Canavan Byrne

Canavan Byrne We are a one stop shop to support early years professionals to include HR, Health & Safety Training,

Ireland's leading specialists in supporting the Early Childhood Care and Education Sector. WATCH VIDEO
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Our Mission:
We are committed to providing exceptional professional services to the early years care and education sector. As your innovative, dedicated partner with over 25 years’ experience, our mission is to help you navigate the complexities of compliance, quality and sustainability. Our collaborative solution focused approach builds confidence, addresses challenges and creates opportunities. Our Values:
Our core values are the guiding principles that shape how we support our clients. We aim to conduct our business, always, with integrity, maintaining honesty and transparency in all our interactions. Our commitment to a non-judgmental ethos ensures that every client and team member is treated with respect and understanding, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment. HR Advice and documentation
Policies and procedures
Health and Safety
Mock Inspections and Quality Audits
World class training academy
First Aid
Management software

www.canavanbyrne.ie
www.earlyyearsshop.ie

Infection ControlPurposeTo reduce the spread of illness and protect children and staff.What Tusla expects • Ali...
31/01/2026

Infection Control

Purpose
To reduce the spread of illness and protect children and staff.

What Tusla expects
• Alignment with current HSE advice.
• Clear exclusion periods.
• Cleaning schedules that are implemented and monitored.
• Age-appropriate hygiene practices.

Key updates / emphasis
• Inspectors expect services to demonstrate active infection control.
• Hand hygiene supervision is key.

Common pitfalls
• Outdated guidance.
• Cleaning schedules completed retrospectively.
• Inconsistent exclusion decisions.

Need help with your policies? Canavan Byrne can update and manage them for you. Contact us at reception@canavanbyrne.ie

Administration of MedicationPurposeTo ensure medication is administered safely, lawfully and consistently.What Tusla exp...
30/01/2026

Administration of Medication

Purpose
To ensure medication is administered safely, lawfully and consistently.

What Tusla expects
• Written parental consent for each medication.
• Original packaging only.
• Clear procedures for PRN medication.
• Staff training records.

Key updates / emphasis
• Inspectors check practice, not just forms.
• Expiry dates and storage arrangements scrutinised.

Common pitfalls
• Blanket consent forms.
• Lack of staff training evidence.
• Inconsistent recording

Need help updating your policies?
Canavan Byrne has you covered. Contact reception@canavanbyrne.ie

🌼Bring spring to life in your setting with our Spring Emergent Interest Pack, designed to inspire curiosity, creativity,...
30/01/2026

🌼Bring spring to life in your setting with our Spring Emergent Interest Pack, designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and hands on learning. Use the activities over one week or spread them throughout the spring season 🌱

Packed with engaging ideas around gardens & plants, rain & rainbows, water play, colours, birds, and more, this resource supports a well-balanced curriculum while helping you demonstrate compliance with the Aistear and Síolta frameworks.

✨ Includes activities such as:
🌼 Daffodils & Growing Seeds
🐦 Hungry Birds & Bird Nests
🌧️ Rain, Puddles & Water Play
🌈 Colours, Rainbows & Creative Play
…and many more!

Each plan includes learning goals and Aistear themes to support quality early learning experiences.

🛒 Available now on the Early Years Shop
👉 https://earlyyearsshop.ie/product/spring-emergent-interest-pack/

🌸

Accidents & Incidents PolicyPurposeTo ensure children are protected, parents are informed, and learning is taken from ev...
30/01/2026

Accidents & Incidents Policy

Purpose
To ensure children are protected, parents are informed, and learning is taken from events.

What Tusla expects
• Clear definitions of accidents, incidents and serious incidents.
• Immediate notification thresholds understood by staff.
• Accurate, signed, same-day records.
• Follow-up actions documented.

Key updates / emphasis
• Trend analysis is increasingly expected.
• Repeated minor accidents without review raise concern.

Common pitfalls
• Poorly completed forms.
• Delayed parental notification.
• No evidence of preventative action.

Feeling overwhelmed with policy updates?
Let Canavan Byrne take the burden off you, so you can focus on what matters most. Get in touch: reception@canavanbyrne.ie

Complaints PolicyPurposeTo ensure concerns from parents, staff or others are managed fairly, transparently and promptly....
29/01/2026

Complaints Policy

Purpose
To ensure concerns from parents, staff or others are managed fairly, transparently and promptly.

What Tusla expects
• Informal and formal complaints pathways.
• Clear timeframes and escalation routes.
• Written records of all complaints, including verbal ones.
• Accessibility for parents.

Key updates / emphasis
• Parents will be asked by inspectors if they know how to complain.
• Records must show learning and improvement, not just closure.

Common pitfalls
• Treating complaints as “negative” rather than governance tools.
• No record of informal complaints.
• Unclear escalation.

Are your policies up to date? Let Canavan Byrne support you.
Contact us at reception@canavanbyrne.ie

Managing Behaviour / Positive Behaviour SupportPurposeTo support children’s emotional development while ensuring their d...
29/01/2026

Managing Behaviour / Positive Behaviour Support

Purpose
To support children’s emotional development while ensuring their dignity, safety and wellbeing.

What Tusla expects
• A positive, strengths-based approach.
• Explicit prohibition of punitive practices (e.g. time-out as punishment, isolation, shaming).
• Clear strategies for supporting children with ongoing or complex behaviours.

