Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice (IAN) was issued to the service on the 28 January 2026 in relation to Regulation 9- Management and Recruitment. On the 29 January 2026 the registered provider responded adequately to the IAN with the measures implemented within the service. Please see details in the body of the inspection report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
(c) A Garda vetting disclosure had not been obtained for one staff member employed in the service. An Immediate Action Notice (IAN) was issued to the service on the 28 January 2026 in relation to Regulation 9 - Management and Recruitment. (3) Documentary evidence was available to demonstrate that the procedures outlined in paragraph (2) had not been completed for one staff member employed under the community employment scheme prior to starting in the service
Provider's corrective action:
(2)(c) In response to the non-compliance the registered provider has stated that Garda Vetting was applied for, and this was recently received. Going forward all Garda Vetting documents will be updated when they are supposed to be and in place before a staff member commences working in the service. (3) In response any outstanding information was obtained and will be in place before any staff member begins working in the service
Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials
1. The play kitchen in the outdoor area used by the children in the Farm and Flower room had no supporting materials such as cups, plates, pots or pans. This reduced the fun and enjoyment for the children and limited the possible learning opportunities for them
Provider's corrective action:
1. In response the registered provider has stated that kitchen toys were purchased for the garden. We will ensure that the toys in the garden are maintained and that there is enough supporting materials for children to engage in play such as pots, pans and play food
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The water temperature in the low sink used by the children in the Sunshine room was recorded as 55.7 oC at 11:06am. This increased the potential risk of scalding a child. 2. In the outdoor area used by the Farm and Flower room, at 11.14am, the children were observed picking at and playing with pieces of chipped wall paint. This increased the potential risk of a child ingesting the materials. It is acknowledged that after the inspector intervened and informed staff, the area was cordoned off by staff, stopping access to the wall. Infection Control: 3. Children in the Flower and Sunshine rooms were not prompted or facilitated to wash their hands on their return to the classroom following outdoor play. This increased the potential risk of cross infection. 4. At lunch time the children were provided with bread and butter to eat, this was placed directly on the table and not placed on plates. This increased the potential risk of cross infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. In response the registered provider has stated that a plumber came out and fixed the temperature to be 43 degrees. A thermostat control was fitted to control the temperature at a fixed temperature. We will have regular maintenance and temperature checks on taps. 2. To address outdoor paint was purchased and our maintenance person has painted and will review it again if the paint peels off. Infection Control: 3. The hand-washing procedure was discussed with staff, and it is displayed in the classrooms. We will ensure that all staff follow updated handwashing procedures and ensure proper hand washing is done when coming in from the garden 4. To address plates made available for everyone’s bread and we will ensure that there is always adequate plates or serving utensils for the children’s food
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) The service provided evidence that two adults were trained in First Aid Response (FAR), however, on review of the staff sign in and on discussion with staff, no staff member with FAR was available to the children from 7.15-9.00am on the day of inspection. It is acknowledged that a staff member with paediatric first aid was available to the children during this time
Provider's corrective action:
(1) In response the registered provider has stated that the staff roster was changed to ensure that the two staff members with FAR are on the premises at all times. Additional staff will be trained on a FAR course when a course becomes available
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19.
Inspection of 17 February 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
Basic Needs: 1. The snack and mealtimes in the Flower room were not observed to be a social and engaging event for the children as the staff member used the opportunity to clean the care room, tidy toys away and update the electronic tablet. As a result, the children were not encouraged and assisted to eat their food and try new tastes and textures. 2. Staff did not ensure that outdoor play was prioritised for each child attending the service to enable them to explore and develop their gross motor skills of walking and running. For example. • Children in the Flower room did not have outdoor play during the inspection. • Children in the Sunshine room did not have outdoor play during the morning of the inspection despite the daily routine of the room documented that from 11.05-11.50am they would go outside. As a result, the children were observed to become restless and frustrated before dinner time. 3. A programme of activities in the Flower room was not evident or developed to support the children and enable them to experience play opportunities. As a result, children were observed to wander round the room with reduced toys and activities available to equipment being removed for cleaning the previous Friday. On discussion with the staff member about planned activities for the children, the staff member suggested that painting would be done. It is acknowledged that painting as an activity was completed but it was observed that the children were given limited support and assistance from the staff member during the activity. Supporting relationships around children: 4. Engagements between staff and children in the Sunshine room were observed by the inspectors to be at variance with the service policy on supporting children and their behaviour in the service environment. For example. • Staff did not use praise and positive language when engaging with the children. • Staff were not observed to apply consistency in their approach to the children and their actions. • Staff were not alert to the language used by the children in their engagements with each other to ensure that it was kind, fair and appropriate
