Blended Paediatric First Aid
Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF)
Ofqual Regulated
3
Year Certificate
Blended Delivery
6 Hours E-Learning
1 Day Classroom
Complete the Full Paediatric First Aid Qualification with One Classroom Day
The Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF) is a regulated qualification for people who have responsibility for the care of infants and children. It provides comprehensive training in the recognition and management of childhood illnesses, injuries and life-threatening emergencies.
The blended route leads to the same full qualification as the traditional two-day classroom course. Instead of completing all the learning in a training room, learners undertake approximately six hours of structured Qualsafe e-learning before attending one practical classroom day with DTMK in Bletchley, Milton Keynes.
This can make the qualification easier to fit around employment, childcare and other responsibilities. It can also reduce the amount of time that nursery, pre-school and childcare staff need to spend away from their setting.
Blended learning does not reduce the qualification content or remove the practical assessments. It changes where part of the learning takes place. The online element develops the underpinning knowledge, while the classroom day concentrates on practical skills, realistic scenarios, trainer feedback and formal assessment.
You can also explore DTMK’s complete range of paediatric first aid training, including classroom, blended, emergency, refresher and combined qualifications.
How Does Blended Paediatric First Aid Work?
The course is completed in two connected stages.
Stage One: Qualsafe E-Learning
Learners complete approximately six hours of online learning through the Qualsafe e-learning platform. The modules introduce and develop the knowledge needed by a paediatric first aider, using information, activities and knowledge checks that can be completed around other commitments.
E-learning access is normally issued approximately four weeks before the practical course. Where somebody books after the access window has opened, access will normally be provided within 24 hours.
The e-learning must be completed in full before the classroom session. It is not optional preparation and it cannot be completed after attendance. Each learner therefore needs an individual email address and enough time to work through all the required modules.
Stage Two: Practical Classroom Training and Assessment
After completing the online learning, learners attend one classroom day at Whaddon Way Church in Bletchley, Milton Keynes.
The day concentrates on applying knowledge in realistic situations. Learners practise assessing incidents, managing unresponsive infants and children, performing paediatric CPR, using an automated external defibrillator, responding to choking and dealing with other childhood injuries and medical emergencies.
All formal practical assessments and written theory assessments take place during the classroom session. The e-learning must therefore have been completed before the learner arrives.
Is This the Full Paediatric First Aid Qualification?
Yes. Successful learners receive the Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF), which is the same regulated qualification awarded through the traditional two-day classroom route.
The certificate is valid for three years. The qualification is designed around the paediatric first aid requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and is commonly selected by early years practitioners, nursery staff, pre-school teams, childminders and others who need a full Paediatric First Aid qualification.
If you are uncertain which qualification your role requires, read our guide to choosing the right paediatric first aid course.
Completing the qualification does not by itself determine whether an organisation has enough trained first aiders. Early years providers and employers must consider their setting, staffing arrangements, working patterns, absences, rooms, activities and the number and ages of the children when deciding what provision is required.
Who Is the Blended Course For?
The blended route is suitable for people who need a full Paediatric First Aid qualification but would prefer to complete part of the learning online.
It may be particularly useful for early years practitioners, nursery and pre-school staff, childminders, school staff, childcare professionals, activity providers and people working in voluntary or community roles with infants and children.
It can also be a practical option for employers who want to reduce classroom absence without compromising the breadth of the qualification.
Learners who prefer to complete all their training directly with a trainer can choose the traditional two-day Paediatric First Aid course instead.
Before You Book
The Qualsafe e-learning must be completed before the practical classroom day. The completion deadline is 11.59 pm on the day before attendance. A learner who has not completed all the required online learning cannot attend the classroom training or complete the qualification on that date.
Learners should begin the modules promptly after access is issued rather than leaving them until the final few days. Non-completion is treated as a cancellation. A transfer may sometimes be offered at DTMK’s discretion, but this depends on availability, Qualsafe timescales and any additional costs and cannot be guaranteed.
Learners must be at least 14 years old on the date of the practical training. The classroom day includes practical work and assessment at floor level.
Please tell DTMK before booking if an injury, medical condition, disability or additional need may affect participation. We can discuss possible support and reasonable adjustments, although the required practical skills must still be demonstrated for the qualification to be awarded.
View Available Dates and Book
Choose an available practical date below to see the current course information, price and remaining places. Payment is required when booking.
Six hours of e-learning followed by one practical classroom day at our Bletchley venue.
7 hr
159 British pounds
What Will I Learn?
The course develops the knowledge and practical skills needed to respond when an infant or child becomes ill or injured. It begins with the responsibilities of a paediatric first aider and the importance of assessing an emergency carefully before moving into the immediate priorities of treatment.
Learners explore how to manage an unresponsive infant or child, including opening the airway, checking breathing and using an appropriate recovery position. The course includes practical training in infant and child CPR, safe use of an automated external defibrillator and the management of choking.
The wider syllabus considers the injuries and medical conditions that paediatric first aiders may encounter in early years, education, childcare and community settings.
Course Content
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Roles and responsibilities of a paediatric first aider
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Assessing an emergency involving an infant or child
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Managing an unresponsive infant or child
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Infant and child CPR
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Safe use of an automated external defibrillator
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Choking
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Seizures and febrile convulsions
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Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
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Asthma and diabetic emergencies
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Meningitis
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External bleeding and shock
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Head, neck and back injuries
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Suspected fractures
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Burns, scalds and electric shock
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Poisoning
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Eye, ear and nose conditions
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Bites and stings
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Extremes of temperature
Practical activities give learners the opportunity to develop their technique, receive feedback and repeat important procedures. The purpose is not simply to recall information for an assessment. It is to build a structured and confident response that can be used when a child genuinely needs help.
