Delivering your first RLSS UK course can be daunting for some. Still, it is essential to pass your probationary period to become a fully qualified RLSS UK Trainer Assessor. Being well prepared and discussing any concerns with your RLSS UK Mentor can reduce the pressure and stress for you and allow more opportunities to support the candidates in passing and starting their journey of being an RLSS UK qualification holder.

This checklist is not exhaustive, and the tasks don't need to be completed in the exact order provided. Instead, this checklist provides the main actions to help you run your first course and complete your probationary period within 24 months.

Course Planning Phase:

• Speak to your RLSS UK Approved Training Centre/Provider (ATC/P) Coordinator for support and permission to deliver your first course.
• Find and connect with a RLSS UK Mentor. If you have not been assigned a Mentor, you can speak to your ATC/P or the National Trainer Assessor (NTA) who delivered your TA course or use RLSS UK’s Support Finder within your RLSS UK Account.
• Pick the date you want to deliver your first course on. Check the other sessions taking place in the water and the availability of classrooms for that date. Remember to consider other commitments before and around that date to ensure you have enough time and energy to plan and prepare everything for your course. Remember also to check your Mentor’s availability!
• Use the Master Programme and Day Planner available on your RLSS UK Account to start planning each day of your course. Try breaking it down and plan one day at a time to avoid getting overwhelmed.
• Ensure each module is planned to complement each other (e.g. 2b delivered before 2c). Don’t forget to check the pool timetable and classroom availability again.
• Ask your Mentor to review your Day Planner and provide feedback based on their own experience(s) to help you.
• Consider joining the RLSS UK TA Facebook Group, where you can ask questions, share ideas, and find extra support. This closed Facebook group is a safe and monitored area where you can talk to like-minded people who understand what you’re going through and can offer their knowledge and experience.

Course Advertising Phase:

• Book a RLSS UK Assessor or two to help you assess your course candidates. If you need help finding Assessors, use RLSS UK’s Support Finder within your RLSS UK Account or post on the RLSS UK TA Facebook Group.
• Set up your course information using the RLSS UK Course Management system. There are guides and tutorials available to help you do this. Promote your course on the RLSS UK Course Finder.
• Advertise the course at the venue where you will deliver it (with permission). Editable posters, where you can add your course details, are available within your Resources and Documents tab in the Folder with the qualification name / Marketing folder.
• Contact local colleges, universities, etc., which may have students looking for flexible work while they study. Don’t forget that all Level 3 RLSS UK courses can qualify for UCAS points, so it could help their university application. 

Ideally, you need a minimum of four candidates to book your course.

• Regularly check your course candidates list to ensure you meet the minimum course delivery requirements (four candidates). If you still need to reach the minimum, advertise further to attract more candidates. For more ideas for advertising the course, visit our blog - Advertise a Course. 

Course Preparation Phase:

• Reread the Candidate Manual for the course and the PowerPoint presentations, which are available in the Trainer/Instructor Folder of the Qualification Folder in the Resource & Documents tab of your RLSS UK Account, so that you become confident with the qualification programme order and add your own notes to the presenter section if needed.
• Add notes to your lesson plans - including any toolbox activities. Then, put your finished lesson plans into your ‘Day Planner’ in the correct order to ensure you can run your course easily and professionally during the day.
• Collect and/or book training equipment and check that you have enough (e.g. manuals). Ensure equipment is cleaned if needed (e.g., CPR manikins) and ready to transport and use. You can visit the online RLSS UK Shop if you are missing any equipment you need to deliver your course – don’t forget to order it so there’s time for delivery, though!
• Set up your classroom ready to welcome your candidates. Ensure a copy of the Candidate Manual is available on each desk and that the equipment has been cleaned and tested so that you can run your course smoothly and professionally.

After all that, high five! You’re now ready to deliver your first course. Well done!