Provider's corrective action:
In response to the non-compliances identified on inspection the registered provider has responded with the following corrective and preventive actions. 1. The Healthy eating policy has been updated and communicated with staff outlining the importance of social interaction with children at mealtimes. Our positive interactions policy has also been updated to reflect this. Going forward we will ensure that staff follow the healthy eating and positive interactions policies, reviewing them regularly to keep in line with regulations and best practice guidelines. 2. Following the inspection all staff were spoken to regarding the importance of outdoor play. The updated policy on outdoor play was communicated with staff and parents. Going forward we will ensure staff use the out-door space effectively and daily. 3. Following the inspection the routine has been updated slightly. Alternative activities are available such as messy play or sensory play and art activities are more planned. We will ensure that staff stick to their routine as much as possible and they have appropriate activities developed the day before. 4. In response the positive interactions policy was distributed between staff and parents. New strategies have been put in place to encourage positive behaviour such as reward chart and jobs chart. We will ensure that all staff follow the positive interactions policy. We are looking at courses on positive interactions and how to apply them with our service. Giving the children little jobs has helped with behaviour. All children get praised for doing a great job. Art is displayed and praised daily
Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials
1. During the inspection it was observed that areas of interest in the Flower room lacked supporting equipment to enable the children to extend their exploratory and sensory play experiences at times of their own choosing. For example. • The play kitchen had no supporting materials such as cups, plates or play food up to 11.38 am when it was returned to the room following weekend cleaning and drying. • The garage had no supporting equipment and the doll equipment had no dolls available to use with the equipment. • The access, availablity and condition of books was inadequate as some books provided were damaged and torn. This reduced the fun and enjoyment of reading and looking at an entire book for the children, and limited the opportunity for reading to be used by staff members as a means of supporting the children’s language development. • The dress-up outfits available were stacked randomly in a bundle on the floor which reduced the opportunity for children to see what was available and select a costume of their choosing. • Chairs were not made available between meals or after a painting activity to give the children the opportunity to sit and engage with tabletop activities such as jigsaws and puzzles
Provider's corrective action:
1. In response to the non-compliances identified on inspection the registered provider has responded with the following corrective and preventive actions. • Following the inspection the kitchen area was stocked with more toys to support play and imagination of all the children’s ages and stages of development. Extra kitchen toys have been added into the classroom and split into two separate boxes, so that new materials can be added in the rotation while others may be cleaned to ensure there is always an adequate supply of kitchen toys and equipment. • Cars and road signs have been added to the garage area. There is also several small world toys available for the doll’s house. The baby doll area has been stocked with doll clothes, dolls, bottles and nappies. A small changing bag as also been added. • New books have been ordered for the flower room that align with the children’s ages and stages of development. We will ensure that there are always adequate toys available for all areas of play to enhance the play and development of all children. We will inspect all books to ensure that they are not broken or torn and discard old and broken books and replace the torn books with new ones. • The dress up outfits, handbags and hats are hanging up on the hooks for children to see what they are choosing. Ensure all dress up clothes are hung properly and in the right way after use. • At least two chairs are around the table in between activities for the children to be able to sit at the table when they want to. Additional chairs can be added if more children would like to sit at the table. Always ensure that the chairs remain at the table for the children
Regulation 22 — Food and drink
1. The practice of offering children additional food at lunch time or an alternative healthy food was not observed by the inspectors in the Flower and Sunshine rooms. As a result, the five children in the Sunshine room who didn’t eat their lunch at 12pm did not have food made available again until 3pm. This is at variance with the service healthy eating policy which states that children that have not eaten or who are hungry are offered food at times outside routine meals and snack times
Provider's corrective action:
1. In response to the non-compliances identified on inspection the registered provider has responded with the following corrective and preventive actions. • Healthy eating policy was updated and communicated with staff. • Extra or alternative food has since been offered to children who do not like or eat their food. • We will ensure that the healthy eating policy is adhered to and that extra portions for children who would need some more, and fruit or vegetables will be available for children who do not like the food provided
