Millie's Mark

What is Millie’s Mark? 

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidelines, which childcare settings in England are required to follow, currently state that just one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate must be on the premisies and available at all time when children are present or on outings. (DfE 2014, page 21) 

Millie's Mark will be awarded as a special endorsement to childcare providers that go above and beyond these minimum requirements by having 100% of staff trained in paediatric first aid, and also ensuring that everything learned during the course is kept alive and in the forefront of practioners' minds so that they are confident, ready and capable. 

When your setting gains the Millie's Mark accreditation, you provide reassurance for your parents that all childcare practitioners know what to do in a padiatric first aid situation. 

Millie’s Mark is being awarded to nurseries where all staff members who work with children are qualified in paediatric first aid and who have well-deployed first aid processes.

The process takes three to six months and involves intensive support from an NDNA mentor, completion of an audit, risk assessment and spot checks.

All nurseries achieving Millie’s Mark have their own individual policies and procedures in exemplary practice.

Co-operative Childcare Newburn, near Newcastle Upon Tyne, for example, operates a buddy system where staff who are newly-qualified in first aid are supported by more experienced colleagues to help them gain confidence. Granby Carlton Nursery in Nottinghamshire runs six-monthly refresher courses on first aid for all staff.

Stephanie Beschizza, manager of Elm Cottage Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, said: "Being part of the pilot for Millie's Mark and achieving the award has been such an achievement for our nursery.  It helped us to reflect on our practice and realise our many strengths surrounding paediatric first aid as well as evaluating what we could do further to improve on standards.  

“We will be proud to inform our parents that we have this award and hope this is a reassuring factor for them when leaving their children in our care."



Millie’s Trust was formed in 2012 by Joanne and Dan Thompson, whose daughter Millie died after choking on food at her nursery. The Trust has campaigned tirelessly for all early years staff to be trained in paediatric first aid.

Joanne Thompson said: “As Millie's parents, we are extremely proud that Millie's Mark is our daughter's legacy and we are so pleased that the first ten nurseries in England have now received their award. The response from the sector has been fantastic and we are pleased that so many nurseries across England have already made an application for the mark. 
“For parents, choosing a nursery with the mark allows them to have confidence in the paediatric first aid training that the people looking after their children will have."

Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of NDNA, said: “Millie’s Mark is a fantastic achievement for these nurseries. It will give reassurance for parents and help keep young children safe in nurseries across the country. 

“We hope it will help parents make an informed choice about childcare.”

It acknowledges that children's safety is at the forefront of your nursery's mind when you care for children. 

Read more about the Millie's Mark Process 

Orignal Article Soure: WWW.MILLIESMARK.COM