Here are some of the most common questions we get asked by people considering our paediatric first aid training courses. It goes without saying, that we’d be delighted to answer any other questions you may have. Please get in touch.
How do I organise my private class?
To book a class we need to know the address where you will hold the class and your preferences for when you want to have it (evenings, weekdays, weekends…). We can take this information over the phone or you can email it to us. We will then assign a nurse local to you and give you some options on dates. Most of our nurses work in hospitals and know their work schedules up to 4 weeks ahead so they have specific dates that they know they are available. Once you have confirmed the date and time with the others in your group, we send you a confirmation letter, mini CV on your trainer and an invoice.
When do you run the classes?
We run private classes at anytime to fit in with your schedule, we do them in the evenings, at weekends (Sat and Sun) as well as mid week.
From time to time we run public classes and the dates of these can be found in the classes section of our online store >
When do you have availability? How far in advance do I need to book my private class?
It depends on where you live as we have more trainers in some areas than others, and also when you would like to hold the class. The more flexible you are about when you would like your class to take place the quicker it will be to organise it. Most classes can be organised within three weeks and our record is one day. However weekends are the most popular time to hold the class so it may be up to 6 weeks.
What does it cost?
In all cases weekend and evening rates are at NO extra charge (prices includes VAT, glossy laminated A3 wall charts for each participant and a certificate if required). Prices are subject to change.
Private classes at home
| Class Size | Duration | Cost | ||
| Up to 6 people | 2 hours | £300 (£50 pp if 6 people) | ||
| For 7 people | 2 ½ hours | £350 (£50 pp if 7 people) | ||
| For 8 people | 3 hours | £400 (£50 pp if 8 people) |
Public classes
| Class Size | Duration | Cost | ||
| Up to 7 people | 2 hours | £50 pp |
Build your own classes
The cost is based upon the length of the class. This in turn will be decided after discussing what you wish to cover and how many people are likely to attend. The minimum class length is two hours and most classes are between 2 and 3 hours long.
| Duration | Cost | |
| 2 hours | £300 | |
| 2 ½ hours | £375 | |
| 3 hours | £450 |
For the cost of the 12 hour Early Years First Aid course click here >>
What happens if I have more than 6 people for my private class?
The ratio of 1 trainer to 6 people works well to ensure that each person is properly observed and truly gets it. However we will train up to 8 people provided we allow more time to ensure each participant has ample time to practice what we teach them and to address their particular concerns.
For each extra person over 6 the class is extended by ½ an hour and there is an additional charge of £50. Therefore a 7 person class would last 2 ½ hours and cost £350. An 8 person class, 3 hours and £400.
What happens if I have less than 6 people for my private class?
The minimum fee is £300 because even if there are less than 6 people, the class will take the same amount of time. So the £300 fee will be the same whether there is one person or six. A class of six tends to work better than smaller classes, particularly with Basic Life Support because you learn from watching others as well as practicing yourself. Repetition is key.
If you have a small group of 2-4 people we could organise a build your own class where we will combine elements of our 2 courses.
I would like to combine the Basic Life Support and Accident and Injury class into one private class for a group of 6 people. Can I do this?
We can run both classes on the same day with a break in the middle and we have done this many times. For some people this works because they find it easier to get everyone together on one occasion only.
However, if you did want to take both classes in the near future we recommend that you spread the two sessions over two separate days because it allows you time to absorb the information, and fours hours of teaching in one day can be a challenge.
We are often asked if we can combine the classes in to one session. We would love to be able to run a combined class for 6 people in two hours but could not do this without compromising the quality of the training. One of our key objectives is to empower parents and carers so that they leave our classes feeling confident in their ability to manage in an emergency situation. We could not do this by collapsing a four hour curriculum in to half of that time.
When we do a customised class combining both classes we restrict it to 2 – 3 people and commit to covering the Basic Life Support class in full and as much of the Accident and Injury Curriculum as possible in the remaining time. We send you the Accident and Injury wall chart so that you can choose the topics that you want to cover. Therefore even in these classes we do not cover everything but we prioritise based on your requests and the age of the children you look after.
I don’t have a group of 6 people. Can I join someone else’s group?
The majority of our classes are held privately in people’s homes and we cannot invite other people in to their home. We find that once you start asking people involved with children e.g. parents, grandparents, other parents, nannies, carers you invariably end up with 6 people. So many people have been meaning to do a class and have not got around to it and will appreciate the offer of a class to attend.
We do run monthly public classes on which you can book individual places. These are held in Richmond and North London, but we are always adding new venues so check with us for more information.
To see upcoming dates for public courses and/or book online please see the classes section of our online store >
Where is the value?
We like to add quality to everything we do at The Parent Company to ensure that you have the best possible learning experience. Even with this as our guiding principle our prices are not that different to most First Aid training providers. In fact we are sometimes cheaper.
