Toadhall Montessori Nursery in Cardiff has become the first nursery in Wales to be awarded Millie’s Mark, the gold standard in paediatric first aid for childcare providers.

Julie Morgan, Wales’ deputy minister for social services , visited the nursery along with Dan Thompson, co-founder of Millie’s Trust, and Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) which administers Millie’s Mark on behalf of Millie’s Trust.

The NDNA worked with the Welsh government and Millie’s Trust to ensure that Millie’s Mark is aligned with the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare in Wales and is available to all early years settings across the country.

Millie’s Mark is owned by first aid charity Millie’s Trust and is named after Millie Thompson who died following a choking incident in a nursery.

“I am pleased to welcome Millie’s Mark accreditation to Wales,” said Morgan. “Accreditation provides parents and carers with extra confidence that as well as meeting the paediatric first aid requirements within the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare, a setting is going above and beyond by ensuring all staff within the setting are trained in paediatric first aid, keeping children safe and minimising risks and accidents. I hope more settings in Wales consider working towards Millie’s Mark accreditation.”

Sandy Clayton, owner and principal manager of Toadhall Montessori Nursery, said the nursery was “proud and delighted” to be the first childcare setting to achieve the award. “We have always ensured all staff undertake the 12 hour Paediatric First Aid training every three years, but I felt staff needed lots of practical opportunities to know exactly what to do in a variety of medical situations and emergencies within the context of their daily routines and different environments,” she said. “Millie’s Mark was the perfect accreditation process to enable this.”