18/11/2025
There appears to be considerable confusion regarding what First Aid training schools and nurseries must organise to meet Ofsted EYFS and HSE requirements. A brief overview might help clarify the essentials. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Schools and nurseries must comply with both HSE and Ofsted EYFS requirements (or equivalent standards if they fall outside Ofsted’s remit). Legally, you must be able to demonstrate that appropriate first aid provision is in place for your organisation. According to the HSE, at least one person (per 50 employees) must be available at all times with an HSE qualification. For up to 50 employees, this can be a one-day EFAW qualification, ideally tailored to schools to include child first aid, heart attack, head injuries, and anaphylaxis, in addition to the standard EFAW HSE syllabus. For more than 50 employees, you should have staff with three-day FAW qualifications, supported by those with EFAW qualifications.
Regarding EYFS and Ofsted requirements, there must always be at least one staff member with a full 12-hour paediatric first aid qualification, including cover for sickness, holidays, and trips. These staff can be supported by colleagues holding the one-day Emergency Paediatric First Aid qualification.
