# Ballyhale Montessori School, Ballyhale — inspection reports and findings > Ballyhale Montessori School (Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny): what Tusla inspections found — 3 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Ballyhale Montessori School Full Day · 1 - 6 Years · Ballyhale, Kilkenny · Tusla ID **TU2016KK001** · Not Registered - Closed since 1 January 2023 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 28 February 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - An audit of the qualifications on file for the staff working in the service was carried out by the manager. The audit revealed one of the staff had not completed all modules required to achieve a level 5 in Early Years Care and Education on the national qualifications framework. The manager brought this to the attention of the Inspectorate having reviewed the causal factors at recruitment stage. The manager provided a detailed plan to address the matter - A detailed plan has been submitted to the inspector on plans to support the staff member in concluding all modules required to achieve a level 5 in Early Years Care and Education on the national qualifications framework ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - The emphasis on outdoor play in the service needed to be developed to ensure children could access the area for longer periods. For example, children in the Mighty Shamrocks got wet while playing in the outdoor area and many had to change their wet clothes when they came inside. The provision of wet gear would ensure the children stayed warm and dry and could stay in the outdoor area for longer periods - The mud kitchen in the outdoor area needed to be further developed. There were very few utensils present in the kitchen for children to play with. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - The service has rearranged garden times to consider equitable access for all groups attending the service. Staff have discussed the importance for all children to use the garden in the mornings and afternoons when attending the service. Wetsuits are available to the children when the weather is very wet - Materials for the mud kitchen have been ordered online. 1 ##### Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play - While staff practices were supportive of children’s sleep needs, the location where beds were set up for older children within the Mini Shamrocks room did not provide a suitable environment with softer lighting for sleep. The room was used for sleep and play; children from the Mighty Shamrocks room also cross through to access the outdoor area which can add to the activity level in the room. The following was observed: • At 1.30pm the inspector observed one staff member helping two children over two to settle to sleep. The staff member was kind and gentle stroking the children’s backs and speaking to them in low tones to soothe and settle them. However, there were three children awake in the room playing with a staff member who was engaging them and trying to keep them quiet. One child was pouring dried pasta into a metal bowl while children were trying to settle. • At 3.10pm two other children were observed asleep on cot beds in the room. The fluorescent lights were on full and while they slept, children returned to the room from outdoors. The sleeping children were observed to be disturbed at this point with the increased activity level around them. It is acknowledged that the manager discussed with the inspector how they have identified a possible alternative area to use for sleep to minimise the risk of disturbance to children sleeping within the Mini Shamrocks room on the ground floor - Children who do not wish to sleep will continue to be facilitated to play freely in the mini shamrocks room. the service will refrain from taking out loud toys such as musical instruments or the parachute which makes the children get excited. The service has started to set up all eight sleep beds so that all children can come and have a rest or have a look at some books while resting on the beds. Children who do not wish to lie down will be supported in quiet play in the room ##### Regulation 22 — Food and drink - 1.The children attending the Mighty Shamrocks room were observed having their snack at 10.45am. The inspector observed many of the children had snacks which were high in sugar. Snacks such as breakfast bars, sugar coated biscuits, yogurt drinks and chocolate coated biscuits were observed in many of the children’s lunch boxes. Many of the children were drinking juice from boxes which had been provided by their parents. The practice on the day of inspection was contrary to the services policy on healthy eating which discourages the provision of excessively processed food to children attending the service. 2. Freely accessible drinking water was not always available to the children on the day of inspection. It is acknowledged the children in the mighty shamrocks had drinks provided by their parents stored in the large fridge however children need access to drinks at all times while attending a preschool service - The service has sent a message to all parents reminding them of the services healthy eating policy. Parents have been informed of the non-compliances found following the inspection in relation to the provision of nutritious food for children attending the service - A designated “drink station” has been established for the children so that they can all always reach their own drinks. The drink stations are located in each room on a level that is accessible to the children at all times ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - The children’s hands were not washed after outdoor play and before snack time. This poses a risk of cross infection in the service - The staff toilet did not have a lid on top of the toilet. The buckets and mops for cleaning the floors in the service were stored in the toilet. Other cleaning products, tissues and baby wipes were also stored in this staff toilet. This practice posed a risk of cross infection in the service - There were three cot beds stored in the sleep room. These were stored lying up against a door to the nappy changing area. They posed an obstacle to staff getting in and out of the room and also impeded their access to the cots the babies were sleeping in. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - The practice of regular handwashing has been discussed. Staff have been reminded of the importance of handwashing in the service to prevent the spread of infection. Posters have been put up in the service to remind children when it is important to wash their hands - There is now a toilet seat on the staff toilet. The cleaning supplies have been moved from the staff bathroom. They are currently being stored out of reach from the children on shelves in our hallway - We have moved the cots around in our sleep room so that the beds can be stored against another wall that does not obstruct our view of the children ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - On review of records in the service the inspector noted there was only one person trained in a first aid responder course in the service. When this person was on annual leave or sick leave there would be no person trained in a first aid responder course available to the children at all times as is required - A further two staff have been enrolled in a first aid responder course for children. Both courses will be concluded by 17 April 2024 ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (d) • The two cold water taps were not closed off and were running for the duration of the inspection. • The upholstered chairs for the children in Mini Shamrocks were worn and needed to be replaced - (d) The two cold water taps have been repaired. The upholstered chairs have been cleaned ##### Regulation not named in the report text - The registered provider failed to inform the registration office that a new person in charge was appointed to the service in November 2023. A registered provider is required to inform the Child and Family Agency of any proposed changes in relation to the preschool service - The registered provider has completed a change in circumstances form to inform the registration office that a new person in charge has been appointed to the service Found compliant: Regulation 10, 11, 26, 28. #### Inspection of 18 July 2022 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) No non-compliance recorded in this report. #### Inspection of 21 September 2020 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) No non-compliance recorded in this report. Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 19, 23. ### Other services in Kilkenny - [Ballyhall Kindergarten](/creche/ballyhall-kindergarten-callan.md) Callan - [Ballyragget Community Playgroup](/creche/ballyragget-community-playgroup-ballyragget.md) Ballyragget - [Bluebells Early Years Service](/creche/bluebells-early-years-service-kilkenny.md) Kilkenny - [Cheeky Monkeys](/creche/cheeky-monkeys-kilkenny.md) Kilkenny - [Early Days Montessori](/creche/early-days-montessori-kilkenny.md) Kilkenny - [Lilliput Montessori](/creche/lilliput-montessori-kilkenny.md) Kilkenny - [Bluebells Crèche](/creche/bluebells-creche-kilkenny.md) Kilkenny - [Enable Ireland Specialised Early Years Service](/creche/enable-ireland-specialised-early-years-service-kilkenny.md) Kilkenny [Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md) --- Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/ballyhale-montessori-school-ballyhale/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11