Manchester's working parents depend on wraparound care. Breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, holiday clubs, and activity camps fill the gaps around the school day and during the holidays, giving families the childcare they need while providing children with structured activities, social time, and fun.
These settings are booming. More parents are working, more schools are offering extended provision, and more independent providers are setting up holiday clubs and activity camps across Greater Manchester. But with that growth comes a responsibility that is sometimes overlooked: every one of these settings needs staff trained in paediatric first aid.
If you run a breakfast club, after-school club, holiday club, or activity camp in Manchester, paediatric first aid training is not optional. It is a legal requirement if you care for children in the early years, and it is a professional expectation and a duty of care for all settings that look after children of any age.
We are PCT Services, and we deliver Qualsafe Awards accredited paediatric first aid training from our training centre at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich, about a 40 minute drive from Manchester. We also deliver on-site training at settings across Greater Manchester.
The regulatory position
If your setting cares for children under five, you fall under the EYFS framework, and the requirements are specific. At least one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate must be on the premises at all times when children are present, and at least one must accompany children on outings. Ofsted will check this.
If your setting cares for children aged five and over, you are not covered by the EYFS paediatric first aid requirements, but you are covered by the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, which require adequate first aid provision. Given that your setting is full of children, adequate provision means having staff who are trained in paediatric techniques, not just adult first aid. A child who chokes, has an asthma attack, or suffers a head injury needs a response that is specific to their age and size.
Holiday clubs and activity camps often care for children across a wide age range, from four year olds to twelve year olds, which means you need staff who can respond to emergencies involving both young children and older children. Paediatric first aid training covers this entire range.
The specific risks of wraparound and holiday club settings
These settings involve children being active, often in environments that are not purpose-built for childcare. A church hall used for holiday club is different from a nursery designed with soft surfaces and child-height furniture. A school playground used for after-school club has equipment that children use in ways the designers did not intend. A sports camp in a park has none of the safety infrastructure of an indoor setting.
The emergencies that are most likely to occur include impact injuries from running, climbing, and sports. Head injuries from falls and collisions. Broken bones and sprains from physical activities. Choking during snack time, particularly with younger children. Allergic reactions to food, craft materials, or outdoor allergens. Asthma attacks triggered by exercise or environmental factors. Burns from cooking activities. And the general cuts, scrapes, and bumps that are an inevitable part of active childcare.
Staff in these settings are often young, working on seasonal contracts, and may not have previous childcare experience. They are enthusiastic and caring, but they may not have had any first aid training at all. Equipping them with paediatric first aid skills before they start is essential.
Which course is right for your setting?
Emergency Paediatric First Aid (1 Day)
This covers the core life-threatening emergencies in a single day. CPR for infants and children, choking management, severe bleeding, burns, and unresponsiveness. It costs £75 plus VAT per person, the certificate is valid for three years, and it is Qualsafe Awards accredited.
This is a practical option for holiday club staff, activity camp leaders, and after-school club workers who need paediatric first aid skills quickly and efficiently. A single day of training before the start of the holiday season can equip your whole team with the essential life-saving skills.
Emergency Paediatric First Aid
The Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid (RQF) is a regulated and nationally recognised qualification. Your trainer is a Registered Nurse with many years of clinical experience within Emergency Departments who trains Advanced Paediatric Life Support to medical and nursing staff in acute hospital environments.
Paediatric First Aid (2 Day)
The full Level 3 qualification combines one day of e-learning with one day of practical training and covers the comprehensive range of paediatric emergencies: CPR, choking, burns, febrile convulsions, allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, meningitis, head injuries, fractures, bleeding, asthma, seizures, and more. It costs £95 plus VAT per person and the certificate is valid for three years.
This is the course your senior staff, club managers, and designated first aiders should complete. It provides the deepest level of knowledge and the broadest coverage of paediatric emergencies.
Paediatric First Aid (2 Day) *OFSTED & EYFS*
This Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF) is a regulated and nationally recognised qualification which is OFSTED and EYFS compliant. Your trainer is a Registered Nurse with many years of clinical experience within Emergency Departments who trains Advanced Paediatric Life Support to medical and nursing staff in acute hospital environments.
Northwich Training Centre, Northwich
3 spots left · 4 dates available
Combined EFAW and Paediatric First Aid
Starting from £95 plus VAT, this course gives your staff both adult and paediatric first aid qualifications. Ideal for settings where staff supervise children alongside adult volunteers, parents, and visitors. Your team leaves equipped to respond to emergencies involving anyone.
Combined EFAW & Paediatric First Aid
This combined Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) and Emergency Paediatric First Aid (RQF) is a regulated and nationally recognised qualification and is HSE, OFSTED and EYFS compliant. Your trainer is a Registered Nurse with years of experience in Emergency Departments who trains Advanced Life and Advanced Paediatric Support to medical and nursing staff in acute hospital environments.
Training your Manchester team
For holiday clubs and activity camps that recruit seasonal staff, the best approach is to schedule paediatric first aid training as part of your pre-season induction. Train your team before the children arrive, so everyone is equipped from day one.
For after-school clubs and breakfast clubs with permanent staff, build paediatric first aid into your annual training calendar. Book renewals before certificates expire and train new starters within their first few weeks.
For school-based wraparound care, coordinate with the school's own first aid training. Your wraparound staff may be different from the teaching staff, and they need their own paediatric first aid coverage during the hours they operate.
On-site training across Manchester
For Manchester settings with a group of staff to train, on-site delivery is the most practical option. We come to your venue, set up in a hall or large room, and train your team. This works particularly well for holiday clubs and activity camps where you can train the whole team in a single day before the programme starts.
We can also train staff from multiple sites in a single session if you are part of a larger organisation or a group of providers who want to train together.
Or attend at our Northwich centre
For individual staff members, our scheduled courses at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich run throughout the year. Check the live dates on our Paediatric First Aid page, our Emergency Paediatric First Aid page, or our Combined EFAW and Paediatric page.
Book your training
If you run a wraparound care setting, holiday club, or activity camp in Manchester, check the upcoming dates on our course pages or give us a call on 07958 915146 to discuss on-site training. The children in your care are active, adventurous, and full of energy. Make sure the adults around them are trained and ready for anything.
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