Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Breda McCarthy Project Leader Pre-School services HSE West

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 The Regulations shall come into operation on 2 nd January, The purpose of the Pre-School Inspections is to ensure that the Health, Safety and Welfare of children are secured in line with the statutory Pre-School Regulations. Inspections help to promote and raise standards in the quality of Pre- School Service provision.

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 What changes will the Pre-School Provider/Childminder have to make to be compliant with the new Regulations? What new information will the Pre-School Providers/Childminder have to have available for inspection?

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Types of Service Full Day Care Service Childminder Sessional Service Drop-in Centre Part-time Day Care Service - a Pre-School Service offering a structured Day Care Service for Pre-School children for a total of more than 3.5 hours and less than 5 hours per day.

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Pre-School Service in a Temporary Drop-In Centre - a Pre-School Service offering Day Care exclusively on a temporary basis Overnight Pre-School Service – a Pre- School Service in which Pre-School children are taken care of for a total of more than 2 hours between the hours of 7.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m.

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Article 5: HEALTH, WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD A person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that each child’s learning, development and well-being is facilitated within the daily life of the service through the provision of the appropriate opportunities, experiences, activities, interaction, materials and equipment, having regard to the age and stage of development of the child and the child’s cultural context.

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 This will be assessed under 5 sections: 1.The extent to which the personal care provided meets the basic needs of the infants and children. 2.The extent to which relationships around children are supported. 3.The extent to which the physical and material environment supports the development of children. 4.The extent to which the programme of activities and its implementation supports children’s development. 5.The overall extent to which outcomes of children’s lives, including those with special needs are supported.

Article 8: MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING A person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that: the service has a designated person in charge and a named person who is able to deputise as required at all times the designated person in charge or the named person (deputy) is on the premises a person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure appropriate vetting of all staff, students and volunteers who have access to a child Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006

Article 9 BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT A person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that no practices that are disrespectful, degrading, exploitive, intimidating, emotionally or physically harmful or neglectful are carried out in respect of any child. A person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that written policies and procedures are in place to deal with and to manage a child’s challenging behaviour and to assist the child to manage his or her behaviour as appropriate to the age and stage of development of the child.

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Each service should have a Child Protection Policy based on Children First National Guidelines. Each service should have a named designated person for the reporting of child abuse.

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 RECORDS Details of any illness, disability, allergy or special need of a Pre-School child together with all the notes relevant to the provision of special care or attention - Article 13(1)(f) The arrival and departure time of each child should be recorded - Article 14(1)(j) The arrival and departure time and the meal break times of each staff member should be recorded - Article 14 (1)(k)

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Written parental consent for appropriate medical treatment in the event of an emergency (Article 13 (1) (i). Written records with the name, position, qualifications and experience and of every other person, including volunteers and students working in the service (Article 14 (1) (a). A person carrying on a Pre-School Service shall maintain all documents and records relating to references and Garda and police vetting under Regulation 8(2).

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 AGE RANGE ADULT /CHILD RATIOMAXIMUM GROUP SIZE 0-1 year1: children – one adult 4-6 children – two adults 7-9 children – three adults 1-2 years1: children – one adult 6-10 children – two adults 2-3 years1: children – one adult 7-12 children – two adults 3-6 years1: children – one adult 9-16 children – two adults children – three adults

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Full day care service Age of Child Floor area per child 0-1 year 3.5sq metres 1-2 years 2.8sq metres 2-3 years 2.35sq metres 3-6 years 2.3sq metres Part-time day care service Age of ChildFloor area per child 0-1 year 3.5 sq metres 1-2 years 2.8 sq metres 2-3 years 2.35 sq metres 3-6 years 2.3 sq metres Sessional pre-school service Age of child Floor area per child 0-6 years 2 sq. metres Pre-school service in a drop-in centre Age of ChildFloor area per child 0-6 years 2 sq. metres

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Changes to Childminding Service: (v) Childminding service A childminder (a person who provides a childminding service) should look after not more than 5 pre-school children including her own pre-school children. No more than two children should be less than 15 months. Exceptions in relation to numbers under 15 months can be made for multiple births or siblings. Where a childminder is caring for 6 pre-school children, including her own pre-school children, at the time of the commencement of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006, the childminder will not be required to reduce the number cared for to 5 until such time as the first child from that group of 6 pre-school children begins to attend school or leaves the service voluntarily.

Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 Pre-School Officers, HSE West will attend Network Meetings and will be available to offer assistance to any Pre- School Provider with regard to the new regulations. We will continue to work closely with Galway City & County Childcare Committee to identify training needs and to meet those identified needs.