A nursery can train its staff online in safeguarding and food hygiene with Lift College's CPD courses: Safeguarding Children Level 2 for room staff, Safeguarding Children Level 3 for staff who help assess and act on concerns, Food Hygiene Level 2 for anyone who prepares food, and short courses in allergen awareness, anaphylaxis and the Prevent duty. Each course is £19.99 pay once, or £16.99 on a free Lift College organisation account, paid by card or by invoice on 30 day terms with your PO, and each learner gets a CPD certificate issued by Lift College the day they pass. Paediatric first aid is different: the EYFS framework requires a paediatric first aid certificate for the staff it names, from a full course for the person who must always be on the premises, and says the emergency elements should be taught face to face, so it is not a Lift College course.
What the EYFS framework says about training
These are from the EYFS statutory framework for group and school based providers, in force from 1 September 2026 (checked 17 October 2026).
Safeguarding
- 3.4: "In every setting, a practitioner must be designated to take lead responsibility for safeguarding children." This is the designated safeguarding lead (DSL).
- 3.31: "Providers must ensure that all practitioners are trained in line with the criteria set out in Annex C."
- 3.32: "The DSL must attend a training course consistent with the criteria set out in Annex C."
- 3.33: "Training must be renewed every two years." Providers may also consider annual refresher training within the two years.
- 3.34: induction training for all staff "must include information about emergency evacuation procedures, safeguarding, child protection" and more.
- 3.6: the setting's safeguarding policy must include "how safeguarding training is delivered".
Food and allergies
- 3.72: "All staff involved in preparing and handling food must receive training in food hygiene." Providers must be confident that those responsible for preparing and handling food are competent to do so.
- 3.66: "Providers must ensure that all staff are aware of the symptoms and treatments for allergies and anaphylaxis".
Paediatric first aid (PFA)
- 3.37: at least one person with a current PFA certificate must be on the premises whenever children are present and on outings, and "The certificate must be for a full course consistent with the criteria set out in Annex A." PFA training must be renewed every three years.
- 3.39: staff who obtained a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification since 30 June 2016 must obtain a PFA qualification within three months of starting work to count in the staff to child ratios, renewed every 3 years.
- 3.64: while children are eating, a member of staff with a full course PFA certificate should be in the room.
- Annex A: the emergency PFA course lasts at least 6 hours and the full course at least 12 hours (excluding breaks). The emergency elements should be delivered face to face, which the framework defines as "trainers are physically present with their trainees. This excludes the use of online platforms."
The Department for Education also links, from its EYFS page, to free online safeguarding training it developed with the NSPCC, "free for all early years educators".
What the Food Standards Agency says
The FSA says food handlers in the UK "don't have to hold a food hygiene certificate to prepare or sell food", but food businesses "must ensure that food handlers receive the appropriate supervision and training in food hygiene", in line with the work they do. GOV.UK adds that you must be able to show staff have up to date training for their role, and should keep a record of the training they have completed.
EYFS requirements mapped to Lift College courses
| Training need (EYFS paragraph) | Lift College course | Hours and modules | Lift refresh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safeguarding training for all practitioners (3.31, 3.33): your setting checks it against Annex C | Safeguarding Children Level 2 | 3 hours, 7 modules | 12 months |
| Staff who work closely with children and help assess and act on concerns | Safeguarding Children Level 3 | 4 hours, 10 modules | 12 months |
| DSL training course (3.32) | No Lift course: the Level 3 page says it is not DSL training. Ask your local safeguarding partnership which course your DSL needs | ||
| Food hygiene for staff who prepare and handle food (3.72) | Food Hygiene Level 2; Level 1 for low risk roles; Level 3 for supervisors | 3 hours, 7 modules (Level 2) | 3 years |
| Allergy awareness for all staff (3.66) | Allergen Awareness Training | 1 hour, 4 modules | 12 months |
| Anaphylaxis awareness for all staff (3.66) | Anaphylaxis Training | 1 hour, 5 modules | 12 months |
| Prevent awareness, if your setting includes it | Prevent Duty Training | 1 hour, 4 modules | 12 months |
| Full or emergency paediatric first aid (3.37, 3.39, Annex A) | No Lift course. Book a face to face PFA course with a competent provider |
Each course is £19.99, or £16.99 through an organisation account. The EYFS sets two years for safeguarding renewal; Lift's safeguarding certificates show a 12 month refresh date, and the refresher is free. Your setting decides how its training meets the Annex C criteria, and records how training is delivered in its safeguarding policy.
About Lift College First Aid Training
Lift College's First Aid Training is a 4 hour online course written around the Resuscitation Council UK 2025 guidelines, for every employee in any workplace. It is not a paediatric first aid course. Annex A of the EYFS framework says the emergency PFA elements should be delivered face to face, so book PFA with a provider who teaches it that way.
How the online courses work
Each course is split into short modules with a knowledge check after each one, then a final test: 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes. Staff can pick up where they left off on any device, so a course fits around a shift. The CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready as a PDF the same day, and records the course, the hours of learning, the completion date and a recommended refresh date, with a unique number and a verification link.
Training a whole nursery team
A Lift College organisation account is free, with no subscription and no minimum number of people. Every CPD course is £16.99 through it, 15% off. Pay by card, or by invoice on 30 day terms with your own PO number. The dashboard shows who studied this week, every certificate earned and who needs a check in, and you can download a progress report that opens in Excel.
The same account covers qualifications. The Level 3 Early Years Educator is listed by the DfE as full and relevant at Level 3, studied online with a named UK tutor from £89.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, with at least 300 placement hours in an Ofsted registered setting. To count in ratio at Level 3, staff also need a suitable Level 2 English, such as Functional Skills English Level 2. See which roles need which level in what qualifications you need to work in a nursery.
Run a care service as well? Read mandatory training for care workers, or see all CPD courses.
Open a free organisation account and enrol your team on safeguarding and food hygiene today.
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