Forest School & Paediatric First Aid Course Overview

About the course

Every part of this course is built around real outdoor situations for Forest School leaders working with young people and children, where help may be a long way off and you need to manage with what you have. You’ll spend much of your time outside, working through realistic scenarios that build the confidence to take charge, keep your casualty safe and make good decisions until help arrives.

Locations

Harcombe House, Haldon Forest, Chudleigh, TQ13 0DG (Directions open here)
Dartmoor Activity Centre, Haytor, TQ13 9XS
Heatree Activity Centre, Dartmoor, TQ13 9XE

Used by

Forest School leaders, teachers, field studies leaders and outdoor instructors.

Recognised by

Also acknowledged by forestry professionals, environmentalists, and individuals involved in field studies, research and conservation, among others.

Preparation

Day two is mostly outdoors, so bring waterproofs, warm layers, sturdy footwear, a packed lunch and a drink. Expect to kneel and work on the ground. No prior experience needed.

What you’ll cover

Taking charge in a remote setting: managing an incident, primary and secondary survey, calling for help and planning an evacuation
Life saving skills: CPR and defibrillation, airway and breathing problems, bleeding control and shock
Injuries: head, spinal and chest injuries, fractures, improvised splinting and improvised traction
Environmental emergencies: hypothermia, hyperthermia and heat illness, drowning and cold water immersion
Bites and stings: ticks, snakes, insects and allergic reactions
Medical emergencies: asthma, diabetes, anaphylaxis and seizures
Prolonged casualty care: looking after someone for hours, not minutes, while waiting for rescue
Outdoor scenarios: realistic incidents with several casualties, so you practise prioritising under pressure

Add more to your course

Get even more from your two days by adding an extra qualification at checkout. Simply open Add extra +F, +FAW-R +FAW when you book, or give us a call on 0800 861 1901 if you’re not sure which is right for you.

Choose from:

+F Forestry First Aid: add the forestry endorsement for tree surgeons, arborists, land managers and anyone working with chainsaws or in woodland.

+FAW-R First Aid at Work: renew your First Aid at Work alongside your Outdoor First Aid. You can requalify if your current FAW certificate is still in date or expired less than a month ago, so you leave with both qualifications from one course.

+FAW: add your full First Aid at Work qualification. Includes two extra hours of training, which we’ll arrange with you before or after each course day.

Staying over?

Coming from further afield? We’re happy to suggest local places to stay to suit every budget, from camping and campervan sites to local hotels and B&Bs.

Harcombe House also has rooms available to hire, so you can stay on site. Just ask when you book and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Upcoming courses

Find Your Next Course Date

17–18NOV6 places left

Outdoor First Aid

Tue 17/11/2026 – Wed 18/11/2026

09:00 a.m.

Heatree, TQ13 9XE

£137.50 + VAT

Book now

17–18NOV6 places left

Forest School & Paediatric First Aid

Tue 17/11/2026 – Wed 18/11/2026

09:00 a.m.

Heatree Activity Centre, TQ13 9XE

£165.00 + VAT

Book now

Plan ahead

Course Calendar

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3TueOutdoor First AidDartmoor Activity Centre09:00 a.m.Fully booked Forest School & Paediatric First AidDartmoor Activity Centre09:00 a.m.Fully booked

4WedOutdoor First AidDartmoor Activity Centre09:00 a.m.Fully booked Forest School & Paediatric First AidDartmoor Activity Centre09:00 a.m.Fully booked

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17TueOutdoor First AidHeatree09:00 a.m.6 places left Forest School & Paediatric First AidHeatree Activity Centre09:00 a.m.6 places left

18WedOutdoor First AidHeatree09:00 a.m.6 places left Forest School & Paediatric First AidHeatree Activity Centre09:00 a.m.6 places left

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Places available Fully booked

ACCREDITED · REGULATED · TRUSTED

Quality Training You Can Rely On

First Aid 4 Life has been delivering practical first aid training since 2010. Our qualifications are delivered through ITC First, with regulated qualifications overseen by the relevant qualification regulators.

Practical training, experienced instructors and recognised qualifications to help you prepare for real-life emergencies.

Training since 2010 | ITC First Approved Centre | Three-year certificates on applicable qualifications

we are trusted by

Certification

This course provides an ITC 16hr Certificate in Outdoor First Aid qualification.