How Is the Qualification Assessed?
All formal assessments take place during the classroom day. The online modules must be completed beforehand, but they do not replace the required face-to-face assessment.
Learners complete seven practical assessments across the two mandatory units. These assess the application of essential paediatric first aid skills, including infant and child resuscitation, the management of choking, care of an unresponsive casualty and responses to other specified emergencies.
There are also two multiple-choice question papers. The first contains 15 questions, with a minimum required score of 11. The second contains 25 questions, with a minimum required score of 18.
The trainer explains how the assessments work and provides opportunities to practise before competence is assessed. Learners must successfully complete every required element to achieve the qualification.
Entry and Practical Requirements
Learners must be at least 14 years old on the date of their practical training. This is an entry requirement for the qualification only. Achieving the qualification does not determine whether a learner can be given responsibility for children, work without supervision or be included in staffing ratios. Employers and childcare providers remain responsible for complying with the safeguarding, supervision, suitability and staffing requirements applying to their setting.
There are no other formal entry qualifications. Learners should have sufficient literacy and numeracy to follow the course, complete the e-learning and undertake the written assessments.
Paediatric first aid is a practical subject. Learners must be able to demonstrate procedures that may involve kneeling on the floor, performing CPR, placing a casualty into an appropriate position and responding to simulated emergencies.
Comfortable clothing and flat, practical footwear are recommended. Restrictive clothing, short skirts and high heels are unsuitable for floor-level activities.
If a learner has an injury, health condition, disability or support need, DTMK should be contacted before the course. Reasonable adjustments can be considered in accordance with the awarding organisation’s requirements, but they cannot remove the need to demonstrate the practical skills required by the qualification.
Certification and Renewal
Learners who complete the e-learning, attend the full classroom session and pass all required assessments receive the Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF).
The qualification is valid for three years. To remain qualified, the learner must complete an appropriate Paediatric First Aid qualification again before the certificate expires.
Annual refresher training can help paediatric first aiders revisit important skills and maintain confidence between full qualifications. It does not extend the expiry date of the original certificate or replace the requirement to requalify.
Key Qualification Information
Qualification: Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF)
Qualification number: 603/0785/7
Regulated by: Ofqual
Delivery: Approximately six hours of e-learning followed by a minimum of six classroom hours
Guided Learning Hours: 12
Total Qualification Time: 15 hours
Credit value: 2
Units: 2 mandatory units
Assessment: 7 practical assessments and 2 multiple-choice question papers
Maximum class size: 12 learners per trainer
Minimum learner age: 14
Qualification validity: 3 years
Maximum qualification period: 7 weeks, including any referrals
Learning Materials
Learners receive appropriate reference materials to support the course. These provide a useful reminder of the procedures covered during training and can be retained for reference throughout the period of certification.
The practical classroom session uses infant and child resuscitation manikins, AED trainers and other relevant first aid training equipment. This allows learners to practise procedures in a controlled and supportive environment before completing their assessments.
Training for Nurseries, Schools and Childcare Organisations
DTMK can also arrange private Paediatric First Aid training for nurseries, pre-schools, schools, childcare providers and other organisations.
Private delivery can be useful where several members of a team need the same qualification or where an organisation wants to coordinate training around staffing requirements. Training may be arranged at a suitable organisational venue, subject to appropriate space, facilities and awarding-organisation requirements.
Contact DTMK to discuss learner numbers, possible dates and whether blended or traditional classroom delivery would be the more appropriate option for your team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is blended Paediatric First Aid the same qualification as the two-day course?
Yes. Successful learners receive the same Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (RQF). The difference is the method of delivery. Approximately six hours are completed through e-learning before one practical classroom day.
Can I complete the entire course online?
No. Paediatric first aid includes practical skills and formal assessments that must be completed face to face. The e-learning is only one part of the blended qualification.
Must the e-learning be completed before the classroom day?
Yes. Qualsafe requires the distance-learning element to be completed before the face-to-face classroom session. A learner who has not completed the e-learning cannot attend the practical training or assessment.
When will I receive access to the e-learning?
Access is normally issued approximately four weeks before the practical course. If a booking is made after that access window has opened, it will normally be issued within 24 hours.
Can I complete the e-learning at my own pace?
The modules can be completed around other commitments during the period in which access is available. Learners should allow approximately six hours in total and are advised to work through the modules in manageable stages rather than leaving them until the deadline.
What happens during the classroom day?
The classroom session includes trainer-led discussion, demonstrations, practical activities, realistic scenarios, skills development and all required assessments. Learners practise procedures involving both infants and children.
Does this course support EYFS paediatric first aid requirements?
The full Paediatric First Aid qualification is designed around the paediatric first aid requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Individual providers remain responsible for determining how many trained people they require and ensuring that their complete arrangements meet the requirements applying to their setting.
Is this course suitable for childminders?
The full Paediatric First Aid qualification is commonly selected by registered childminders. Prospective learners should check the current requirements applying to their registration, role and circumstances before booking.
What if I have an injury or need additional support?
Contact DTMK before booking or as early as possible before the course. We can discuss reasonable adjustments and available support. The required practical competencies must still be demonstrated for the regulated qualification to be awarded.
How long is the certificate valid?
The qualification is valid for three years. Learners must complete the appropriate qualification again before the certificate expires if they need to remain qualified.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Individuals can view available blended course dates and book online. Organisations can contact DTMK to discuss private training, learner numbers and the most appropriate delivery method.