Scéalta Blog: Risky play…. Indoors
By Máire Corbett
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Have you checked out our new programme, The 3 Ps, Play, Practice and Pedagogy on The Pedagogy Space of Early Childhood Ireland’s Learning Hub? If you’ve an interest in outdoor play, risky or adventurous play and how children learn through these experiences, you will really enjoy it.
The programme examines areas such as reflecting on risk, use of fire and tools and provides ideas and reflections so you can develop skills and confidence in giving children more opportunities for adventurous play, wherever you are on the journey of supporting risk.
Looking at the content got me thinking about risky play indoors. Our minds tend to go to outdoor play when we think of challenging play, but children often spend a lot of time indoors, so have a think about how we can support children to experience challenging play in the indoor environment as well as outdoors.
Challenging experiences indoors
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We all know children love climbing. They love the thrill and the challenge. We have probably all seen the satisfaction and achievement the baby feels when she manages to get up on the sofa after attempting to reach it for a while. Or when the toddler can push a chair and climb on it to reach something they want to get their hands on. As well as being satisfying, these opportunities develop children’s spatial awareness, physical coordination and their confidence. Our job is to make sure that children can have these opportunities and to ensure that the surface beneath isn’t dangerous if they fall.
These experiences for climbing can be provided inside with ramps, steps and platforms. You can buy this type of equipment, or a good carpenter can build a sturdy piece of apparatus. If space permits, a climbing wall can be created in a suitable area, with crash mats underneath.
Loose parts and balance
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Loose parts can give children the opportunity to build structures that give them chances to experience balance without necessarily going very high. Having a good sense of balance is vital. It helps coordination and develops the vestibular system. Indeed, it is one of the fundamental movement skills, considered to be so important in supporting children to become active, healthy adults. If you have a set of large blocks, children can build see-saws, low platforms or balance bars that provide for them to be challenged as they build (you need to have good spatial awareness if you’re moving a short plank!) and then as they experiment with the structure they have created (if I stand on this, is it steady). For a refresher on fundamental movement skills, remember our short programme Kids Active is also on The Pedagogy Space of Early Childhood Ireland’s Learning Hub.
Everyday activities
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At mealtimes, what kind of cutlery and delph do children have? In the home area, are all the resources made of plastic? Using real cutlery and delph is important to give children a more authentic experience than plastic alone. This interesting blog from The Curiosity Approach outlines how one setting introduced real tea sets to their home area, rather than the indestructible plastic. They describe how the educators showed children how to react if a piece got broken (stand back and call an adult) and how over time children remind each other to take care. This kind of risk assessment lays a really good foundation for children to manage other situations where they may encounter risk.
Do children have opportunities to be involved in preparing food? Empowering children to slice fruit or butter bread is giving them a sense of responsibility, developing an interest in food and also the skills they need for everyday life. Start with slicing softer foods like bananas or pears and progress to harder foods as children’s skill grows. Using scissors is another good skill to develop. Supervision is key, especially in the early stages and explaining to children about how to use these items correctly and safely.
Dens and hiding
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Some children love to hide, they experience a real thrill from not being seen (as they think) and escaping from the activity in a room. If there is a space in your room that you can hang a curtain (similar to the space for a washing machine or dishwasher under a countertop) that can be an ideal space for children to hide away. A large cardboard box can serve the same purpose.
This Aistear Síolta Practice Guide Tip Sheet on Risky Play says ‘The development of these skills is central to positive mental health and physical wellbeing. Without exposure to risky play, children can potentially develop fearful or reckless dispositions and may be unable to access risk.’ It really is important to give children the opportunities to develop their capabilities at each stage of their development. We are supporting life skills when we empower children to risk assess and problem solve. These are skills that will stay with them through life.
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More to explore
International Students – Everything you need to know
Key Requirements for International Students
International students play an increasingly important role in Early Years and School Age Care settings. Ensuring that robust Garda Vetting processes are followed is essential to safeguarding children, supporting services, and protecting students themselves.
