Setting up a Creche - Department for Communities

– one staff member for every
five children aged two to
three years
– one staff member for every
10 children three years or
older.
Supervising children
Children must be under the
supervision of caregivers at all
times during their attendance at a
crèche service. Supervision means
monitoring children’s whereabouts
and activities – being aware of
potential risks and being able to
intervene if required. The level of
supervision will depend upon the
age of the children and the activity
in which they are participating.
Being within sight and sound of the
children may be adequate in some
circumstances. However, in other
situations direct supervision will
be required. Children must also be
supervised when using an outside
play area – they should never be
outside on their own.
What information is
needed from parents?
An information sheet should be
completed for each child attending
the crèche. This should include:
• child’s name, age, date of birth,
home address and telephone
number
• parent’s name, home address and
telephone number
• any special care needs of the child
• permission to allow medical treatment to be
obtained for the child in an emergency
• details of an emergency contact including
telephone number (in case the parent is
unavailable).
For an example of a Child Information Sheet see
page 20.
What is the best procedure for booking in?
There should be a system for recording the
attendance of all children at the service. Many
services have a sign in/sign out sheet or book that
parents fill in. This will provide a record of children’s
attendance at the crèche.
Each day’s attendance sheet/record should be easily
accessible in case of an emergency evacuation (for
example, near or on the crèche door) in order to
confirm the safety of the children in attendance.
A child should not be handed over to anyone other
than the parent who brought the child to the crèche
service. If a child’s parent is injured or becomes ill,
services should telephone the emergency contact
recorded on the child’s information sheet.
What needs to be provided?
Children often attend crèche care on an irregular or
infrequent basis.
Meeting the social and emotional needs of children
is very important. The atmosphere, staff attitudes,
activities and set-up of the environment should
promote this.
Assist children to feel safe and secure by ensuring
that they arrive to find:
• a familiar face, by providing continuity of caregivers
• a familiar physical environment, by limiting
changes to the layout of the crèche room
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