Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A small hole in the flooring of the outdoor area posed a potential trip hazard. Infection Control: 2. Two cots observed with stained sheets were used during sleep time. This is not in line with service procedure detailing that linen is changed when visibly soiled and that all hygiene procedures and routines must be strictly adhered to. This non-compliance was observed on the previous inspection on 15 February 2024. The preventive action has not been carried out in line with the information provided to the inspectorate following the last inspection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The maintenance work was carried out on covering of the ground in the garden on the 3 January 2026. The outdoor area will continue to be monitored by health and safety officer. All defects will be reported to the manager who will report it to head office. Infection Control: 2. Following the inspection a meeting was carried out with staff. All staff members have been reminded about the importance of following correct procedure in relation to the use of clean linen and that linen is laundered each week or more often as necessary. The manager and deputy manager will continue to observe hygiene and infection control practices across the centre
Regulation 27 — Supervision
The service did not ensure adequate supervision of the children in the wobbler room on Friday 5th December when an incident which required notification to Tusla occurred. It is acknowledged that on the day of inspection staff members were observed to adequately supervise the children attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
An internal investigation was carried out following the incident and all HR procedures were followed and appropriate action taken. Retraining in Health and Safety for Early Years provided to all permanent staff during December 2025 - January 2026. An external safety review was conducted by a childcare consultancy company. This review focused specifically on access and egress arrangements within the centre following the incident. The audit confirmed that safeguarding measures were now in place. Internal access and egress reviews are ongoing as a part of the Health Safety checks carried out by Health and Safety Officer and reviewed by manager weekly. Management team continuous to monitor daily practices to ensure compliance with TUSLA regulations
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 31, 32.
Inspection of 15 February 2024 — Inspection Report
1. In Toddler 2 room the table and chairs observed in the care room were not an appropriate size for the children attending. At 11:31am a child was observed sitting at a table at shoulder height. This prevents children engaging in activities and mealtimes comfortably. 2. Materials and resources in the care rooms were not accessible to children discouraging them to choose independently. The following was observed: • In the Wobbler room a shelving unit in the centre of the room with a raised ledge stored boxes filled with heavy resources which were difficult for the children to lift and remove from the unit. • In the Wobbler room the shelving unit positioned near the mirror stored resources that were not suitably sized for the box which could not be pulled out from the shelf. • In the Toddler 2 room a large box entirely filled with building blocks was positioned on the third shelf of a storage unit. A staff member was observed struggling to adjust and reposition the box on the shelf due to its position, size, and weight. • In the Toddler 2 room stencils and chalk boards did not have any supporting resources to allow the children to use them as intended. 3. Library books in toddler 2 room were observed torn and damaged
Provider's corrective action:
1. Corrective action: The situation was immediately rectified with a lower table and chairs of an appropriate size. Across all rooms different sized tables and chairs are used depending on the children’s ages. Preventive action: Team members from each room with the support of management must continue to observe sitting arrangements are of an appropriate size for the children attending. This must be done every time a child progress to a new group. 2. Corrective action: Two shelving units in two care rooms had resources placed in an inappropriate manner making them difficult for the children to access. Resources mentioned in the report were reviewed. In the Wobbler room heavy resources were removed and replaced with soft blocks, soft balls and sensory musical toys not stored in a box. The second unit in the Wobbler room was reviewed and now has suitably sized resources for the shelf. A new shelf was introduced in the Toddler 2 room and the building blocks were distributed between two boxes allowing easy access for children. Supporting resources are now in the Toddler 2 room for use with stencils, blackboards and paper. Prewriting sets have been arranged on top of a low unit. Preventive action: Team members must continue to observe layout of resources in each interest area. Resource must be well organised and easily accessible as per service policy. The equipment must be suitable, safe and age appropriate, while providing exciting new challenges and experiences for the developmental needs of our children. 3. Corrective action: The library in Toddler 2 room was reviewed, torn and damaged books were removed. New books have been introduced. Preventive action: Team members from each room must continue to ensure books are in good condition and replaced when necessary. Children should be regularly remined how to treat the books with respect
