Paediatric First Aid Training Level 3 Award (2 days)

2 Day Paediatric First Aid Training – Level 3 Award

The 2‑Day Paediatric First Aid course is required for childcare professionals such as nursery staff, teachers, childminders, and carers who must meet Ofsted and EYFS standards.

The course covers all mandatory topics, including CPR, choking, treating injuries, managing illness, and responding to common childhood emergencies. Training is delivered through theory and practical, hands‑on activities to build confidence in real‑life situations.

Covers a wider range of illnesses and conditions compared to the 1-day course, including epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, and fractures.

It also includes key childhood conditions such as asthma, allergies, anaphylaxis, and epilepsy to ensure a full understanding of paediatric first aid.

On completion, participants receive a certificate valid for three years, meeting the requirements of most childcare and education settings. This qualification ensures staff are fully prepared to respond to emergencies involving infants and children.

1‑Day vs 2‑Day Paediatric First Aid: What’s the Difference

The main difference between the 1‑day Emergency Paediatric First Aid (EPFA) course and the 2‑day Full Paediatric First Aid course lies in the depth of training, the range of topics covered, and the level of legal compliance required in childcare settings.

• The 1‑day EPFA provides essential, life‑saving skills focused on immediate emergency response.
• The 2‑day Full Paediatric First Aid course offers comprehensive training, covering both emergency situations and the wider management of paediatric illnesses and injuries. It also meets the full Ofsted and EYFS requirements for registered childcare providers and designated first aiders.

📚Check: All First Aid Level 3 Courses.

Course Information:

• Course Duration: 2 days
• Course Level: Level 3 Award
• Certificate: 3-year certificate
• Max Delegates: 12
• Practical: Yes
• Course Mode: Face to Face/ Blended
• Accreditation Options: Non-Accredited (Caring for Care Certificate) / Accredited (Qualsafe Award)✅
• Meets OFSTED and EFYS Curriculum

Businesses who have staff members involved with children and require children first aid training course are the target audience for this Paediatric First Aid two-day Training – Level 3 Award course.

The course is delivered in line with requirements outlined by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EFYS) and also meets OFSTED requirements.

🤱Related: Paediatric First Aid Refresher Course.

Course Outline: 2-day Paediatric First Aid Training

1. The Law Relating to First Aid

• Understanding the legal responsibilities of providing first aid.
• What consent means when giving first aid to children.
• Duty of care and the Good Samaritan Law.
• How to record and report first aid incidents.

2. Unconsciousness (Including Seizures)

• How to recognise if a child is unconscious.
• What to do if a child becomes unconscious.
• The recovery position.
• Seizures:
  • What a seizure is.
  • How to help a child during a seizure.
  • When to seek medical help.

3. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

• Why CPR is vital for babies, children, and adults.
• CPR techniques for different age groups.
• How to identify cardiac arrest in a child.
• Hands-on CPR practice.
• How to demonstrate and perform CPR.

4. Choking, Shock, Wounds & Bleeding

• Choking in Children
  • How to recognise choking in a baby or child.
  • How to help a choking baby or child.
  • Key differences in treating choking in babies vs children.
• Shock
  • Signs and symptoms of shock in children.
  • How to respond to a child in shock.
• Wounds and Bleeding
  • Types of wounds (cuts, grazes, punctures).
  • How to stop bleeding and treat wounds.
  • How to apply bandages and dressings.

5. Minor Injuries

• Common minor injuries in children.
• How to treat grazes, bumps, and bruises.
• When a minor injury may need medical attention.

6. Bone Injuries

• Recognising broken bones, sprains, and strains.
• How to assist a child with a suspected fracture.
• Use of splints, bandages, and elevation.
• When to seek emergency medical help.

7. Burns and Scalds

• Types of burns (heat, chemical, electrical).
• How to identify and treat burns and scalds in children.
• Pain relief and infection prevention.
• When to get medical assistance.

8. Poisoning

• Common household and environmental poisons.
• Signs and symptoms of poisoning.
• First aid for poisoning.
• When (and when not) to induce vomiting.
• Use of activated charcoal.
• When to seek urgent medical help.

9. Anaphylactic Shock

• Recognising signs of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction).
• Common triggers (e.g. foods, stings, medication).
• How to use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen).
• Managing anaphylaxis until help arrives.

10. Head Injuries

• Understanding head injuries in children.
• Signs of concussion, skull fractures, or brain injury.
• When to seek emergency medical care.
• How to respond to a child with a head injury.