• We are a little different to other First Aid companies because our classes are developed and run by medical professionals rather than First Aid Trainers. The advantage of this is that you are being trained by people who work in hospitals or clinics, and with parents and children in their daily lives. They have first hand experience of treating children’s’ medical emergencies and are familiar with the day to day accidents and injuries. They are involved in teaching through their work and the classes that they teach for The Parent Company are an extension of this.
• We are strict about keeping class sizes small. Some first aid training providers will try to teach both Basic Life Support and Accidents and Injury to 10 people in 3 hours! We do not attempt this madness.
• We do not charge extra for weekend or evening classes and there are no nasty surprises.
• VAT @ 20% is included in the price.
Can our babies or children be present?
Our trainers can and do teach classes with babies and young children present. However unless the babies are very young (under 1 month) we find that it is not the ideal learning environment for the class participants. It is difficult to concentrate and stay focused and the class can be disjointed. We aim to keep the class short and sharp covering a lot of information in an efficient curriculum. If you are leaving the room, tending to babies or children or keeping an ear out for a babies cry, your capacity to take it all in will be diminished.
Please consider how you might manage this in your class. Here are some ideas:
- If you or any of the other participants in your group have access to childcare please use it and share it. The childcare can still be at the location of the class – an au pair, nanny, grandmother, partner, a next door neighbour, a friend who you can return the favour to, godparent etc
- If your children are at nursery or school, arrange for the class to work around those times.
- If all else fails consider the times of the day that are least likely to be disruptive. When are the babies or children most likely to be sleeping and least likely to be fractious or in need of a feed for example.
We do recognize that organising care of your child and communicating the importance of this to the other participants is challenging and may not always be possible. A class with disruptions is better than no class at all. We simply want to make it the best possible learning experience for you and the others in your group.
For public classes we cannot allow babies and children to be present because it may be a distraction to the other participants.
How much space will I need for the private class?
We like to train in a room where everyone can see the presentation (A3 chart). An area with a table is ideal, like the kitchen or dinning room.
For the Basic Life Support class, you will be practicing your skills on resuscitation dolls. We tend to practice on ‘Baby Annie’ on a table and ‘Junior’ on the floor because he is a little bigger. Therefore a rug or carpet on the floor will make this a little more comfortable on the knees.
Do not worry about whether you have enough space in your home. We do not need a great deal of space and have not yet come across a home that is not able to accommodate a class.
Why is the BLS certificate for private classes only valid for one year when other company’s have certificates valid for three years?
A three year certificate implies that the participant should only refresh their knowledge about BLS every three years. However we feel that it is not responsible to suggest that refreshing BLS skills every three years is adequate for parents or carers of children and babies. In our view, a person is unlikely to be able to remember exactly what to do in the case of an emergency relating to Basic Life Support, one year after the class. This is not a reflection on the quality of our class but rather due to the fact that most people who take the class are unlikely to have had a chance to apply it (if they are lucky). If there is a need for BLS there is not time to look it up in books or call a friend, you have to be ready and able to apply your knowledge immediately.
With Accident and Injury this is not the case. It is not as specific and a lot of it will be remembered and is common sense. We aim to build confidence and an awareness of risks.
Certificates for the 12 hour Early Years Paediatric First Aid course are valid for three years. This is consistent with HSE guidelines and Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Are your courses suitable for registration on the Early Years Register or General Childcare Register?
For registration on the Early Years Register, our 12 hour Paediatric First Aid course is suitable. Click here for more details. Our other classes are not suitable because it is a requirement that the current paediatric first aid certificate required to register on the Early Years Register must be for a course that is a minimum of 12 hours long.
For compulsory or voluntary registration on the General Childcare Register you can enrol on our 12 hour Paediatric First Aid course (Click here for more details) or complete both the At Home with Accident and Injury and At Home with Basic Life Support classes. The combination of these two classes covers all of the requirements of a First Aid course for registration on the General Childcare Register. Click here for more details.
Please do bear in mind that:
• Nannies and Au Pairs DO NOT need to be on either register. They can choose to register on the General Childcare Register on a voluntary basis. One circumstance where this might be of benefit is when an employer of a nanny wants to claim the cost of child care under the Working Tax Credit scheme.
• For organisations such as schools and nurseries who are required to register under the Early Years Register, the government require that “At least one person who has a current paediatric first aid certificate is on the premises at all times when children are present. There must also be at least one person on outings who has a current paediatric first aid certificate.” This means that NOT ALL staff need to be First Aid trained through a course that is 12 hours long and therefore our combined At Home with Basic Life Support and At Home with Accident Injury class will be suitable for most staff as long as they are not the designated individual. The curriculum is very similar to the 12 hour Paediatric First Aid course and because of the quality of our trainers and the small size of the group being taught, we are able to teach efficiently and effectively in a shorter period of time.
If you are unsure whether you need to register ring the helpline on 08456 404040 for more information.
