Water safety – guidance and resources

There is increased concern at this time of year about safety in and around water, especially in light of a number of recent tragic events. We therefore wanted to remind our community about the importance of PSHE education in raising awareness of the risks and highlight free-to-access, quality assured resources that you can use to teach this topic safely and effectively.

Firstly, at key stage 2, we have worked with the Environment Agency on water safety lessons which provide age-appropriate understanding of potential hazards, how to manage emergency situations, and how to keep safe.

Then at key stage 3, we have developed ‘Have you got their back?’ in partnership with the Canal and River Trust. This lesson explores safety around inland bodies of water, supporting students to analyse risks around canals, rivers, waterways, lakes and ponds. It includes learning about the role peers can play in supporting each other to stay safe, as well as how to respond in emergencies near water.

We also wanted to remind members about the increased focus on safety in the new relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) guidance that comes into force from September. This includes emphasis on keeping safe around water and understanding the water safety code.

Our new Curriculum Models ensure that this content can be planned and sequenced within a high quality PSHE education programme.