Are schools legally required to have trained first aiders?

Yes. Schools are employers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and must comply with the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. The DfE guidance 'First Aid in Schools, Early Years and Further Education' (updated 2020) reinforces this. The precise number of first aiders depends on a needs assessment, but any school should have at least one trained first aider available at all times during the school day.

What first aid qualification do nurseries need for Ofsted?

The EYFS Statutory Framework requires at least one person who has a current Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate to be present at all times when children are on the premises, and on outings. All newly qualified staff entering the early years workforce must hold a PFA certificate. PFA certificates are valid for 3 years and must include a face-to-face practical element — online-only courses are not accepted by Ofsted.

Do school first aiders need a paediatric first aid certificate?

Primary school first aiders should ideally hold either a full Paediatric First Aid (2-day) or at minimum an EFAW course that has been customised to include child and infant CPR, anaphylaxis, and head injury management. The DfE does not mandate PFA for all school first aiders, but Ofsted inspectors will scrutinise whether school first aid provision reflects the age and needs of the pupils. Nurseries and settings caring for under-5s have a stricter mandatory PFA requirement.

First Aid Requirements for Schools in the UK

Q: Does every member of school staff need first aid training?

No — but more staff should hold qualifications than in a typical office, because schools cannot leave a building without first aid cover while a lone trained first aider is dealing with an incident. The DfE recommends training enough staff so that someone with first aid responsibility is always available, including during lunch breaks, PE lessons, and when staff are absent.

Q: How much does first aid training cost for a school?

With Skills 42U, EFAW (1-day) is £495 per group of up to 12 delegates delivered at your school premises. Paediatric First Aid (2-day) is £900 per group. For a school training 10–12 staff in one session, the per-person cost is under £75 — significantly cheaper than sending teachers to individual open courses. Call 07481 344486 for a fixed quote.

Schools are sometimes surprised to discover that the same legal framework governing workplace first aid in a factory or office applies to them too. As employers, maintained schools, academies, independent schools, and early years settings all fall within the scope of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. The additional complexity for schools is the separate DfE guidance layer — and, for settings caring for children under 5, the EYFS Statutory Framework's mandatory paediatric first aid requirements enforced by Ofsted.

The Legal Framework for School First Aid

Three pieces of legislation and guidance govern first aid in UK schools:

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: The overarching duty on employers to protect employees and, so far as is reasonably practicable, non-employees (pupils and visitors).
Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981: Requires employers to provide adequate and appropriate first aid equipment, facilities, and trained personnel. Schools carry out a needs assessment to determine what is adequate for their setting.
DfE: First Aid in Schools, Early Years and Further Education (2020): Non-statutory guidance that translates the HSE framework specifically for educational settings. While non-statutory, Ofsted uses it as a benchmark during inspections and will flag where provision falls short.

Note: the duty under these regulations is primarily to staff, not pupils. However, the DfE guidance states schools should consider the first aid needs of their pupils as part of their overall provision — in practice, any sensible needs assessment will include pupil welfare as a central consideration.

How Many First Aiders Does a School Need?

There is no fixed statutory ratio for schools, but the DfE and HSE are clear that provision must be sufficient so that a trained first aider is available at all times during the school day. In practice this means:

School size / type	Recommended provision
Small primary (<100 pupils)	Minimum 2–3 trained first aiders so cover is available during absences
Large primary or secondary (100–700 pupils)	3–6 first aiders; at least one on each site/building; cover across lunch and PE
Large secondary / sixth form (700+ pupils)	6+ first aiders; dedicated first aid lead; first aid room with a trained person present
Special educational needs (SEN) schools	Higher ratio required — many pupils have complex medical needs. Review provision annually.

The DfE guidance emphasises that schools should not rely on a single certificate holder. If your one trained first aider is off sick or supervising a trip, who covers? Training a cohort of 6–12 staff in one on-site session is a practical and cost-effective solution — and with Skills 42U's group pricing, it works out to less than £75 per person for Paediatric First Aid.

What Training Do School First Aiders Need?

Schools have two primary options for staff first aid training:

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) — 1 day, Level 2: Covers adult CPR, AED use, choking, bleeding, burns, and shock management. Suitable for secondary school and sixth form staff whose primary interaction is with older pupils and adult colleagues. The DfE guidance explicitly recommends that EFAW for school settings covers child and infant CPR as an additional element — ensure your provider delivers this. Skills 42U includes child CPR and anaphylaxis as standard in all school EFAW sessions.

