Approved by the governing body: Autumn 2022
Date of next review: Autumn 2024
OUR LADY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
FIRST AID POLICY
Aims
The aims of our first aid policy are to:
• Ensure the health and safety of all staff, pupils and visitors
• Ensure that staff and governors are aware of their responsibilities with regards to health and
safety
• Provide a framework for responding to an incident and recording and reporting the outcomes
Legislation and guidance
This policy is based on the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, advice from
the Department for Education on first aid in schools and health and safety in schools, and the
following legislation:
• The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, which state that employers must provide
adequate and appropriate equipment and facilities to enable first aid to be administered to
employees, and qualified first aid personnel
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, which require employers to
make an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require employers to
carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, and
arrange for appropriate information and training
• The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013,
which state that some accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE),
and set out the timeframe for this and how long records of such accidents must be kept
• Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, which set out rules on the retention
of accident records
• The School Premises (England) Regulations 2012, which require that suitable space is provided
to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils
Roles and responsibilities
Appointed person(s) and first aiders
The school’s appointed persons are
Miss Nicola Leyland (EYFS)
Miss Paulette Farrell (EYFS)
Miss Rhianna Burke (EYFS)
Miss Holly Molloy (EYFS)
Miss Emily Campbell (EYFS)
Miss Catherine Gallagher (HLTA KS2)
Miss Lisa Graves (TA KS2)
Miss Trish Daly (TA KS2)
Miss Stacey Speed (TA KS1)
Ms Leanne Mercer (TA KS1)
They are responsible for:
• Taking charge when someone is injured or becomes ill
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Approved by the governing body: Autumn 2022
Date of next review: Autumn 2024
• Ensuring there is an adequate supply of medical materials in first aid kits, and replenishing
the contents of these kits
• Ensuring that an ambulance or other professional medical help is summoned when
appropriate
First aiders are trained and qualified to carry out the role (see section 7) and are responsible for:
• Acting as first responders to any incidents; they will assess the situation where there is an
injured or ill person, and provide immediate and appropriate treatment
• Sending pupils home to recover, where necessary
• Filling in an accident report on the same day, or as soon as is reasonably practicable, after an
incident (see the template in appendix 2)
• Keeping their contact details up to date
Our school’s first aiders are listed in appendix 1. Their names will also be displayed prominently
around the school.
The governing board
The governing board has ultimate responsibility for health and safety matters in the school, but
delegates operational matters and day-to-day tasks to the headteacher and staff members.
The headteacher
The headteacher is responsible for the implementation of this policy, including:
• Ensuring that an appropriate number of trained first aid personnel are present in the school at
all times
• Ensuring that first aiders have an appropriate qualification, keep training up to date and
remain competent to perform their role
• Ensuring all staff are aware of first aid procedures
• Ensuring appropriate risk assessments are completed and appropriate measures are put in
place
• Undertaking, or ensuring that managers undertake, risk assessments, as appropriate, and that
appropriate measures are put in place
• Ensuring that adequate space is available for catering to the medical needs of pupils
• Reporting specified incidents to the HSE when necessary (see section 6)
Staff
School staff are responsible for:
• Ensuring they follow first aid procedures
• Ensuring they know who the first aiders in school are
• Completing accident reports (see appendix 2) for all incidents they attend to where a first
aider is not called
• Informing the headteacher or their manager of any specific health conditions or first aid needs
First aid procedures
In-school procedures
In the event of an accident resulting in injury:
• The closest member of staff present will assess the seriousness of the injury and seek the
assistance of a qualified first aider, if appropriate, who will provide the required first aid
treatment
• The first aider, if called, will assess the injury and decide if further assistance is needed from a
colleague or the emergency services. They will remain on scene until help arrives
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Approved by the governing body: Autumn 2022
Date of next review: Autumn 2024
• The first aider will also decide whether the injured person should be moved or placed in a
recovery position
• If the first aider judges that a pupil is too unwell to remain in school, parents will be contacted
and asked to collect their child. Upon their arrival, the first aider will recommend next steps to
the parents
• If emergency services are called, a member of the office staff will contact parents immediately
• The first aider/relevant member of staff, who was first on the scene will complete an accident
report form on the same day or as soon as is reasonably practical after an incident resulting in
an injury
Off-site procedures
When taking pupils off the school premises, staff will ensure they always have the following:
• A school mobile phone
• A portable first aid kit
• Information about the specific medical needs of pupils
• Parents’ contact details
Risk assessments will be completed by the educational visits coordinator prior to any educational
visit that necessitates taking pupils off school premises.
