Courses

What we offer

Here at Leon Leisure Centre, we host a number of courses, both internally and externally, to gain widely recognised qualifications in the leisure and sporting industries.

Courses we organise and run ourselves include, Rookie Lifeguarding, NPLQ lifeguard, Swimming Fast Track

Courses run by outside organisations include, Refereeing, First Aid, Safeguarding, Swim England Swim Teacher Level 1 & 2, as well as the Pool Plant operators certificate (both foundation & full courses)

NATIONAL POOL LIFEGUARD QUALIFICATION (NPLQ)

Through IQL UK, the leading provider of lifeguard training, there are more than 90,000 RLSS UK pool lifeguards trained in the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). IQL UK is the awarding organisation recognised and monitored by Ofqual, Qualifications Wales, CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland and accredited by SQA Accreditation in Scotland.

What’s Being A Lifeguard Like?

Lifeguards benefit from varied working hours which you can easily fit around your other commitments, working within a team and there’s also the opportunity to progress your career within the leisure industry as most leisure managers start off as Pool Lifeguards.

What Skills For Life Can I Learn?

As well as the original NPLQ qualification, there is the option to obtain additional qualifications. These will require additional hours and are as follows:

To find more information on any of these courses, click on your chosen qualification to take you to the website.

What Are The Benefits Of Completing The NPLQ?

When completing a course as recognised as the NPLQ qualification, there are many benefits that you can take away from it:

it's an excellent starting point for a career in the leisure industry
it gives you the opportunity for career progression
- most leisure centre managers start off as pool lifeguards
the working hours are varied, allowing you to work around your prior commitments
it develops your teamwork skills
the NPLQ is recognised around the world, so there is opportunity to work and travel
it's a great way for students to fund studies
enables you to learn essential life skills, including First Aid and CPR

What's The Course Content?

The NPLQ covers all elements of Pool Rescue Techniques, Lifeguarding Theory, First Aid and CPR. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times, lifting casualties and diving to the deepest part of the swimming pool. Training and assessment for the NPLQ is in three sections and all must be successfully passed to attain the qualification.

Section 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law, Swimming Pool Supervision

Element 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law

Element 2 – Swimming Pool, Hazards and Control Measures

Element 3 – Swimming Pool Supervision

Section 2 – Intervention and Rescue and Emergency Action Plans

Element 1 – Intervention and Rescue

Element 2 – Rescue of a Casualty with a Suspected Spinal Injury

Element 3 – Emergency Action Plan

Section 3 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, AED and First Aid

Element 1 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Element 2 – First Aid

Element 3 – Automated External Defibrillation (AED)

How Do I Become A Lifeguard?

Lifeguard Course Pre-Requisites

Every candidate attending a NPLQ course must be 16-years-old at the time of taking the NPLQ final assessment and be able to:
- Jump / dive into deep water
- Swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
- Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
- Tread water for 30 seconds
- Surface dive to the floor of the pool
- Climb out unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design permits

How's The Assessment Done?

Assessment for the NPLQ takes place at the end of the course. It determines your knowledge and understanding of the principles of working as a pool lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply the skills and knowledge in a work-related environment.

The assessment is split into three parts, which are:

a practical pool assessment
a theory assessment for all 3 sections (see left column)
a practical First Aid & CPR assessment

Is There Any Continued Professional Development?

For anyone looking to progress after completing their NPLQ qualification, this can be achieved by:

attending ongoing lifeguard training and completing competency assessment (strongly recommended)
taking part in alternative training, face-to-face or online, relating to in-water swimming pool rescue skills, CPR, First Aid and lifeguard theory

For further information please contact the Leisure Centre on 01908 624725 or email leisurecentre@shlacademy.org

#Bealifeguard

To learn more about lifeguarding, read Katie’s story here

EXTERNAL COURSES

Berks and Bucks FA are proud to announce they will be running a Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage Referee Course during March 2025, with the exact days and times confirmed on their website. To sign up or to find out more information, please follow the link below.

http://eventspace.thefa.com/berks-bucksfa/event/shl-bamh-march25

PADDLEfusion - 05/04/25

After the success of their first session, PADDLEfusion have confirmed that they will be running another session at Leon Leisure Centre on Saturday 5th April from 3.30pm-4.30pm. To sign up or to get more information, please email paddlefusion@gmail.com.

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