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S.I. No. 221/2016 - Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016

Type Statutory Instrument

Publication 2016-05-06

Last updated 2023-07-28

State In force superseded text

Text As published

Source Irish Statute Book

articles 35

This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.

4 amending acts · 2023-07-28, S.I. No. 387/2023 - Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Reform history JSON API

(b) specifies approaches for managing challenging behaviour by a pre-school child attending the service and assisting the child to manage his or her behaviour as appropriate to the age and stage of development of the child;

“policy on outdoor play”, in relation to a pre-school service, means a policy specifying—

(a) the manner in which and the times at which pre-school children attending the service have access to outdoor play, whether on the premises or in another location, and

(b) the manner in which the health and safety of the pre-school children attending the service while engaged in outdoor play is to be ensured;

“policy on overnight services”, in relation to a pre-school service, means the procedures in place in the service to ensure the safety and welfare of pre-school children attending the service overnight, including in relation to the supervision of such children, sleeping arrangements, bedtime routine and the preservation of the privacy of such children;

“policy on safe sleep”, in relation to a pre-school service, means a policy specifying the manner in which safe and suitable sleeping arrangements are to be provided in the service for pre-school children attending the service;

“policy on staff absences”, in relation to a pre-school service, means the arrangements in place in the service to ensure that the required adult:child ratios specified in Regulation 11 can be met when an employee working directly with children attending the service is absent from the service;

“recruitment policy”, in relation to a pre-school service, means a policy specifying the procedure to be followed by the registered provider when hiring employees and unpaid workers, including the steps to be taken to check and verify references, qualifications and vetting documentation;

“risk management policy”, in relation to a pre-school service, means a policy on the manner in which the registered provider assesses any potential risks to the safety of the pre-school children attending the service, and the steps taken to either eliminate those risks or mitigate them;

“settling-in policy”, in relation to a pre-school service, means the procedures in place in the service to facilitate the integration in the service of a pre-school child when he or she first attends the service, his or her progression within the service and his or her transition to primary school;

“staff training policy”, in relation to a pre-school service, means a policy specifying the manner in which the registered provider shall identify and address the training needs of employees and unpaid workers;

“statement of purpose and function”, in relation to a pre-school service, means a description of the service, including—

(a) who the service is aimed at,

(b) the class of service provided,

(d) the age range of the children catered for in the service, and

(e) the number of children that can be catered for in the service;

“supervision policy”, in relation to a pre-school service, means a policy specifying the manner in which employees, unpaid workers and contractors are supervised and supported in the service in relation to their work practices.

SCHEDULE 6 Adult:Child Ratios

Part 1 Full day care service or part-time day care service


(1)	(2)	(3)
	AGE RANGE	ADULT:CHILD RATIO
1.	0-1 year	1:3
2.	1-2 years	1:5
3.	2-3 years	1:6
4.	3-6 years	1:8

Part 2 Sessional pre-school service


(1)	(2)	(3)
	AGE RANGE	ADULT:CHILD RATIO
1.	0-1 year	1:3
2.	1 — 2½ years	1:5
3.	2½ — 6 years	1:11

Part 3 Pre-school service in a drop-in centre and temporary pre-school service


(1)	(2)	(3)
	AGE RANGE	ADULT:CHILD RATIO
1.	0-6 years	1:4

Part 4 Overnight pre-school service


(1)	(2)	(3)
	AGE RANGE	ADULT:CHILD RATIO
1.	0-1 year	1:3
2.	1-6 years	1:5

SCHEDULE 7 Minimum Space Requirements

Full day care service or part-time day care service


(1)	(2)	(3)
	AGE RANGE	CLEAR FLOOR SPACE
1.	0-1 year	3.5 square metres
2.	1 — 2 years	2.8 square metres
3.	2 — 3 years	2.35 square metres
4.	3 — 6 years	2.3 square metres

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs,

4 May 2016.

JAMES REILLY,

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations set out the various requirements to be complied with by persons carrying on pre-school services, for the purpose of securing the health, safety and welfare and premoting the development of pre-school children.

The Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006 ( S.I. No. 604 of 2006 ) are revoked by these Regulations.

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