Quick summary
- A core set of written policies must be in place before Tusla registration is granted.
- The exact list depends on the type and size of service, full day care, sessional, or drop-in.
- Policies need to be written, implemented, reviewed regularly, and accessible to staff and families, not just filed away.
- Template policies exist to help build a compliant set, but they still need genuine adaptation to your service.
- A Safe Sleep Policy is essential for any service caring for children under 12 months.
The core policy set
While the exact requirements depend on your service type and size, a commonly expected core set includes:
| Policy | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Child Safeguarding Statement | A written risk assessment of potential harm and how it's managed |
| Admissions Policy | How places are offered and enrolment is managed |
| Complaints Policy and Procedure | How parents raise and escalate a concern |
| Health, Welfare and Development of the Child | The service's approach to each child's overall care and development |
| Behaviour Management Policy | How positive behaviour is supported and managed |
| Safe Sleep Policy | Essential for any service caring for children under 12 months |
| Administration of Medication Policy | How and when medication is given, and by whom |
| Infection Control Policy | Hygiene and illness management practices |
| Fire Safety Policy and Evacuation Procedure | Emergency procedures and evacuation planning |
| GDPR and Data Protection Policy | How personal data on children and families is handled |
| Staff Code of Conduct | Expected standards of professional behaviour |
Policies need to be used, not just written
A policy that exists only as a document in a folder isn't doing its job. It needs to be genuinely implemented, staff trained on it, families given access to it, and practice actually reflecting what it says, and reviewed regularly enough that it doesn't quietly drift out of date. An inspector isn't just checking that a document exists; they're often assessing whether it reflects what actually happens in the service.
Starting from a template
Sample policy templates, developed in collaboration with the sector, exist specifically to help providers build a compliant set without starting from a blank page. Using one as a starting point is common and sensible, but it still needs real adaptation to your specific service, room layout, and practice, not just a name-and-address swap. An inspector can generally tell the difference between a policy that's been genuinely tailored and one that's been copied wholesale.
Practical advice
- Confirm the exact policy list required for your specific service type before registration, rather than assuming a generic list covers you.
- Adapt any template genuinely to your service, room layout, staffing structure, and specific practices, beyond a superficial pass.
- Set a recurring review date for every policy, and have staff re-sign or re-acknowledge it at each review.
- Make policies genuinely accessible to staff and families, not simply present somewhere in a filing cabinet.
How Tot Tracker helps
Tot Tracker stores your policy set digitally with review-date tracking and staff sign-off records, so it's clear at a glance which policies are current, which are due for review, and which staff have acknowledged each one.