CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School First-Aid Needs Assessment
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Those responsible for health and safety and first-aid provision in maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Assessment of first-aid needs, considering the nature of school work, workplace hazards and risks, workforce size and nature, work patterns, absences, accident history, travelling, remote or lone workers where relevant, workforce distribution, distance from emergency medical services, shared or multi-occupancy sites and provision for non-employees.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
Potential injury or ill health arising from the nature of teaching, learning, support, maintenance, catering, cleaning, sports, practical or other school work activities.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the relevant work activities and identify the injuries or ill health that could reasonably arise from them. Record the first-aid arrangements needed for those activities, including any activity-specific arrangements where indicated by the assessment.
Local assessment and additional controls
Potential injury or ill health from workplace hazards and risks, including hazards requiring special first-aid arrangements.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the relevant workplace hazards and risks, identify any hazards requiring special arrangements, and specify the first-aid equipment, facilities, personnel or procedures needed for the identified risks.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid provision may be insufficient for the number and nature of people working at the school.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the size and nature of the workforce covered by the assessment, including relevant employment or working arrangements, and determine the first-aid provision required for the people and risks identified.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid provision may not be available during all staff work patterns, operating periods or activities.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the work patterns and operating periods relevant to the assessment. Identify how first-aid provision will remain available across those patterns and during activities outside the usual school day where applicable.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid provision may be unavailable when people designated to provide first aid or act as appointed persons are absent.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record relevant holiday and other absences of first-aiders and appointed persons. Identify suitable cover or alternative arrangements so that the assessed provision remains available during those absences.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid arrangements may not reflect patterns indicated by previous accidents or incidents.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Review the school's relevant accident and incident history, record material findings, and use those findings to identify or revise first-aid equipment, facilities, personnel and response arrangements.
Local assessment and additional controls
Where travelling, remote or lone working occurs, a person may be unable to access timely first-aid assistance.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Where applicable, identify travelling, remote or lone working arrangements and determine suitable first-aid provision, communication and escalation arrangements for those circumstances. If not applicable, record that basis.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid assistance may not be readily accessible because people are distributed across buildings, areas or other parts of the workplace.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record how the workforce is distributed across the workplace and identify the location, access and coverage arrangements needed to provide timely first aid in each relevant area.
Local assessment and additional controls
Delay in receiving emergency medical assistance may increase the consequences of an injury or illness where the workplace is remote from emergency services.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the relevant distance or access considerations for emergency medical services and identify first-aid provision and emergency arrangements appropriate to the assessed access circumstances.
Local assessment and additional controls
Gaps or duplication in first-aid provision may arise where the school shares a site or occupies a multi-occupancy workplace.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Where applicable, identify other occupiers or organisations sharing the site, clarify the boundaries of responsibility, and record any agreed arrangements for first-aid equipment, facilities, personnel, communication and emergency response.
Local assessment and additional controls
Visitors, pupils, contractors, volunteers, parents, members of the public or other non-employees may not be covered by arrangements designed only for employees.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record which non-employees may be present and identify whether first-aid provision should include them. Specify any additional equipment, facilities, personnel, information or response arrangements required.
Local assessment and additional controls
First-aid arrangements may become unsuitable when workplace, workforce or risk circumstances change.
- Existing controls
- To be assessed locally.
- Proposed controls
- Record the review date, triggers for review and responsible role. Revisit the assessment when workplace, workforce or risk circumstances change, and record any resulting amendments to first-aid provision.
Local assessment and additional controls