From 1 September 2025, significant updates to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework will come into effect. These changes bring new legal requirements and fresh opportunities for improving safety in schools, nurseries, and early years settings.
We’ve summarised the 3 key points and what they mean for your team’s first aid training.
1. No Change to What is Taught – Your Current Courses Still Count
If you already hold Paediatric First Aid (PFA) or Emergency Paediatric First Aid (EPFA) training that meets the EYFS framework, there’s good news:
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The list of topics, skills, and assessment standards for a compliant PFA course has not changed.
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The full PFA course is still 12 hours minimum (two days).
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The EPFA course is still 6 hours minimum (one day).
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The existing requirements for having a fully PFA-qualified person on-site at all times remain exactly the same.
✅ If your team is already trained to these standards, those certificates remain valid under the new framework – no retraining needed just because the rules are changing.
The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of key PFA provisions, illustrating precisely what has changed between the framework effective until 31 August 2025 and the new framework effective from 1 September 2025:
| Provision | EYFS Framework (Effective until 31 Aug 2025) – Requirement | EYFS Framework (Effective from 1 Sept 2025) – Requirement | Analysis of Change |
| General PFA Presence | At least one person with a current PFA certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present and must accompany children on outings.1 | Requirement is maintained without change.13 | No Change |
| PFA Course Content | Must meet the criteria specified in Annex A, covering a defined list of topics for both 12-hour and 6-hour courses.1 | Requirement is maintained without change. Annex A criteria are carried over.12 | No Change |
| PFA for Newly Qualified Staff | Staff who obtained a Level 2/3 qualification since June 30, 2016, must obtain a PFA qualification within three months of starting work to be included in ratios.1 | Requirement is maintained without change. | No Change |
| PFA for Students/Trainees in Ratios | No specific requirement. Inclusion in ratios was at the discretion of the provider, often without a PFA prerequisite. | Students, apprentices (16+), and volunteers (17+) must hold a valid PFA certificate to be included in ratios at the level below their study.3 | New Requirement |
| PFA for Staff on Experience-Based Route | This qualification route was not explicitly referenced in relation to PFA requirements. | Staff who qualified through the experience-based route must hold a valid PFA qualification to be counted within staff:child ratios.2 | New Requirement |
2. Big Change to Who Must Be Trained – PFA Now Mandatory for More People
While the content of training hasn’t changed, the scope of who must hold a certificate has – and it’s a big shift.
From 1 September 2025, the following people must hold a valid PFA certificate if they are to be counted in your statutory staff-to-child ratios:
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Students on long-term placements
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Apprentices aged 16 or over
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Volunteers aged 17 or over
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Staff who gained qualifications via the new experience-based route
If they don’t have a PFA certificate, they cannot be used in ratios and will be considered extra to staffing (supernumerary).
This is a major change in approach. Previously, training for these groups was often optional, now it’s a legal prerequisite if they are to be counted as part of the team for ratios.
This table provides a clear, at-a-glance comparison of the two paediatric first aid qualifications to guide compliant decision-making:
| Paediatric First Aid (PFA) | Emergency Paediatric First Aid (EPFA) | |
| Typical Duration | 12 hours (minimum), typically 2 days face-to-face or 1 day online + 1 day face-to-face (blended).1 | 6 hours (minimum), typically 1 day face-to-face.1 |
| Content Scope | Comprehensive: Covers all emergency topics plus suspected fractures, poisoning, burns, eye/ear/nose injuries, effects of heat/cold, and specific medical conditions (asthma, anaphylaxis, diabetes, seizures, meningitis).1 | Core Emergencies: Covers assessing an emergency, unresponsive baby/child (breathing and not breathing), choking, bleeding, and shock.1 |
| EYFS Compliance Status | Meets the primary requirement for a PFA-qualified person to be on-site at all times.1 | Does NOT meet the primary requirement on its own. It is a supplementary qualification. |
| Primary Target Audience | Designated first aiders in a setting, childminders, nursery managers, and any staff with sole charge responsibility. | Newly qualified staff, students, apprentices, volunteers, and any additional staff members seeking foundational first aid skills.4 |
3. A Stronger Focus on “Safer Eating”
The updated framework also brings in a new requirement for safer eating, supported by the Department for Education’s nutrition guidance.
While choking and allergy response are already part of the PFA syllabus, OFSTED is expected to look more closely at:
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How confident staff are in preventing choking
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How allergies and anaphylaxis are managed day-to-day
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How cross-contamination risks are reduced at mealtimes.
What You Should Do Now
✅ Check your training records – identify students, apprentices, volunteers, and experience-based staff who will need certification from September 1st 2025.
✅ Book early – demand will increase for course places
✅ Consider CPD upgrades – enhanced safer eating training can help you exceed OFSTED expectations.
We Can Help You Prepare and Stay Compliant
We deliver fully EYFS-compliant PFA and EPFA training.
2-day Paediatric First Aid Training – Click here to see further information and upcoming dates
1-day Emergency Paediatric First Aid Training – Click here to see further information and upcoming dates
Want a group of delegates trained onsite? Get in touch with the friendly team on 0330 335 1234, or email info@skillbasefirstaid.com
References cited:
- EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers – GOV.UK, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/670fa42a30536cb92748328f/EYFS_statutory_framework_for_group_and_school_-_based_providers.pdf
- DfE publishes EYFS statutory framework 2025 – The National College, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://nationalcollege.com/news/dfe-publishes-eyfs-statutory-framework-2025
- How the 2025 EYFS Framework Reshapes Safeguarding, Staffing, and School Leadership, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://refnow.com/blog/how-the-2025-eyfs-framework-reshapes-safeguarding-staffing-and-school-leadership
- Changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements from September 2025 – Foundation Years, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2024/10/Information-sheet-about-changes-PDF.pdf
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework Changes, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://eden-ts.com/hot-topics/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-statutory-framework-changes/
- Delivering the EYFS – Southwark Schools, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://education.southwark.gov.uk/early-years-pvi/delivering-the-eyfs
- Safeguarding in the early years: important changes coming in September 2025, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/safeguarding-in-the-early-years-important-changes-coming-in-september-2025/
- EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers – GOV.UK, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/687105a381dd8f70f5de3ea9/EYFS_framework_for_group_and_school_based_providers_.pdf
- Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework – GOV.UK, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework–2
- Early years foundation stage – GOV.UK, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://www.gov.uk/early-years-foundation-stage
- Changes to Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) safeguarding requirements: September 2025, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/10/changes-to-early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding-requirements-september-2025/
- An Expert Insight into the EYFS Statutory Framework – The National College, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://nationalcollege.com/news/early-years-foundation-stage-statutory-framework
- Summary of the Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework – Solgrid for Solihull schools, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2024/09/summary-eyfs-statutory-framework.pdf
- Changes to the EYFS framework – Help for early years providers – Department for Education, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/support-for-practitioners/changes-to-the-eyfs-framework
- EYFS 2024 – changes and updates explained – Kinderly, accessed on August 1, 2025, https://kinderly.co.uk/2024/01/30/eyfs-2024-changes-and-updates-explained/
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