Paediatric First Aid (PFA) — 2 days, Level 3: Covers infant and child CPR, airway management, allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, febrile convulsions, meningitis signs, head injuries, and choking. This is the appropriate qualification for primary school, nursery, and childcare staff. See our Paediatric First Aid course in Kent for full details. Read our guide on EFAW vs First Aid at Work if you are unsure which level is appropriate for your school's needs assessment.

EYFS and Paediatric First Aid Requirements for Nurseries

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework imposes stricter requirements than the general school guidance. These apply to all settings on the Early Years Register — nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, and reception classes in maintained schools.

The EYFS requirement in plain English:

At least one member of staff with a current Paediatric First Aid certificate must be present at all times when children are on the premises or on an outing
All newly qualified early years staff entering the workforce from September 2016 onwards must hold a PFA certificate
PFA training must be renewed every 3 years
The training must include a face-to-face practical element — online-only courses are not accepted by Ofsted
Certificates should cover infant and child CPR, choking, allergic reactions, febrile convulsions, and head injuries

Ofsted inspectors will ask to see PFA certificates during inspections and will note any gap in cover (for example, if the only PFA certificate holder is regularly absent at lunch or on outings). The safest approach is to have at least two or three PFA-qualified staff members so that cover is never dependent on a single person.

First Aid on School Trips and Off-Site Activities

First aid provision does not stop at the school gate. The DfE guidance states that schools should include off-site activities in their first aid needs assessment. Key considerations:

A trained first aider — not just an appointed person — should accompany any trip or off-site activity where there is a significant risk of injury
For EYFS settings, the EYFS requirement applies on outings: a PFA-qualified staff member must be present
Risk assessments for trips should document first aid provision alongside standard risk factors
Remote locations (residential trips, outdoor education) may require a higher level of training, such as the full 3-day First Aid at Work qualification, especially where emergency service response times are long

What Ofsted Looks for in School First Aid

Ofsted does not have its own separate inspection checklist for first aid in maintained schools — but inspectors consider first aid as part of the wider judgement on safeguarding and leadership. Common findings that lead to recommendations:

Expired first aid certificates — check every certificate holder annually, not just at renewal time
Sole reliance on one certificate holder with no cover plan for absence
PFA certificates held by nursery staff that were completed online only (not accepted by EYFS requirements)
No first aid needs assessment documented or reviewed since the last structural change to the school
First aid kit not stocked or inspected regularly

Skills 42U works with Kent schools across Medway, Maidstone, and beyond to train full staff cohorts before Ofsted visits and at certificate renewal. Our INSET day format — training up to 12 staff in one session at your school — is the most efficient way to get and stay compliant.

FAQs

Questions from school business managers and head teachers

Yes. Schools are employers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and must comply with the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. The DfE guidance reinforces this. Any school should have at least one trained first aider available at all times during the school day, with sufficient cover to manage absences.

No — but more staff should hold qualifications than in a typical office, because schools cannot leave a building without first aid cover while a trained first aider is dealing with an incident. The DfE recommends training enough staff so that someone with first aid responsibility is always available, including during lunch breaks, PE lessons, and staff absences.

The EYFS Statutory Framework requires at least one person with a current Paediatric First Aid certificate to be present at all times when children are on the premises and on outings. PFA certificates are valid for 3 years and must include a face-to-face practical element — online-only courses are not accepted by Ofsted.

Primary school staff ideally hold Paediatric First Aid or EFAW adapted for child casualties. The DfE does not mandate PFA for all school first aiders outside the EYFS, but Ofsted inspectors scrutinise whether provision reflects the age and needs of the pupils. Nurseries and settings caring for under-5s have a strict mandatory PFA requirement.

With Skills 42U, EFAW (1-day) is £495 per group of up to 12 delegates delivered at your school. Paediatric First Aid (2-day) is £900 per group. For a school training 10–12 staff in one session, the per-person cost is under £75 — significantly cheaper than sending teachers to individual open courses.

First Aid Requirements for Schools in the UK: What Every Head Teacher and Business Manager Needs to Know