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. There was evidence to demonstrate that regular and routine risk assessments were not completed by staff in the care rooms to reduce the potential risk of injury to a child. For example. • Two electric trailing flexes in the main hallway of the service were accessible to the children as they entered the building. • In the Sunshine room an accessible blind cord was loose and not secured, it is acknowledged that once it was brought to the attention of the designated person in charge the caretaker of the building resolved the issue. 2. Procedures and practices around the care of two children attending the service that may require emergency treatment or medication in the event of an allergic reaction was not observed or available to the staff member caring for them on the day of inspection. Infection Control: 3. There was evidence to demonstrate that there was a lack of regular cleaning schedules completed by staff in the care rooms to support infection control practices. For example. • Paper towel used by staff in the Sunshine room was not hygienically dispensed to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. • The covering of an adult chair in the Flower room was observed to be dirty and the covering of children’s seating in the Jungle room was observed to be torn and not washable wipeable. • A vent for the extraction of stale air in the sanitary facilities used by the Sunshine room and the skirting boards in the care room were observed to be covered in a layer of dust. 4. A child’s food from home was not refrigerated on their arrival to the service but stored in their bag. This increased the potential risk of bacteria multiplying in the perishable food items. 5. Soother management practice was inadequate; the inspector observed a soother left out on a pillow at sleep time and staff reported that this soother was kept in an open box of spare children’s clothes when not in use. 6. Clear guidance was not available for staff to ensure effective and safe practices were carried out when cleaning toys within the care rooms. This increased the potential risk of ingestion of harmful cleaning toxins. For example, toys were washed in an unknown substance that caused discolouration of a paper towel when dried. 7. Nappy changing was not completed in accordance with best practice guidelines as gloves and aprons were not removed in a timely manner to reduce cross infection. 8. In the Flower room the hands of the children were not washed before dinnertime, leading to poor infection control. 9. Sheets and blankets used by children at sleep time were not stored in individual named bags between use but on the mats in the care room. This increased the potential risk of cross infection. 10. Adequate space of at least 50cm was not maintained between three individual cots and one sleep mat set up in the Flower Room when children were sleeping. Safe Sleep: 11. Sleep practices observed in the Flower room did not ensure that the temperature of the care room was maintained between the recommended 18-22 o C while children slept. For example. • Staff did not record the temperature of the care room while children slept, as a result, staff were not aware that the temperature of the room was recorded as 24.5 o C at 12.17pm. It is acknowledged that when the inspector altered the staff to the increased temperature windows and door were opened, and the temperature was recorded as 23.0oC at 1.05pm. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: In response to the non-compliances identified on inspection the registered provider has responded with the following corrective and preventive actions. 1.The trailing wires were immediately removed and plugged into a higher plug socket and the blind cord was fixed on the day of inspection. Maintenance will check all wires and blind cords daily to ensure none are trailing, broken or damaged. Currently looking into alternative options that would not come lose. 2. Care plans were immediately completed for all the children with allergies. These are also displayed on the wall in each classroom and in the children’s file in the office. Going forward we will ensure that all care plans are completed for children with allergies and training will be carried out if required. Infection Control: 3. In response to the non-compliances identified on inspection the registered provider has responded with the following corrective and preventive actions. • All paper towels are now in the dispensers provided and used by the staff. No paper towels are left in the open air. We will ensure all paper dispensers have paper towels available. • New covering has been put on the chair in the Flower room. A new children’s sofa was purchased for the Jungle room and the old one was removed. • The vent in the children’s toilet was cleaned by maintenance the day after the inspection and they will ensure that all vents are free of dust every week. • We will ensure that all covers on sofa and chairs are machine washable or easily wiped down and all damaged furniture will be disposed of and new ones purchased when torn or ripped. 4.To address any perishable food a child brings from home will be stored in the refrigerator. Staff will check all food items that come from home and ensure that any perishable items are stored in the refrigerator. 5. All soothers will be stored in individual containers in the child’s cubby and given to them when they are going to bed. Soothers will be sterilised after use. 6.The cleaning of toys procedure was updated and communicated with staff. There is a copy in each room explaining how we wash the toys and what we use to clean them and dry them. We will ensure that all staff follow the correct cleaning procedures for toys. Policy will be updated when needed. 7.The nappy changing policy has been updated and communicated with staff. Gloves and aprons are now removed in a timely manner and disposed of correctly. We will ensure all staff follow the nappy changing policy. Policy will be updated when needed. 8.Following the inspection, it was explained to staff the importance of washing hands before mealtimes. Hand washing procedures were communicated with staff and are displayed in the classrooms. All children wash their hands before every meal. We will ensure all staff follow the hand washing procedure and that children’s hands are washed before mealtimes. 