Inspection of 23 February 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Physical and Material Environment A review of the available risk assessments and discussion with staff members confirmed that children have not accessed the outdoor area since September 2023. This reduced children’s development and wellbeing, opportunities for exploration of their environment and gross motor movements
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action Garden cleaned, and power hosed. Hazards removed and new play equipment purchased. Preventive Action Schedule regular cleaning of the outdoor area
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for two staff members. However, these vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI- RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. Staff bags containing personal belongs were accessible to children in an unlocked press located in the Creche room sanitary area. This posed a risk of injury to children. Infection Control: 3. Lunch boxes containing perishable items such as yogurts and cheese were observed stored in the hallway and not appropriately refrigerated to prevent spoiling. This is not in line with the food and nutrition guidelines for pre-school services. 4. The sanitary area of the Creche room posed an infection control risk. The following was observed: • A foot pedal operated bin was not available. • Chipboard was exposed under the sink preventing effective cleaning. • Toilet roll for use by the children was not hygienically dispensed. 5. The handtowels in the Preschool room toilet were not hygienically dispensed which posed an infection control risk. Fire Safety: 6. Attendance records were incomplete posing a potential risk of hindering safe evacuation of the premises and of incorrect information being provided to the fire services in the event of an emergency. The following was observed: • At 9:55am no children had been signed into the Preschool room. Nine children were present. • At 10:55am still no children had been signed into the Preschool room and there was no record of a child who left the service at 10:25am. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Corrective action: Garda vetting applied for two staff members that were out of date. Preventive action: Monitor Garda Vetting closely to ensure all is up to date. Office administrator setting up dedicated notebook for regulatory requirements such as Garda Vetting 2. Corrective action: Staff reminded of safety concerns regarding handbags. Child lock purchased for press and staff bags stored on a higher shelf. Preventive action: Monitor bag storage. Infection Control: 3. Corrective action: Childrens lunches removed at beginning of session and labelled and placed in fridge. Preventive action: Sign erected at school bag storage reminding staff of lunch storage. 4. Corrective action: Pedal bins purchased for preschool and creche bathroom. Toilet roll holder bought and placed on wall for creche bathroom. Sink vanity unit repaired. Preventive action: Ongoing checks of facilities. 5. Corrective action: Hand towel holder lowered and stacked for children to use. Preventive action: Ongoing checks of facilities. Fire Safety: 6. Corrective action: Fill in register in real time where possible
Regulation not named in the report text
- The service is listed on the national register of early years services as sessional service with hours of operation 09:00-12:00 & 12:30-14:50. On the day of the inspection a review of records and discussion with staff confirmed the service is operating outside of its registration status. 1. Three children stay beyond 3.5 sessional hours and attend 8:45am-1:00pm daily Monday to Friday. 2. The hours of operation have been changed as follows: Room AM Session PM Session Preschool room 8:45am-11:45am 12:00pm-2:10pm Creche room 9:15am-11:30am 12:00pm-2:10pm
Provider's corrective action:
- A change in circumstances form stating that we wish to change our opening hours to 8.45-11.45 and 12.00-14.45 was submitted to the registration office. The service will continue of operate as a sessional service and not offer extra hours to ECCE children in the future
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 21, 25, 26.