Inspection of 14 July 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. In respect of 4 staff members, the service did not demonstrate compliance with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years, as a period in excess of 3 years had lapsed since their Garda vetting disclosures were issued. Infection Control: 2. Two nappy changing procedures were observed where the children were observed not to have their hands washed after the nappy changing procedure and before returning to their care room. This practise is not in line with the services nappy changing policy and poses a cross-contamination risk. 3. The nappy changing bin in the Toddler room had no lid present, staff advised that it was broken, which poses an infection control risk. 4. At morning snack time in the Toddler room, chopped fruit was served to the children directly on to the tabletops rather than on plates which was an unhygienic practice. Safe Sleep: 5. In the Baby Room the following safe sleep risks were observed which was at variance with safe sleep practises and guidance: ➢ Comforters were observed to remain in the cot with a sleeping child. ➢ Sleep records reviewed on the day did not detail the room temperature while sleeping children where present. The services sleep policy outlines what temperature the room should be maintained at. ➢ During the transition to bedtime in the Toddler room, one child was observed to be given a bottle of milk while being placed to sleep on a stackable floor bed
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. All 4 staff have filled out new Garda vetting forms and we have submitted them to Early Childhood Ireland. A list of Staff Vetting dates will be drawn up to identify when re-vetting is required, therefore preventing lapses. Infection Control: 2. We have adapted our Nappy Changing Procedure to include the protocol for hand washing after nappy changes for under two’s. We will ensure there is adequate staff available to assist with hand washing after nappy changes throughout the day for under two’s. 3. A new pedal bin was bought for the Toddlers Room in the changing room. Staff will ensure to report any broken equipment to management and management will replace as promptly as possible. 4. Plates will always be provided to the children before fruit is served, and staff will be reminded of this daily practise. Staff will be reminded of the importance of using plates at mealtimes, staff spot checks will be carried out on a regular basis to ensure correct practise is taken place. Safe Sleep:
- ➢ We have adapted our Safe Sleep Policy to clearly state the procedure for allowing children to go to sleep with their comforters under the supervision of a staff member until asleep, when the item will be removed from the cot. Ensuring that on staff induction, staff are reading all policies and signing off on them, followed by regular room spot checks to ensure correct practise is being carried out. ➢ We have amended our sleep logs to include room temperature checks on each child every 10 minute. Ensuring that all policies are updated regularly and changes are made where required. ➢ We have again amended our Safe Sleep policy to include the procedure of children drinking their bottle on a staff members knee before being placed on their bed/ cot, all staff have been notified of this change. Ensuring there is a sufficient area, chair, couch available for adults to sit and allow children to drink their bottles in a safe manner
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (1) A person trained in first aid for children was not at all times immediately available to the children attending the pre-school service. The one staff member who holds up to date FAR training was not rostered to work on the day of inspection. The certificates on file for four additional staff trained in FAR had expired. A further three staff had partly completed FAR training with the final part scheduled to be completed on Tuesday 15th July 2025
Provider's corrective action:
- All 4 staff have completed their practical FAR training on the evening of the 15th of July and have been awarded their full certs
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 26, 28, 29.