Tusla Inspection Checklist 2026: What Every Early Years Provider in Ireland Must Have Ready

Every early years provider in Ireland needs a Tusla inspection checklist 2026 that reflects the latest regulatory requirements. Tusla inspections are unannounced, thorough, and directly tied to your registration as a service. Whether you run a creche, preschool, sessional service, or childminding setting, being inspection-ready is not optional. It is the standard expected of every registered provider operating under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. The good news is that with the right preparation, an inspection does not need to be stressful. Providers who fare best are those who treat compliance as part of their everyday practice rather than something they scramble to address when an inspector is at the door. This guide walks you through exactly what Tusla inspectors assess in 2026, what documents you need to have ready, the most common reasons Irish services receive action plans, and what happens after the inspection is complete. Use the checklist in each section to audit your own setting today.  

What Is a Tusla Inspection and Why Does It Matter?

Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate is the statutory regulator of all early years services in Ireland. It is legally required to inspect every registered service to verify compliance with the 2016 Regulations. Inspections are carried out by eight regional teams, coordinated nationally, and they are unannounced. Tusla uses a risk-based approach. Services with previous compliance issues, complaints raised against them, or significant operational changes are inspected more frequently. All published inspection reports are made publicly available on the Tusla website, meaning parents can and do check them when choosing a service for their child. Every Tusla inspection covers four key areas:

• Governance
• Health, Welfare and Development of Children
• Safety
• Premises and Facilities

  Following the visit, a formal Regulatory Inspection Report is prepared based on documentation reviewed, direct observation of practice, and discussions with staff. If significant risk is identified, an Immediate Action Notice can be issued very shortly after the inspection.  

The Complete Tusla Inspection Checklist 2026

Use the checklist below to carry out a self-audit of your setting. Work through all four inspection areas and identify any gaps before an inspector arrives.  

1. Governance

Governance covers the management, staffing, and administrative systems of your service. This is the area most likely to generate action plans if documentation is not in order.  

• Up-to-date Tusla registration certificate displayed on the premises
• Statement of Purpose and Function available and reviewed within the last 12 months
• Named Person in Charge present and appropriately qualified at all times
• All staff hold valid, up-to-date Garda Vetting processed through an approved Tusla body
• Garda Vetting renewal records in place for staff whose vetting is more than three years old
• Two written character references on file for every staff member
• Qualification certificates on file for all staff counted in adult-to-child ratios
• Staff contracts up to date and signed
• Complaints policy in place with a log of any complaints received and how they were handled
• Child Safeguarding Statement published, reviewed annually and accessible to parents
• Designated Liaison Person appointed and trained in Children First
• Insurance documents current and immediately available for inspection

 

2. Health, Welfare and Development of Children

This section assesses how well your service supports each child individually, including care planning, health records, and how your programme of activities is delivered.  

• Individual care plans in place for all children with additional needs or medical conditions
• Medication administration records maintained with signed parental consent for each child
• Allergy and dietary requirement records up to date for every child on roll
• Sleep safety records in place for children under 24 months, in line with Tusla Sleep Guidance
• Daily attendance register completed and retained
• Key worker system in place and clearly documented
• Programme of activities referencing Aistear and Siolta frameworks visible and in use
• Nappy changing records maintained where applicable
• Feeding and fluid intake records in place for babies and young toddlers
• Accident and incident report forms completed, signed by a parent or guardian, and retained for at least two years

 

3. Safety

Safety covers everything from your risk assessments and fire procedures to medication storage and infection control. This is a high priority area for Tusla and must be evidenced in writing.  

• Risk assessments completed for all indoor areas, outdoor spaces, outings and fire safety
• All risk assessments reviewed, dated and signed within the last 12 months
• Fire safety register complete, with drills carried out and recorded at least twice per year
• Fully stocked first aid box available, with a trained first aider on the premises at all times
• Safety statement up to date under Health and Safety at Work legislation
• Infection control policy in place and actively implemented by staff
• Proper nappy disposal and hand hygiene facilities available and in use
• Medication stored securely with a clear written policy governing its administration
• Record of any notifiable incidents reported to Tusla under Regulation 31
• Supervision policy in place confirming that adult-to-child ratios are maintained at all times

 

4. Premises and Facilities

Inspectors will assess whether your physical environment is safe, suitable and well-maintained for the age groups you cater for.  

• Floor space per child meets the minimum requirements under the 2016 Regulations
• Toilet and hand washing facilities adequate, accessible and age-appropriate
• Secure outdoor play area accessible to children daily or a suitable documented alternative provided
• Premises clean, safe and well-maintained throughout all areas used by children
• Adequate heating and ventilation appropriate for young children
• Equipment and resources in good condition and appropriate for each age group in attendance
• Nappy changing area hygienic, private and fitted with a changing mat and handwashing facility
• Sleep and rest area appropriately set up for children under 24 months

 

Why Irish Early Years Services Receive Action Plans

Patterns across Tusla inspection reports in Ireland consistently show the same issues coming up again and again. The following are the most frequent reasons services receive corrective notices:  

• Garda Vetting not current or not in place for all staff and volunteers
• Risk assessments missing, too generic, or not reviewed within the required timeframe
• Mandatory policies absent, out of date, or not reflected in actual practice
• Child Safeguarding Statement not reviewed annually or not published where parents can access it
• Accident and incident records incomplete, unsigned, or not retained for the required two year period
• Sleep records for children under 24 months not compliant with Tusla Safe Sleep Guidance
• Medication records missing signed parental consent
• Adult-to-child ratios not maintained consistently throughout the session or day

  Most action plans issued by Tusla are not about the quality of care being delivered. They are about documentation. A service can be providing excellent care and still receive an action plan because a policy is out of date or a record is incomplete. Getting your paperwork right is just as important as what happens in your rooms every day.  

What Happens After a Tusla Inspection?

After the inspection visit, Tusla will prepare a draft Regulatory Inspection Report. You will have 10 working days to review it for factual inaccuracies and return the Factual Accuracy Form with any supporting evidence. If you disagree with specific findings, you can request a formal Inspection Findings Review within 10 working days of receiving the draft report, followed by a second-stage review within 5 working days if needed. Where areas of non-compliance are identified, you will be required to complete a Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) form. This outlines what specific actions you will take, and by when, to address each issue raised. Services with significant or repeated non-compliance may face formal enforcement action by Tusla. All finalised inspection reports are published on the Tusla website. Parents can read them when researching childcare options, which means your compliance record directly affects the reputation of your service. For the most current inspection guidance, sample inspection notebooks and downloadable templates, visit the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate section of tusla.ie directly. This is the official source for all regulatory documentation.  

Get Inspection-Ready with the Right Resources

One of the most practical things you can do to stay Tusla inspection-ready in 2026 is to ensure your documentation is consistently up to date, clearly organised, and accessible the moment an inspector walks through your door. At Early Years Shop, we provide a range of resources specifically designed to help Irish early years providers maintain compliance every day of the year, including:  

• Ready-to-use Records, Policies and Toolkits built specifically around the 2016 Regulations
• Risk Assessment Packs covering indoor, outdoor, fire, outings and nappy changing scenarios
• Quality and Compliance resources to support your QRF self-evaluation process
• Health, Safety and Medical supplies including first aid essentials and infection control products
• Posters and Signs to display all mandatory information clearly throughout your setting

  Having the right resources in place means that when a Tusla inspector arrives, everything is where it should be. Reviewed, signed, dated and ready.