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The adult sink in basement sanitary area had a water temperature of 46.3 ℃ at 10:30am. This posed a potential risk of injury. 2. A rug in the Wobbler room was turned up at the edges posing a trip hazard. Infection Control: 3. The nappy changing procedure was not in line with best practice or the services policy and procedure which posed a risk of infection control. For example: • A staff member did not wash their hands after changing a nappy. • Gloves worn for nappy changing remained on while cream was applied, and the child was redressed. • Gloves worn for nappy changing remained on while a child was redressed, and the changing mat was disinfected. • A staff member was observed using a foot pedal operated bin by hand. • A staff member was observed washing their hands in a sink labelled for potty cleaning. 4. The children’s sink in the sanitary area on the basement level used by the Wobbler room and children when playing in the outdoor area did not have an adequate water supply. A trickle of water came out of the tap when turned on. An adequate flow of warm water is required for effective handwashing to reduce the spread of infection. 5. Three cots observed with stained sheets were used during sleep time. This is not in line with the services sleep room check list that includes the use of clean linen or the policy on sleep that states linen is laundered each week or more often as necessary. 6. On the day of inspection there was no available cleaning record of the current week for the Wobbler room. Staff advised the inspector that the record is created on a Friday and completed for the week. Records required to maintain service policy should be kept up to date and completed in a timely manner. Administration of Medication: 7. Staff were unaware that a child in their care had an allergy this posed a risk that the child may not receive appropriate care in the event of an emergency. It is acknowledged that the person in charge was aware of the allergy and steps to take in the event of a reaction. Safe Sleep: 8. Two cots were observed with toys while children were sleeping. This posed a choking hazard and is not in line with the services policy that states toys and stuffed animals will be removed from the cot when the child is sleeping. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Corrective action: The maintenance manager reviewed the current setting on the tank. Preventive action: The Health and Safety Officer will complete regular checks in the centre to identify any hazard and remove risks to children, staff, and visitors. 2. Corrective action: The rug has been removed and replaced. Preventive action: The Health and Safety Officer will complete regular checks in the centre to identify any hazard and remove risks to children, staff, and visitors. Infection Control: 3. Corrective action: Staff have been retrained in the correct nappy changing procedure in line with service policy. Preventive action: Frequent checks will be completed by management to ensure policy is being followed. Staff will be retrained regularly on the nappy changing procedure. 4. Corrective action: The sink has been repaired and now has an adequate water supply. Preventive action: The Health and Safety Officer will continue to complete regular checks in the centre to identify any concerns and report them to manager. The manager will than contact the maintenance manager to fix any issues arising. 5. Corrective action: This was addressed immediately. Staff were reminded of correct procedure and retrained on the services infection control policy. Preventive action: Management will continue to observe hygiene and infection control practices. Staff will be regularly retrained on the infection control policy. 6. Corrective action: This was addressed immediately with staff. All staff members were retrained on the importance of completing paperwork and keeping it up to date in line with service policy. Preventive action: Management will continue to observe if paperwork is completed. Staff will regularly be retrained on cleanliness and hygiene. Administration of Medication: 7. Corrective action: Staff received further training on service policy for medication administration and the allergy list for the centre. Staff were reminded who the FAR trained staff are in the centre. Preventive action: Management will continue to do spot checks on staff knowledge regarding emergency medications for staff and children in the centre. Safe Sleep: 8. Corrective action: All staff were retrained on procedure and policy relating to safe sleep. Preventive action: Management will continue to observe that safe sleep policy is adhered to. Staff will be regularly retrained on the safe sleep policy
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) The registered provider did not ensure that a staff member trained as a First Aid Responder (FAR) was always available to the children. A review of available rosters demonstrated that a FAR person was not available 7:45am- 9:00am Tuesday 6th to Friday 9th of February inclusive
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action Additional staff have been FAR trained. Preventive Action The registered provider will ensure that a staff member trained as a First Aid Responder (FAR) is always available to the children for the duration of the opening hours of the centre