Creche Ratios During Breaks and Lunches 2026
Last updated: July 2026
Under the Early Years Services Regulations, adult:child ratios must be maintained at all times, including staff breaks, mealtimes, outdoor handovers, and the early-morning and late-afternoon edges.
Do ratios still apply during breaks?
Yes. An adult who leaves the room for a break, lunch, phone call, or admin task no longer counts toward that room's ratio unless they remain actively working with the children. The Person in Charge only counts when they are with the children.
Practical coverage options
- Stagger breaks so the room never drops below the ratio for the children who are in it.
- Use a relief adult who is vetted, qualified for the role, and actually in the room.
- Recalculate when the mix changes at lunch. Mixed rooms get tighter when ages combine. See mixed-age room ratios.
- Check the edges of the day, when children arrive before the full team or stay after others leave.
First aid cover at a high level
A first-aid qualified adult still has to be available for the children in the service while breaks happen. Do not assume the person on lunch is your only cover. Base ratio tables are in Tusla Ratio Requirements 2026.
What gets creches caught out
- The paper ratio is met, but the adult is in the office during the inspector's walk-through.
- Two people take lunch together and the room is one adult short.
- A student or unpaid worker is counted in the ratio.
- Transition between the garden and the room leaves a moment with too few adults.