If you work with babies or children, choosing the right Paediatric First Aid training can sometimes be confusing.

There is Full Paediatric First Aid, Emergency Paediatric First Aid, face-to-face and blended training, as well as shorter first aid courses aimed at parents, carers and people who simply want to know what to do in an emergency.

Although these courses can cover similar practical skills, they are not all the same.

The right choice depends on why you need the training, who you are responsible for and whether you need to meet specific workplace or Early Years Foundation Stage requirements.

In this guide, we explain the main types of Paediatric First Aid training and help you decide which course is appropriate for you.

What Is Paediatric First Aid Training?

Paediatric First Aid training teaches people how to recognise and respond to injuries and medical emergencies involving babies and children.

This is important because first aid for a baby or young child is not always identical to first aid for an adult.

For example, there are important differences in CPR, choking treatment and the way a first aider responds to an unresponsive baby or child.

Training can also cover conditions and emergencies that are particularly relevant when caring for children, including seizures, asthma, allergic reactions, meningitis, burns, bleeding, head injuries and childhood illnesses.

The amount of training you need will depend on your role.

What Are the Main Types of Paediatric First Aid Training?

For most people, the main choices are:

Full Paediatric First Aid
Emergency Paediatric First Aid
Blended Paediatric First Aid
Paediatric First Aid awareness or online learning
Baby and child first aid training for parents and carers

There can be considerable overlap in the skills taught, but the purpose and level of training are different.

1. Full Paediatric First Aid

Full Paediatric First Aid is the more comprehensive qualification and is the course most commonly associated with nurseries, childminders and other Early Years settings.

Training that meets the criteria in the Early Years Foundation Stage must provide a minimum of 12 hours of learning.

The course covers emergency life-saving skills as well as a broader range of childhood injuries, illnesses and medical emergencies.

Training typically includes areas such as:

assessing an emergency
baby and child CPR
using an AED
the recovery position
choking
seizures
bleeding and shock
burns and scalds
head injuries
fractures
poisoning
bites and stings
extreme temperatures
asthma
diabetes
allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
meningitis and sepsis
recording accidents and incidents

Learners must also have an opportunity to practise and demonstrate practical first aid skills using appropriate baby and child training equipment.

A Full Paediatric First Aid certificate must be renewed every three years where it is being used to meet EYFS requirements.

2. Emergency Paediatric First Aid

Emergency Paediatric First Aid is a shorter qualification concentrating on the immediate response to a serious emergency involving a baby or child.

Under the EYFS criteria, Emergency Paediatric First Aid training must be undertaken face-to-face and last for a minimum of six hours, excluding breaks.

The emphasis is on recognising an emergency and providing immediate first aid for situations such as:

an unresponsive baby or child
abnormal breathing
CPR
choking
seizures
external bleeding
shock
bites, stings and minor injuries

It provides valuable emergency skills, but it should not automatically be treated as interchangeable with the Full Paediatric First Aid qualification.

Does Emergency Paediatric First Aid meet EYFS requirements?

This is where the distinction between the two qualifications becomes particularly important.

The EYFS allows some staff who need Paediatric First Aid to count within the required Level 2 or Level 3 staff-to-child ratios to hold either a Full Paediatric First Aid or Emergency Paediatric First Aid certificate.

However, the EYFS also requires at least one person with a current Full Paediatric First Aid certificate to be on the premises and available whenever children are present. A person with the appropriate full certificate must also accompany children on outings.

Providers therefore need to consider the requirements of the setting rather than simply choosing the shortest available course.

3. Blended Paediatric First Aid

Blended Paediatric First Aid sometimes causes confusion because it sounds like another type of qualification.

It is actually a way of delivering the Full Paediatric First Aid course.

Instead of completing all of the learning in a classroom, an appropriate blended course divides the training between online learning and face-to-face practical training.

For example, a 12-hour Full Paediatric First Aid programme may consist of approximately six hours of online learning followed by six hours of trainer-led practical training and assessment.

This can be particularly useful for nurseries and other organisations because staff can complete the theory element around work commitments before attending their practical training.

The important point is that blended training does not mean completing the entire qualification online.

Practical skills such as CPR, choking treatment and casualty management need to be practised and assessed appropriately.

First Aid and Safety Training offers Paediatric First Aid training for individuals and organisations across the North East, including blended training where appropriate.

4. Online Paediatric First Aid Training

Online training can be extremely useful for learning and refreshing first aid knowledge.

It can help someone understand subjects such as recognising illness, responding to emergencies and remembering the steps they should take.

However, an online awareness course should not automatically be confused with completing a practical Paediatric First Aid qualification.

Someone learning CPR online can watch how chest compressions are performed, for example, but that is very different from physically practising CPR on baby and child manikins and demonstrating the technique to an instructor.

This distinction is particularly important when an employer or childcare provider requires a recognised qualification.

If you need Paediatric First Aid for work or to meet EYFS requirements, check exactly what qualification and practical assessment you will receive before booking an online course.

Types of Paediatric First Aid Training Guide — #image_title

5. Baby and Child First Aid for Parents and Carers

Not everyone taking Paediatric First Aid training needs a workplace qualification.

Parents, grandparents, foster carers, babysitters and other family members may simply want the confidence to deal with an emergency involving a child.

Training for parents and carers can concentrate on practical situations that could happen at home or while looking after children.

Common subjects include:

baby and child CPR
choking
recovery position
bleeding
burns and scalds
head injuries
seizures
allergic reactions
when to call 999

These sessions can provide extremely valuable skills even when the learner does not require a formal workplace qualification.

