Creche Inspection Reports

Acorn to Oak Childcare

Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Portumna, Galway · Tusla ID TU2015GY210 · Registered since 1 January 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

2published inspections
2non-compliances at latest report read
2immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 25 February 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. On the 25/02/2026 a Safety Immediate Action Notice was issued onsite regarding

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. An Immediate Action Notice (IAN) was issued on 25/02/2026 for water temperatures which were above the recommended 43°C in wash hand basins used by the children on the day of inspection. • Examples included water temperatures in the Wobbler nappy changing area was recorded at 11.25 at 55.6°C at 11.40 48.6 °C and at 12.51 it was 62.4°C. • The temperature in the wash hand basin in the Wobbler toilet/sanitary area was recorded at 11.55 which read 54.6°C and at 12.57 read 62.4°C. • The temperatures recorded in the Toddler room Sanitary area (wash hand basin on the left-hand side) at 14.49 was 62.2°C and at 15.10 it was 62.0°C. The registered provider submitted a risk assessment and an interim plan to manage the immediate risks to the preschool children and had contacted a competent person to regulate the water temperatures. 2. At approximately 10.45 in the Cabin Junior Montessori room 2 it was observed that a child was sitting at the table for snack time with whole grapes in their lunch box. This posed a potential risk of choking for a preschool child. The staff and person in charge were informed immediately. The grapes were removed and cut accordingly. Infection Control: 1. The children’s green and cream seat and blue and cream seat in the Wobbler room was frayed and torn. Additionally, the green seat in the Toddler room was frayed and torn. This made it difficult to clean the surfaces efficiently posing a risk of cross infection to the preschool children. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. The sinks have been closed off to the children while they are awaiting fixing by a competent person. A plumber has been sourced and the required material for repairs ordered. There is a process ongoing for the hiring of a maintenance staff member who will have regular oversite of maintenance issues and rectify them. 2. A notice has been issued to all parents in relation to the need to chop grapes safely into small pieces. Infection Control: 1. The couches that were frayed and torn have been removed and will be replaced by new couches

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (c) 1. The ceiling light in the Wobbler sanitary area was flickering. This made visibility difficult for the children who used this sanitary area. A new replacement bulb and maintenance was required. 2. One of four tubular ceiling lights was not working in the Junior Montessori room 1. This made shadows in the room. A new replacement bulb and maintenance was required to provide adequate lighting for the preschool children. (d) 3. There was no entry door handle on the Wobbler toilet (sanitary area), this made it difficult to open and close the door. This needed maintenance and repair. (e) 4. One adult toilet and 1 wash hand basin was available for 16 adults who were working on the premises. There were not enough designated adult toilets and wash hand basins onsite for the adult/staff who were working on the day of inspection. A minimum of one toilet and one wash hand basin is required for every eight adult/staff working on the premises
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. An electrician has been booked to repair the ceiling lights in the wobbler room on April 11th. 2. An electrician has been booked to repair the ceiling lights in the junior Montessori room on April 11th. 3. The maintenance staff member will repair the door handle once the recruitment process is completed. 4. Staff now have the use of an additional toilet within the service that is not needed for the children due to nappy changing needs

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 22, 25.

Inspection of 25 September 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice regarding the high temperature in the baby sleep room was issued by the Early Years Inspectorate to the registered provider on the 25 September 2025. The registered provider submitted a response on the 26 September 2025 to the Early Years Inspectorate in relation to the immediate action notice.

Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play

  • (b) Suitable rest facilities were not available for the children requiring sleep in the Junior Montessori room 1 Junior Montessori 2 and Senior Montessori room 2. Senior Montessori Room 2: Individual sleep mats were not available for the children resting in this playroom, with 4 children having to share 2 sleep mats. Two other children slept on 2 other mats one of them been a yoga mat. The mats that the children were sleeping on were not suitable, the children were sleeping directly on the plastic matting void of any bed linen. Individual bed linen was not available. Junior Montessori room 1 At 12:30 pm, 8 children were observed asleep on sleep mats that were void of any bed linen, the children were observed to sleep directly on the plastic covering. Junior Montessori 2 At 2:15pm, 2 children were observed asleep on 1 large floor mat. This mat was void of any bed linen
Provider's corrective action:
  • New beds for the children requiring sleep have been purchased. Mats that were used previously for sleep will now be used for seating only in the playrooms. Frayed mats have been disposed of

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: (1) The adult chair that was used by the adults in the Wobbler room was unsafe, it had to be propped against the wall, as the back of the chair was unsteady and was a risk to the staff using it. Infection Control: (1) A number of the sleep mats used in both the Montessori junior room 1 and 2 and senior Montessori room 2 were frayed at the edges and posed a risk of infection as they could not be cleaned adequately. (2) The nappy bin in use in both the baby and wobbler room were not sealable, airtight and foot operated. This posed a risk of infection. Safe Sleep: 1. The sleep temperatures of the baby sleep room were not maintained and kept at temperatures of between 16 °C and 20°C. The following temperatures were recorded throughout the session, when the sleep room was in use. At 12.52pm with 3 children aged under 12 months old sleeping in the room the recorded temperature was 21.7°C. At 13.06pm and with 4 children aged under 12 months old sleeping in the room the recorded temperature was 22.5°C. The manager in the service reduced the temperature in the sleep room by turning on the air-conditioning. At 13.40pm the temperature of the sleep room with 5 children sleeping in the room was 19.9°C. 2. Sleep checks were not recorded accurately in the baby and toddler room. It was recorded that a child went to sleep at 12:30pm in the baby room and no further records were documented until 1pm. It was noted that the app was not working in the toddler room. This posed a risk to sleeping children. 3. Sleep checks were not maintained in any of the following sleep rooms/playrooms- Junior Montessori 1 and 2 and Senior Montessori 2 when children over the age of 2 years of age were asleep. This posed a risk to the sleeping children. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. A new adult chair has been purchased. Infection Control: 1. The frayed mats have been disposed of. 2. New nappy bins have been purchased. Safe Sleep: 1. Air conditioning will be used to maintain the sleep room temperature between 16 °C and 20°C. 2. Sleep records will be recorded on tablets or in a book. 3. A logbook will be available to record sleep checks in the event of WIFI not been available

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • On the day of inspection, there were 12 staff trained in basic First Aid, 4 staff trained in Paediatric First Aid and only 1 staff member trained in First Aid Responder. However, this staff member was only rostered from 10 am to 3pm on the day. When this was brought to the attention of the manager. The staff member was asked to remain on the premises until close of business on the day, however there was no person with FAR training on the premises in the morning prior to 10am. At least one person must be trained in First Aid Responder (FAR) and available to the children while the service is in operation. There was no trained staff member on the premises when this staff member was rostered off each day. This staff member started work at 10 am on the day of inspection but the service was in operation since 7:00am
Provider's corrective action:
  • A FAR trained staff member is rostered to be on duty from 7am. An additional FAR trained staff member will remain onsite until 6pm. Two additional staff members are due to complete the FAR training in November 2025

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 26, 28.

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