If your nursery, school, or childminding setting is based in Cumbria, at least one member of staff on site at all times must hold a valid paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate. That's a legal requirement under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, and it applies to every registered childcare provider in England. This guide covers who needs the qualification, how often it needs renewing, and why May is the right time to get it sorted before the summer break.
The EYFS statutory framework sets out two levels of paediatric first aid training. The first is a full 12-hour course spread across two days. The second is a shorter emergency paediatric first aid (EPFA) course, which runs for six hours over one day. Since 2016, all newly qualified early years staff holding a full and relevant level 2 or level 3 childcare qualification must have completed the full 12-hour PFA course. Ofsted's expectation is clear: at least one person with a full PFA certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present.
For childminders, the requirement is tighter. You must hold a full PFA certificate yourself — there's no option to rely on a colleague being nearby. Both certificates last three years, after which you must retake the course in full. There is no top-up or partial renewal option. The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 underpin the broader duty, while the EYFS framework specifies the paediatric requirement for early years providers.
According to Ofsted's 2024–25 annual report, insufficient first aid provision remains one of the more common welfare requirement breaches found during early years inspections. The HSE's workplace injury statistics reinforce the point: adequate first aid coverage is not optional — it is a core safeguarding measure.
One trained person covers you on paper, but annual leave, sickness, or resignation can create an instant compliance gap. Ofsted expects adequate cover at all times — that means thinking about ratios, not just certificates. Book a second staff member onto the next available course now.
CFST's 12-hour PFA course is CPD accredited and covers the full list of topics required by the EYFS framework — including infant and child CPR, choking management, anaphylaxis response, burns, head injuries, febrile seizures, meningitis recognition, asthma management, and incident reporting. Courses run at the CFST training centre in Penrith, with group bookings also available at your own premises anywhere in Cumbria.
Book now and your staff complete training before the summer holiday period. Certificates stay valid through the next three academic years, holiday club provision is covered, and your September return is clean from a compliance standpoint. Waiting until September creates risk: if existing PFA holders leave over the summer, you could start the new term without adequate cover. Book your place on the next Penrith course here.
A paediatric first aid certificate is valid for three years from the date of the course. After three years you must retake the full course to renew. There is no shortened refresher option that meets EYFS requirements.
No. The EYFS framework requires that paediatric first aid training includes a practical, face-to-face element. Online-only courses don't meet the requirement. The full 12-hour course must be delivered in person so that staff can practise CPR, recovery positions, and choking response techniques on training manikins.
The full paediatric first aid course is 12 hours over two days and covers a wide range of childhood illnesses and injuries. Emergency paediatric first aid (EPFA) is a six-hour, one-day course covering life-threatening emergencies only. Since 2016, all newly qualified level 2 and level 3 early years staff must complete the full 12-hour course. EPFA on its own is not enough for new entrants to the sector.
CPD accredited fire safety and first aid training delivered online or at your premises anywhere in Cumbria.
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