Question 1

How does Crechely.ie work?

Accepted Answer

Crechely.ie lets you search every Tusla-registered childcare provider, preschool, Montessori school and afterschool provider in Ireland by location and your child's age. You join their waiting list in one click — no phone calls needed. When a spot opens that matches your child, you receive an instant notification. You then log in, accept the spot, and the provider's contact details are revealed so you can arrange the start date directly.

Question 2

Does Crechely cover afterschool care too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Crechely lists every Tusla-registered afterschool provider alongside creches and preschools. If you are searching for afterschool care for a school-age child, simply select 'Afterschool' as the service type when searching. You can join afterschool waiting lists the same way as childcare waiting lists — in one click, with instant alerts when a place opens.

Question 3

Are Montessori schools on Crechely?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many Montessori schools across Ireland are registered with Tusla and appear on Crechely. You can filter search results by service type to see only Montessori providers near you.

Question 4

Is it really free to search?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Searching is completely free, and every free account can add 1 child and join 1 waiting list — no card required. You can upgrade to Plus (€4.99/month or €49.99/year) for up to 10 waiting lists and 2 children, or Premium (€9.99/month or €99.99/year) for unlimited waiting lists and up to 4 children. Accepting a spot is always free.

Question 5

What does Plus give me?

Accepted Answer

Plus (€4.99/month or €49.99/year) lets you join up to 10 waiting lists, add up to 2 child profiles, save up to 10 favourite creches, and get priority email alerts when a spot opens.

Question 6

What does Premium give me?

Accepted Answer

Premium (€9.99/month or €99.99/year) gives you everything in Plus plus unlimited waiting lists, up to 4 child profiles, an unlimited shortlist with notes, tour bookings with providers, side-by-side comparison of creches, and instant offer alerts.

Question 7

How long will it take to find a spot?

Accepted Answer

This depends entirely on availability in your area and your child's age. Crechely.ie cannot guarantee a timeframe — we can only ensure you are notified the moment a matching spot opens. Joining more waiting lists increases your chances significantly. Premium members with unlimited active waiting lists find spots considerably faster than those on the free tier.

Question 8

Does a paid subscription guarantee a childcare place?

Accepted Answer

No. A Plus or Premium subscription does not guarantee your child a place at any creche, preschool or afterschool provider. It simply makes the search process easier for both you and the provider — more waiting lists, faster alerts, and tools to compare and book tours. The final decision on offering a place always rests with the childcare provider, based on their availability, policies and your family's needs.

Question 9

Are all providers on Crechely.ie safe and regulated?

Accepted Answer

Every provider listed is verified against the Tusla register — Ireland's Child and Family Agency which regulates and inspects all registered childcare services. You can view any provider's Tusla inspection report directly from their profile. We strongly recommend reading inspection reports and visiting any provider before accepting a spot.

Question 10

What happens when I accept a spot?

Accepted Answer

When a provider offers you a spot, you'll receive an email alert. You have 48 hours to log in and accept or decline. Accepting reveals their phone number and email so you can contact them directly to arrange your start date, contracts, and any NCS paperwork. There is no fee to accept.

Question 11

Can I use Crechely.ie for more than one child?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can add multiple children to your account and manage separate waiting lists for each child. The free tier allows 1 child. Plus allows up to 2 children. Premium allows up to 4 children.

Question 12

What is the NCS and am I eligible?

Accepted Answer

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides government subsidies toward registered childcare costs for children aged 6 months to 15 years. There is a universal subsidy available to all families and an income-assessed subsidy for lower-income households. Check your eligibility at ncs.gov.ie. Our AI assistant can also answer NCS questions.

Question 13

What is the ECCE scheme?

Accepted Answer

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme provides free preschool for children aged 2 years 8 months until they start primary school. It runs September to June each year. Your child must attend a Tusla-registered preschool. Crechely.ie shows which providers offer ECCE places.

Question 14

How does Crechely.ie work for providers?

Accepted Answer

You register your service, complete your profile with your Tusla details, age range, fees, and availability. Parents searching in your area can find your service and join your digital waiting list in one click. When you have a spot, you update your availability and every matching parent on your list receives an instant alert. You then manage acceptances and declines through your dashboard.

Question 15

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Crechely is completely free for every childcare provider — forever. No credit card required, no trial period, no paid tiers. Creche, preschool, Montessori, afterschool — single location or whole group, it's all free.

Question 16

What happens to my data if I stop using Crechely?

Accepted Answer

Your waiting list data is never deleted. If you stop using Crechely and come back later, everything is exactly as you left it. Your listing can be paused if you mark your service as inactive — parents cannot find you in search but your account and data are fully preserved.

Question 17

Do I need to be Tusla registered?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Crechely.ie lists only Tusla-registered childcare services. We verify every provider against the Tusla register before activating their profile. This is what gives parents confidence in the platform.

Question 18

What is the waiting list position system?

Accepted Answer

Families are added to your waiting list in the order they apply. Premium parent subscribers receive a slight priority boost. You can see every family's position, their child's age, and their preferred start date. You can change any entry's status — pending, offered, accepted, or declined — from your dashboard.

Question 19

Do parents pay to contact us?

Accepted Answer

No. Parents are never charged to accept a spot or contact your service. Crechely.ie is free for all providers, and parents can search and join 1 waiting list for free. Parents can optionally upgrade to Plus (€4.99/month or €49.99/year) or Premium (€9.99/month or €99.99/year) for more features.

Question 20

Can I export my waiting list?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your full waiting list can be exported as a CSV file at any time from your dashboard — including parent names, child details, preferred start dates, and application dates.

Question 21

How do I get more families on my waiting list?

Accepted Answer

Share your Crechely.ie profile link on your own website, social media, and anywhere parents might look. Every parent who visits your profile can join your waiting list in one click. We also show your service to parents searching in your county and age range — the more complete your profile, the more visible you are.

Question 22

What's the difference between a childminder and a nanny on Crechely?

Accepted Answer

A childminder cares for children in their own home, usually looking after a small group of kids from different families. A nanny cares for children in the family's home, typically for one family at a time. On Crechely you can browse both, filter by county and care type, and message the ones that match what you need.

Question 23

How do I find a childminder or nanny?

Accepted Answer

Use the 'Find a childminder & nanny' link in the header or your parent dashboard. You can browse the public directory, filter by county, rate and availability, or post a public request describing what you're looking for. Matched childminders and nannies get notified and can respond directly.

Question 24

Is it free to contact a childminder or nanny?

Accepted Answer

Free-plan parents can browse every profile and post 1 public request. To unlock direct contact details and view all responses, you need Plus (€4.99/mo) or Premium (€9.99/mo). Childminders and nannies never pay Crechely — the platform is free for them forever.

Question 25

Are childminders and nannies verified?

Accepted Answer

Every childminder and nanny on Crechely creates a public profile with their experience, rates and services. Verified profiles have uploaded and approved credentials — you'll see a verified badge on their profile. We still recommend meeting anyone in person, checking references and reading reviews before making a decision.

Question 26

How do reviews work?

Accepted Answer

After you've hired a childminder or nanny through Crechely, you can leave a rating and public review on their profile. This helps other parents make informed choices and rewards childminders and nannies who do great work.

Question 27

I'm a childminder or nanny — how do I join?

Accepted Answer

Register a childminder account, complete your profile with a photo, bio, rates and services, and set your county and availability. Once you're live, you'll appear in the directory and receive parent requests matched to your area. It's completely free — no listing fee, no commission.