First Aid Supplies for EYFS Settings: A Compliance Guide

What are the first aid requirements for EYFS settings?

First aid provision in an Early Years setting is about much more than keeping a green box in the office. It should enable practitioners to respond calmly and quickly wherever children are playing, eating, exploring or resting.

The EYFS Statutory Framework requires group and school-based providers to:

• Keep an accessible first aid box containing appropriate items for children
• Have at least one person with a current full paediatric first aid certificate on the premises and available whenever children are present
• Ensure a suitably qualified practitioner accompanies children on outings
• Renew paediatric first aid training every three years
• Keep written records of accidents, injuries and first aid treatment
• Inform parents or carers of an accident, injury and any treatment provided
• Have a member of staff with a valid full paediatric first aid certificate in the room while children are eating

Hope Education understands that nursery managers must make these requirements work within busy, active environments. Staffing patterns, separate rooms, outdoor provision, lunch cover and local outings must all be considered—not simply the number of certificates held by the team.

Is there a statutory contents list for nursery first aid boxes?

The EYFS framework requires first aid boxes to contain appropriate items for children, but it does not provide one universal contents list. The first aid supplies needed will depend on the setting’s first aid needs assessment. A small nursery operating from one room may require different arrangements from a larger setting with several baby rooms, extensive outdoor provision or regular visits into the community.

A typical EYFS first aid kit may contain:

• Individually wrapped sterile Plasters in assorted plasters sizes
• Medium and large sterile dressings
• sterile eye pads
• Individually wrapped triangular bandages
• disposable gloves
• Safety pins or suitable alternatives
• A current first aid guidance leaflet
• sterile cleansing wipes or materials where appropriate
• Resuscitation protection equipment where identified by the setting

This should be treated as a starting point rather than a definitive shopping list. Nursery managers should confirm that every item is suitable for young children and that practitioners are trained and authorised to use it.

How should nursery managers assess their first aid needs?

A useful first aid needs assessment reflects what actually happens throughout the nursery day. Hope Education recommends walking through the setting from a practitioner’s perspective. Consider how quickly suitable help and supplies could be reached during free-flow play, lunch, outdoor learning, nappy changing, sleep routines and outings.

The assessment should consider:

• The ages and individual needs of the children
• The number and location of rooms
• Separate floors or buildings
• Outdoor play areas
• Forest-school or community-based activities
• Cooking, woodwork and other practical experiences
• Children with allergies or medical conditions
• Mealtimes and the risks of choking or allergic reactions
• Opening, closing and staff-break arrangements
• Staff absence and annual leave
• Regular outings and journeys
• Previous accidents and near misses
• The distance from emergency medical assistance

The provision should be reviewed whenever the children, environment or activities change. A kit that was suitable last year may no longer meet the needs of the current cohort.

How many first aid kits does an EYFS setting need?

There is no statutory number of first aid kits for every nursery. The correct number depends on the setting’s size, layout and assessed needs. One first aid box may not be enough if it is stored in an office away from the baby room, garden or dining area. Practitioners must be able to access supplies promptly without compromising the supervision of other children.

A setting might provide:

• A main first aid box in an agreed central location
• Additional kits for separate rooms or buildings
• An outdoor first aid kit
• A portable first aid kit bag for outings
• Additional supplies for particular activities where required

Each kit should be clearly identifiable and organised consistently. If every box follows the same internal layout, practitioners can locate essentials more quickly during an incident.

What first aid supplies are needed for outdoor play?

outdoor play is an important part of Early Years provision. Children need opportunities to run, climb, balance, transport materials and test their physical capabilities. Sensible first aid preparation allows these experiences to take place without removing appropriate challenge.

An outdoor kit may be needed when the main first aid box cannot be reached quickly. It should be protected from damp, heat and direct sunlight and returned to its agreed location after use. The contents should reflect the outdoor environment and may include sterile dressings, assorted plasters, disposable gloves and suitable cleansing materials.

What should practitioners take on nursery outings?

A practitioner with a current full paediatric first aid certificate must accompany children on outings. The contents of the portable kit should reflect the outing risk assessment, the children attending and the location. A walk to the local library may require different preparation from a woodland visit or full-day trip.

Alongside appropriate first aid supplies, practitioners may need:

• Emergency contact details
• Relevant medical and allergy information
• Individual healthcare plans
• Children’s authorised emergency medication
• Accident-recording materials
• A charged mobile telephone
• Details of the setting’s emergency arrangements

Information should remain secure but accessible to the practitioners responsible for the children. Medicines should be managed under the setting’s medication procedures rather than treated as ordinary first aid-box stock.

How should nursery first aid kits be checked?

