My Best course - Up to speed with first aid

Lynsey Olivant-Davies is based in Stevenage and has been a childminder for 11 years. She has attended many paediatric first-aid refreshers and recommends PACEY's Paediatric First Aid Training for Childcare Professionals as one of the best.

Delivered face-to-face over 12 hours, usually as six two-hour sessions, the CACHE-accredited qualification is suitable as a childminder pre-registration course or a first-aid refresher. It is valid for three years and meets the current EYFS requirements.

The learning outcomes include understanding the principles of first aid, providing effective management of an accident, establishing immediate care priorities, initiating the primary care necessary in a life-threatening emergency, and demonstrating how to respond to the criteria laid out in the EYFS. Some elements, such as CPR, are assessed by observing the learner carrying out a demonstration of competencies on infant and child dummies. Other elements are knowledge-based and do not have to be observed practically.

Mrs Olivant-Davies, who attended Westfield Children's Centre in Watford for two six-hour sessions, with around 20 to 25 people in the group, says, 'In the past, the courses have tended to be led by a nurse or a paramedic, but this one was led by an EYP who was trained to teach first aid. We ran through all the practical exercises first and, while usually you find that some people are a bit nervous or giggly, the tutor encouraged an air of engagement and confidence. In the second week, we reassessed the practical exercises and then talked about various issues such as broken bones.'

The experience of the course overall was enjoyable and worthwhile, according to Mrs Olivant Davies. 'In the past, there has been a tendency for the course leaders to tell anecdotes, which leads to the attendees telling stories as well, but sometimes you just want to get on with it. However, the PACEY course leader was brilliant and kept right on track.'

www.pacey.org.uk/firstaid