# ABC Childsplay Creche, Dundalk — inspection reports and findings > ABC Childsplay Creche (Dundalk, Co. Louth): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## ABC Childsplay Creche Sessional · 1 - 6 Years · Dundalk, Louth · Tusla ID **TU2015LH024** · Registered since 1 January 2026 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 24 April 2026 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (d) See Statutory Notice section in relation to Improvement Notice IN1302 served ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. In Pod B the lid of the shell shaped sand pit was cracked and was a potential pinch and injury hazard. 2. The record of servicing for the fire extinguishers and smoke alarm system indicated that they had not been serviced on an annual basis as required to ensure that they are operating correctly in the event of an emergency - Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. The entire sand pit has been replaced. The risk assessment has been updated to include daily sand pit checks to ensure this is not overlooked in the future. Staff have been updated in the risk assessment checks. 2. The fire records of servicing for the fire extinguishers and smoke alarms have been serviced and completed in May 2026. Fire extinguishers and smoke alarm services have been added to the a new manager’s annual checklist. A new fire company has been employed to carry out quarterly checks to ensure this is not a recurring issue Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 20, 26, 28. #### Inspection of 13 June 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (2)(a) and (b) One staff member’s 2 written references were not validated. (d) Following a review of the staff files presented for inspection, documentary evidence of international police vetting was not available for 1 staff member who had lived outside the Irish jurisdiction for a period of 6 months or more as an adult - (2)(a) The 2 references have been validated by the manager on the 16/06/2025. The staff validation record has been updated and added to the recruitment folder. The staff file checklist will be attached to the front of the file rather than in it, in order to ensure it is complete and up to date. Regular checks of staff files will be added to the managers checklist. (2)(d) The staff member in question has contacted the relevant organisation and is awaiting the results of the international police vetting. The recruitment policy has been updated to include police vetting for any staff member who has worked outside Ireland for a period of 6 months or longer ##### Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service - The Healthy Eating Policy requires updating as it is currently not specific to the service for example it references “Food is only purchased from reputable suppliers…..” and references an outside caterer. Furthermore, it refers to 3 weekly and 4 weekly menus that are available and age appropriate and “suitable sized portions” when food is not supplied by the service - The healthy eating policy has been updated to reflect the service opening hours. Recommendations that the Healthy eating policy is adhered to by the parents are also included. Staff will be trained in the new updated Healthy Eating Policy on the 25/8/25, when all staff have rejoined the setting after the summer break ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - 16(1)(h) The children in Pod C were not signed in on the daily attendance record and a staff member was observed to retrospectively commence completing the attendance sheet while the inspector was in the room - 16(1)(h) Staff have been spoken to in relation to the importance of ensuring all children are signed in upon arrival, staff will also be retrained in the record keeping policy. Re-training of staff to take place on the 25/08/25 in order to ensure that the record keeping policy is adhered to. The Managers daily checklist has been updated to include the daily policies are maintained and up to date. Staff will be informed that warnings will be issued if they fail to adhere policies and procedures, within the service ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. A number of children were observed drinking juice from baby bottles / drink bottles. While it is acknowledged that these were not provided by the service it is at variance with the service healthy eating policy which states “All meals……. will be served with milk and /or water.” Furthermore, lunches provided by the parents on the day of inspection especially in Pod A were observed to contain numerous treats. Staff confirmed that Friday was treat day however again this is at variance with the healthy eating policy of the service which states “Parents are asked not to send sweets, crisps, biscuits and other snack foods to the preschool.” 2. The material and physical environment in the Pod B in parts was poorly resourced for the children attending as defined interest areas had limited supporting toys and equipment. For example, the home area consisted of 3 kitchen units with sinks and ovens, a table and 2 chairs, 1 toaster, 1 kettle, 1 small pot, a saucepan lid and chopping board. The doll area consisted of 4 dolls and a carry tot - 1. The Healthy eating policy has been updated to reflect the settings opening hours, recommendations for parents are included to ensure the Healthy Eating Policy is adhered to. A healthy eating agreement policy has been developed and added to the parents handbook for them to sign and return to the setting, it will subsequently be then added to the childrens’ files. 