HOW TO HIRE · CHILDCARE & FAMILY · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a breakfast club in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A before-school care in Ireland costs €10–€20 per session, typically around €15. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
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- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a breakfast club in five steps
- Are you on the Tusla register of childminding services, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — flexible Scheduling — before-school care often allows for flexible scheduling, accommodating parents' varying work hours.
- How does provider's experience change the price?Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does services included change the price?It is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does duration of care required change the price?Work that spans two visits costs more than one long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Transportation Assistance — some before-school care programs provide transportation to local schools — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a breakfast club job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Tusla Early Years Inspectorate — childminding registration
The childminding regulations apply only to a childminder caring for children in the CHILDMINDER'S OWN HOME.
Search the Tusla register of childminding services for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. tusla.ie →
Where the rules stand now
A childminder caring for 3 or fewer pre-school children, and 6 or fewer children in total, remains exempt for the transitional period. Registration becomes mandatory from September 2027. Registration is not yet mandatory for every childminder. Ask whether this childminder is registered, and if not, whether they fall inside the transitional exemption — both answers are legitimate in 2026.
Ask where they are in the process, and when they expect to be registered — the date is September 2027 either way. tusla.ie →
Garda vetting
National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012–2016 The regulation requiring vetting of household members aged 16 and over commenced on 1 February 2025. Vetting is carried out through a relevant organisation, not by a parent directly. Ask to see the disclosure the childminder holds.
Ask to see the garda vetting letter itself, with its date on it — not a statement that one exists.
Insurance
Expect public liability covering minding in the home; ask to see it. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
VAT
No VAT: this service is exempt, so there is none to add and none to reclaim. A quote that adds it is wrong. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — flexible Scheduling — before-school care often allows for flexible scheduling, accommodating parents' varying work hours.
A good answer: Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Work that spans two visits costs more than one long one. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Transportation Assistance — some before-school care programs provide transportation to local schools — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a breakfast club job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability covering minding in the home; ask to see it — supervised Activities — before-school care typically includes supervised activities such as arts and crafts, reading, or educational games.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the breakfast club starts, and an itemised invoice after — emergency Care Services — offering emergency care for children in case of unforeseen circumstances impacting their regular care.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They are not on the Tusla register of childminding services, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- They will not talk about it: provider's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it
- They will not talk about it: services included — it is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph
- They will not talk about it: duration of care required — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one
- A price for the breakfast club before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
What a breakfast club costs: €10–€20 per session
The figures are for the job, per session, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Supervised playtime and Healthy breakfast provision each carry their own band. Before-School Care price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Breakfast clubs near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstProvider's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it — that is what the breakfast club is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneServices included — it is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfDuration of care required — work that spans two visits costs more than one long one — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherNumber of children — the first few are the slowest; the rest go faster — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the breakfast club is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, meals or transportation — the more of it there is, the longer the job runs.
- Supervised Activities
- Before-school care typically includes supervised activities such as arts and crafts, reading, or educational games.
- Transportation Assistance
- Some before-school care programs provide transportation to local schools.
- Flexible Scheduling
- Before-school care often allows for flexible scheduling, accommodating parents' varying work hours.
- Supervised Playtime
- Engaging children in activities such as games, crafts, or reading to foster social skills and creativity.
- Homework Assistance
- Providing support with homework or school projects to help children stay on track academically.
- Transportation Coordination
- Arranging safe transport to school for children who require assistance getting there.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a breakfast club: questions people ask
The cost of before-school care can vary based on location, the provider's experience, and the services included. Additional factors may include the age of the child and the number of children in care.
Before-school care usually lasts between 1 to 3 hours, depending on the provider and the specific needs of the family. Most services cater to parents who require care before school starts, typically around 7 AM to 9 AM.
While many before-school care providers are trained in childcare, not all require formal qualifications. However, choosing a caregiver with experience in child development can enhance your child's experience.
Some before-school care services may offer emergency or same-day care, but availability can be limited. It's best to inquire with local providers about their policies and availability for last-minute requests.
Yes, many providers offer packages that include both before-school and after-school care. Booking multiple services can sometimes result in discounts, so it's worth asking about bundled options.
Before-school care generally does not include extensive educational tutoring or specialised medical care. It's primarily focused on supervision, light activities, and basic meals, rather than intensive learning or therapy services.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in childcare & family
Breakfast clubs near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Tusla — childminding registration opened 30 September 2024
- Tusla — childminding services FAQs
- Department of Children — new regulations for childminding
- National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — CHILDMINDING (Children and education) — Exempt
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only