How to choose a creche or preschool in Ireland

To choose a good creche or preschool in Ireland, start by checking it is registered with Tusla, the statutory regulator, and read its published Tusla inspection report. Then visit while children are there, watch how staff interact with them, ask about ratios, qualifications and settling-in, and trust how the place feels. Get on waiting lists early, as good services fill up months ahead.

Last reviewed

Start with the basics: is it registered with Tusla?

In Ireland, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory regulator of early-years services. Every creche, playschool, naíonra and preschool must be registered with Tusla before it can operate. So the very first check is simple: make sure the service is on the register.

You can look any service up on Tusla's public Register of Early Years Services, which is organised by county and updated monthly. If a creche is not on the register, that is a serious red flag, ask the provider directly for their Tusla registration number. When you are ready to shortlist options, browse creches and preschools near you on HeadStart.

What to look for on a visit

Always visit in person, and try to go while the service is open and children are there: that tells you far more than an empty room. The single most important thing to watch is how staff interact with the children: are they warm, attentive and at eye level, and do the children seem happy and settled?

  • Rooms are clean, safe, bright and set up for play and exploring.
  • A secure building and a safe outdoor space children can use.
  • Age-appropriate toys, books and activities within children's reach.
  • Calm, unhurried staff who know the children by name.
  • Clear arrangements for meals, drinks, rest and sleep.
  • Displays of children's own work and photos of daily activities.

Trust how the place feels. A settled, happy atmosphere and staff who are relaxed and engaged usually matter more than a shiny building. If something feels off during the visit, keep looking.

Questions to ask

Bring a short list so you don't forget the important ones:

  • What are your adult-to-child ratios in my child's room?
  • How do you handle settling-in for a new child?
  • What does a typical day look like?
  • What is your approach to behaviour, meals and sleep?
  • How do you communicate with parents day to day?
  • What are your fees, opening hours and closure days?
  • Do you offer the free ECCE preschool year, and do you accept the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidy?
  • May I see your most recent Tusla inspection report?

Staff qualifications and ratios

Staff working directly with children must hold at least a recognised Level 5 qualification in early childhood care and education, and every staff member must be Garda vetted through Tusla before they start. Ask the person in charge to confirm that all staff meet the qualification and vetting requirements.

Adult-to-child ratios are set by law under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, and are minimums that must be maintained at all times:

  • Under 1 year: 1 adult to 3 children (full day care).
  • 1 to 2 years: 1 adult to 5 children.
  • 2 to 3 years: 1 adult to 6 children.
  • 3 to 6 years: 1 adult to 8 children (full day care).
  • Sessional preschool (up to 3.5 hours a day) for children aged 2.5–6: 1 adult to 11 children.

For the full regulations and what a service must have in place, see citizensinformation.ie: regulation of pre-school childcare services.

Check quality and regulation: read the inspection report

Tusla's Early Years Inspectorate inspects every registered service, both when it first registers and through ongoing monitoring, and publishes the inspection reports online for parents to read. This is one of the most useful tools you have, and many parents don't know it exists.

Search for a service by name, county or Eircode on Tusla's Early Years inspection reports page and read the most recent report before you decide. When you visit, it is fair to ask whether the published report is their latest, and if any areas of concern were raised and how they were fixed. Tusla also publishes practical tips for parents choosing a childcare setting.

Fees, free preschool and waiting lists

Nearly all creches and preschools offer the free ECCE preschool year, which gives eligible children 3 hours a day of free preschool, and most also accept the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to help with the cost of the hours you pay for. Ask each service how these apply to your child so you can compare the real cost, not just the headline fee.

Finally, get on waiting lists early. Places for babies and younger toddlers are the hardest to find, and popular services fill up many months ahead, plenty of parents enquire during pregnancy or as soon as they know their return-to-work date. Ask how each list works, whether there is a deposit or holding fee, and when places for your child's age group usually come up. Browse and shortlist options on our creche and preschool directory, and see all our parent guides for help with the next steps.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a creche is registered and inspected?

Every creche, playschool, naíonra and preschool in Ireland must be registered with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. You can look a service up on Tusla's public Register of Early Years Services and read its published inspection report on the Tusla website. If you cannot find a service on the register, that is a serious red flag, ask the provider directly for their Tusla registration number.

What adult-to-child ratios should a creche have?

Ratios are set by law under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. In full day care they are 1 adult to 3 children under 1, 1 to 5 for ages 1–2, 1 to 6 for ages 2–3, and 1 to 8 for ages 3–6. Sessional preschool (up to 3.5 hours) is 1 to 11 for children aged 2.5–6. These are minimums that must be maintained at all times.

What should I look for when I visit a creche?

Visit while the service is open and children are present. Watch how warmly staff talk to and comfort the children, whether the rooms are clean, safe and well set up for play, and whether there is a secure outdoor space. Notice if children seem happy and settled. Ask about the daily routine, meals, sleep arrangements, settling-in, and how the service communicates with parents.

What qualifications must creche staff have?

Staff working directly with children in a preschool service must hold at least a recognised Level 5 qualification in early childhood care and education, and all staff must be Garda vetted through Tusla before they start. Room leaders and the person in charge often hold higher qualifications. You can ask the manager to confirm that all staff meet the qualification and vetting requirements.

When should I put my child on a creche waiting list?

As early as you can, popular creches, especially for babies and younger toddlers, often have waiting lists many months long. Many parents enquire during pregnancy or as soon as they know their return-to-work date. Ask each service how their waiting list works, whether there is a fee to hold a place, and when places for your child's age group usually come up.

What are the red flags when choosing a creche?

Warning signs include a service that is not on Tusla's register, reluctance to show you around or share their inspection report, vague answers about ratios, staff qualifications or vetting, an unsettled or chaotic atmosphere, poor hygiene, or an insecure building or outdoor area. Trust your instincts, if something feels off during the visit, keep looking.

More parent guides

Useful links

Last reviewed 5 July 2026. This guide is general information to help you plan, it is not official advice. Scheme rules, dates and amounts can change, so always confirm the current details with the relevant scheme or with your child's school before you rely on them.