Resources

Guidance Documents | Policies & Notices | Reports
External Resources and Useful Information

Guidance Documents
VIDEO: English Language version Irish Language version LEAFLET: English Language version Irish Language version		Tusla Early Years inspectorate and Department of Education and Youth Inspectorate Inspections of Early Learning and Care settings. September 2025 This short video and accompanying leaflet provide information on the different types of inspections and other types of work carried out by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate and Department of Education and Youth (DEY).
	Keeping children safe and comfortable indoors and outdoors in all weathers – June 2025 This document provides guidance on managing challenges presented by weather conditions Irish Language version		Guidance on vetting for students before they commence practice placements in early years services – May 2025 This document sets out the vetting requirements for students before they take up a practice placement in an early years service.
	Assessment of Disclosed Information – Garda or Overseas Police Vetting – June 2024 This guidance has been developed to support managers in regulated children’s services to respond effectively to positive garda vetting and overseas police vetting disclosures.		Inspections of Early Learning and Care settings – Information leaflet for parents. – Nov 2023 This leaflet provides information on the different types of inspections and others types of work carried out by the Department of Education (DE) and Tusla Early Years Inspectorate. Irish Language version
	Guidance for the Early Learning and Care sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months – Update June 2024 This guidance document sets out the revised position of Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate on sleep provision for children under 24 months in early learning and care services.		When the Roof is the Sky – Update Oct 2023 This guidance document is designed to provide advice and guidance for providers who currently operate, or plan to operate an early years service.operating either fully or partially outdoors Irish Language version
	Registration Renewal – Mar 2023 This document supports the process of registration renewal by providing a step by step guide through the use of the Tusla portal,.		Vetting requirements in Early Years Service Guidance Tools – Mar 2023 A series of guidance tools designed to support providers of Early Years Services with vetting requirements
	Inspection in Early Years Services Leaflet – June 2022 This leaflet is designed to give guidance to anyone who works in an early years service about why the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate undertakes inspections, how inspections work and what the various outcomes of inspections are.		A Guide to Inspection in Early Years Services – Update Mar 2024 The purpose of this guide is to explain the main components of an early years service inspection to inform providers of the approach to inspections which are aimed at securing and sustaining compliance with legislation and supporting quality improvement.
	Supporting Quality Early Years Provision Through Registration, Inspection and Enforcement – July 2021 This document describes quality in early years provision and how the inspectorate supports and measures it		Pedagogical principles of the Tusla Early Years Inspection process – July 2021 This document describes the pedagogical principles of the early years inspectorate which are based on our experience and expert knowledge of child development, early learning and care and pedagogy.
	EYI Technical Guidance Document- Ventilation – Oct 2021 This technical guidance document provides guidance for the Inspectorate in assessing and verifying compliance with requirements to provide adequate ventilation in early years settings.		A Guide to Building Safety – Fire and Planning Requirements – July 2022 A guidance document designed to assist existing providers and new applicants to address fire and planning safety requirements

Policies & Notices
	Reasonable Adjustment Policy – Dec 2024 Our Reasonable Adjustment Policy ensures individuals with disabilities or additional needs can fully participate in Children’s Services Regulation (CSR) processes. Requests are assessed case-by-case to promote inclusion and equal access.		New Applications and Change in Circumstances – Timeframes for 2024 – April 2024
	Certificates of Registration \| Dheimhniú Clárúcháin – Sept 2022 From September 2022 the Early Years Inspectorate will issue certificates of registration to services where required registration criteria are met. More information can be found in this document.
Reports
	Escalation and Enforcement Review 2023 The Early Years Inspectorate has published a report of escalation and enforcement activity undertaken in 2023 Executive Summary		Early Years Inspectorate Escalation and Enforcement Yearly Review 2022 The Early Years Inspectorate has published a report of escalation and enforcement activity undertaken in 2022 Executive Summary
	Early Years Inspectorate Activity Report 2022 The Early Years Inspectorate has published a report of escalation and enforcement activity undertaken in 2022		Key Findings arising from early years inspection reports – November 2022 Executive Summary
	Response of the early years sector to the Covid-19 pandemic – November 2022 Executive Summary		Response of the Early Years Inspectorate to the Covid-19 pandemic Executive Summary
	Early Years Inspectorate Escalation and Enforcement Yearly Review 2021 The Early Years Inspectorate has published a report of escalation and enforcement activity undertaken in 2021 Executive Summary		Tusla Early Years Inspections – Parents Consultation February 2021 Tusla Early Years Inspectorate undertook a consultation which sought parents’ views about inspections of Early Years Services, and the best way to include these views in the inspection process. Summary Report of Tusla Early Years Inspections: Parents Consultation \| Irish Version Tusla Early Years Inspections-Parents Consultation \| Irish Version
	Early Years Inspection Reports 2018-2019, Analysis and Trends February A report on inspection findings which identifies those regulations that providers ar most compliant and non-compliant with and the proportion of services that come into compliance during the regulatory process. Summary Report of Early Years Inspection Reports 2018–2019: Analysis and Trends \| Irish Version Report of Early Years Inspection Reports 2018–2019: Analysis and Trends \| Irish Version		The Early Years Regulatory Enforcement Process February 2021 – Outcomes A review of our regulatory enforcement processes. Irish Version Summary Report of the Early Years Regulatory Enforcement Process: Outcomes \| Irish Version
	Tusla EYI Childminders International Review – Sept 2020 In 2020 the Early Years Inspectorate undertook a review of the registration, regulation, inspection, and enforcement of the childminding sector in six international jurisdictions. The findings from the review identified that there are a range of approaches to the regulation of childminding.		Child and Family Agency Children’s Services Regulation Report 2019
	Tusla – Child and Family Agency Children’s Services Regulation Annual Report 2018		Annual Report 2017 of Tusla – Child and Family Agency’s Early Years Inspectorate
	Annual Report 2016 of Tusla – Child and Family Agency’s Early Years Inspectorate		Annual Report 2015 of Tusla – Child and Family Agency’s Early Years Inspectorate
	Report on the Process of Pre-School Inspection Practices as documented in inspection reports – Sept 2014 Executive Summary \| Executive Summary (Irish)		Report on the Quality of Pre-school Inspection Practices as documented in inspection reports – Sept 2014 Executive Summary \| Executive Summary (Irish)
External Resources and Useful Information
	Critical Incidents in Early Years Services All Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services are required to have a service level Critical Incident Plan A Guide has been developed by Barnardo’s to support ELC and SAC services to think about and plan for critical incidents and to have practical supports in place should it be necessary to respond to a critical incident – March 2024		2024 SunSmart Campaign The annual SunSmart campaign is run by the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), in collaboration with Healthy Ireland and cross-sectoral partners. We are working together to support people to reduce their risk of skin cancer by protecting their skin from the sun. The aim of the campaign is to reduce your risk of skin cancer by increasing awareness and engagement with the steps you, your family, friends and colleagues can take to protect your skin from the sun and not using sunbeds. Further information is on www.hse.ie/sunsmart – March 2024