What is the NRSWA Monitoring / SLG (Signing, Lighting and Guarding) course?

Key facts

• Combined 1-day Supervisor course covering Unit 11 (Monitoring Reinstatements) and the Supervisor-level S2 (Signing, Lighting and Guarding).
• Aimed at supervisors topping up an existing NRSWA Supervisor card or renewing both units together.
• SQA-assessed: short theory paper plus a practical/situational assessment.
• Delivered at our Cannock centre or on-site for group bookings.
• Compresses two attendance days into one where the SQA framework allows.

What the combined course covers

The combined course brings two Supervisor units into a single day:

• Unit 11 — Monitoring Reinstatements (Supervisor only). Trains the supervisor to inspect completed reinstatements against the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH): identifying defects, judging compaction quality, checking surface tolerances, signing the works off as compliant or requiring corrective action.
• S2 — Signing, Lighting and Guarding (Supervisor level). Trains the supervisor to monitor the SLG arrangement on site against the Department for Transport’s Chapter 8 standard: confirming the operatives have set the signing out correctly, traffic management is appropriate to the road type, and any temporary lights are in good working order.

Both are Supervisor-level assessments. The course is not a substitute for the Operative-side Unit 2 (which the operatives doing the SLG must hold themselves).

Why a combined course makes sense

Supervisor cards typically carry 4–6 units. Booking each unit on its own attendance day would mean a working supervisor out of action for the best part of a week. SQA allows specific Supervisor units to be combined where the technical content can be assessed in a single day without compromising the assessment quality. The Monitoring + SLG combination is one of the most-used examples. Both units sit in the supervisor’s day-to-day monitoring role on site; combining them mirrors how the supervisor actually works.

Who the course is for

• Existing supervisors topping up to a full card. Supervisors who hold the reinstatement S-units but are missing S2 and/or Unit 11 use the combined course to round out the card without taking two separate attendance days.
• Renewal of both units in the 5-year cycle. Supervisors whose Unit 11 and S2 are both due for retest at the same time can renew both on the same day, with the rest of the card retested separately.
• Working supervisors moving from a junior to a more senior role. Adds the formal monitoring and sign-off competence the supervisor needs to be the named contact for the highway authority.

The course is not designed for operatives without prior Supervisor units; for a full new-candidate Supervisor block, see the NRSWA Streetworks Supervisor course (2–3 days, broader unit coverage).

The 1-day course structure

Typical day structure (subject to candidate group and any combined renewal content):

• Morning — Unit 11. Underpinning SROH technical content, the monitoring methodology, defect identification, corrective-action sign-off, plus the SQA theory paper for the unit.
• Afternoon — S2. Chapter 8 underpinning for the supervisor level, monitoring an SLG layout for compliance, scenario-based assessment, plus the SQA theory paper for the unit.

Both unit results are confirmed on the day. The renewed or topped-up card is processed by SQA and posted in the standard window.

How it fits alongside the rest of the Supervisor card

Supervisor cards typically carry S1 (monitoring Cat & Genny), S2 (monitoring SLG), several S-equivalent reinstatement units (S4, S6 are the most common), S10 (Site Inspection) and S11 (Monitoring Reinstatements). The combined course delivers two of those (S2 + Unit 11) in a single day. The other units stay on their own 5-year clocks. Many supervisors use the combined course for renewal and book the rest of the unit retests as a separate 1–2 day attendance.

On-site delivery for fleet supervisors

The combined course is widely booked on-site for utility companies and civils contractors with several supervisors needing the same unit set. On-site delivery removes the supervisors’ travel and means the assessment day can be planned around the site’s operational schedule. MPTT brings the SQA-registered assessor and the SQA paperwork; the employer provides the working area and PPE. For Levy-registered employers, the CITB Grant covers most of the net cost.

How it differs from the Operative-side SLG unit-only course

The two SLG courses serve different audiences:

• Operative-side NRSWA Streetworks Signing, Lighting and Guarding (unit only). The standard 1-day Unit 2 course for operatives. Trains the operative to set the signing out themselves.
• Supervisor-side Monitoring + SLG combined. 1-day Supervisor block covering Unit 11 (Monitoring) and the Supervisor-level S2. Trains the supervisor to monitor the operatives doing the SLG, not to set it out themselves.

An operative needs the Operative-side unit. A supervisor needs the Supervisor-side combined course (or the broader Supervisor course if they have no Supervisor units yet).

Related questions

• NRSWA Operative vs Supervisor?
• What units does NRSWA training cover?
• What is SROH?
• How long is the NRSWA card valid for?
• How much does NRSWA training cost?

Quick answers to related questions

Who needs the Monitoring + SLG combined course?

Existing NRSWA Supervisors topping up or renewing Unit 11 (Monitoring Reinstatements) and S2 (Signing, Lighting and Guarding) at the same time. Not designed for operatives or for new-candidate Supervisors with no prior Supervisor units.

How long is the course?

1 day. Combines two Supervisor unit assessments (Unit 11 and S2) into a single attendance, with the SQA theory papers and practical/situational assessments delivered across the day.

Can the combined course be delivered on-site?

Yes. The Monitoring + SLG combined course is widely booked on-site for utility and civils contractors with several supervisors needing the same unit set. CITB Levy claim documentation handled for Levy-registered employers.

Last updated: 2026-05-21. Reviewed by the MPTT NRSWA training team, SQA-registered instructors and assessors.