Nurseries now need to train their staff in first aid to deal with emergency medical situations by law in the UK. Educational establishments must meet various “ratio” requirements of trained-to-untrained staff. Read here about nursery first aid providers.
Naturally, that raises the question: where should your organisation go to get help? Who should it ask to assist it?
Fortunately, that’s why we’ve written this review. We’ve looked through dozens of first air providers for nurseries to find just five that really stand out for us. We hope this exercise will make your life easier if you’re new to nursery first aid training.
All the recommendations in this post have PFA-trained staff and come with official accreditation. They also happen to be among the most popular options for nurseries across the country, which is why we love them so much. So, what’s out there?
1. Blithfield Safety Training
Topping our list is the ever-popular Blithfield Safety Training. This impressive outfit has been providing high-quality health and safety training courses since 2003, which is more than two decades.
It focuses on providing paediatric blended first aid courses that work around trainees. While it offers high-quality presentations, it also delivers them in an interesting and entertaining manner to ensure nobody gets bored. Meanwhile, it also brings overwhelming post-course support, so you and your team never feel left out in the cold after the learning finishes.
Most participants find that they learn an enormous amount from Blithfield Safety Training, meaning that it is more than a box-ticking exercise. While courses meet OFSTED and Ofqual requirements, they also impart real practical learning that participants can use in every-day educational contexts.
Overall, we like how Blithfield Safety Training provides participants with a sense of confidence and equips them with the skills needed to deal with emergency situations in the classroom or nursery hall.
2. Blossom
Blossom is the number two option on this list, offering comprehensive training courses designed for nurses dealing with young children. It understands their specific requirements and the actions that nurseries need to take.
All of Blossom’s first aid training courses are thorough, lasting at least 12 hours and sometimes more. This lengthy training helps to cement concepts and ensure that real learning is taking place. All PFA courses are delivered by suitable personnel and cover things like when a child is going through an anaphylactic shock or has experienced a scalding, back injury or damage to their eyes, ears or nose. The idea is to equip trainees with the maximum knowledge possible to deal with the challenges they are likely to face in the professional nursery setting over time. Colleagues are able to assess emergency situations and deal with children who might be non-responsive.
3. First Aid for Life
First Aid for Life offers a course designed for nurseries and early years workers. And like Blithfield Safety Training, it caters to a broad audience, which gives you some flexibility. For example, alongside its core business for school and nursery staff, it also provides services for parents, au pairs, childcarers, sports professionals working with children, and youth organisations (like the Scouts).
First Aid for Life has a six hour practical course that runs alongside six hours of online pre-learning (which helps inform the practical sessions). This two-step approach streamlines the process and makes it more enjoyable for everyone involved. Trainers provide continuous assessment to determine proficiency level, with qualifications relevant for up to three years.
For larger groups, First Aid for Life also offers 12-hour practical courses. These give participants full immersion in first-aid training and learning, providing an even deeper and richer backdrop and knowledge. Afterward, staff can access multiple free resources, including interactive tools.
Overall, First Aid for Life has made it onto this list because it can travel to your location (instead of requiring you to move all your staff, which can be a lot of effort). We like it for this reason, and for the fact that the online modules are interactive.
4. Daisy First Aid
Daisy First Aid is an award-winning outfit offering first aid courses across the UK, focusing on schools and childcare providers, including nurseries. Again, it focuses on providing fun sessions that turn first aid training from dull to delightful.
Daisy First Aid is highly prolific and runs training sessions at more than 900 destinations across the country. We like this because it means that nurseries can find locations close to them, wherever they have to be, minimising travel time and helping to get everything organized quickly.
So far, Daisy First Aid has trained thousands of people, many of them well-known names. For example, Christine Lampard, wife of the famous footballer of the same name has used the service, as has singer Ronan Keating and his partner, and Andy Day, a presenter on Cbeebies.
Daisy First Aid can also involve parents in the training process if required. It provides training for families as well as professionals, making it one of the more comprehensive options on this list.
5. Red Cross First Aid Training
Finally, the Red Cross offers a paediatric first aid course that runs over two days. It is EYFS compliant and suitable for nurseries or any other organisation that deals with young children.
Part of its appeal is that it brings the Red Cross name with it. But another element is the affordability of its program. The Red Cross keeps the price down, focusing on delivering quality instead of making a profit.
Courses are available at multiple locations across the country, including Newcastle, Salford, Coventry and Moorgate. These are suitable for people with varied job titles, including nursery and pre-school workers, but also creche leaders and sports staff. Participants on the course learn how to deal with a child who is bleeding, hypothermic, febrile, burnt, scalded, choking or is unresponsive.
Having read this review for 2025, you should have a better idea for where to go to get nursery first aid training. This list is deliberately short to ensure we only forward you to the best options out there.
