Early Years (Pre School) Inspectorate

Welcome to Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate.

Tusla is responsible for inspecting pre-schools, play groups, day nursery, crèches, day-care and similar services which cater for children aged 0-6 years.  

If you are a parent who uses or wants to use an early years’ service for your child, you will find lots of information here to help you make your decision including the register of early years’ services, most recent inspection reports, and information and tips on what to look for when choosing a service. You will also find information on who to contact if you have a complaint or concern about an early years’ service, and information about Tusla’s role as regulator, as well as general news and updates.

If you are an early years’ service provider, or would like to register as one, you will find helpful information, templates and forms that will assist you, as well as news and updates.

Click on one of the links below to find out more.

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Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate has developed guidance for registered providers of early years services  to  support and facilitate the safe reopening and operation during the COVID-19  period.

The suite of documents includes:

Compliance Information for Early Years Services Operating during the Covid 19 pandemic

1. Tusla Guidance for Early Years Services – Covid-19   (Irish version)
2. Tusla, Early  Years Self-Assessment Checklist – Covid-19   (Irish Version)
3. Tusla, Early Years Notification  Form  – Covid-19   

Early Years Inspectorate inspections during the Covid 19 pandemic

1. Tusla Early Years COVID-19 Inspection protocol for registered providers 
2. Tusla Early Years Inspection Toolkit (Irish Version) 
3. Pre-Inspection Documentation Request (Irish Version)
4. Tusla Early Years letter to Registered Providers 26062020 (Irish Version)

The guidance document provides detailed information on the steps you need to take before and after you reopen. These documents have  been prepared  in line with public health guidance and regulatory requirements. 

The COVID-19 self-assessment checklist should be completed in parallel with the guidance document as an aide to help services work through the requirements.

For further support, contact;

As you are aware COVID-19 is included in the list of infectious diseases, and in the event of a case in an early years service it must be notified to Tusla. A revised notification form for COVID-19 has been developed and incorporates additional information regarding the risk of closure as a result of COVID-19.

Should additional advice be received from NPHET or HPSC  before Phase 3 or thereafter, Tusla will amend the documents accordingly .

Given the unprecedented situation with COVID-19, a decision was made in March to defer the deadline for completion of re-registration until 2021. However, we have received a number of requests from providers who would like to complete the re-registration process while services are closed. Tusla has written to all early years’ service providers on 5th May 2020 to advise that the Tusla portal for completion of registration is re-opening this week and each provider will receive an email advising what documents remain outstanding for applications to be completed. 

Please note that you are not required to submit the outstanding documents and complete the re-registration process at this time; however, you may wish to take the opportunity to progress or finalise the process while your service is temporarily closed.

Click here to find out more

               

If you have a query for Tusla you can email or call us on:

General queries

ey.reception@tusla.ie  / Phone: 061 461700

Registration / Re-registration queries

ey.registration@tusla.ie / Phone : 061 461715