How are nurseries inspected in Northern Ireland?

How are Northern Ireland nurseries inspected? Everything you need to know about Northern Ireland childcare regulation, including how are Northern Ireland’s childcare inspections conducted and who carries out nursery inspections.

Who regulates nurseries in Northern Ireland?  

All childcare settings, including day nurseries and childminders, must be regulated, monitored, and registered by the Early Years Team in a Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust.  

Who inspects nurseries in Northern Ireland?

The Early Years Team in the childcare provider’s local Health and Social Care (HSC)Trust, inspects nurseries.   

The early years teams in Northern Ireland are:   

Northern Health and Social Care Trust

• Early Years Northern Team 028 2766 1340.
• Early Years Central 028 2563 5111.
• Early Years South Eastern 028 9331 5112.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

•  Early Years team 028 9504 2811. 

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

• Early Years team 028 4451 3807.

Southern Health and Social Care Trust

• Early Years Armagh team 028 3756 4020.

• Early Years Banbridge team 028 4062 1600.

Western Health and Social Care Trust

• Early Years Londonderry team 028 7132 0950.

• Early Years Omagh team 028 8283 5108.

• Early Years Fermanagh team 028 6632 7734.

What is the role of Early Years teams in nursery inspections? 

Early Years teams regulate, inspect and report on early years services to make sure early years providers meet Minimum Standards in Northern Ireland.

Childcare settings inspected include day nurseries, playgroups, out-of-school care, childminders, summer and holiday schemes and creches. Early Years Teams also work with childcare providers to improve their service and ensure all children receive safe, high-quality learning, care and development opportunities.

Nursery inspections: How are nurseries rated in Northern Ireland?

All childcare providers must adhere to the Minimum Standards in Northern Ireland and these minimum quality standards must be met, before a provider can be registered with a Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust.

Inspectors assess whether early years providers are adhering to the 16 minimum quality standards which focus on:       

• Quality of care.
• Quality of staffing, management and leadership.
• Quality of the physical environment.
• Quality of monitoring and evaluation.

Inspectors observe children and early years staff and spend time talking to staff, parents and children to find out about the children’s learning experience, what they think and how children are kept safe and supported to develop skills etc.

The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) issues confidential questionnaires to parents and staff in advance of an inspection.

How often are nurseries inspected in Northern Ireland?

For group daycare settings, including day nurseries, playgroups and out-of-school care, social workers in Early Years Teams inspect premises at least every year.

How long does it take for a nursery inspection report to be published in Northern Ireland?

An inspection report usually takes no more than 30 working days from the date of the inspection.

Where can I find a Northern Ireland nursery inspection report?

Inspection reports are published on the  Education and Training Inspectorate’s (ETI) website.