Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to include
(1) first aid training, and (2) home nursing, as core parts of
the school curriculum.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Education () (Con)
My Lords, we know that first aid and good care saves lives.
Schools are now required to teach first aid as part of statutory
health education. Pupils are taught how to deal with common
injuries, call the emergency services, administer CPR and
understand the purpose of defibrillators. Schools have the
flexibility to deliver content that meets the needs of their
pupils, such as learning about caring for others.
(Con)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for her Answer. I asked one of the
most experienced paramedics in Norfolk what he thought would save
most lives in the National Health Service in his field. His
answer was: “Please include teaching standard cardiopulmonary
resuscitation—CPR—in the school curriculum, especially as you can
no longer give the kiss of life, along with basic first aid and
home nursing classes”. However, could these classes be taught not
just once a term but every week? UK ambulances attend 60,000
calls every year, with many calls made through a lack of basic
knowledge. A degree of serious teaching, as evidence shows, saves
three times as many lives and would save the National Health
Service millions of pounds. Can the Minister take this to her
department as a project for 2022?
(Con)
As I said in response to my noble friend’s main Question, all
state-funded schools are required to teach first aid and the
curriculum includes CPR. We have also recently issued
implementation guidance to schools, which says that they should
decide the most appropriate method of teaching. Many use
excellent charities to help them implement that training.
(Lab)
My Lords, I am sorry to say this, because I know the noble
Baroness raised this Question in good faith, but it is unhelpful
because it deflects from the pressing need for the national
curriculum to be rescued from the confines imposed upon it by the
English baccalaureate. The EBacc comprises the subjects most
sought after by Russell group universities; it does not cater for
young people who want to pursue the arts and creative subjects,
such as design and technology, drama or music. Does the Minister
have any concerns about young people being force-fed subjects
that may not be in their best interests, and is it now the time
to think about adding a sixth pillar to the EBacc?
(Con)
I hear the noble Lord’s level of concern, but the EBacc gives
pupils the foundational skills and knowledge they need to pursue
a very wide variety of careers. As he and I debated over many
hours during the skills Bill, there are also lots of
opportunities in both T-levels and BTECs to pursue a range of
other careers.
(CB)
My Lords, I chaired the Sub- Committee on Allergy in 2007, which
recommended adrenaline autoinjectors in schools, which are now
available. Can the Minister confirm whether teenagers—a third of
whom with allergies are known often not to carry their adrenaline
injectors with them—and the risk of bleeding out from stab
injuries to them are specifically targeted in first-aid teaching
in senior schools?
(Con)
If I may, I will write to the noble Baroness with more detail,
but the spirit of the guidance is certainly that schools have an
element of discretion, and rightly so, in what they include in
their curriculum. However, she will be aware that we are doing a
great deal of work in relation to stab injuries and violent
crime.
The Lord Privy Seal () (Con)
My Lords, the noble Baroness, Lady Harris of Richmond, wishes to
speak virtually. I think this is a convenient point for me to
call her.
(LD) [V]
My Lords, I watched primary schoolchildren get involved in these
classes some years ago and saw CPR being taught in a secondary
school. To what year groups do the Government intend to teach
these excellent skills? It is all right doing it just for
seniors, but what about primary school- children as well?
(Con)
The noble Baroness is absolutely right, and the curriculum is
also included in all primary schools in an age-appropriate
manner.
(Con)
My Lords, would my noble friend agree that one of the best ways
of teaching first aid in schools is through the Combined Cadet
Force? The Government’s school cadet expansion programme has a
target of 60,000 young people participating by next year. Can my
noble friend tell us how far along the road we are with that? I
remind your Lordships of my charitable interest as chairman of
the Cadet Vocational Qualifications Organisation.
(Con)
My noble friend is right to bring attention to the CCF and the
great work that it does. But I am sure he would agree that there
are a number of other organisations, such as the Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award and the National Citizen Service, that also
focus on equipping young people with a range of skills, including
first aid. I will write to my noble friend with an update on
recruit numbers.
of Knighton (CB)
My Lords, I wonder if I could draw two answers together by asking
the Minister if she agrees that, apart from the important health
benefits already mentioned, there is a social dividend in what is
being suggested? As with playing an instrument, as we have just
heard, or drama, the self-esteem resulting from an acquired
discipline and the ability to help others promotes social
cohesion and friendliness.
(Con)
I agree with the noble Lord. The curriculum supports the
development of a range of essential behaviours and life skills
promoting confidence, team working, emotional well-being,
compassion and resilience.
(Lab)
My Lords, first aid and CPR are not available in the curriculum
in Northern Ireland. To address this, my colleague in the
Northern Ireland Assembly has brought forward a Private Member’s
Bill to introduce CPR as part of the curriculum and have it
available in all types of schools. Will the Minister use her
great offices when meeting ministerial colleagues in the devolved
Administrations to encourage them down this route as a safety
measure and part of good curriculum education?
(Con)
I am delighted to reassure the noble Baroness on that account and
to share that with my ministerial colleagues in the department.
(Con)
My Lords, it has been mentioned that the kiss of life is no
longer part of CPR because of Covid, but in fact it was given up
before that because it was recognised that there was enough
oxygen in the blood. The great thing is to get the circulation
going as the essential part of CPR.
(Con)
I thank my noble friend for that very helpful technical
clarification.
(LD)
My Lords, many children of black and Asian descent suffer from
sickle cell. Will the noble Baroness consider getting schools to
talk about sickle cell and teach children, when a child in their
class has a crisis, about what they are going through?
(Con)
I am delighted to share that with colleagues in the department
and confirm that that is happening.
