Course description

Safe in the Water helps carers understand the risks children and young people face in and around water, and what they can do to keep them safe at the pool, at the beach, on holiday and at home.

Many children in care arrive without having had the chance to learn to swim. For some global majority families, cultural and historical barriers, fear passed down through generations, and practical worries such as caring for afro-textured hair can keep children away from the water. This course explores those barriers with warmth and without judgement, and gives carers the tools to open the door to swimming.

What the course covers

• Why water safety matters for children and young people in care
• Common water risks: pools, open water, beaches, baths and garden water
• Recognising a child in difficulty in the water, and what to do in an emergency
• Supervision, safe swimming spaces and planning trips and holidays
• Cultural and emotional barriers to swimming, and how to talk about them
• Protecting and caring for afro-textured hair before and after swimming
• Building a child's confidence step by step, and finding local lessons and support

This course links to BFCA's Crown & Current swimming and hair care programme and is designed for carers at any stage of their journey.

What will i learn?

• Identify the main water risks for children and young people and how to reduce them
• Recognise the signs of a child in difficulty in the water and know how to respond in an emergency
• Plan safe supervision for pools, beaches, open water, holidays and trips
• Understand the cultural, historical and emotional barriers some global majority families face around swimming
• Talk with children and young people about their fears of water in a warm, non-judgemental way
• Protect and care for afro-textured hair before and after swimming
• Support a child to build water confidence step by step and find local lessons and support

Frequently asked question