Schools, nurseries and community organisations often have different first aid needs from a standard workplace. Staff may be responsible not just for colleagues, but for children, young people and members of the public. That changes what training is required.
What Does the Law Say?
Government guidance is clear: employers are responsible for ensuring first aid staff receive appropriate training from a competent provider. It also strongly recommends considering provision for non-employees. In education and community settings, this often means training above the minimum workplace requirement.
This is particularly important for anyone working with children. A standard first aid at work course does not include child resuscitation procedures. Settings that care for children will typically need a dedicated paediatric first aid course to meet their duty of care, depending on their risk assessment and environment.
What Schools and Colleges Need to Consider
For schools and colleges, first aid provision should be based on assessed need. That means thinking about:
- The age range of pupils on site
- Activities taking place, including sports and off-site trips
- Known medical needs within the school community
- How many trained staff are available, including during absence or cover
A standard first aid at work course may cover the basics, but it will not address child-specific emergencies such as paediatric CPR, choking in infants, or recognising serious illness in young children. A paediatric first aid course fills that gap.
What About Nurseries and Childcare Settings?
For nurseries and other childcare providers, a paediatric first aid course is not just recommended, in many cases it is a regulatory requirement. Ofsted-registered settings are expected to have trained staff on site at all times, and the training must cover both infants and young children.
Choosing a course delivered by qualified clinicians, rather than a generic provider, means your team learns from people with real emergency experience, not just a textbook.
Which Course Does Your Organisation Need: PFA or EPFA?
Not every organisation has the same requirement, and choosing the right paediatric first aid course matters both for compliance and for the people in your care. Here is a straightforward guide.
Organisations that need the full 12-hour Paediatric First Aid (PFA)
The full PFA course is a legal or regulatory requirement for some settings, and strongly recommended for others where children are in your care for extended periods.
You need the full PFA if you are:
- Nurseries and early years settings registered with Ofsted under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. The EYFS statutory guidance requires at least one paediatric first aider on the premises at all times, and one on every off-site trip. This must be the full 12-hour qualification.
- Childminders registered with Ofsted. The same EYFS requirement applies. The childminder themselves must hold the full PFA.
- Nannies and au pairs working in a private household where the family requires Ofsted-registered childcare (for example, for tax-free childcare purposes).
- Out-of-school clubs and holiday play schemes that care for children under 8 and are registered with Ofsted.
- Residential settings caring for children overnight, such as children’s homes or foster care placements.
Why the full course? These settings carry ongoing responsibility for children across a wide range of situations, including illness, injury, and medical emergencies. The second unit of the PFA covers managing paediatric illness, injuries, and longer-term care scenarios that the EPFA does not include.
Organisations that can manage with the Emergency Paediatric First Aid (EPFA)
The EPFA is a 6-hour course covering immediate life-saving responses. It is appropriate where children are present but the setting does not carry the same level of ongoing care responsibility.
The EPFA is suitable for:
- Primary and secondary schools where staff need to respond to emergencies but are not required to hold the full Ofsted EYFS qualification. Schools are not covered by the EYFS framework in the same way as early years settings, so the EPFA can be a suitable option for schools that want paediatric coverage but are not required by EYFS to hold PFA
- After-school clubs and wraparound care for children aged 8 and over, where Ofsted registration under EYFS does not apply.
- Community groups, sports clubs, and youth organisations (such as Scouts, Guides, or junior sports teams) where adults work with children in a supervised activity setting.
- School support staff who want confidence in paediatric emergencies but whose role does not require the full qualification.
- Parents, grandparents, and carers who want practical skills for home or community use.
Still not sure?
If you are uncertain which course applies to your setting, the simplest check is whether your organisation is registered with Ofsted under the EYFS framework. If it is, you need the full PFA, if it is not, the EPFA is likely the right starting point, though a risk assessment of your specific activities is always worthwhile.
Not sure where to start?  Get in touch and we will help you choose the right course for your team.
Community Groups: Don’t Overlook Your Responsibilities
A choir, sports club, church group, parent group or voluntary organisation may not think of itself as a workplace. But once you are responsible for activities, venues and participants, emergency planning matters.
The right training can make a real difference to confidence and preparedness, particularly where children, older adults or larger public events are involved. A paediatric first aid course is often the most relevant option for groups that regularly work with young people.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
A useful starting point for any school, nursery or community group is:
- Who are we responsible for during our activities?
- Are children involved, and if so, do we need paediatric training?
- What medical or activity risks are realistic in our setting?
- Do we have enough trained people available at the times we run?
Tailored Training That Reflects Your Setting
Training works best when it reflects the real environment your team works in. Courses can often be tailored to a school or organisation’s specific needs so it is worth discussing your setting before booking the most generic option available.
At Respire Medical, our paediatric first aid courses are delivered by qualified paramedics with genuine clinical experience. We work with schools, nurseries, GP practices and community groups across Bracknell, Wokingham and the surrounding area, providing practical, hands-on training that builds real confidence, not just compliance.
Ready to find the right course for your organisation?  Get in touch to discuss your needs.