Nurseries & Childminders

Paediatric First Aid Course for Childminders and Nurseries

EYFS Compliant Paediatric First Aid Training for UK Childcare Professionals and Parents

Book our 12 hour Blended Paediatric First Aid course from £95 per person. Fully compliant with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and Annex A criteria. Certificates issued within 48 hours.

Trusted by UK nurseries and childminders. Over 32,000 professionals trained. 99% pass rate. FAIB certified as standard. Ofqual regulated qualifications available on request.

 

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Course at a Glance
 

• Course length: 12 hours (6 hours online + 6 hours in classroom)
• Certificate validity: 3 years
• Awarding body: FAIB (Ofqual regulated available on request)
• EYFS compliance: Annex A aligned
• Delivery: Open courses at 80+ UK venues, or onsite at your setting
• Price from: £95 per person
   

Who Is This Course For?

Our Paediatric First Aid course is designed for anyone caring for babies and young children in the UK, including:
 

• Registered childminders and their assistants
• Nursery workers and pre school staff
• Early years teachers and teaching assistants
• Nannies (including those on the Ofsted voluntary childcare register)
• Babysitters and au pairs
• Parents, grandparents and family carers
• Expectant parents preparing for a new baby

Is Paediatric First Aid a Legal Requirement in the UK?

Yes, for childminders and early years providers.

Under the EYFS statutory framework, at least one person with a current Paediatric First Aid certificate must be on the premises at all times when children are present (Department for Education, 2022).

Under EYFS:
 

• Childminders and any assistant in sole charge of children must hold a current Paediatric First Aid certificate (Department for Education, 2022).
• Staff who gained a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification on or after 30 June 2016 must hold a full or emergency PFA certificate within 3 months of starting work, to be counted in staff to child ratios (Department for Education, 2022).
• A qualified paediatric first aider must accompany children on outings.
• Certificates must be renewed every 3 years.
• Certificates must be available to parents on request.

For nannies, babysitters and parents, there is no legal requirement. However, training is strongly recommended and often expected by families, agencies and employers.

 

What Does EYFS Annex A Require?

To meet EYFS, Paediatric First Aid training must:
 

• Be designed for those caring for babies and young children
• Include assessment leading to certification
• Be renewed every 3 years
• Include baby and junior resuscitation manikins
• Deliver emergency elements face to face (online only courses are not sufficient) (Department for Education, 2025)

Our 12 hour Blended Paediatric First Aid course meets every one of these requirements.
 

What Does the Course Cover?

The course covers everything childcare professionals and parents need to respond confidently to an emergency involving a baby or young child, including:
 

• Roles and responsibilities of the paediatric first aider
• Assessing an incident safely
• Infant and child CPR (with dedicated baby and junior manikins)
• Choking in babies and children
• Recovery position for infants and children
• Bleeding, shock and burns
• Head injuries, fractures and spinal injuries
• Recognising and responding to seizures
• Anaphylaxis and severe allergic reactions 
• Asthma attacks
• Common childhood illnesses including meningitis and febrile convulsions
   

How Does the Blended Course Work?
 

• Part 1 (Online): 6 hours of self paced eLearning, completed before the classroom day
• Part 2 (Classroom): 6 hours of practical, hands on training with a qualified instructor
• Assessment: Practical assessment on the classroom day, plus an online multiple choice test
• Certificate: Issued within 48 hours of successful completion

 

This format is fully compliant with EYFS Annex A. It is popular with nurseries and childminders because it minimises time away from the setting.

It also works well for parents who want flexibility around family life.

 

 

Should Parents Take a Paediatric First Aid Course?
 

There is no legal requirement for parents to hold a Paediatric First Aid certificate.

However, many parents choose to train because knowing how to respond to a medical emergency involving your own child is one of the most valuable skills you can have.

Home is the setting where most childhood accidents happen.

Common incidents include:
 

• Choking on food or small objects
• Falls from beds, sofas, high chairs or stairs
• Burns and scalds from hot drinks, baths or cookers
• Head injuries from tumbles and knocks
• Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
• Febrile seizures during a high temperature
• Asthma attacks
• Poisoning from household products or medicines
   

In each of these situations, the response in the first few minutes really matters.

A Paediatric First Aid course gives parents the confidence to act calmly, help their child, and know when to call for further medical help.

The course is especially useful for:
 

• Expectant parents preparing for a new baby
• New parents in the first year with an infant
• Parents of toddlers, where accidents are more likely as children start to explore
• Grandparents and other family members who regularly look after young children
• Parents of children with health conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes or severe allergies
• Foster carers and kinship carers who may need certification for their role

Our 12 hour Blended Paediatric First Aid course is the same qualification used by professional childminders and nursery staff.

Parents leave with the same level of skill and confidence. Many book alongside their partner, or as a small group with friends or family members.

Get in touch about group bookings. We can arrange a private session at a venue that suits you.
 

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Why Choose Safe Haven Training?
 

• Over 32,000 professionals trained across the UK
• 99% pass rate on all courses
• 80+ venues nationwide, plus onsite delivery at your setting
• NHS paramedic trainers with real emergency response experience
• Certificates issued within 48 hours of course completion
• FAIB certified as standard; Ofqual regulated qualifications available on request
• Klarna and Clearpay payment options for individual bookings
• Aligned with HSE, EYFS and Ofsted expectations

Where Do You Deliver Paediatric First Aid Training?

We deliver Paediatric First Aid courses at 90+ venues across the UK, plus onsite at your nursery, pre school or childminding setting.

Popular training locations include:
 

• Bristol  
• Cheltenham
• Birmingham
• Liverpool
• Milton Keynes
• Manchester
• Cannock, Staffordshire
• Wales

 

Can't find your nearest venue? Get in touch. We deliver nationwide and can arrange onsite training anywhere in the UK.

 

How Often Should Paediatric First Aid Be Renewed?

Paediatric First Aid certificates are valid for 3 years from the date of issue.

The Department for Education also recommends annual refresher training to keep skills current between full requalifications (Department for Education, 2022).

Certificates should be kept alongside your other staff training records. Ofsted may ask to see them during an inspection, and parents can also request to see them.

 

References
 

1. Department for Education (2022): First aid in schools, early years and further education.

2. Department for Education (2025): Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework for Childminders.

Depending on your setting, you may also require additional first aid training based on your workplace risk assessment and insurance provider requirements.