The CHILD CARE ACT 1991 (EARLY YEARS SERVICES) REGULATIONS 2016 requires services to have the following policies in place.

The regulations states that:

10. A registered provider of a pre-school service shall ensure that the written policies, procedures and statements specified in Schedule 5 are in place for the service.

SCHEDULE 5
Policies, procedures and statements
1. (a) statement of purpose and function;
    (b) complaints policy;
    (c) policy on administration of medication;
    (d) policy on infection control;
    (e) policy on managing behaviour;
    (f) policy on safe sleep;
    (g) fire safety policy;
    (h) inclusion policy;
    (i) outings policy where children attending the service are brought on such outings;
    (j) policy on accidents and incidents;
    (k) policy on authorisation to collect children;
    (l) policy on healthy eating;
    (m) policy on outdoor play where such play is provided to children attending the service;
    (n) policy on overnight services where the service is an overnight preschool service;
    (o) policy on staff absences;
    (p) policy on the use of the internet and photographic and recording devices;
    (q) recruitment policy;
    (r) risk management policy;
    (s) settling-in policy;
    (t) staff training policy;
    (u) supervision policy.

These polices are not exhaustive and all Policies and Procedures should be adapted to each individual service’s needs. They should be reviewed annually or as required and in keeping with best practice, all stakeholders should be involved in the development of the policies and procedures.

The guidebook, policy samples/templates and other documents provided in the link below have been developed by Barnardos in collaboration with Tusla to support you, as an early years provider, to develop your own set of policies, procedures and statements to meet the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016:

• https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-quality-and-regulatory-framework/

For sample policies and procedures, please click the following link:

• https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-quality-and-regulatory-framework/sample-policies-and-templates/