Whether you have recently had an inspection on your Early Years Service or are expecting one soon, you are obliged by law to meet and maintain regulatory compliance at all times. When Tusla inspects a service, and non-compliances are identified, you must complete a Corrective Actions Preventative Actions (CAPA) report within an agreed timeframe. The CAPA document clearly outlines your service's actions to address each non-compliance and the measures put in place to prevent these from occurring again. It is important to note that repeated non-compliance will lead to an escalation from Tusla, and in severe cases, they could result in service closure.

Often service providers wonder why a particular area has been identified as non-compliant during an inspection when inspectors have not raised it during previous inspections. Due to the vast number of Tusla regulations, inspectors focus each inspection on specific areas or regulations. These may be thoroughly inspected, or inspectors may use a sampling process. The inspections may also focus on other regulations as required during an inspection.

Under Tusla's Regulation 14 (Governance), Early Years Services must complete a whole service review at regular intervals, not more than one year apart. The annual review is a comprehensive self-assessment, documented in full and made available for inspection purposes, along with records or evidence of the relevant actions taken. The annual review and any corresponding documentation must be available in service for three years after the review date.  

By addressing Regulation 14 and carrying out a thorough Annual review of your service, you can identify policies, procedures and practices on which your service can improve. The annual review helps your service stay a step ahead, ensuring that you and your team do your utmost to meet, maintain and exceed regulatory compliance. Completing an annual review ensures you consistently address all aspects of your service annually. Specific areas highlighted as a concern in the initial review can be extracted and reviewed again in 3 – 6 months or as required to assess if the necessary actions and steps were sufficient to reach and maintain regulatory compliance. For services that feel they successfully maintain compliance, the annual review will support you in exceeding regulatory compliance.

As Early Years services enter the summer months when ECCE is taking a break and services may be quieter than term times, this is an ideal opportunity to start

your annual review. The annual review process may be spread out over a number

of weeks or months. For example, Early Years services can begin by carrying out a complete safety review before moving on to assess their policies and procedures, reviewing them thoroughly and updating and distributing them as required. 

To support Early Years Services, Canavan Byrne has developed a comprehensive Annual Review document that guides you step-by-step through the annual review process. The document is available to purchase from the Early Years Shop as a full Annual Review, or you can choose from five individual sections. Our Annual Review is a downloadable document and valuable tool kit that you can use year after year.  The Annual Review is available here: 
https://earlyyearsshop.ie/product/annual-review-for-early-years-services/

It is important to remember that children's health, safety and well-being are the driving factors for Early Years services to meet, maintain and strive for

consistent regulatory compliance. Children must be kept at the centre of your services' decision-making and actions.