CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School first-aid needs and provision assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England, including those responsible for health and safety, first-aid arrangements, premises, staffing and relevant activities.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Assessment and review of first-aid needs and provision, including equipment, facilities, personnel, availability, absence cover, workplace hazards and risks, population, activity patterns and any need for paediatric capability. The assessment should reflect the school's staffing, premises, population and activities and should be revisited after major changes to staff or premises.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
First-aid needs may not have been assessed against the school's workplace hazards, risks, size and other relevant factors, resulting in unsuitable equipment, facilities or personnel.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific assessment or existing controls were supplied. Verify whether a current first-aid needs assessment exists and record the evidence, scope, date and responsible person.
- Proposed controls
- Complete and retain a documented assessment covering workplace hazards and risks, organisation size and other relevant factors. Use the findings to determine the first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel required, and record any assumptions or information still to be confirmed.
Local assessment and additional controls
The needs of the school's population and people affected by its activities may be omitted from the assessment, including employees, pupils, students, visitors and other non-employees.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific population profile or controls were supplied. Confirm which groups are present, when they are present and whether any non-employees are included in the intended provision.
- Proposed controls
- Include employees and, where relevant, pupils, students, visitors and other non-employees in the assessment. Consider numbers, age groups, supervision arrangements, accessibility needs, foreseeable injuries or illness and periods when different groups are on site or away from the main premises.
Local assessment and additional controls
Workplace hazards, risks and activity patterns may not be reflected in the quantity, type or location of first-aid provision.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific hazard inventory, activity pattern or existing control information was supplied. Verify relevant areas, activities, work patterns and periods of increased demand.
- Proposed controls
- Assess relevant premises and activities, which may include classrooms, laboratories, workshops, kitchens, sports, outdoor areas, trips, work experience, transport, events and out-of-hours use where applicable. Use the findings to determine the distribution and accessibility of equipment, facilities and personnel.
Local assessment and additional controls
A suitable first-aid room or other appropriate facility may not be provided where the assessment identifies that one is necessary.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific decision about a first-aid room or facilities was supplied. Record whether the assessment has identified a need and verify the suitability and accessibility of any existing facility.
- Proposed controls
- Where the assessment identifies that a first-aid room is necessary, provide a suitable first-aid room or rooms. Record the location, access arrangements, privacy, equipment, communication arrangements and any requirements for people with disabilities or mobility needs.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid equipment may be insufficient, inaccessible, unsuitable for the identified needs or unavailable at the time and place it is required.
- Existing controls
- No inventory, inspection record, location information or site-specific control status was supplied. Verify the equipment provided, its locations, accessibility, suitability, inspection arrangements and replenishment process.
- Proposed controls
- Provide equipment identified by the assessment, locate it so that it can be reached promptly, communicate its locations and maintain a process for checking, replenishing and recording equipment. Review provision when hazards, activities, population or premises change.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid arrangements may not provide suitable personnel or a responsible person throughout the periods when people are at work.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific personnel arrangements, qualifications, availability records or responsible-person appointment were supplied. Confirm the outcome of the needs assessment and the arrangements in force for each relevant period.
- Proposed controls
- Provide first-aid personnel as identified by the assessment. If the assessment identifies that a designated first aider is not required, appoint a person to take charge of first-aid arrangements, including equipment and facilities and summoning emergency services when appropriate, and arrange for that person to be available whenever people are at work.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid cover may be unavailable during absence, breaks, staggered hours, trips, activities away from the usual base or other changes in staffing.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific absence-cover or availability arrangements were supplied. Verify coverage for all relevant operating periods, locations and activities, including planned and unplanned absence.
- Proposed controls
- Document how first-aid availability will be maintained during absence, breaks, leave, training, trips, off-site activities, out-of-hours use and other staffing changes. Identify deputies or alternative arrangements where the assessment indicates they are needed, without assuming that any particular staffing level is required.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid personnel may not have capability appropriate to the intended population, particularly where provision is intended to cover pupils or other children.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific training records, population profile or decision about paediatric capability was supplied. Confirm whether provision is intended to cover non-employees and identify any additional capability required.
- Proposed controls
- Where provision is intended to cover pupils, visitors or other non-employees, consider whether additional training is needed, including paediatric first aid where relevant. Discuss the school's specific needs with the training provider before arranging training.
Local assessment and additional controls
Where the assessment identifies a possible emergency need to administer Schedule 19 prescription-only medication, first-aid personnel may not have appropriate additional training.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific emergency medication need, procedure or training information was supplied. Determine whether the assessment identifies such a need, including possible emergency administration of adrenaline for anaphylaxis.
- Proposed controls
- Where the assessment identifies that Schedule 19 medication may need to be administered in an emergency, consider providing workplace first-aiders with additional training in its use and document the resulting arrangements, subject to the school's specific circumstances and applicable medication procedures.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid provision may become unsuitable after major changes to staffing, premises or other relevant arrangements because the assessment is not reviewed.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific review cycle, change-control process or review record was supplied. Confirm how changes are identified and how the assessment is reviewed.
- Proposed controls
- Review first-aid needs and provision after major changes, including changes to staff or premises, and whenever other relevant arrangements change. Record the review date, changes considered, findings, actions, responsible persons and any information still requiring confirmation.
Local assessment and additional controls