Infection Control for Early Years
CPD accredited | Online course | Approximately 90–120 minutes
Infection prevention is an essential part of providing safe, effective Early Years care.
This course gives practitioners, childminders and managers the practical knowledge needed to reduce the spread of infection, respond appropriately when someone becomes unwell and support consistent infection-control practice throughout their setting.
Learners explore realistic Early Years situations involving hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, personal protective equipment, exclusion, illness, outbreaks and communication with families.
The course is suitable for learners throughout the UK. It explains the importance of following the current guidance for the nation in which the service operates.
For Scottish settings, the course reflects Public Health Scotland’s dedicated Health Protection for Early Years Childcare Settings, version 1.0, published on 27 August 2026.
Course Information
Delivery: Online and self-paced
Duration: Approximately 90–120 minutes
Assessment: Knowledge checks and final assessment
Pass mark: 80%
Certificate: CPD certificate available following successful completion
Accreditation: The CPD Group
Last reviewed: August 2026
The course includes video content, practical examples, interactive activities, reflective questions and assessment feedback.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is suitable for:
- Early Years practitioners.
- Nursery and preschool staff.
- Childminders and childminding assistants.
- Room leaders and senior practitioners.
- Early Years managers.
- Students, volunteers and support staff working in childcare environments.
Learners must also receive information about the policies, products, equipment and reporting arrangements used within their own workplace.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, learners should be able to:
- Explain how infections can spread within an Early Years environment.
- Identify measures that help break the chain of infection.
- Apply effective handwashing and respiratory-hygiene practices.
- Explain the difference between cleaning and disinfection.
- Use cleaning products and personal protective equipment safely.
- Recognise when a child or adult may be unwell without attempting to diagnose the illness.
- Check current exclusion guidance and apply it appropriately.
- Recognise possible patterns of illness or a suspected outbreak.
- Explain when the local Health Protection Team should be contacted.
- Support consistent infection-control practice through policies, training, monitoring and communication.
Course Lessons
1. Introduction to Infection Control
Understand why infection prevention matters in Early Years settings, the responsibilities of staff and the importance of following current national and local guidance.
2. How Infections Spread
Explore the different ways infections can spread between people, objects, food and the environment, and learn how infection-control measures interrupt transmission.
3. Everyday Hygiene and Handwashing
Learn when and how hands should be washed, how to support children’s hygiene routines and why gloves and hand sanitiser do not replace effective handwashing.
4. Cleaning, Disinfection and PPE
Understand the difference between cleaning and disinfection, manage toys and shared resources safely, respond to bodily-fluid spillages and use PPE appropriately.
5. Recognising Illness and Managing Outbreaks
Recognise changes that may indicate illness, check current exclusion guidance, record and review sickness absence, identify possible outbreaks and seek advice from the local Health Protection Team.
6. Embedding Good Practice
Explore how policies, leadership, staff induction, monitoring and communication help make infection control part of consistent everyday practice.
7. Course Summary and Assessment
Review the key principles from the course and complete the final assessment.
Guidance and Professional Practice
This course supports practice informed by current national health-protection guidance, including:
- Public Health Scotland guidance for Early Years childcare settings.
- UK Health Security Agency disease-specific exclusion information.
- Relevant guidance issued by regulators and local health-protection services.
Guidance can change. Learners should use current official online sources and follow any additional advice provided by their local Health Protection Team.
This course provides general infection-prevention education. It does not replace setting-specific induction, workplace procedures, risk assessment or advice from health-protection professionals.
Course Update
This course was reviewed and updated in August 2026 following publication of Public Health Scotland’s dedicated Health Protection for Early Years Childcare Settings guidance.
The update includes revised content on:
- Scottish health-protection guidance.
- Handwashing and hygiene.
- Cleaning, disinfection and PPE.
- Illness and exclusion.
- Recording and reviewing absence.
- Recognising and responding to outbreaks.
- Contacting the local Health Protection Team.
- Embedding and monitoring good practice.