Paediatric First Aid Course | Blended Learning

Paediatric First Aid: Blended Learning

The same 12-hour qualification, with half the time spent in the classroom.

Our face-to-face Paediatric First Aid course delivers the 12-hour, Level 3, EYFS Statutory Framework 2023 (Annex A) compliant qualification. This is the qualification required for staff included in statutory staff-to-child ratios at Level 2 or Level 3 in Ofsted-registered settings. This blended learning version delivers exactly the same qualification, with 50% online and 50% in the classroom.

For nurseries and schools managing staff cover, halving the classroom time without reducing the standard of training or assessment is a genuine operational benefit. The qualification, the assessment standard and the certificate options are identical to the fully face-to-face course.

Important timing note: this course must be completed within 6 weeks. As a result, we cannot release your online e-learning access more than 6 weeks before your face-to-face course date. Please bear this in mind when booking, particularly if you are booking well in advance.

Why This Matters More Than Ever for Secondary Schools

In 2021, the European Resuscitation Council and the UK Resuscitation Council changed an important principle. Anyone under 18 should now receive paediatric first aid, not adult first aid. Previously, children from puberty (around age 12) up to 18 were treated as adults for first aid purposes. That is no longer correct.

This means every secondary school’s First Aid Needs Assessment, which must be reviewed at least annually, now needs to take this into account. A first aider trained only in adult first aid is not correctly equipped to respond to a paediatric emergency involving a 14, 15 or 16-year-old student. This blended course is one of the most efficient ways for secondary school staff to close that gap.

How the Course Works

Online learning (50% of the course, self-paced)

This covers the underpinning theory across the full Level 3 Paediatric First Aid syllabus. You complete this within the 6-week window before your face-to-face day.

Classroom day (50% of the course)

This covers all practical skills, scenario-based learning, and formal assessment using infant, child and adult manikins.

What You Will Learn

The full Level 3 Paediatric First Aid syllabus, aligned with the EYFS Statutory Framework 2023 (Annex A) and UK Resuscitation Council guidelines:

• The role of the paediatric first aider in an EYFS or childcare setting, and how to assess a scene safely
• Infant (0 to 1) and child (1 to 18) CPR, including technique, ratios and AED use
• The recovery position for an unresponsive infant or child
• Choking in infants and children
• Severe allergic reaction and anaphylaxis
• Wounds, bleeding and catastrophic haemorrhage control
• Burns and scalds, head injuries and concussion awareness
• Fractures and suspected spinal injuries
• Febrile and epileptic seizures
• Asthma and respiratory distress in children
• Diabetic emergencies
• Meningitis: recognition and response
• Poisoning and ingestion
• Eye, ear and nose injuries
• Minor injuries, including cuts, grazes, bruises and splinters
• Communicating with parents, carers and emergency services

Course Details

Certificate:

There are two options available for this course. Ultimately there is no difference in the validity of either, but some people prefer to choose one other the other. You will see the same presentation, be assessed on the same practical skills & to the same degree, but sit different multiple choice exam papers at the end of the course.

• Certified by Chris Garland Training:
  • This is the default option.
  • PDF format certificates are issued as standard, but paper certificates can be requested as well.
  • Your certificate is valid for 3 years.
• Certified by the Ofqual Regulated Awarding Organisation:
  • If you’d prefer this option, please select this option when making your booking above.
  • PDF format certificates are issued as standard, but paper certificates can be requested as well.
  • Your certificate is valid for 3 years.

Course duration:

• The DfE & Ofsted state that for the course to be valid, your course must be a minimum of 12 hours in total duration. This includes the time allowed for the assessments and exam, but does not include for any coffee breaks.
• As a blended learning course, the course must be completed in a maximum of 6 weeks. This is something to bear in mind when planning potential face to face course dates as you won’t be able to start the course until a maximum of 6 weeks beforehand.
• There is approximately 6 hours self-study, followed by a minimum of 6 guided learning in the classroom with our instructor/assessor.
• The course starts at 9am and runs until 5pm, with around 1 hour of breaks through the day (15 minutes coffee break, 30 minutes lunch, 15 minutes coffee break).

Test:

• Whether certified by Chris Garland Training or the Ofqual Regulated Awarding Organisation that we use, the paediatric first aid assessments are the basically the same. Each candidate undertakes a multiple-choice question paper & practical assessment.
• Blended learning:
  • As you progress through the online course you will have to undertake short multiple-choice assessments. At the end of the online course you will be issued with a course certificate. This certificate must be brought with you when you attend the classroom element of your course.
• Multiple-Choice Question paper:
  • You need to score a minimum of 70% correct answers to achieve a pass.
• Practical observation:
  • You’ll need to demonstrate giving first aid as you would in an emergency situation, such as providing CPR on the floor. You need to score 100% to achieve a pass.

Pre-requisites:

• You’ll need to be able to demonstrate first aid procedures as you would in a real activity environment. This includes providing CPR to a casualty who is on the floor. So you must be physically capable of doing this to pass the course.
• We recommend that you have at least GCSE grade D/Level 1 English & Maths before undertaking this course. This is not mandatory – please contact us to discuss any reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs.
• The course is suitable for anyone over 16 looking to undertake the responsibilities associated with being a nominated first aider. The course can also be undertaken by candidates between 14 & 16 years old, but they shouldn’t be relied upon by employers to be a sole, nominated first aider.

Candidates:

• All classroom courses have a minimum and maximum number of candidates that we can take on a course.
  • Minimum: We need a minimum of 4 candidates on an open/scheduled course for the course to run. Click here for more details.
  • Maximum: We are limited by the Health & Safety Executive, and (where applicable) by the Awarding Organisation, to a maximum of 12 candidates per instructor.
• Should you have more than 12 candidates to be trained, please contact us to discuss your training needs.

Geographical coverage:

• The paediatric first aid course is available to candidates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• We can deliver it in other countries, but the protocols that we teach meet the current UK practice, protocols & guidance.

Venue:

• Scheduled paediatric first aid courses run at our training centre in Knutsford, Cheshire. Visit our Joining Instructions page to read about what you will need to bring/wear, etc.
• If you have chosen the blended learning option, you’ll need to attend our training centre to complete the face to face element of the course. Where a private booking has been made for multiple candidates using the blended learning option, please contact us to discuss holding the practical element of the course at your venue.
• Why not arrange to have a private face to face course run at your workplace? Simply fill in our quote builder tool to request a quotation.

Joining instructions:

• Visit this page to read the course joining instructions.
• Where your course is not being run at our main training centre, you’ll also receive an email with additional joining instructions including the venue address.

Private courses:

• To arrange a private course for yourself or your colleagues, please fill in our Quote Builder tool.

Which Paediatric First Aid Qualification Do You Need?

• Staff counted within EYFS statutory ratios at Level 2 or Level 3: the 12-hour Paediatric First Aid course (this course, or the face-to-face equivalent)
• Staff not counted within statutory ratios: the Emergency Paediatric First Aid course (1 day, 6 hours)

If you are unsure, the DfE EYFS Statutory Framework sets out the requirements. Alternatively, contact us.