9 (2)(d) See statutory notice section in relation to improvement notice IN1501 served
Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service
1. The risk management policy provided did not state; • The risk assessment record must show who is involved in the risk assessment process. • How long risk management records will be kept. 2. The safe sleep policy was incomplete and did not detail; • What supervision is provided to sleeping children. 3. The staff supervision and appraisal policy outlined that staff appraisals “will be carried out for each staff member within the first six months of appointment” and “before the end of their probationary period, and annually thereafter”. It stated that “appraisals must be recorded and records kept”. Of the 8 new staff employed, 4 were directly employed by the service, and the remainder were on training schemes. Of the 4 directly employed staff, there were no records to demonstrate that these were carried out in line with the service’s policy
Provider's corrective action:
Policies were read and reviewed. 1. Risk management policy updated and will be reviewed annually or alongside legislation 2. Safe sleep policy was completed with detail of supervision added 3. Staff appraisal forms were issued and completed and with each staff member. The service will continue to follow and review our policies on a regular basis
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: See statutory notice section in relation to improvement notice IN1502 served. Infection Control: 1. There were no paper towels for effective hand hygiene in an additional care room being used by the service. 2. There was no foot operated bin in an additional care room that the service. Safe Sleep: 3. Two children were observed to take their milk bottles to bed and lie down on stackable beds to have their bottle before going to sleep. This is against safe sleep practises and poses a choking risk to children. It is acknowledged that the service's safe sleep policy outlines “no bottles will be permitted in cots, unless permitted by parent and disclaimer is signed” However, the disclaimers reviewed did not detail that bottles of milk were permitted while children lay to sleep. Outing: 4. The service had recently taken part in an outing to a farm; however, there were no risk assessment records available. This is not in line with the service policy, which details that “risk assessments of outings/and or travel” is required. It is acknowledged that a template named “preschool farm trip risk assessment” was available, although it was not completed for the outing in line with the services policy requirements
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective & Preventive Action Infection Control: 1 & 2. Additional room was put out of use until all stocks were replenished. 1 & 2 Risk assessment and checklist complied to ensure sufficient stocks available in adjacent room Safe Sleep: 3. Parents were informed that children will no longer be allowed to take milk bottles to bed. Three children now receive their bottles before going to bed Outing: 4. New folder was complied with access for templates to be documented for every outing. Four risk assessments have now been updated and folder available for staff
Regulation 25 — First aid
The first aid boxes available to the preschool children were insufficiently stocked. An inadequate number of sterile wipes, and sterile dressings for the number of children in the service
Provider's corrective action:
New stock immediately ordered. Additional stocks have been purchased over and above minimum required monthly checks to be completed to ensure adequate stock at all times
Regulation not named in the report text
The service was found to be operating an additional room adjacent to the main building that was not included in the current registration. No written notification was submitted to the agency for a change in circumstance for this new space in use
Provider's corrective action:
The room was immediately put out of use. An application for CIC was looked at. However, having sought advice from DCCC and our insurance company they are both happy that we treat it as an outing. Risk assessments have now been completed and are completed for each visit to the adjacent room
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. Meals were served to children of the baby room and the wobbler room simultaneously, and in the same space. While the baby room children were placed in highchairs, they were capable of sitting at the child sized table and chairs, alongside the older children. This arrangement limited valuable opportunities for fostering social and personal interactions – both between the younger children and adults, and between the younger children and older children. Observations on the day of inspection, showed that younger children were seated away from the group, with the adult’s attention primarily directed towards those at the tables. As a result, opportunities for conversation, social engagement and meaningful interactions were reduced. Seating all children together would have supported a more inclusive and socially enriching mealtime experience. 2. A child was observed to be upset and tired during mealtime, the child was offered their soother when their food was finished. Mealtime and clean up routine continued around the child for a period of ten minutes, during which time the child had put their head down on the table and fallen asleep, the child was then transferred to the sleep room. The individual sleep needs of this child were not met due to the child’s sleep cues not being identified and attended to sooner. 3. Records were not maintained for children who had bitten another child, while incident reports were completed for children who had been bitten corresponding records were not available for children who had carried out the biting. This gap in documentation meant there was no evidence of a risk assessment, individual care plan, or confirmation that parents had been informed that their child had bitten another child. The absence of these records limits the ability to monitor patterns of behavior, plan for and implement appropriate support strategies and ensure the ongoing safety and well-being of the children
Provider's corrective action:
