EYFS-Compliant First Aid: Is Your Setting Up to Date?

In early years settings, safety is always a top priority. From toddlers taking their first steps to children exploring the world around them, accidents can happen in an instant. That’s why having staff trained in paediatric first aid isn’t just important, it’s essential.

You turn your back for one second, a toddler trips, a toy becomes a choking hazard, or a fall leads to a nasty bump.

This kind of training equips early years professionals with the confidence and practical skills to respond to emergencies quickly and effectively, helping to keep children safe and reassure parents and carers.

Who Needs Paediatric First Aid Training?

First aid for nurseries and early years settings is essential for creating a safe, supportive environment where children can thrive. It is more than a legal requirement. It is about giving staff the confidence to respond calmly and effectively when every second counts.

Anyone working closely with babies and young children should have some level of paediatric first aid training. This includes nursery practitioners, childminders, teaching assistants, support staff, lunchtime supervisors and even admin teams who may be present during the day.

What does the law say?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework sets out clear expectations for first aid provision in early years settings. At least one person with a full Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate must be available at all times while children are on site.

For nurseries offering government-funded childcare, any staff member included in the child-to-adult ratio for children under five must hold the full 2-day PFA certificate.

You can find the official first aid guidance in Section 3.25 of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Providing first aid for nurseries is not just about ticking boxes. It ensures your whole team can act quickly and confidently in any emergency, giving parents and carers peace of mind.

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Which Paediatric First Aid Course should you choose?

At FAB Training, we offer two core options to suit different team roles and responsibilities. So if you’re looking to train all staff or focus on those people who are counted in your child-to-adult ratios, choosing the right course ensures everyone is confident, compliant and prepared to act in an emergency.

Emergency Paediatric First Aid (1 Day):

✅ Covers key life-saving skills and responses to common incidents

✅ Best suited for support staff or team members not included in ratios

Full Paediatric First Aid (2 Days):

✅ Meets all EYFS and OFSTED first aid requirements

✅ Covers a wider range of scenarios, including CPR, AED use, and managing serious illness or injury

✅ Required for staff counted in child: adult ratios

Choosing the right combination of training ensures every team member has the skills, confidence and knowledge to respond effectively in any emergency.

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Why choose on-site training?

Bringing training into the setting is often the most efficient and effective option. On-site paediatric first aid offers several advantages:

🧭 Minimises disruption

No travel required, and sessions can be timed around quieter days

🏫 Contextual learning

Staff train in the same environment they work in every day

🤝 Team-based approach

Encourages consistency and confidence across the whole team

On-site training not only saves time and reduces disruption, it also creates a more relevant and relaxed learning experience. By training together in familiar surroundings, your team can practise realistic scenarios, ask setting-specific questions and build a shared sense of confidence. It is a practical, cost-effective way to keep your staff fully prepared and your setting fully compliant.

Is Your Setting EYFS-Compliant First Aid Ready?

Regular paediatric first aid training is more than a legal requirement. It is part of creating a safe, confident and supportive environment where children can grow, explore and thrive.

Take a moment to reflect:

●   Do all staff included in your ratios have up-to-date Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificates?

●   Are your team members confident in how to respond during an emergency?

●   Could on-site training make things simpler, more relevant and more effective?

If the answer to any of these is yes, it might be time to refresh your training.

At FAB Training, we deliver EYFS-compliant paediatric first aid for nurseries, childminders and early years settings across the UK. We come to you, making it easy to stay compliant and build real team confidence.

Book your on-site first aid training today.

Call 07944 799626 or have a look at our paediatric courses today.

CONTACT US

FAB Training – Saving Lives Together

Danny Phillips

Founder & Director

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