Wilmslow sits in the heart of one of the strongest independent education areas in the north of England. The town and its surrounding area are home to private schools, prep schools, independent nurseries, and a range of after-school and extracurricular providers that serve families who expect the highest standards of care. And when it comes to first aid, the highest standards mean having properly qualified staff who can respond to a paediatric emergency with confidence and competence.
Whether you run a private school, a prep school, an independent nursery, a tutoring centre, or an after-school club in Wilmslow, your first aid obligations are the same as any education or childcare setting. But the expectations of your parents may be even higher. They are paying for excellence, and that includes knowing their children are safe.
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 30 minute drive from Wilmslow. We also deliver on site at schools and education settings across the area.
First aid obligations for independent schools
Independent schools follow the same DfE guidance on first aid as maintained schools. Every school must have a first aid policy, carry out a first aid needs assessment, and ensure there are adequate numbers of trained first aiders available throughout the school day and during all school activities.
For any school with early years provision, including nursery and reception classes, at least one member of staff must hold a full paediatric first aid qualification. This is a requirement of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and will be checked by Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) depending on your inspection regime.
But for a private school in Wilmslow, meeting the minimum requirement is rarely enough. Parents who choose independent education expect robust safety arrangements, and having multiple members of staff trained in paediatric first aid across different parts of the school demonstrates the kind of thorough, proactive approach that builds confidence and trust.
Which course for your Wilmslow school?
Paediatric First Aid (2 Day)
This is the full Level 3 qualification that meets EYFS requirements. It combines one day of e-learning with one day of practical classroom training and covers the complete range of paediatric emergencies. This is the course for staff working in your early years and junior departments where children are youngest and the paediatric skills are most directly relevant.
It costs £95 plus VAT per person, the certificate is valid for three years, and groups can be up to 12.
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 Emergency First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid
This is our recommended course for most independent school staff, and here is why. In a school environment, your staff need to be prepared for emergencies involving both children and adults. A teaching assistant might need to help a choking five-year-old at lunch and then deal with a parent who collapses at pick-up time. The combined course covers both adult workplace first aid and paediatric first aid in a single package, giving your staff dual certification.
It includes pre-course e-learning and one day of classroom training. It starts from £95 plus VAT per person, the certificate is valid for three years, and groups can be up to 12.
For schools with both junior and senior departments, this is particularly practical. Staff in the senior school get adult first aid skills that are relevant for older pupils and adult colleagues, while also gaining paediatric skills that apply if they ever support in the junior school or on cross-school trips.
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.
Emergency Paediatric First Aid (1 Day)
This one day course covers the core paediatric emergencies and is suitable for staff who need paediatric skills but are not in an EYFS role requiring the full two day qualification. It works well for sports coaches, music teachers, peripatetic staff, and other specialists who work with children but are not based in early years.
It costs £75 plus VAT per person, the certificate is valid for three years, and groups can be up to 12.
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.
Beyond the classroom
First aid provision in a private school extends well beyond the classroom. School trips, sports fixtures, swimming galas, drama productions, residential visits, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, forest school sessions, and a whole range of extracurricular activities all require adequate first aid cover.
For every off-site activity, you need a trained first aider present. For activities involving younger children, that first aider should hold a paediatric qualification. For residential trips, you need to think about 24-hour cover and what happens if the one trained person becomes ill.
The combined course is particularly valuable here because it means your staff are qualified for emergencies involving both children and adults in any setting, on or off the school premises.
Training on site at your Wilmslow school
We can deliver any of our paediatric first aid courses on site at your school in Wilmslow. We bring all the equipment, including infant and child manikins, and set up in whatever space works best. This is a popular choice for inset days, when you can train a group of staff without disrupting the school day.
On site training also means that your staff are learning in a familiar environment, which makes the scenarios feel more relevant. And training together as a team builds collective confidence, so that when an emergency happens, the response is coordinated rather than confused.
Your staff can also attend scheduled courses at our training centre at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich. Check the live dates on our Paediatric First Aid page, our Emergency Paediatric First Aid page, or our Combined Emergency First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid page.
Inspection readiness
Whether your school is inspected by Ofsted or the ISI, your first aid arrangements will be reviewed. Inspectors look at the number of trained staff, the validity of their certificates, the quality of your first aid policy, and the evidence that your needs assessment is up to date.
Having a documented training programme that shows staggered certificate renewals, appropriate course levels for different roles, and coverage across all departments and activities demonstrates strong governance. We can help you put this programme together so that you are always inspection-ready.
Book your training
If you manage or are responsible for first aid at a school or education setting in Wilmslow, check the upcoming dates on our course pages and book your places. Or give us a call on 07958 915146 and we can discuss the best training plan for your school's needs, including which courses suit which roles and how to schedule training around your academic calendar.
Your pupils' safety is non-negotiable. Make sure your team has the skills to match.
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