(2)(a) A second validated reference from a past employer was required for one adult in the service
Provider's corrective action:
The service advised in writing that:
Corrective and Preventive Action A second reference was obtained for the adult. In future the staff will ensure that all staff files are up to date
Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child
(1) (f) Relevant information regarding illness and disabilities of children was not available in the child records provided for inspection. It is acknowledged that following the inspection an updated child record template with a specific section for this information was submitted to the Inspectorate on the 3 March 2026
Provider's corrective action:
The service advised in writing that:
Corrective and Preventive Action The child record template has been updated. The staff will ensure that all relevant information is recorded on the child record templates
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(1)(a) There was no record of employment history on file for one adult in the service. It is acknowledged that on the 3 March 2026, the service submitted a copy of employment history for the adult to the Inspectorate
Provider's corrective action:
The service advised in writing that:
Corrective and Preventive Action An employment history was obtained for the adult. The service will ensure in future that staff files are up to date
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
(1)(b) Records on file showed that the fire alarm/smoke alarm system was maintained on the 22 March 2024 which was outside the required annual maintenance of systems. It is acknowledged that following the inspection, a record of maintenance for the system dated the 2 March 2026 was received by email
Provider's corrective action:
The service advised in writing that:
Corrective and Preventive Action Fire alarm/ smoke alarm was inspected and is up to date. The staff will ensure that fire/smoke alarms are maintained annually
(d) 1. An international child protection certificate was required for one staff member who had lived outside of the State for longer than 6 months as an adult. 2. There were no international police vetting documents available for one staff member who had lived outside of the State for more than six months as an adult. (4) The information available for review on file in relation to qualifications for two staff members did not demonstrate that their qualifications were equivalent to at least Level 5 in Early childhood Care and Education on the National Qualifications Framework
Provider's corrective action:
The service advised in a written response that: Corrective and Preventive Action
(d) 1. International police vetting has been obtained for the adult. 2. The staff member has applied for international Child Protection Certificate and is awaiting issuing of the certificate. The service will ensure in the future that all International Police Certificates are obtained prior to staff commencing employment. (4) One staff member no longer works in the service. The other staff member will not be working directly with children in the service
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
(a) When the children returned indoors to eat lunch following outdoor play, they lined up to wash their hands at a sink in the playroom. All the children had liquid soap squirted on their hands by an adult rather than being supported to do so by themselves. Some of the children had difficulty reaching the taps resulting in the staff putting water on to their hands rather than children being encouraged and enabled to wash their own hands at the sink
Provider's corrective action:
The service advised in a written response that: Corrective and Preventive Action
(a) All staff have been made aware that children have to be encouraged to wash their own hands. The staff have implemented that all the children will put their own soap onto their hands and the children that are unable to reach the taps in the playroom sink are now encouraged to use the hand basin in the toilets to wash their hands. Summary Comment The action submitted by the service has been reviewed by the Early Years Inspectorate and deemed to have addressed the regulatory non-compliance found on inspection
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: • A rodent bait box with the lid open on the box was accessible to children in the grass section of the outdoor area to the rear of the building posing a safety risk to children using the area. It is acknowledged that the rodent bait box was removed when the risk was alerted to the staff by the inspector. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The service advised in writing that:
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: • The rodent bait box has been removed and placed to the back of the shed. Secured wire placed across the opening to the shed to ensure the children will not have access to it. Summary Comment The regulatory non-compliance has been addressed by the action submitted to the Early Years Inspectorate by the service