The important distinction is understanding what the course provides.

A first aid awareness session can teach useful life-saving skills without necessarily being equivalent to a regulated Paediatric First Aid qualification required for a professional role.

Full Paediatric First Aid vs Emergency Paediatric First Aid

The easiest way to understand the difference is to compare the two main qualifications.

	Full Paediatric First Aid	Emergency Paediatric First Aid
Minimum training	12 hours	6 hours
Main purpose	Comprehensive Paediatric First Aid	Immediate emergency response
Practical training	Yes	Yes
Broader childhood illnesses and injuries	Yes	More limited
EYFS use	Full PFA requirement	Can meet certain staff qualification requirements
Typical learners	Nursery staff, childminders and childcare professionals	Staff requiring emergency PFA within their role
Renewal	Every 3 years	Every 3 years where required to remain current

If you are unsure which one your organisation requires, do not simply choose the shorter course.

Check your role, your organisation’s responsibilities and the current EYFS requirements.

Which Paediatric First Aid Course Do Nursery Staff Need?

For nurseries and other Early Years settings, the starting point should be the current EYFS statutory framework.

At least one person with a current Full Paediatric First Aid certificate must be on the premises and available whenever children are present, and an appropriately qualified person must accompany children on outings.

Settings also need to consider staffing levels, the number of children and the layout of their premises so that a Paediatric First Aider can respond quickly.

In addition, while children are eating, there should always be a member of staff in the room who holds a valid Full Paediatric First Aid certificate.

This means that having only one trained person may not always provide sufficient practical coverage.

Training several members of staff can make it easier to maintain appropriate cover during holidays, sickness, breaks, outings and changes in staffing.

Which Course Do Childminders Need?

Childminders have specific Paediatric First Aid responsibilities under the EYFS.

A childminder, and any assistant who may be left in sole charge of children for any period, needs an appropriate current Paediatric First Aid certificate.

For anyone setting up or operating a childminding service, it is therefore important to check the current EYFS requirements rather than relying on a general first aid or online awareness course.

What About Schools?

Schools can have several different first aid responsibilities because they may be responsible for both adults and children.

Paediatric First Aid may be required for staff working within Early Years provision, while the school’s workplace first aid needs assessment determines appropriate first aid provision for employees.

This means that an adult Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work qualification should not simply be assumed to replace Paediatric First Aid where PFA is specifically required.

Likewise, holding Paediatric First Aid does not automatically mean every workplace first aid requirement has been addressed.

The organisation should consider the people being cared for and the risks identified through its first aid needs assessment.

What About Sports Coaches and Children’s Activity Providers?

Coaches, sports clubs, dance schools, holiday clubs and organisations running activities for children should consider the age of participants and the emergencies their staff may reasonably encounter.

Even where a particular childcare regulation does not dictate the exact qualification, training should be appropriate for the people being supervised.

Someone regularly responsible for young children should therefore consider whether adult-only first aid training provides sufficient preparation.

Does Paediatric First Aid Include Anaphylaxis?

Full Paediatric First Aid includes recognising and responding to allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

However, organisations responsible for children with known allergies may need more detailed training and procedures.

This can include understanding allergy management plans, recognising early symptoms, knowing where medication is kept and being confident in the use of adrenaline auto-injectors.

Schools, nurseries and childcare organisations can find further information through our Allergy and Anaphylaxis Training resources.

How Long Does a Paediatric First Aid Certificate Last?

Paediatric First Aid certificates used to meet EYFS requirements must be renewed every three years.

It is sensible for employers to monitor certificate expiry dates and arrange training well before they expire rather than waiting until the last minute.

A short awareness or refresher session should not automatically be treated as renewing a Full Paediatric First Aid qualification.

We explain this in more detail in our guide to Paediatric First Aid certificate renewal and validity.

Do You Need Paediatric First Aid or First Aid at Work?

The answer depends on who you are responsible for.

Paediatric First Aid is designed around emergencies involving babies and children.

Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work are workplace qualifications primarily designed around adult casualties and workplace first aid provision.

Some organisations may therefore need both.

A school, for example, may have workplace first aid responsibilities for its employees while also needing appropriate Paediatric First Aid provision for younger children.

If you are choosing training for an organisation, the decision should be based on the people you are responsible for, the risks involved and any specific regulatory requirements.

Choosing a Paediatric First Aid Training Provider

Price and location matter, but they should not be the only factors considered.

Before booking, check:

which qualification you will receive
whether practical training and assessment are included
whether the course meets the requirements relevant to your role
how much training is provided
whether appropriate baby and child training equipment is used
who awards the qualification
how long the certificate remains valid
whether the provider can explain which course is appropriate for your organisation

First Aid and Safety Training is an approved Qualsafe Awards Centre. Our relevant Paediatric First Aid courses lead to regulated qualifications awarded by Qualsafe Awards, an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation.

Paediatric First Aid Training with FAST

First Aid and Safety Training provides practical Paediatric First Aid training for individuals, nurseries, schools, childminders and organisations across the North East.

Training is designed to build more than knowledge. Learners need the confidence to recognise when something is wrong and put their skills into practice when a baby or child needs help.

We provide open courses for individual learners as well as onsite training for organisations that need to train a group of staff.

View our Paediatric First Aid courses or contact First Aid and Safety Training if you are unsure which course is right for you.

You can also find First Aid and Safety Training on Google Maps.