Requalification

Certificates are valid for three years.

READY TO GET STARTED?

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

Develop the practical knowledge and confidence to respond when an emergency happens outdoors.

Explore our courses

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Emergency First Aid at Work

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Paediatric First Aid

The full paediatric first aid qualification for early years settings, meeting Ofsted and EYFS requirements. Course content Everything in Emergency Paediatric First…

2 Days · 17 HoursFrom £145.00 + VAT

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GENERAL FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book on a course?

All courses can be booked online via the Book link next to each course date. Payment via all major debit and credit cards is simple and safe with Stripe.

What to Bring for Your Course

We will send detailed joining instructions prior to your course, but as a general guide, please see the information below:

Refreshments: Provided.

Lunch: Not included.

Materials Required: Photo ID (a driving licence works well).

Dress Code: This is an active, practical course, so please wear clothing suitable for comfort and movement.

Indoor Sessions: Casual, comfortable clothes with extra layers (the training room is well ventilated).

Outdoor Sessions (Day 2): Waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, and sturdy footwear (trainers or walking boots). Be prepared to kneel or lie on the ground, which may be wet or muddy.

What are First Aid 4 Life’s Policies & Procedures to Protect the Interests of the Candidate and Integrity of the Qualifications?

This information can be found in the Downloads tab.

Where is First Aid 4 Life Limited’s Registered Office? (please note this is not our trading address)

Registered Office: FirstAid4Life Limited, Millstream House, Brook Close, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9SB Company No. 16571838

Does First Aid 4 Life satisfy the requirements of the HSE guide for employers ‘selecting a first-aid training provider’?

Training Providers have to show an employer that they are competent to deliver first-aid training and have the relevant quality assurance procedures in place. First Aid 4 Life are a ‘Training Centre’ recognised by an ‘Awarding Organisation’ (AO), in our case ITC First and Qualsafe Awards, who are regulated by the qualification regulators, Ofqual and SQA Accreditation, against standards for the design, delivery and award of qualifications. As part of the regulated standards, AOs must have dedicated quality assurance processes to approve and monitor their recognised training centres. Also, the qualifications regulators stipulate that AOs and their training centres must work in compliance with the Assessment Principles for First Aid Qualifications, which have been developed by Skills for Health. Employers selecting first aid training providers are advised by the HSE to document checks undertaken to confirm the competence of a training provider. However, due to Awarding Organisations offering ‘regulated qualifications’ the HSE go on to assure employers that they do not have to satisfy themselves of the competency of that organisation. We can therefore demonstrate and more importantly evidence that First Aid 4 Life provide fully regulated qualifications that satisfy All of the above requirements and No ‘due diligence’ is required.

Who accredits First Aid 4 Life’s first aid courses?

All of our first aid courses are accredited by Awarding Organisations who develop qualifications accredited by the national qualification regulators as follows: –
- England, Wales & Northern Ireland (OfQual – Official Regulator of Qualifications).
- Scotland (SQA Accreditation – Scottish Qualifications Authority).
We are a ITC Approved centre.
Please note we fully subscribe to ITC’s Ethos which you can read here.

How do I assess my/our first aid training needs?

There is no easy way to answer the above question, however we can highly recommend the HSE website that provides some helpful guidance.

Am I entitled to do the First Aid at Work Requalification course?

The Requalification course is a revalidation of an existing full First Aid at Work qualification.As such candidates must supply their previous First Aid at Work qualification details AND a copy of their current First Aid at Work certificate to us before attending a course.
The certificate must have been issued by an Ofqual/SQA/Welsh Government recognised Awarding Organisation/Body, a HSE Approved Training Provider or recognised equivalent; in the case of an equivalent, First Aid 4 Life must submit details to our Awarding Organisation (ITC) showing comprehensive mapping which evidences that all assessment criteria of the FAW Qualification have been achieved within the past 3 years.
If individuals book on to a course, or are booked by an employer, with a certificate that is nearing expiry, provided their certificate has not expired by more than 1 calendar month, then they may join a FAWR course. A Calendar Month means if the expiry date is the 5th of one month, then they have until the 4th of the next month to complete the FAWR.
The full FAW and Requalification FAW qualifications have valid 3 year lifetimes. The Requalification course may only be completed providing the above criteria can be met and should they not be, you will need to complete the full First Aid at Work course.

COURSE INFORMATION