Inspection regime for preschools set to be improved

An improved inspection regime for preschools will accompany new regulations to be published soon, the Children’s Minister, James Reilly, has said.

The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, now manages the early years inspectorate, with inspectors working to common standards.

“The inspection tools and the report format have been reviewed and new inspection arrangements will accompany the new regulations, which are due to be published shortly,” Dr Reilly said.

The minister, who was speaking at an international conference in Dublin on monitoring quality in early childhood education and care, said it was timely.

He referred to recent budgetary announcements to increase investment in early childhood care and education by €85m next year.

James Reilly

Dr Reilly said he was committed to ensuring that the investment was matched by significant improvements in the quality of provision.

He pointed out out that anyone wanting to establish an early years service must register with Tusla’s early years inspectorate first.

“Services will be inspected by the early years inspectorate before registration is granted and there will be on-going inspections of all aspects related to early childhood care and education once the service is operating and children are attending,” he said.

Inspectors from the Department of Education would focus on the quality of children’s learning experiences and achievements.

Under the new regulations, all staff would be required to have a minimum level five qualification on the National Qualifications Framework in early years care and education, or an equivalent qualification.

Pre-school leaders involved in the free preschool scheme, currently required to hold a level five qualification, will need to have a minimum level six qualification, or equivalent.