Every nursery and school in England needs trained fire wardens on site during occupied hours. If your setting is bringing in new teaching assistants or nursery staff for September, now is the time to get them trained. This post covers what fire warden training includes, which staff members need it, how long the course takes, and how to book a place in Cumbria before the autumn term.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the "responsible person" in a nursery or school must appoint competent staff to help carry out fire safety measures. In practice, that means having enough trained fire wardens to sweep every room and corridor during an evacuation. For small nurseries with just a few rooms, one or two wardens might be enough. Larger primary schools with multiple buildings need more.
Teaching assistants are a natural fit for the fire warden role. They work across classrooms, know the children, and are often the adults closest to pupils during the school day. But the role needs proper training. Knowing where the fire exits are is not the same as understanding how to conduct a sweep, account for all children, or use a fire extinguisher safely.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a general duty on employers to provide instruction, training, and supervision to keep employees and others safe. That duty applies to schools and nurseries just as it does to any other workplace. A teaching assistant who has been assigned fire warden duties without training is a gap in your fire safety plan, not a solution.
A CPD-accredited fire warden course covers the practical knowledge your staff need to act quickly and correctly. The content is the same whether your setting is a two-room nursery in Penrith or a large primary school in Carlisle. Here is what delegates learn:
The course takes a half day and is delivered in person at your premises or at the CFST training centre in Penrith. All delegates receive a CPD-accredited certificate on completion.
There is no fixed legal number, but you need enough trained wardens to cover every occupied area during all opening hours. Think about shift patterns and part-time staff. If your only trained fire warden works mornings and your nursery is open until 6pm, you have an uncovered period.
Staff who commonly take on fire warden duties include:
For nurseries operating under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, there is already a requirement to have a qualified paediatric first aider on site at all times. Adding fire warden training to the same staff members gives you better coverage without increasing headcount.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers must provide training before staff take on supervisory or safety-critical responsibilities. A teaching assistant assigned fire warden duties on their first day without completing the course is a compliance gap. Book training during August to have certificates in hand before term starts.
CFST runs fire warden training courses throughout August at the Penrith training centre and on-site at schools and nurseries across Cumbria. If you have three or more staff to train, an on-site session at your premises is often the most practical option. The trainer brings the equipment and tailors examples to your building layout.
For individual bookings or smaller groups, check upcoming Penrith course dates at cumbriafiresafetytraining.co.uk/up-coming-courses. August fills quickly, especially the last two weeks before schools go back. Booking now gives you one less thing to sort during the September rush.
Fire warden certificates are recommended for renewal every three years. If you trained staff in 2023 or earlier, their refresher is due this year. Refresher sessions cover the same content in a shorter format and keep your compliance records current.
Many nurseries and schools across Kendal, Whitehaven, and Barrow-in-Furness use August to complete several training requirements in one go. Paediatric first aid, manual handling (for staff who move equipment or support children with mobility needs), and fire warden training can all be scheduled in the same week. This cuts disruption and means staff are ready for day one of term.
View the full list of upcoming courses at cumbriafiresafetytraining.co.uk/up-coming-courses or call to discuss a group booking for your setting.
Teaching assistants do not automatically need fire warden training. But if they are assigned fire warden duties, they must complete a course before taking on the role. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers must train staff before they carry out safety-critical responsibilities. Many schools choose TAs because they are present in classrooms throughout the day and know the children well.
A CPD-accredited fire warden course takes a half day, typically around three to four hours. The course includes both classroom content and practical fire extinguisher training. Certificates are issued on the day and are recommended for renewal every three years.
In practice, fire warden and fire marshal training cover the same content. Some organisations use "fire marshal" for staff with additional coordination responsibilities, but the training course itself is identical. Both roles are recognised under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 as competent persons appointed to assist with fire safety measures.