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Information for early years educators and leaders
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Early Years Education Inspections (EYEIs) are carried out in early years services participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme – a programme which provides a period of free early childhood care and education for children before they start school.
During these inspections, we evaluate the quality of the nature, range and appropriateness of the early educational experiences for children participating in the ECCE Programme. The main activity of an EYEI inspection is the observation, by the inspector, of the processes and practices relating to children’s learning in one or more learning rooms or areas in the early years setting.
At the end of each inspection we provide the early years practitioners and the owners/managers (where available) with feedback on the quality of educational provision in the setting. Subsequently we send a written report to the pre-school inspected outlining the inspection findings and providing advice as to how educational provision in the setting can be developed further or improved.
Follow-through inspections evaluate the progress an early years service has made on implementing actions advised in an earlier early years inspection where a written report has been published or issued to the service. The format of the follow-through inspection is determined by the original actions advised in the published inspection report.
The process allows for sufficient flexibility to gather evidence relating to the progress made in implementing some or all of the actions advised in the original published or issued inspection report. At the end of the inspection we provide oral feedback about the findings and we provide a written report which is published on our website.
A Guide to Early Years Education Inspection (EYEI) — Updated January 2024
This guide outlines how the Inspectorate of the department conducts early years education inspection. It replaces the previous versions of the guide published in 2016, 2018 and 2022.
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A Review Of Early Years Education Focused Inspection: April 2016 – June 2017
This Review of the first year of Implementation of Early Years Education-focused Inspection provides the first detailed, composite evaluation of the nature and quality of early childhood education provision and practice under the ECCE Programme.
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Procedure for the review of inspections carried out by the Department of Education Inspectorate under Section 13(9) of the Education Act 1998
This document sets out the steps that can be taken by a practitioner or teacher, the owner/manager of an early learning and care setting or the board of management of a school or other education and training facility to have an inspection carried out by the Department of Education Inspectorate reviewed. It replaces the previous version published in 2015 and is effective from 01 September 2022.
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Code of Practice for the Inspectorate — August 2022
This document sets out the general principles and standards in accordance with which the Department of Education Inspectorate carries out its work. It replaces the previous version published in 2015.
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Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) settings are also inspected by the TUSLA Early Years Inspectorate.
The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate is the independent statutory regulator of ELC and SAC services in Ireland. It is responsible for the registration and inspection of all ELC and SAC services including playgroups, day nurseries, crèches, day care, school-age childcare, and similar services catering for children aged 0–14 years.
The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate is committed to ensuring that children attending ELC and SAC services are safe, that they receive appropriate care and have a positive experience where they can develop and learn in a quality service. This is achieved through the registration, inspection and enforcement processes prescribed by law and implemented by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate.
Tusla inspects all ELC services at least once every three years and, in some cases, more frequently. Inspections assess the service’s compliance with the Regulations and, in particular:
- that the service is well governed,
- the health, welfare and development of each child is supported,
- children are safe in the service, and
- the premises are safe and suitable for children’s early learning and care.
Following an inspection, the Inspectorate will provide the service with a draft inspection report. Where non-compliances are found, the service will have an opportunity to respond and to rectify any such non-compliance. The final published inspection reports are publicly available and can be found here. More information on the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate can be found here.