2. The setting environment will be replenished with new resources and equipment, for the coming term and will be continuously checked throughout the year to ensure the setting is maintained to a high standard. The checking of stock and resources have been added to the managers daily checklist ##### Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play - 1. There were no resources for the mud kitchen in the outdoor area to enhance the play experience for the children - 1. The mud kitchen in the outdoor area have been replenished; basins, utensils, pots and pans have added for the coming term. Checking of stock and resources in the play environment have been added to the managers daily checklist ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - The registered provider did not ensure that all reasonable measures were taken to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of a preschool child in relation to the following: General Safety: 1. In Pod A there were unprotected sharp edges on the plastic conduit running along the wall beside one of the children’s soft chairs and on the white shelving units. In Pod B there were unprotected sharp edges on white shelving units. These are a potential injury hazard. 2. In Pod A one of the shelving units was in a state of disrepair as the back was coming off the unit and this was accessible to the preschool children as it was used to block off the toilet. This was a potential injury / pinch risk. 3. In Pod C there were wall mounted dangling fairy lights which were accessible to the preschool children. These were a potential injury/ strangulation risk. Infection Control: 4. A baby’s bottle of milk was observed incorrectly stored sitting on the counter-top uncovered in Pod A and not refrigerated and lidded as is best practice. 5. Single use paper towels were not available for use in the downstairs sanitary accommodation / nappy changing or upstairs toilet area. This does not facilitate effective hand washing. It is acknowledged that staff reported that they currently do not use the upstairs toilet. 6. Children were observed to be taken to the nappy changing area to have their nappies changed, one with a plastic bib still on and 1 with a soother in their mouth. This is not best practice and an infection control and cross contamination risk. 7. After nappy changing a staff member was observed to wash the child’s hands with the gloves which they had worn to change the nappy still on. This is not effective hand washing and a cross-contamination risk - Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. All edges have been covered, ensuring the safety of the children. 2. The shelving unit has been removed, to reduce the risk of injury to the children. 3. The fairy lights have been placed higher on the wall, so they are not accessible to the children. 1,2,3, Shelving and lights have been added to the managers daily checklist, Staff will be re-trained in reducing risks within the service on the 25/08/25, to ensure the safety of the children. Infection Control: 4. The Health and Safety policy has been updated, to include best practise on the storage of bottles containing milk. Staff will be re-trained in the updated Health and Safety Policy, ensuring that the staff act in the best interest of the child. 5. Re-stocking of the bathroom supplies has been added to the managers daily checklist. The managers daily checklist has been updated to include a stock check of the bathroom area. 6. Staff will be re-trained on the infection control policy and the importance of the child not wearing a bib or having their soother whilst in the nappy changing area. Staff will be informed that warnings will be issued if they fail to adhere to the settings policies and procedures. 7. Staff will be re-trained on the nappy changing policy, ensuring that the correct protocol is being followed at all times. Staff will be informed that warnings will be issued if they fail to adhere to the settings policies and procedures ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - (1) The registered provider did not ensure that there was a person trained in First Aid Response (FAR) for children, on the premises at all times. FAR certificates available were out of date. It is acknowledged that documentary evidence was available to confirm a number of staff had completed basic first aid training - First Aid Responder certification course was booked and completed x 1 staff member. A staff course timeline has been created to ensure that courses will be completed within the required time frame ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (e) Upstairs the toilet and nappy changing facilities for the Toddlers attending Pod C were inadequate as they were blocked off and not available for use - (e) The shelving unit has been removed and the toilet is now available for use. This action has been added to the managers checklist, ensuring that all bathroom facilities are available to the children at all times Found compliant: Regulation 11. ### Other services in Louth - [Absolute Angels Creche](/creche/absolute-angels-creche-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [Ainedanbury Ltd T/A Bright Beginnings](/creche/ainedanbury-ltd-t-a-bright-beginnings-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Blackrock Montessori School](/creche/blackrock-montessori-school-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Children's World](/creche/children-s-world-dundalk-2.md) Dundalk - [Footprints Pre-School](/creche/footprints-pre-school-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Little Steps Creche & Pre-School](/creche/little-steps-creche-pre-school-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [Tiny Tots Creche](/creche/tiny-tots-creche-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Spraoi Childcare](/creche/spraoi-childcare-collon.md) Collon - [Peter Pan Crèche & Montessori](/creche/peter-pan-creche-montessori-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [Dundalk Tiny Tots Nursery LTD](/creche/dundalk-tiny-tots-nursery-ltd-dundalk.md) Dundalk [Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md) --- Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/abc-childsplay-creche-dundalk/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11