9. To address all sheets are being stored in bags with the child’s name on it and beds are made up daily. The sleep policy has been updated to reflect this, and all staff have received the new sleep policy. We will ensure that all staff follow the new sleep policy and put the sheets in individual bags. 10. To address the non-compliance the service has updated the sleep policy, and it has been communicated with staff regarding space between beds or cots. Space between cots and beds is now measured and kept at the 50cm. We will ensure all cots and beds are maintained at 50cm. Policy will be updated when needed. Safe Sleep: 11. In response to the non-compliance identified on inspection the registered provider has responded with the following corrective and preventive actions. • Temperature sheets are now being completed by staff during sleep time. We will ensure that the sleep policy is up to date and that all staff have access to the temperature sheets during sleep time. Staff will ensure that the room temperature always stays within 18-22 oC. If the room temperature goes above this temperature, then we will ensure that windows and doors are opened to allow fresh air flow and re- record the temperature every 15 minutes after the windows and doors have been opened
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. In all 5 care rooms there was a lack of sensorial materials such as sand, water, dried rice or pasta available as routine play equipment which limited the opportunity for the children to extend their exploratory and sensory play experiences at times of their own choosing. It is acknowledged that once the inspector highlighted this with the service manager when both were present in the Flower Room at 12.15pm, the manager brought a tray of dried lentils, peas and barley, cones and acorns and a tray of dry pasta into the room and made them available to the children. The children immediately showed great interest in these play materials, enthusiastically filling and pouring from bowls and pots, and hiding animals in the tray contents while sharing moments of laughter and chatting happily with each other. 2. The access, availablity and condition of books in the Flower Room was inadequate as the 7 books provided were stored out of the children’s direct view and some were tattered and torn. This reduced the fun and enjoyment of reading and looking at an entire book for the children, and limited the opportunity for reading to be used by staff members as a means of supporting the children’s language development. It is acknowledged that once the inspector highlighted this with the service manager after the children had eaten dinner the manager brought a suitable range of further books to the care room and made them accessible to the children. 3. The family photographs which were on display in most care rooms in the service were positioned high on the walls, at or above adult head height and out of the children’s line of vision, making them difficult to see from a distance. The positioning of the photographs did not easily enable the children to use the photographs as a means of maintaining links and bridging the gap between the service and home. 4. The dress-up outfits available in the Flower Room were stacked randomly in a bundle in an open-top box which reduced the opportunity for children to see what was available and select a costume of their choosing. 5. In the Jungle Room a shelving unit with an array of tabletop materials was turned away from the children preventing them from accessing the materials and play resources. It is acknowledged that when the inspector discussed the unavailability of the play materials with the staff member the shelf was turned around and made available to the children who were then observed to play with the materials with enthusiasm
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action 1. (a) All five classrooms have been stocked with sensory materials such as water, dried pasta or rice, shredded paper, and more natural materials. (b) The maintenance men made switch board or busy boards for each classroom. The manager with help from the children made sensory squares for the Wobbler Room and the Toddler Room. (c) There is a sensory table in the Flower Room that has been provided with various sensory materials. 2. New books have been added to the Flower Room. There are books of different sizes and various themes. The books are lower for the children to reach. 3. All care rooms have a family wall or family tree, and they are positioned lower on the wall or back of door for children to see more easily. 4. The shelving hook for the dress-up clothes was put back up on the wall with the dress up clothes hanging on it for easier access for the children. 5. All shelving units are turned the correct way with access to all materials. Preventive Action 1. Ensure that all care rooms have adequate access to sensory materials and are re-stocked on a regular basis. 2. Ensure there are always a range and variety of books in all classrooms, and they are accessible to children at all times throughout the day. 3. Ensure family trees remain at eye level for all the children. 4. Ensure the dress up clothes are always hung up and accessible to children. 5. Always ensure shelving units with all materials are turned around for children to access at all times. Remove all materials that staff feel are a risk to children
Regulation 22 — Food and drink
The 4-week menu on display in the service and the food served on the day of inspection demonstrated that the daily nutritional requirements were not always adequately met for children attending the service on a part-time or full day care basis, as evidenced in the following findings: ➢ The dinner provided on the day of inspection consisted of mashed potato, tinned baked beans and half a boiled egg for each child. This was listed on the service menu as a dinner provided to the children. However, a number of children in the Flower Room were heard to request more egg but was informed by the service manager that none were available. One child who subsequently began to cry when requesting more food when their meal was finished was provided with mashed potato and a small spoonful of beans and other children in this care room were then informed that the food was “all gone”. The portions of food provided in the service on the day of inspection and the lack of additional food was insufficient to meet the nutritional requirements and preferences of all children in