11. Epilepsy, Asthma & Diabetes

• Epilepsy
  • Recognising epilepsy and seizure types.
  • How to respond during and after a seizure.
• Asthma
  • Spotting asthma symptoms and triggers.
  • How to assist with an inhaler.
  • Managing an asthma attack.
• Diabetes
  • Signs of low and high blood sugar.
  • How to respond to diabetic emergencies.

Conclusion & Assessment

• Recap of key learning points.
• Time for Q&A.
• Practical and written assessment.
• Certificate awarded upon successful completion.

Learning Outcomes: Paediatric First Aid Course

By the end of the Paediatric First Aid course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the legal responsibilities and duties when giving first aid to children.
• Recognise when a child is unconscious and know how to respond.
• Perform CPR on babies, children, and adults confidently.
• Spot the signs of choking in children and know how to help.
• Recognise shock in children and know how to treat it.
• Stop bleeding and treat different types of wounds and injuries.
• Help treat common childhood injuries such as sprains, strains, and broken bones.
• Treat burns and scalds, knowing the right first aid for different types.
• Know what to do if a child is poisoned and when to get medical help.
• Recognise signs of anaphylactic shock and use an EpiPen if needed.
• Understand how to deal with head injuries, including mild and serious injuries.
• Help a child during a seizure and understand how to manage epilepsy.
• Recognise asthma symptoms and know what to do during an asthma attack.
• Spot the signs of low or high blood sugar in children with diabetes and know how to help.

These outcomes will ensure participants are ready to deal with emergencies involving children, using the right first aid techniques.

🤱Related: Paediatric First Aid e-learning Course (£30.00)

Who Is the 2‑Day Paediatric First Aid Course For?

The 2‑Day Paediatric First Aid course is for anyone who must meet Ofsted and EYFS requirements for full paediatric first aid. It is the mandatory qualification for staff who are the designated first aider in early years and childcare settings.

Ideal for:

• Nursery staff.
• Childminders.
• Nannies and au pairs.
• Preschool and early years teachers.
• Wraparound care providers (breakfast clubs, after‑school clubs, holiday clubs).
• Anyone responsible for children’s welfare in Ofsted‑registered settings.

This course is required when a setting needs full compliance with EYFS standards and must have at least one fully trained paediatric first aider available at all times

👉Public Courses: Basic Life Support Training / Moving and Handling Training.

Course Benefits

This course gives individuals the confidence and practical skills to respond effectively to emergencies involving infants and children, helping them meet professional requirements and feel prepared in real‑life situations.

For businesses, it ensures full compliance with Ofsted and EYFS standards, reduces organisational risk, supports safer environments, and helps maintain required staffing ratios by having qualified paediatric first aiders available at all times.

Benefits for Individuals (Parents, Carers, Teachers)

• Increased Confidence: Training reduces panic and enables calm, effective action in emergencies.
• Life-Saving Skills: Learn CPR for infants and children, seizure management, and use of an EpiPen (auto-injector).
• Enhanced Employability: Certification is often required or highly valued in childcare, education, and nannying roles.
• Peace of Mind: Recognise and treat minor injuries (cuts, burns) and serious conditions (meningitis, anaphylaxis).
• Personal Safety Awareness: Identify hazards and prevent accidents before they occur.

Benefits for Businesses (Nurseries, Schools, Coaches)

• Legal Compliance: For UK early years settings, trained staff are required under EYFS and Ofsted regulations.
• Reduced Risk & Liability: Immediate care can prevent injuries from worsening, mitigating legal and insurance risks.
• Improved Reputation: Trained staff demonstrate a commitment to safety, building trust with parents.
• Lower Emergency Response Times: On-site trained staff provide immediate aid while waiting for professional medical services.
• Team Empowerment: Company-wide training fosters a proactive safety culture and readiness for emergencies.

Course Reviews

Full Paediatric First Aid Course FAQs

1. What Is the Regulatory Standard for the 2‑Day Full Paediatric First Aid Course?

The 2‑Day Full Paediatric First Aid course meets the Ofsted and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) regulatory standard for full paediatric first aid provision. It is the required qualification for designated first aiders in childcare settings, ensuring compliant, competent emergency response for infants and children.

2. What’s the Difference Between Emergency Paediatric First Aid and Full Paediatric First Aid?

Emergency Paediatric First Aid is a 1‑day course covering essential, immediate life‑saving skills such as CPR, choking, and managing unresponsive children. The Full Paediatric First Aid course is 2 days and includes all emergency skills plus the wider management of illnesses and injuries. It also meets full Ofsted and EYFS requirements for childcare settings.

