Birmingham nursery group celebrates accreditation

Bright Kids Nursery Group achieves Millie’s Mark recognition at all three settings.

A leading local nursery group is celebrating all three of its settings achieving Millie’s Mark – a national accolade that recognises commitment to paediatric first aid.

Bright Kids Nursery Group undertook the training at all three of its settings in Redditch, Studley and Northfield. It means that now all of its staff are paediatric first aid trained.

Millie’s Mark is named after Millie Thompson, who tragically died after choking on food at nursery in 2012, when she was just nine months old. Millie’s parents, Dan and Joanne Thompson, founded Millie’s Trust and have successfully campaigned for changes to first aid requirements for childcare providers.

Early Years Foundation Stage guidance states that one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate must be available at all times when children are in nursery or on outings.

Millie’s Mark aims to recognise childcare providers that go above and beyond these minimum requirements and have 100% of staff trained in paediatric first aid. They must also ensure that everything learned during the course is kept at the forefront of practitioners’ minds so that they are confident, ready and capable. Millie’s Mark is England’s gold standard in paediatric first aid and is administered by National Day Nurseries Association.

NDNA’s Director for Quality and Workforce Development, Stella Ziolkowski, said: “We would like to warmly congratulate Bright Kids on achieving Millie’s Mark. They are now one of two hundred nurseries across England that have gone above and beyond the minimum standards to achieve this gold standard in paediatric first aid. In doing so, they are demonstrating raising the quality of first aid standards in their setting and providing additional reassurance to parents.”

Bright Kids Group Owner, Tricia Wellings, said: “I’m very proud that all three of our settings now carry Millie’s Mark accreditation. It provides assurance to parents that all of our childcare practitioners are paediatric first aid trained and competent. First aid is always at the forefront of our minds when caring for small children and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously.

“We wholeheartedly support Millie’s Mark and hope that one day soon all nurseries will carry the accreditation. It only takes a split second for something to happen and having a fully qualified team of first aiders on hand that can respond confidently and effectively, really can mean the difference between life and death. Well done to all of our staff for this fantastic achievement.”

For more information about Millie’s Mark, visit www.milliesmark.com.