Full or Emergency Paediatric First Aid? 12 or 6 Hours
Updated 17 October 2026 · 4 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
A full paediatric first aid (PFA) course lasts at least 12 hours; an emergency PFA course lasts at least 6 hours. Under the EYFS, only a full certificate counts for the three rules that decide your cover: the person who must always be on the premises when children are present, the person who goes on every outing, and the person in the room whenever children are eating. That is why most nurseries, pre-schools and schools with reception classes train their staff on the full 12-hour course.
These rules come from the EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers that applies from 1 September 2026, including Annex A, which sets the standard for paediatric first aid training.
Full and emergency compared
| Emergency paediatric first aid | Full paediatric first aid | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum length | 6 hours (excluding breaks) | 12 hours (excluding breaks) |
| Delivery | Face to face throughout | Emergency elements face to face; the rest can be blended |
| Covers | Life-threatening emergencies only | Everything in the emergency course, plus a wider range of conditions |
| Counts for the on-premises rule (3.37) | No | Yes |
| Counts for outings (3.37) | No | Yes |
| Counts for mealtimes (3.64) | No | Yes |
| Valid for | 3 years | 3 years |
The EYFS defines face to face as trainers physically present with their trainees, which excludes online platforms. A course delivered entirely online does not meet either standard.
What the emergency course covers
Annex A lists the emergency elements:
- Assessing an emergency and prioritising what to do
- Helping a baby or child who is unresponsive and breathing normally
- Helping a baby or child who is unresponsive and not breathing normally (CPR)
- Seizures
- Choking
- Bleeding
- Shock caused by severe blood loss
What the full course adds
On top of the emergency elements, the full course covers:
- Anaphylaxis, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, diabetic emergencies, meningitis and febrile convulsions
- Electric shock, burns and scalds
- Suspected fractures, and head, neck or back injuries
- Suspected poisoning
- Foreign bodies in the eyes, ears or nose, and eye injuries
- Bites and stings
- The effects of extreme heat or cold
- The role of the paediatric first aider, including first aid kit contents and recording accidents and incidents
For a nursery, these are everyday risks: a child with a nut allergy, a scald at snack time, a febrile convulsion in the baby room. The full course is the one that prepares staff for them.
Which one does your setting need?
- For your core cover: full. At least one full certificate holder on the premises at all times, one on every outing, and one in each room where children are eating. Allow for breaks, holidays, sickness and split sites, so most settings need several.
- For new level 2 and 3 staff: the EYFS requires staff who gained a level 2 or 3 qualification since 30 June 2016 to obtain a paediatric first aid qualification within three months of starting, to count in ratios. Training them on the full course means they can also provide cover for the rules above.
- For your staff as employees: paediatric first aid covers babies and children. First aid for your adult staff falls under workplace law, which Emergency First Aid at Work covers.
Our guide to EYFS paediatric first aid requirements sets out every rule with its paragraph number, and our page on first aid training for nurseries covers training the whole team.
Renewal and refreshers
Paediatric first aid training must be renewed every three years, and the renewal certificate must again come from a full course. The EYFS also asks providers to consider annual refresher training in between, to keep CPR and choking skills sharp. Our certificate guide covers renewal for every workplace course.
Training your team on site
We deliver the full 12-hour FAA Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid, an Ofqual-regulated qualification, face to face over two days at your nursery, pre-school or school, anywhere in England. One trainer certifies up to 12 staff per session, and we can arrange training around INSET and closure days so your cover never drops. See the Paediatric First Aid course or request a free quote and we will reply within 24 hours.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Always check the current EYFS framework for your type of setting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between full and emergency paediatric first aid?
A full paediatric first aid course lasts at least 12 hours and covers everything in the emergency course plus a longer list of conditions, such as anaphylaxis, burns, fractures, head injuries, poisoning and asthma. An emergency course lasts at least 6 hours and covers the life-threatening situations: unresponsive children, choking, seizures, bleeding and shock.
Does an emergency paediatric first aid certificate meet the EYFS requirements?
Not for the main rules. The EYFS requires the person who must always be on the premises, the person who goes on outings, and the person in the room while children eat to hold a certificate from a full course. That is why most settings train staff on the full 12-hour course.
Can paediatric first aid be done online?
Not entirely. The EYFS says the emergency elements must be taught face to face, which it defines as trainers physically present with their trainees, excluding online platforms. Some full courses put the remaining theory online; a two-day classroom course is face to face throughout.
How long is a paediatric first aid certificate valid?
Three years. The EYFS requires paediatric first aid training to be renewed every three years and asks providers to consider annual refresher training in between.
Book first aid training at your workplace
Amber Training delivers accredited workplace first aid courses at your premises, anywhere in England. Based in London.