1. A meeting was held with all staff regarding inclusion to ensure all children have opportunities for conversation, social engagement and meaning full interactions during mealtimes as per our healthy eating policy. The Healthy eating policy was reviewed and revised with all staff regarding the inclusion of children as a social opportunity. A photo / postered has been displayed to remind staff of inclusive practices. 2. A meeting with held with all staff and children’s cues were discussed to ensure needs are meet on an individual and timely basis as per our sleep and rest policy. The sleep and rest policy was reviewed with all staff. 3. Staff were informed immediately to complete records for children who had bitten alongside reports for children who had been bitten. Management will ensure when signing off forms that two reports have been completed
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. Highchairs that were in use within the wobbler room were not fitted with a 5-point safety harness. This could lead to a potential risk of falling form a height for a child. Infection Control: 2. The foot operated pedal bin in the boy’s bathroom was broken resulting in waste being disposed on the floor, causing a slip and fall risk to children and a risk of cross contamination. 3. Hand washing of children before mealtimes and after nappy changing was observed to be inconsistent on the day of inspection. Handwashing of staff was also observed to be inconsistent prior to and after nappy changes. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The 3-point harness highchairs were removed and replaced with brand new 5-point harness highchairs. Infection Control: 2. The broken bin was removed and replaced with a new foot pedalled operated bin. A spare bin is now kept in storage for replacement in the event of that bin no longer operating. 3. All staff were reminded of the importance of handwashing before all mealtimes, before and after nappy changes. A step-by-step guide was printed and displayed in the nappy room along with handwashing posters placed in each room
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
(1)(a) A record of fire drills carried out in the service was kept. However, these records demonstrated that in the period between September 2024 to June 2025, no fire drill was carried out on the premises in December 2024, January, March, May or June 2025. The last recorded fire drill was 07 April 2025. Fire drills should be carried out monthly to ensure children are familiar with evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency
Provider's corrective action:
A reminder alarm has been set up on the workplace phone for a fire drill to take place during the 2nd week of each month. Management will follow the reminder as to when fire drills are to take place. The details will be recorded on the fire drill sheets that have been given to all rooms and the office
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 27, 28.
Inspection of 30 September 2024 — Inspection Report
2(a)(b) 1. One file had no evidence of references from a previous employer or reputable source, 2. Seven references from a reputable source and/or a previous employer were not validated. (d) 3. Four files did not have adequate information on file to determine if international police vetting was required. 4. One file that required international police vetting did not have evidence on file for inspection
5. Two staff members who worked directly with children in the service did not have a certificate of their qualification on file for inspection
Provider's corrective action:
1. &2. -Validated references are now on file. 3. 4 CV’s were updated to include adequate information. 4. International police vetting is now on file. 5. Verification of qualifications is now on file
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. One file had no garda vetting available. This is not in line with the protocol of May 2023. 2. A child, without a therapeutic intervention recommendation, was observed using a small trampoline in the sensory room. Trampolines are prohibited unless, a child has a clear therapeutic intervention recommendation for using such an item. 3. A large orange frame in the covered garden space at the back of the premises was not being used for its purpose, resulting in a pre-school child tipping it over causing a risk to injury to the other children in the garden at the time. Staff said it belonged to another item and they join together which prevents them from being tipped over. Infection Control: 4. One staff member was observed not changing gloves after the wet nappy was removed from the child on two separate occasions. The same pair of gloves remained on the staff member for the duration of the nappy change. Upon discussion with the staff member regarding the nappy changing procedure as well as reviewing the policy, some staff are not clear that gloves should be changed once the used nappy is removed from the child and disposed of. The same gloves remained on the staff member while the staff member dressed the child and wiped down the changing mat leading to poor infection control measures. 5. The nappy changing mat was soiled at the foot of the mat after the staff member had wiped it down. Thorough cleaning of the changing mat is required each time it is used to reduce the risk of cross contamination. 6. In the nappy changing room, there are two nappy changing mats beside each other to accommodate two children being changed at the same time. A shower curtain divides the two nappy changing stations. The shower curtain is not suitable for the nappy changing area as it cannot be easily cleaned. Upon discussion with staff and reviewing the cleaning schedule in the nappy changing room, there was no evidence that the shower curtain is washed routinely. 7. A staff member was observed heating a bottle of milk in a microwave which is not permitted as this can cause hot spots in the milk which poses a risk of scalding to a child’s mouth. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Outstanding Garda Vetting now on file. 2. Guidance for staff has been provided on the use of the Therapeutic trampoline and a risk assessment has been drawn up and displayed in sensory room. 3. Frame connected to second part of the frame to make it more secure and playhouse added to the risk assessment. Infection Control: 4. Staff were remined of nappy changing procedures and service will review nappy changing policy and procedures with staff annually. 5. Nappy changing mat cleaned down thoroughly. 6. Shower curtain has been removed and an alternative wipeable divider has but put in place. 7. Staff have been informed that bottles cannot be heated in the microwave