EYFS First Aid Requirements: PFA Rules for Early Years
Updated 30 September 2026 · 5 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
Under the EYFS, at least one person with a current, full paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate must be on the premises and available whenever children are present, and must go on every outing. A member of staff with a full certificate should be in the room whenever children are eating. Staff with a level 2 or 3 early years qualification gained since 30 June 2016 must get a paediatric first aid qualification within three months of starting work to count in your ratios. A full course lasts at least 12 hours, its emergency elements must be taught face-to-face, and training must be renewed every three years. Ofsted discusses your paediatric first aid arrangements at the start of every inspection.
These rules come from the EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers that applies from September 2026. Paragraph numbers below refer to that framework.
The rules at a glance
| Requirement | EYFS | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| At least one person with a full paediatric first aid certificate on the premises whenever children are present | 3.37 | Cover every opening hour, including early and late shifts, allowing for breaks, holidays and sickness |
| A full certificate holder goes on every outing | 3.37 | If an outing leaves, someone else trained in paediatric first aid must still be on site |
| Renew paediatric first aid training every three years | 3.37 | Track expiry dates and book requalification in good time |
| Think about numbers, staff and layout so a first aider can respond quickly | 3.38 | Split sites, several floors or separate baby rooms usually need more than one |
| New level 2 and 3 staff need paediatric first aid within three months to count in ratios | 3.39 | Build paediatric first aid training into induction, or new starters cannot count towards your ratios |
| Display certificates, or a list of certificate holders, or make them available to parents | 3.40 | Keep an up-to-date list on the parents' noticeboard or in your welcome pack |
| A full certificate holder in the room whenever children are eating | 3.64 | Every room where children eat needs one, at every meal and snack |
| A full course lasts at least 12 hours, with emergency elements face-to-face | Annex A | A short online-only course does not meet the standard |
| Consider annual refresher training within the three years | Annex A | A short yearly refresher keeps CPR and choking skills sharp |
Full or emergency paediatric first aid?
Annex A of the framework describes two courses. Emergency paediatric first aid lasts at least 6 hours and covers the life-saving essentials, such as an unresponsive baby or child, CPR, choking, seizures, bleeding and shock. Full paediatric first aid lasts at least 12 hours and adds the wider range of injuries and illnesses, including anaphylaxis, burns and scalds, fractures, head injuries, poisoning, meningitis and febrile convulsions. Our guide to full or emergency paediatric first aid compares the two side by side and shows which one counts for each rule.
The rules for the person on the premises (3.37) and the person in the room at mealtimes (3.64) both specify a full course. The three-month rule for new staff (3.39) refers simply to a paediatric first aid qualification, so check the current wording against your own ratio planning. Most settings choose the full course for all room staff, because it is the certificate every other rule asks for.
Planning cover across your rota
The legal minimum is one person, but one person is rarely enough to meet all of the rules at once. Before deciding how many people to train, work through your day:
- Opening hours and shifts. Is someone with a full certificate in the building from the first drop-off to the last pick-up?
- Mealtimes. How many rooms eat at the same time? Each needs its own full certificate holder, including at snack times.
- Outings. When a first aider leaves with an outing, who is still on site?
- Layout. Could a first aider reach every room, the garden and the baby room quickly (3.38)?
- Absence. Who covers holidays, training days and sickness?
Counting these up usually shows why settings train most or all of their practitioners, and why it pays to train a group together rather than one person at a time.
What Ofsted will look at
Ofsted's operating guide for early years inspections from September 2026 says inspectors' initial activities must include discussing your arrangements for recruitment and paediatric first aid. Be ready to show:
- A list of who holds a full paediatric first aid certificate, with expiry dates
- How you guarantee cover at all times, on outings and at mealtimes
- How new level 2 and 3 staff qualify in paediatric first aid within three months
- Where certificates are displayed or shared with parents (3.40)
Childminders
The childminder version of the framework sets the same standard for the course and adds a registration rule: childminders must have a paediatric first aid certificate to register and must keep holding one for as long as they are registered (3.42).
Choosing a course
The framework leaves the choice of training provider to you, but the course must meet Annex A. Look for:
- A full course of at least 12 hours, excluding breaks
- Emergency elements taught face-to-face, with practical work on baby and child manikins
- An Ofqual-regulated qualification, such as the FAA Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF)
- A certificate valid for three years
Paediatric first aid at your setting
We deliver the full 12-hour Paediatric First Aid course over two days at your nursery, school or setting anywhere in England, for up to 12 staff. It costs £995 per session, all-inclusive. No payment until your booking is confirmed. It is the FAA Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid, awarded by First Aid Awards, Ofqual-regulated and delivered face-to-face. See how we work with nurseries and early years settings.
This article summarises the EYFS statutory framework and Ofsted's inspection guidance as published on GOV.UK. It is general guidance, not legal advice: always check the current framework for your type of setting. Enquire about the Paediatric First Aid course.
Frequently asked questions
Does every nursery practitioner need a full paediatric first aid certificate?
Not every practitioner by law, but the EYFS requires at least one person with a current, full paediatric first aid certificate on the premises whenever children are present and on every outing, a full certificate holder in the room whenever children are eating, and a paediatric first aid qualification within three months for staff with level 2 or 3 qualifications gained since 30 June 2016 to count in ratios. In practice, most settings train all room staff so cover never drops.
How long does a paediatric first aid certificate last?
The EYFS requires paediatric first aid training to be renewed every three years, and certificates are issued with three-year validity. The framework also asks providers to consider annual refresher training in between. Book requalification before expiry so your cover never lapses.
Can paediatric first aid be done online?
Not entirely. The EYFS says the emergency paediatric first aid elements must be delivered face-to-face, and a full course must last at least 12 hours excluding breaks. Some blended courses put the non-emergency theory online; a two-day classroom course is fully face-to-face.
Do childminders need paediatric first aid?
Yes. Under the EYFS framework for childminders, childminders must have a paediatric first aid certificate to register and must continue to hold one for as long as they are registered.
Book on-site first aid training
First aid training at your venue, from £645 per session for up to 12 staff, including trainer, equipment, certificates and travel.
Ofqual-regulated certificates. No payment until your booking is confirmed. Confirmation by email within one working day. Private sessions for your team, not public courses.