attendance. ➢ The menu on display demonstrated that a number of meals contained food of low nutritional value and high in saturated fat and salt content, rather than containing food from all 4 food groups (protein, carbohydrate, dairy and fruit or vegetables). For example, soup was provided for dinner and potato waffles and chicken nuggets provided for tea on a particular day while, on another day, nachos/tacos were provided for dinner and chips and chicken nuggets provided for tea. Furthermore, roasted vegetables, potato and hummus was provided for dinner and hot dogs provided for tea on another day. This showed that a greater than acceptable usage of processed foods and simple carbohydrates which are deficient in the nutrients that children require for healthy growth and development were provided at mealtimes on some days in the service. ➢ The mini muffins provided for morning snack on the day of inspection were high in sugar and did not make an appropriate nutritional contribution to the children’s diet
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action 1. A new menu has been put in place. 2. The food displayed on the menu is homemade. 3. The menus demonstrate the daily nutritional requirements for children attending the service. 4. Portions are a little bigger to satisfy more hungry children. Preventive Action 1. Ensure all menus meet the nutritional requirement for children attending the service at all times. 2. Always ensuring the food is homemade. 3. Always ensuring there is extra food if a child may require more
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The hot water supply provided at the wash hand basin in the nappy changing room and at the 3 wash hand basins in the children’s sanitary accommodation adjoining the Sunshine Room exceeded the maximum safe water temperature of 43oC for a period of time during the inspection which presented as a significant scalding risk for children in attendance. The inspector informed the service manager of this scalding risk and she ensured that the children were denied access to hot water from these taps, with cold water or hand sanitiser used instead for hand hygiene as a temporary measure until the warm water was found not to exceed 43oC. See table 1.1 below for sample water temperatures recorded on the day of inspection. Location Warm water temperature Time recorded Nappy changing room 74.1°C 10.40am 70.1°C 11.35am 34.7°C (satisfactory) 2.00pm Sanitary accommodation adjoining the Sunshine Room 49.3 – 51.7°C 10.45am 39.2 – 40.5°C (satisfactory) 11.35am Table 1.1 Water temperatures recorded on 13/05/2024 An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of inspection in respect of the hot water at the wash hand basin in the nappy changing room and at the 3 wash hand basins in the children’s sanitary accommodation adjoining the Sunshine Room which exceeded the maximum safe water temperature of 43oC for a period of time during the inspection, presenting as a significant scalding risk for children in attendance. Within 24 hours the registered provider provided written assurances that the risk to children had been appropriately addressed through temporary measures while awaiting the installation of thermostatic controls to the hot water supply as a permanent solution. Infection Control: 2. Soother management practice was inadequate; staff reported that contaminated soothers were dipped briefly into the sterilising solution, which was prepared daily in the Farm Room, then rinsed under the tap before re-use by a child, to avoid denying the child access to the soother for protracted periods, mainly at sleep time. However, in order to appropriate sterilise soothers, these are required to be fully submerged in the sterilising solution provided for a minimum of 15 minutes or alternatively to be sterilised by steam or in boiling water for the required period of time. 3. Children’s snacks provided by the parents, some of which contained meat and dairy produce, were stored in the children’s school bags at room temperature on the day of inspection. This increased the risk of bacteria multiplying in the perishable food items. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action General Safety: 1. The plumber has fixed the hot water issue, and a thermostatic control has been applied to the taps in the sanitary area beside the Sunshine Room and to the one beside the Flower Room. The taps are now reaching 43°C or just slightly under at 41°C. Infection Control: 2. Two new soother sterilisers were purchased, one for the Wobbler Room and one for the Toddler Room. 3. A fridge has been provided in the Senior ECCE Room for the lunches in the three classrooms. All perishable items are labelled and put in the fridge each morning. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Ensuring that water is maintained at 43°C or slightly less. Infection Control: 2. Ensuring that the soother sterilisers are used when sterilising soothers in both the Wobbler Room and Toddler Room. 3. Ensuring that the fridge is used for perishable items in the ECCE rooms. Ensure that all food is labelled and stored properly. Supporting documentation submitted • Written confirmation that the risk to children from excessively hot water had been appropriately addressed through the adjustment of the hot water temperature settings as a temporary measure within 24 hours of the inspection. • Further documentary evidence confirming that thermostatic controls had been fitted to the hot water supply ensuring the temperature does not exceed 43°C on an on-going basis. • A receipt for 2 steam sterilisers. • Photograph of a fridge in a care room in the service. Summary Comment An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of inspection in relation to excessively hot water at wash hand basins accessed by pre-school children in attendance. Within 24 hours the registered provider provided written assurances that the risk to children had been appropriately addressed, initially through temporary measures until thermostatic controls were fitted, work which was subsequently completed in the service. The inspector reviewed the corrective actions and evidence submitted by the registered provider after the inspection. The registered provider demonstrated that the non-compliances identified under Regulation 23 have been adequately addressed