Why Garda Vetting Matters
Garda Vetting is a key safeguarding measure and a legal requirement for anyone who will have access to children or vulnerable persons. For international students, vetting requirements are more detailed due to time spent living outside Ireland.
International students aged 16 years and over, cannot begin placement until all vetting requirements have been fully completed and cleared.
Garda Vetting Requirements for International Students
Identity validation is a critical step to ensure compliance and the safeguarding of children. As international students are abroad, the requirements of the identity validation process differ, so it’s important to understand what applies to you as the validator before you start. To make things easier, we’ve created a Tip Sheet with everything you need to know for validating your applicant’s identity.
The Tip Sheet has two different pathways explaining the Identity Validation process:
- For applicants living in Ireland
- For applicants living outside of Ireland
Each pathway is designed to guide validators through every step of the identity validation process, ensuring clarity and compliance. To make this even easier, you can download and print our Tip Sheet, which you can display in your service for quick reference whenever needed.
Download our Tip Sheet here.
Important: Police clearance certificates are still required in addition to Garda Vetting — one does not replace the other.
Timing: Plan Ahead
Due to ECRIS additional checks, any applicant who has previously lived or living in another EU Member State (other than Ireland) or the UK will experience longer Garda Vetting application processing times. Please keep in mind the following current processing timelines:
Standard applications (Irish addresses only):
- 18–20 working days (previously shorter)
Note: Around 20% may take longer, especially if an applicant’s details are entered incorrectly
Applications with EU address history:
- Add up to 10 extra working days
Total: approx. 28–30 working days
Applications with UK address history:
- Add up to 20 extra working days
Total: approx. 38–40 working days
Best practice: Begin the vetting process as soon as placement is being considered.
Students Aged 16 but Under 18 Years of Age
International students aged between 16 and 18 will be subject to the same application processing timelines outlined above. Garda Vetting for students aged 16–17 is referred to as Under 18s vetting and to begin, validators will need to obtain the following documents:
- The parent/guardian must complete this form
- The parent/guardian must sign and date their consent
- Must be completed in full and be legible
- Parent/guardian must provide their own email address and phone number (not the student’s) on the Vetting Invitation NVB1 Form
- Consent box ticked (digital tick not accepted)
- Signed and dated by the applicant using a handwritten signature (digital signatures not accepted)
- Proof of Identity and Written Reference from the Accepted Document Table
- Students must provide either of the following as proof of identity:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Students need to provide a written statement by their school principal confirming attendance
- Letter must be on school letterhead paper
The Most Common Issue that causes Delays
The most common cause of delays in the vetting process is a lack of follow-up with applicants. It is your responsibility as an Early Years and School Age Care setting to follow up with your applicants to ensure that they have:
- Received the link sent by the NVB to complete their application
- Completed and submitted the link correctly sent by the NVB
If the applicant cannot access or has not received the link from the NVB, the vetting process cannot begin.
Common reasons for applicant’s not receiving links from the NVB include:
- Incorrect email address (e.g., spelling mistakes)
- Incorrect date of birth entered
To prevent this, it is vital that all information entered online matches the hard-copy documents (NVB1 form and the Identity Document Validation Form) identically.
Avoiding delays is essential, but is particularly important for international student applications, as placement timelines are often time sensitive. Given current processing times, delays must be avoided, so please ensure you follow up with applicants to confirm their applications are completed promptly
Key Takeaways
- Garda Vetting and Police Clearance are both mandatory
- Police clearance is required from each country of residence (6+ months)
- Plan ahead: Keep in mind current application processing times
- Follow up with your applicants to ensure link has been received and completed
- No placement may begin until garda vetting is complete
Helpful Information
Practical Tools and Resources to Guide Affiliates:
Early Years provision based on children’s needs in England
Early Years and School Age Care Staffing Issues Need Urgent Action
Share this post
More to explore
International Students – Everything you need to know
Key Requirements for International Students
International students play an increasingly important role in Early Years and School Age Care settings. Ensuring that robust Garda Vetting processes are followed is essential to safeguarding children, supporting services, and protecting students themselves.
