Primary schools are where children spend the majority of their waking hours. They run, climb, play, eat, experiment, and push boundaries in ways that are entirely normal and entirely necessary for their development. They also fall, bang their heads, graze their knees, choke on food, have allergic reactions, experience asthma attacks, and occasionally suffer injuries that require more than a plaster and a kind word.
For primary schools in Winsford, having staff who are trained in paediatric first aid is not just about meeting a regulatory requirement. It is about making sure that every child in the school is within reach of an adult who knows what to do when something goes wrong. And in a primary school, things go wrong every single day.
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 10 minute drive from Winsford. We also deliver on-site training at schools across the area.
What primary schools must have in place
The Department for Education guidance on first aid in schools requires all schools to have adequate first aid arrangements. For primary schools, this means having staff trained to deal with emergencies involving children, and if the school has an EYFS class (nursery or reception), the requirements are more specific.
The EYFS framework requires at least one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate to be on the premises at all times when children under five are present. At least one person with paediatric first aid must also accompany children on outings. These are not guidelines. They are requirements, and Ofsted will check.
Beyond the EYFS classes, the rest of the primary school also needs first aid provision. Children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are still young, still developing, and still vulnerable to the kinds of emergencies that require paediatric-specific techniques. CPR for a seven year old is different from CPR for an adult. Choking management for a five year old uses different force and positioning than for a grown-up. A child having a febrile convulsion needs a response that is specific to their age and size.
The courses that work for primary schools
Paediatric First Aid (2 Day)
This is the full Level 3 qualification that meets all EYFS requirements. It combines one day of e-learning with one day of practical training. The course covers infant and child CPR, choking management for babies and children, burns and scalds, febrile convulsions, allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, meningitis recognition, head injuries, fractures, bleeding, asthma, seizures, and more.
It costs £95 plus VAT per person, the certificate is valid for three years, and groups can be up to 12.
This is the course your designated EYFS first aiders, your reception and nursery staff, and your senior teaching assistants should complete. It provides the most comprehensive paediatric first aid training available.
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
Emergency Paediatric First Aid (1 Day)
This covers the core life-threatening emergencies in a single day. CPR, choking, severe bleeding, burns, and unresponsiveness. It costs £75 plus VAT per person and the certificate is valid for three years.
This is a good option for staff who need paediatric first aid skills but do not need the full depth of the two day course. Lunchtime supervisors, after-school club leaders, and teaching assistants in Key Stage 2 all benefit from this level of training.
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.
Combined EFAW and Paediatric First Aid
This course gives your staff both workplace first aid and paediatric first aid in a single package. Starting from £95 plus VAT, it is ideal for staff who need to respond to emergencies involving both children and adults, such as parents, visitors, and colleagues. It is one of the most popular options for primary school staff because of its dual coverage.
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.
Practical first aid for the school day
Think about your average school day in Winsford and where emergencies are most likely to happen.
The playground during break and lunch. Falls, collisions, broken bones, head injuries. The staff on duty need to assess quickly, decide what requires first aid versus what requires an ambulance, and act accordingly. Paediatric first aid training covers all of this.
The dining hall during lunch. Choking is a real risk when children are eating, talking, and laughing at the same time. The lunchtime supervisor needs to be able to recognise choking and intervene with back blows and abdominal thrusts within seconds. There is no time to run to the school office to find the first aider.
The classroom. A child with a known allergy has a reaction. A child with asthma has a severe attack. A child has a seizure. The class teacher or teaching assistant is the first adult on the scene and needs to manage the situation while also managing the rest of the class.
School trips. Away from the school, away from the first aid kit, away from the familiar environment. The staff accompanying the trip need paediatric first aid skills because help may take longer to arrive.
The PE lesson. Impact injuries, sprains, breaks, and the occasional collision that leaves a child unconscious. The PE teacher needs to assess, stabilise, and decide whether the injury requires an ambulance.
In each of these scenarios, the trained adult who is closest to the child is the one who matters. That is why training should be spread across the school, not concentrated in one person.
On-site training for Winsford schools
On-site training on an inset day is the most efficient way to train your staff. We come to your school, set up in the hall or a large classroom, and train a group of up to 12 in a single session. For larger schools, we can run two sessions back to back or across two days.
Training at your school means we can reference your specific environment. Where your first aid kits are. How your team communicates during an emergency. What your procedures are for contacting parents. This makes the training more relevant and more immediately applicable.
Or attend at our Northwich centre
For individual staff members who need training outside of inset days, our scheduled courses at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich run throughout the year. It is about a 10 minute drive from Winsford. 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 are a headteacher, school business manager, or EYFS coordinator at a Winsford primary school, check the upcoming dates on our course pages or give us a call on 07958 915146 to discuss on-site training for your staff. Your children are in your care for six hours a day, five days a week. Make sure the adults around them know exactly what to do when something goes wrong.
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