First Aid Compliance in Early Years and Childcare Settings

Name: First Aid and Safety Training
Address: One Trinity Green, Eldon Street, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 1SA, GB
Telephone: 0191 7166601

A practical compliance guide for employers, managers and carers working under EYFS and HSE requirements

What Early Years Settings Need to Know

First aid compliance in early years and childcare settings is not just a legal requirement, it is a vital part of safeguarding children, supporting staff and reassuring parents. Employers, managers and carers are responsible for ensuring that first aid arrangements meet both Early Years Foundation Stage and Health and Safety Executive expectations.

Our downloadable guide, First Aid Compliance in Early Years and Childcare Settings, has been created to give clear, practical guidance on what compliance really means in day-to-day practice.

What This Guide Covers

This practical handbook breaks down complex guidance into clear, usable information that can be applied in real settings.

EYFS and HSE first aid responsibilities explained in plain English
Who must hold Paediatric First Aid training and when
The difference between full Paediatric First Aid and Emergency Paediatric First Aid
First aid needs assessments and risk planning
First aid arrangements beyond training, including kits, records and policies
Mealtime supervision, choking risks and allergy management
Off-site visits, outings and lone working considerations
What inspectors may look for during inspection
Maintaining compliance and responding if things go wrong

Each section includes practical examples, common compliance risks and clear explanations of what good practice looks like.

Who This Guide Is For

This guide has been written for anyone with responsibility for children in early years and childcare settings, including:

Nursery owners and managers
Preschool and early years leads
Childminders
Primary schools with EYFS provision
Foster carers and carers supporting young children
Safeguarding and compliance leads

It is suitable whether you are new to managing first aid compliance or reviewing your existing arrangements.

Why This Guide Matters

Many settings assume they are compliant because staff hold certificates, however compliance goes far beyond training alone. Inspectors look at how first aid is planned, documented and embedded into daily practice.

This guide helps you understand:

What the law actually requires
Where settings often fall short
How to evidence compliance confidently
How to reduce risk to children, staff and your organisation

It also highlights recent EYFS updates, including changes around mealtime supervision, and explains how to adapt your arrangements accordingly.

Written by First Aid and Safety Training

This handbook has been produced by First Aid and Safety Training, a trusted provider of Ofqual-regulated, Qualsafe-accredited first aid training for early years and childcare settings.

Our goal is not just to deliver training, but to help settings remain confident, compliant and inspection-ready.