Why Garda Vetting Matters
Garda Vetting is a key safeguarding measure and a legal requirement for anyone who will have access to children or vulnerable persons. For international students, vetting requirements are more detailed due to time spent living outside Ireland.
International students aged 16 years and over, cannot begin placement until all vetting requirements have been fully completed and cleared.
Garda Vetting Requirements for International Students
Identity validation is a critical step to ensure compliance and the safeguarding of children. As international students are abroad, the requirements of the identity validation process differ, so it’s important to understand what applies to you as the validator before you start. To make things easier, we’ve created a Tip Sheet with everything you need to know for validating your applicant’s identity.
The Tip Sheet has two different pathways explaining the Identity Validation process:
- For applicants living in Ireland
- For applicants living outside of Ireland
Each pathway is designed to guide validators through every step of the identity validation process, ensuring clarity and compliance. To make this even easier, you can download and print our Tip Sheet, which you can display in your service for quick reference whenever needed.
Download our Tip Sheet here.
Important: Police clearance certificates are still required in addition to Garda Vetting — one does not replace the other.
Timing: Plan Ahead
Due to ECRIS additional checks, any applicant who has previously lived or living in another EU Member State (other than Ireland) or the UK will experience longer Garda Vetting application processing times. Please keep in mind the following current processing timelines:
Standard applications (Irish addresses only):
- 18–20 working days (previously shorter)
Note: Around 20% may take longer, especially if an applicant’s details are entered incorrectly
Applications with EU address history:
- Add up to 10 extra working days
Total: approx. 28–30 working days
Applications with UK address history:
- Add up to 20 extra working days
Total: approx. 38–40 working days
Best practice: Begin the vetting process as soon as placement is being considered.
Students Aged 16 but Under 18 Years of Age
International students aged between 16 and 18 will be subject to the same application processing timelines outlined above. Garda Vetting for students aged 16–17 is referred to as Under 18s vetting and to begin, validators will need to obtain the following documents:
- The parent/guardian must complete this form
- The parent/guardian must sign and date their consent
- Must be completed in full and be legible
- Parent/guardian must provide their own email address and phone number (not the student’s) on the Vetting Invitation NVB1 Form
- Consent box ticked (digital tick not accepted)
- Signed and dated by the applicant using a handwritten signature (digital signatures not accepted)
- Proof of Identity and Written Reference from the Accepted Document Table
- Students must provide either of the following as proof of identity:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Students need to provide a written statement by their school principal confirming attendance
- Letter must be on school letterhead paper
The Most Common Issue that causes Delays
The most common cause of delays in the vetting process is a lack of follow-up with applicants. It is your responsibility as an Early Years and School Age Care setting to follow up with your applicants to ensure that they have:
- Received the link sent by the NVB to complete their application
- Completed and submitted the link correctly sent by the NVB
If the applicant cannot access or has not received the link from the NVB, the vetting process cannot begin.
Common reasons for applicant’s not receiving links from the NVB include:
- Incorrect email address (e.g., spelling mistakes)
- Incorrect date of birth entered
To prevent this, it is vital that all information entered online matches the hard-copy documents (NVB1 form and the Identity Document Validation Form) identically.
Avoiding delays is essential, but is particularly important for international student applications, as placement timelines are often time sensitive. Given current processing times, delays must be avoided, so please ensure you follow up with applicants to confirm their applications are completed promptly
Key Takeaways
- Garda Vetting and Police Clearance are both mandatory
- Police clearance is required from each country of residence (6+ months)
- Plan ahead: Keep in mind current application processing times
- Follow up with your applicants to ensure link has been received and completed
- No placement may begin until garda vetting is complete
Helpful Information
Practical Tools and Resources to Guide Affiliates:
Early Years provision based on children’s needs in England
