September is fast approaching and we have no doubt that you are all busy getting ready to open your doors to a whole new group of children and parents. This checklist should help you evaluate that you have everything you need in place.
Contracts of Employment
If you are taking on new staff it is imperative that you issue a contract of employment within the first 8 weeks. It is also important the correct type of contract is issued. Our contracts are specifically developed for this sector and cover important areas like confidentiality, child protection, garda vetting and professional conduct as well as being GDPR compliant. We also have contracts to suit an AIM employee in the Inclusion Pack They come with a set of instructions and if you need extra assistance in developing them the Canavan Byrne employment expert team are always available to help.
Employment Contract Template ►
Child Registration and Roll Books
Are you confident that your Child Registration Form contains all the data now required under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016? Is your form GDPR compliant and have you captured all the necessary permissions? This form is available on its own in our child Registration Pack or part of our GDPR pack
You will also need an attendance record. This is available through our roll books. Remember, whatever system you use, that you must have a list of parents and emergency contacts/collectors in the room.
Children Registration Pack ►
GDPR Pack ►
Children's Roll Book ►
Medical Emergency Care Plans
Do you have children attending in September with allergies or health conditions? It is essential that you have a care plan in place and that staff have the knowledge to respond effectively to a medical emergency. We have a full range of plans and if there is an illness/condition not on our list the Canavan byrne Team will write one for you.
Medical and Health Forms ►
Parent Handbooks
Both Tusla and DES inspections will look for evidence of communication and partnership with parents. We suggest you have a Parent Handbook that you update each year with all the information about your policies and procedures to make completely transparent the expectations for the children, families and staff in your service. We offer a comprehensive Parent Handbook you can edit yourself as well as an editing service through Canavan Byrne, the early years experts.
Parent Handbook ►
GDPR Pack
Since the 25th May 2018 you are obliged to have your GDPR systems in place. This is not merely a policy but a whole system of compliance that includes a policy, adaptations to your registration form, contracts of employment and supplier agreements. Our pack has been developed by a team of early years, data protection and legal experts to ensure you are covered!
GDPR Pack ►
Risk Assessment
For those of you have been recently inspected by Tusla you will know that risk management forms a large part of the inspection and services who do not have proper risk checks and audits in place are being asked by Tusla to submit them every month for three months so it becomes habitual. Our risk assessment pack provides you with daily risk checks as well as monthly audit tools
Risk Assessment Pack ►
Accident and Incident Recording
This is an area of high non-compliance in services. You now must record the risk assessment (corrective and preventive action taken) following an accident. You must also give each parent a copy of the record (not just a signature) and place a copy on each child's file. Our bumper triplicate book ensures compliance.
Accident and Incident Book ►
Learning Journeys
Get off on the right foot with our Learning Journal “My Learning Journey”. These ‘bumper’ size best-selling journals allow plenty of space for observations and to capture and document children’s emerging interests
My Learning Journey is an A3 book with 20 blank pages to include children’s artwork, observations or anything at all to document their journey through the year. My Learning Journey also has spaces for the child’s details, a pocket on the front for his or her photo, and a guide to Aistear for the parent’s reference.
Why not combine the journeys with our Aistear Stickers so those important links are made and parents can make the connections and learn more about the curriculum framework.
My Learning Journey ►
Curriculum Plans
Our curriculum plans are not templates. They are a library of curriculum and activity ideas so that early years’ professionals can plan ahead but most importantly respond to the emerging interests of children. The purpose behind our plans and the EYRF is to allow you build a library of resources for your service. When a child demonstrates they have an interest you will be able to retrieve materials that will assist you support the child through their learning journey.
Remember, all our curriculum plans are made available to EYRF members for no additional charge as they are released.
Curriculum Plans on the Early Years Shop ►
EYRF Memberships ►