A first aid box is only dependable when its contents are complete, clean and ready to use. Nursery managers should give a named practitioner responsibility for checking each kit. Another team member should be able to take over during absence so the system does not depend entirely on one person.

Checks should confirm that:

• All required supplies are present
• Packaging is sealed and undamaged
• Sterile products remain within their expiry dates
• Used items have been replaced
• The box is clean and clearly labelled
• Practitioners know where it is kept
• Children cannot access the contents independently
• Portable kits have been returned after use
• Any activity-specific supplies remain suitable

Kits should also be checked after an incident and before an outing. A simple contents checklist can make this manageable and help the team spot low stock before an essential item is needed.

Hope Education knows that Early Years systems must work during the reality of a busy nursery day. Clear labels, familiar kit layouts and straightforward checking routines reduce uncertainty and help practitioners respond confidently.

Should medicines be stored in a nursery first aid box?

General first aid supplies and children’s medicines should be managed separately. Medicines must be stored according to their instructions, the setting’s policy and the child’s individual requirements.

Written permission must be obtained for the particular medicine, and its administration must be recorded. Emergency medication must remain available to the practitioners who may need it while being stored securely and appropriately. Creams, antiseptics, pain relief and other medication should not be added casually to a communal first aid box. Settings should obtain suitable professional advice and establish the necessary permissions and procedures.

What records must be kept after first aid is given?

EYFS providers must keep written records of accidents, injuries and any first aid treatment provided. Parents or carers must be informed on the same day or as soon as reasonably practicable.

An accident record would normally include:

• The child’s name
• The date, time and location
• A factual account of what happened
• The injury or symptoms observed
• The treatment provided
• The name of the practitioner who responded
• How and when the parent or carer was informed
• Any monitoring or further action required

Managers should review records rather than simply file them. Repeated incidents in the same area may indicate that equipment, supervision, routines or the environment need attention. Serious accidents, illnesses and injuries may also need to be reported to Ofsted and other relevant agencies within the required timescales.

What does effective first aid provision look like in practice?

Imagine that a child grazes their knee while using outdoor balancing equipment. One practitioner comforts the child while the wider group remains appropriately supervised. The trained first aider accesses the nearby outdoor kit, assesses the injury and provides suitable treatment. The incident is recorded, and the child’s parent or carer is informed. The team then considers whether the fall was an ordinary part of appropriately challenging play or whether the environment needs adjusting.

This is proportionate, child-centred practice. The child receives comfort and care without valuable physical play being removed unnecessarily.

In another nursery, the named first aid lead notices that several dressings in the outings bag are approaching their expiry dates. They are replaced before the next trip. It is a small routine action, but it prevents practitioners discovering missing or unusable supplies during an emergency.

What common first aid mistakes should settings avoid?

Buying a kit without assessing the setting

A ready-filled first aid kit can provide a useful foundation, but nursery managers must still determine whether its contents meet the needs of their children, activities and environment.

Keeping every supply in one place

A central box may not provide prompt access across separate rooms, outdoor areas or buildings.

Allowing supplies to expire

Sterile products should be checked regularly. An unopened dressing may still be unsuitable if it has expired or its packaging is damaged.

Overfilling first aid boxes

An overfilled box can make essential items difficult to locate. Supplies should be organised clearly, with unnecessary or unauthorised products removed.

Overlooking staff cover

A well-stocked kit cannot replace appropriate training. First aid cover must be considered during breaks, absences, mealtimes, outdoor play and outings.

Recording incidents inconsistently

Incomplete records make communication with families more difficult and prevent managers from identifying patterns.

How can managers keep first aid provision manageable?

A simple system understood by the whole team is more dependable than a complicated process managed by one person. Nursery managers can:

• Record every kit and its location
• Allocate responsibility for stock checks
• Use a consistent layout across similar kits
• Monitor expiry dates in advance
• Replace supplies immediately after use
• Track paediatric first aid certificate dates
• Arrange training before certificates expire
• Include first aid procedures in staff induction
• Review arrangements when children’s needs change
• Discuss accident patterns and near misses in team meetings

Managers should also test the arrangements against real staffing patterns. Consider what would happen if the usual first aider were on a break, supporting another child, accompanying an outing or unexpectedly absent.

How does Hope Education support first aid preparation?

Hope Education understands that caring for young children brings enormous responsibility. Nursery teams need practical first aid essentials that can be organised clearly, checked easily and accessed confidently across busy indoor and outdoor environments.

Our approach starts with the realities of Early Years practice: active children, changing routines, limited time and practitioners who need dependable resources close at hand. First aid provision will always depend on trained people and sound procedures, but reliable supplies help those procedures work when they are needed.

By helping settings prepare for everyday incidents without losing sight of the importance of exploration and play, Hope Education supports nursery teams in creating environments where children can feel safe, cared for and confident.