To think this is going to look so bad and I will be viewed poorly by new employer

Guessing it’s the 12hr paed first aid. 6hrs class. 6hrs online and then test

yes it’s not good you failed twice esp when multiple choice and working with small children

but can you retake it

tbh I’ve ne ee known anytime to fail the tigerlily one that I do

obv other providers may be diff

I also find it shocking @Itiswhatitis80that not all are first aid trained at your nursery 🙀

This

Well, I wouldn't hire you. For most jobs it wouldn't matter, but as a nursery practioner, first aid training would be pretty vital. I know as a parent I'd expect all the staff at any nursery I left my child in to be fully trained in first aid! How could you not get over 80%? And twice, at that!?

Probably. It seems to me it's pretty fundamental for your new job.

@teonaidh if that's what you understood from my post, same to you, pet.

If you can’t retain six hours worth of information and answer questions about it the test isn’t the only thing that’s simple, pet.

It’s typically done by an exam board type organisation… it was introduced to bring down costs interestingly so that exam centres weren’t necessary… my guess would be it was expensive to develop but now it’s up and running costs will have fallen but can’t say for sure ( I’ve just taken the exams not paid for them!)

Cool. That's interesting to know, and makes sense. I can't see nurseries affording the costs of it for a first aid test for poorly paid staff though. (I'm assuming it's not cheap)

E-proctoring for remote exams is a thing and super common for many industry professional exams. You are watched through your camera ( no looking at notes or phoning a friend!) and software monitors for unauthorised software use (no googling!)

@saraclara most of them. I can do it at work, but that's not test conditions anyway as it tends to be individually, in a private room/space on a laptop/computer with internet access. If you were that way inclined you could cheat anyway by having your notes next to you or googling the answers. My employer doesn't mind me doing it at home as it saves them having to cover me and I'm basically working unpaid .

Which is how I had to take my safeguarding test. Which seems entirely reasonable to me.

How many other exams do you get to take at home/get someone else to sit for you ?

On site would mean at the nursery on a computer/laptop.

It's not very simple, and if done right, it is quite intense and lengthy course.

I actually hate the practical sessions (6 hours of it) , because there's so much faffing, and let me ask you about this one thing my grandma used to do with burns, and let me tell you that time I got knocked out, and that time I did this that and the other. And what about this ? What about that? Plus people being arseholes and talking/whispering and using it as a catch up session.
The practical test part is fine . Tbf , I wouldn't mind or care if I had to do the theory one under supervision either (would make no difference to me) as long as I had access and opportunity to actually learn that stuff by myself without being interrupted by grandma Judy's boil remedies.

It doesn’t matter what the legal guidelines are- Ethically if you’re incapable of completing a very simple multiple choice questionnaire you’re not capable of caring for children in emergency situations and shouldn’t be in your job. It’s going to look really bad to your new boss because it is really bad.

Not denying that ideally all childcare practitioners should be first aid trained but strange there's not such emphasis on parents.

I took a paediatric first aid course when I had my first baby but my husband didn't and I've never repeated it so will have forgotten a lot. Considering parents are so much more likely to be alone with children and nobody else around it's strange there's not more campaigning for all parents to do it.

Fully agreed. People aren't doing it at home for time, they're doing it to cheat and that's not acceptable when it comes to safety.

No way would I be happy trusting my baby or toddler to a nursery where the first aid exam was not taken on site and in close to exam conditions.

If their staff took it at home, I'd find that unacceptable. Anyone could have taken that test.
Learn the stuff at home? Fine, of course. But taking the test? No way.

@ZippyBrick that sounds like a you problem. We always do the online bit at home or at work because it is hours long, and only if we pass the online bit we are then booked into the practical part.

It makes sense as it's a lot of material from allergies, to head injuries, chocking , diabetes, open wounds, bleeding (including nose bleeds), head injuries etc. I can easily pass it now as I've done it a few times , plus the practicals , plus actually dealing with stuff day to day. Plus, learn better by reading stuff rather than someone talking at me.Someone doing it the first time with no previous experience , having all that information plus any other random thing thrown at them in a day/6 hours , would struggle though. Nothing to do with cheating. Everything to do with the right environment for actual learning.

Likely this training completion is a regulatory and insurance requirement to operate the nursery. I would make sure they know you are keen to pass it and just keep going until you do. Once you’ve got the hang of it you’ll likely end up wondering why it was such a struggle to begin with and the annual refresher training will be a doddle with all that practice. Attitude is everything, try not to worry

Bizarrelly it isn’t essential.

I work in early years with 29 staff and we have less than half who are first aid trained. Most of ours has lapsed and we are waiting on a new course through work.

im in Scotland so requirements may be different .

If any employee of mine requested to re do the test at home, huge red flag. Obviously they want to cheat with their next attempt.

How would a future employer know?

I think I would arrange to take the course again ASAP at your own expense.

I’m confused. If it’s CPD then why does she have to do it unpaid before even starting work? If it’s part of the recruitment process, then how come the offer is still open if the assessment wasn’t passed?

I suspect you will have to retake at least the online part of the test. I took a test recently where the answers came up after each question.

On one of them, it said I'd got it wrong but then came up with the same answer. I'm never convinced that the Multiple Choice Quizzes actually work properly. And they are frequently vague to the point there is more than one correct answer.

Perhaps try finding a course yourself where it's not based on your ability to do a quiz online.