There will always be at least one first aider with a current paediatric first aid certificate on school
trips and visits, as required by the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
First aid equipment
A typical first aid kit in our school will include the following:
• A leaflet with general first aid advice
• Regular and large bandages
• Eye pad bandages
• Triangular bandages
• Adhesive tape
• Safety pins
• Disposable gloves
• Antiseptic wipes
• Plasters of assorted sizes
• Scissors
• Cold compresses
• Burns dressings
No medication is kept in first aid kits.
First aid kits are stored in:
• EYFS, KS1, KS2 (lower), KS2 (upper)
• School Canteen
• Staff room
• Printing Room
• Each TA on duty should have a portable first aid kit (waist bag)
Record-keeping and reporting
First aid and accident record book
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Approved by the governing body: Autumn 2022
Date of next review: Autumn 2024
• An accident form will be completed by the first aider/relevant member of staff who was first
on the scene of the accident on the same day or as soon as possible after an incident resulting
in an injury. This may be in the minor accident book or the HSE accident book dependent on
the severity of the injury.
• As much detail as possible should be supplied when reporting an accident, including all of the
information included on the accident form.
• A copy of the HSE accident report form will also be held in the Finance Office by the School
Business Manager
• Records held in the HSE accident book will be retained by the school for a minimum of 3 years,
in accordance with regulation 25 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations
1979, and then securely disposed of. Records held in the minor accident book will be securely
disposed of at the end of each academic year.
Reporting to the HSE
The school business manager will keep a record of any accident which results in a reportable injury,
disease, or dangerous occurrence as defined in the RIDDOR 2013 legislation (regulations 4, 5, 6 and
7).
The school business manager will report these to the Health and Safety Executive as soon as is
reasonably practicable and in any event within 10 days of the incident.
Reportable injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences include:
• Death
• Specified injuries, which are:
o Fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes
o Amputations
o Any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight
o Any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs
o Serious burns (including scalding)
o Any scalping requiring hospital treatment
o Any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia
o Any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which leads to
hypothermia or heat-induced illness, or requires resuscitation or admittance to
hospital for more than 24 hours
• Injuries where an employee is away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties
for more than 7 consecutive days (not including the day of the incident)
• Where an accident leads to someone being taken to hospital
• Near-miss events that do not result in an injury, but could have done. Examples of near-miss
events relevant to schools include, but are not limited to:
o The collapse or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts and lifting equipment
o The accidental release of a biological agent likely to cause severe human illness
o The accidental release or escape of any substance that may cause a serious injury or
damage to health
o An electrical short circuit or overload causing a fire or explosion
Information on how to make a RIDDOR report is available here:
How to make a RIDDOR report, HSE
http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm
Notifying parents
The class teacher will inform parents of any accident or injury sustained by a pupil, and any first aid
treatment given, on the same day, or as soon as reasonably practicable.
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Approved by the governing body: Autumn 2022
Date of next review: Autumn 2024
Reporting to Ofsted and child protection agencies
The headteacher will notify Ofsted of any serious accident, illness or injury to, or death of, a pupil
while in the school’s care. This will happen as soon as is reasonably practicable, and no later than 14
days after the incident.
The headteacher will also notify Liverpool City Council of any serious accident or injury to, or the
death of, a pupil while in the school’s care.
Training
All school staff are able to undertake first aid training if they would like to.
All first aiders must have completed a training course, and must hold a valid certificate of
competence to show this. The school will keep a register of all trained first aiders, what training they
have received and when this is valid until (see appendix 3).
Staff are encouraged to renew their first aid training when it is no longer valid.
At all times, at least 1 staff member will have a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate which
meets the requirements set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework and is
updated at least every 3 years.
Monitoring arrangements
This policy will be reviewed by the school business manager every 2 years.
At every review, the policy will be approved by the governing body.
Links with other policies
This first aid policy is linked to the
• Health and safety policy
• Risk assessment policy
• Policy on supporting pupils with medical conditions
• Administering medicines
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Approved by the governing body: Autumn 2022
Date of next review: Autumn 2024
Appendix 1: List of First Aiders
Specialist Skill
Staff member’s name
Role
Paediatric First Aid
Paulette Farrell
TA EYFS
Nicky Leyland TA EYFS
Defibrillator Training
Jill Harris HLTA EYFS (2 Year Old Room
Leader)
Dawn Finnigan
Learning Mentor
Terry Cotton Teacher KS2 Upper
Charlene Thomas TA KS2 Lower
Trish Daly TA KS2 Lower
Miss Catherine Gallagher
TA KS2 Upper
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