furthermore, young people 5-21 years old living in Scotland can now apply to access free bus travel. For more details please refer to the Young Scot website.
Learning to swim should be fun. Scottish Swimming have developed a number of water based games and activities parents and carers can do with their child in the swimming pool to help develop their child's confidence and competence in the water. You can access these activities on the Scottish Swimming website Learn to Swim.
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