3. When Should the Full Paediatric First Aid Course Be Refreshed?

The 2‑Day Full Paediatric First Aid course must be refreshed every 3 years to remain valid and compliant with Ofsted and EYFS requirements. Many childcare settings also choose to complete annual CPR refreshers to keep practical skills up to date, but this is recommended rather than mandatory. This course is essential for those who need to ensure they are fully compliant with legal requirements while gaining the confidence to manage serious paediatric emergencies.

4. What Happens If I Don’t Renew My 2‑Day Full Paediatric First Aid Certificate?

If you don’t renew your 2‑Day Full Paediatric First Aid certificate, it expires after three years. Once expired, you are no longer qualified to act as a designated paediatric first aider in a childcare or workplace setting. The certificate cannot be used to prove competency past its expiry date, which can create legal, regulatory, and professional risks for both you and your employer.

5. Who Is an Appointed or Designated Person?

An appointed or designated person is someone chosen by an employer to take charge of first aid arrangements when a qualified first aider is not required or not available. Their role includes calling emergency services, managing the incident area, and maintaining first aid equipment—but they are not trained first aiders unless they hold a valid first aid certificate.

6. What Should the First Aid Ratio Be?

There is no fixed child‑to‑first‑aider ratio, but UK early years settings must ensure at least one person with a current Full Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate is on the premises at all times when children are present, as required by Ofsted and EYFS. Providers must also have enough trained staff to cover breaks, absences, and all areas of the setting.

7. Do You Need Paediatric First Aid to Be Counted in Ratio?

Yes. To be counted in ratio in an early years setting, a staff member must hold a current 2‑Day Full Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate. Only the full course meets Ofsted and EYFS requirements for being included in ratio and acting as a qualified paediatric first aider.

8. What Are the Ofsted Requirements for Staff Ratios?

Ofsted follows the statutory EYFS ratios, which require settings to maintain a minimum of 1:3 for children under two, 1:4 for two‑year‑olds, and 1:8 for children aged three and over, or 1:13 when led by a qualified teacher (QTS, EYPS, or EYTS). These ratios must be maintained at all times children are present.

9. Must the Course Be Delivered Face to Face?

Yes. The 2‑Day Full Paediatric First Aid course must be delivered face to face, as EYFS and Ofsted require learners to demonstrate practical skills—such as CPR, recovery positions, and emergency responses—which cannot be validly assessed online. Blended or fully online versions do not meet the full paediatric first aid requirements.

Caring for Care delivers fully accredited, hands‑on paediatric first aid training taught by experienced clinical instructors, with practical, confidence‑building scenarios, flexible scheduling, and consistently high learner satisfaction.

10. What Is the Difference Between the Qualsafe Option and the Standard Caring for Care Course?

Both options are delivered by our qualified instructors and follow the required curriculum to ensure businesses and staff meet the necessary training standards. The key difference is that Qualsafe is an accredited qualification, and its curriculum follows the awarding‑body framework.

Our standard Caring for Care version covers the same required skills but is non‑accredited, allowing us to make the content fuller, more flexible, and tailored to your organisation’s specific risks. Both versions fully meet the Ofsted and EYFS requirements needed for childcare settings.

11. Do You Offer Flexible Dates?

Yes, we do. We offer flexible training dates to help businesses schedule sessions at times that best suit their staff, including on‑site delivery and options to accommodate shift patterns or busy periods. You can discuss with our course advisors on possible dates this month. We will one of our experienced first aid trainers to you.

12. What Level Is the Certificate and When Does It Expire?

Learners receive a Level 3 Paediatric First Aid certificate, which meets all Ofsted and EYFS requirements for working in early years settings and being counted as a qualified paediatric first aider. A Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate should be renewed every three years.

To remain compliant with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements and Ofsted standards, it is crucial that the renewal training is completed before the current certificate expires.

13. Can I Combine Emergency First Aid Training With Paediatric First Aid?

Yes, you can combine Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) with Paediatric First Aid. Many organisations choose this option to cover both workplace and childcare requirements in a single programme. It’s an efficient way to ensure staff are equipped to respond to adult and child emergencies while meeting regulatory standards. We offer a combined qualsafe first aid course (3 days) covering both areas, please discuss your options and requirements with our course advisors.

14. What Does Qualsafe Accreditation Mean?

Qualsafe Accreditation means a training course meets the official standards set by Qualsafe Awards, a UK organisation that regulates first aid and safety qualifications. Qualsafe Awards is overseen by Ofqual, ensuring its courses meet the national requirements of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

The Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF) is a regulated 2‑day qualification that meets all Ofsted and EYFS requirements, making it the recognised standard for childcare and early years professionals.