Key updates / emphasis
• Strong focus on co-regulation, emotional literacy and developmentally appropriate responses.
• Clear links to Aistear and Síolta.
• Parent collaboration is essential — not optional

Common pitfalls
• Old language (e.g. “naughty behaviour”).
• Policies that say the right thing but practice doesn’t match.
• No escalation process for persistent behaviours.

Need to update your policies? Canavan Byrne has you covered! Get in touch at reception@canavanbyrne.ie

Child Protection PolicyPurposeTo clearly outline how concerns about a child’s welfare or protection are identified, repo...
28/01/2026

Child Protection Policy

Purpose
To clearly outline how concerns about a child’s welfare or protection are identified, reported, recorded and managed.

What Tusla expects
• Clear internal reporting procedure (step-by-step).
• Distinction between:
• poor practice
• reasonable grounds for concern
• immediate danger
• Roles of DLP and Deputy clearly defined.
• Mandatory reporting responsibilities outlined.

Key updates / emphasis
• Inspectors now test staff understanding, not just the document.
• Recording and storage of concerns must be robust and GDPR-compliant.
• Policy must reference Children First Guidance (2017).

Common pitfalls
• Over-reliance on the DLP (“staff don’t need to worry”).
• No clarity on informal concerns or patterns of concern.
• Poor record-keeping.

Updating your policies? Our Canavan Byrne Policy Development Team can help.
Contact us at reception@canavanbyrne.ie

PurposeThis is a statutory document under the Children First Act 2015. It is not optional and must be specific to your s...
28/01/2026

Purpose
This is a statutory document under the Children First Act 2015. It is not optional and must be specific to your service.

What Tusla expects
• A clear statement of your commitment to safeguarding children.
• A written risk assessment identifying where harm could occur in your service (e.g. toileting, intimate care, sleep rooms, outings, supervision transitions).
• Procedures showing how risks are reduced or managed.
• Named Designated Liaison Person (DLP) and Deputy.

Key updates / emphasis
• Generic or copied statements are no longer acceptable.
• Risks must reflect actual practice, not hypothetical scenarios.
• The Statement must align with your Child Protection Policy - contradictions are a red flag.

Common pitfalls
• Risk assessment too vague.
• Statement not displayed or accessible.
• Staff unaware of its contents.

Need help with your policies?
Our Canavan Byrne Policy Development Team is here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us today: reception@canavanbyrne.ie

Following recent updates and clarifications from Tusla, our team will be breaking down what’s new, what’s changed, and w...
27/01/2026

Following recent updates and clarifications from Tusla, our team will be breaking down what’s new, what’s changed, and what services are now expected to have in place across key policies and procedures.

Each post in the series will focus on:
• What Tusla is now looking for
• Why the change matters
• What actions services should be taking

This series is designed to support services to remain compliant, informed, and inspection-ready, without having to navigate lengthy guidance documents on your own.

Tusla introduced new policy guidance in December and we’ve updated our policies accordingly.✔️ Updated policy templates ...
27/01/2026

Tusla introduced new policy guidance in December and we’ve updated our policies accordingly.
✔️ Updated policy templates available to purchase
✔️ Tailor-made policy writing & updating service
Canavan Byrne has been supporting Early Years services and keeping them compliant for over 25 years.
Contact us now to ensure your service is fully compliant and inspection-ready.
Email: reception@canavanbyrne.ie

St. Brigid’s Day is just around the corner! It’s always a great time to help children explore transitions and seasonal c...
27/01/2026

St. Brigid’s Day is just around the corner!

It’s always a great time to help children explore transitions and seasonal changes. Celebrated on February 1st, St. Brigid’s Day is the perfect opportunity for children to discover traditions, enjoy storytelling, and take part in meaningful, age-appropriate activities.

Our St. Brigid’s Day Resource Pack includes:
✔️ Fun and engaging activity ideas
✔️ Child-friendly facts about St. Brigid’s Day
✔️ Visual cards to support discussion and learning

Perfect for early years and childcare settings looking to celebrate this special day while welcoming the signs of Spring

You can purchase the pack here: https://earlyyearsshop.ie/product/st-brigids-day-resource-pack/

.Brigid

The weather is awful today and it’s a reminder of how important it is to be prepared.If you ever needed to close early d...
27/01/2026

The weather is awful today and it’s a reminder of how important it is to be prepared.

If you ever needed to close early due to severe weather or another emergency, would you know exactly what to do?
Be prepared for your next Emergency Closure with our Emergency Closure Pack, designed to take the stress out of last-minute decisions.

The pack includes:
• Notes on how to put your Emergency Closure Policy together
• A fully editable sample policy
• An Adverse Weather Risk Assessment

You can purchase the pack here:
https://earlyyearsshop.ie/product/emergency-closure-pack-includes-adverse-weather/

Preparation now can save panic later.
We hope everyone stays safe.

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Our Story

Everything you need if you are running or working in an early years setting is available here: Policies and Procedures HR Health and Safety Management Training Compliance Early Years Shop Buy and Sell Business Ecce Jobs Software - EcceSoft

https://www.canavanbyrne.ie/ Through our shop you can purchase a range of fantastic products Documenting the Series (6) Series of learning journals Bic Pens Classroom Packs Create Your Own Newsletter Aistear Stickers English/Irish Signs Pack An Mala Mor – Putting the fun back into Irish Little Dress- ups Forms packs and toolkits-Be prepared for your inspection! Ceol –Award winning Step into Music Programme Wood-u-Like beautiful hand crafted puzzles made in Ireland Curriculum Packs- Ideas and themes linked to Aistear and early Learning goals www.earlyyearsshop.ie