At Scallywags Nursery, we hope we never have to deal with a serious medical emergencyโbut if we do, we want every member of our team to have the knowledge, confidence and skills to act immediately.
Children are naturally adventurous. They love to climb, run, explore and take risks through play. Whilst we carefully risk assess our environment every day, bumps, falls and accidents are sometimes an unavoidable part of childhood.
Thatโs why first aid isnโt just a qualification to usโitโs a core part of our everyday practice.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
In an emergency, every second counts.
Whether itโs a bumped head, a choking incident, an allergic reaction or a child becoming suddenly unwell, knowing what to do can make all the difference.
As early years practitioners, we have a responsibility not only to care for children but to remain calm, confident and prepared should the unexpected happen.
Our aim is always to provide immediate care while reassuring children and keeping parents fully informed.
๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ
At Scallywags, 100% of our team hold a current Paediatric First Aid qualification, renewed every three years in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
However, we donโt stop there.
Our team regularly revisit first aid through staff meetings, monthly training and practical discussions, ensuring knowledge remains fresh and everyone feels confident responding to emergencies.
We are also incredibly proud to have achieved Millieโs Markโthe gold standard for paediatric first aid in early years settings. This nationally recognised accreditation demonstrates that we go above and beyond the minimum legal requirements to keep children safe.
๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ผ๐บ
Outdoor learning is a huge part of life at Scallywags.
Whether weโre climbing trees, building dens, splashing in puddles or exploring nature during Forest School, children are constantly learning through hands-on experiences.
Because of this, several members of our team have also completed Forest School First Aid training.
Emma, Demi, Olivia and Lydia have undertaken this additional qualification, giving them specialist knowledge and confidence to respond to emergencies in outdoor environments.
This means families can feel reassured that children are supported by highly trained practitioners wherever their learning takes them.
๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ผ๐ผ
We believe first aid isnโt just for nursery practitionersโit is a life skill that every parent, grandparent and carer should feel confident in.
Knowing how to respond if your child is choking, has a seizure, suffers a burn or becomes unresponsive can be invaluable.
Thatโs why weโre delighted to be offering Parent First Aid sessions, helping families build confidence in managing common childhood emergencies.
We hope parents never need to use these skills but knowing what to do can make all the difference in those first critical moments.
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐
Weโre proud to work closely with BETrained Essex, who deliver engaging, practical and high-quality training for our team.
Their expertise helps ensure our practitioners remain up to date with current guidance and best practice across a wide range of early years topics, including:
- Paediatric First Aid
- Forest School First Aid
- Parent First Aid
- Safeguarding
- Early Years professional development
- Leadership and specialist training
Their training is always relevant, hands-on and designed specifically for those working with children, helping us continually invest in our team and the quality of care we provide.
๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ
Children thrive when nurseries and families work in partnership.
By ensuring both practitioners and parents feel confident in first aid, weโre creating a safer community for every childโnot just within our nursery, but at home and out in the wider world too.
At Scallywags, first aid is more than a certificate on the wall. Itโs a commitment to protecting children, acting quickly when it matters most, and giving families the reassurance that their children are in safe, knowledgeable hands every single day.
Importance of first aid blog written by Demi Eastment
