Policies

Our Policies and Procedures have been developed in collaboration with Tusla to support us to meet the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. Policies and procedures help and guide all staff working in the setting. They ensure and endorse the well-being of all families, children, staff, volunteers and everyone who is connected to the setting.

Staff

The nursery staff consists of a Manager, Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor, and two staff in each room, and holiday and lunch time cover staff. All of the nursery staff are qualified and experienced in working with children. The staff: child ratios are in compliance with regulations of the Health Service Executive.

Students

The nursery facilitates students wishing to gain work experience in Childcare. The nursery also has an arrangement with some departments in College to allow students to observe children in the nursery as part of their course requirements. Observations are carried out for specified periods of time and by prior arrangement with the Nursery Manager or Supervisor.

Parent Representatives

Parents’ interests and concerns can be conveyed to the student and staff parent representatives. Representatives' names and contact information are posted on the notice board, together with details of parents meetings, which are held several times throughout the year.

Late Collection

If parents arrive late, they will be asked to sign our late book and charged a late fee. If more than four late receipts are received within four weeks, parents will be asked to meet with the Supervisor to discuss the situation. If parents are repeatedly late, they will need to meet with the Manager of the Nursery to discuss the situation. If the warnings from the Supervisor and Manager are not heeded, the child may not be able to attend the nursery for one day. After 3 months with no late receipts, the late attendance record will be cleared.

Garda Vetting

All staff are Garda vetted in accordance with HSE Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No2) Regulations 2006 and child protection best practice. Each applicant/existing staff member must disclose any relevant information relating to the process of Garda Vetting to TCD. This includes information relating to periods of residence outside the Republic of Ireland.

Health & Safety

The health and safety afforded to the staff member and users of TCD Day Nursery is paramount to the effective daily running of the service. We will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that any individual who uses, works, or attends the nursery is protected from any risks as identified in current risk assessments. Up to date risk assessments for the nursery are located in the nursery Health and Safety statement. The nursery will consider all relative legislation and guidelines when following and updating policies and procedures relating to health and safety for example ‘the childcare (pre-school services) regulations 2006; children’s first – national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children; our duty to care – the principles of good practice for the protection of children and young people and Safety, Health and Welfare at work act 1989’.

Waiting List

Parents wishing to use this facility must complete a waiting list application form. The waiting application must be accompanied with a fee of €20 (student rate) or €30 (staff rate). If one parent is a member of staff and another a full time student they will be placed on the student waiting list but will be charged at the staff rate. Conditions applying to other staff parents will apply. No application will be placed on the waiting list prior to the fee being received. The waiting list fee may be made by cheque, bank draft, postal order on via banking online.