# Breaffy Crèche & Pre-school, Castlebar — inspection reports and findings > Breaffy Crèche & Pre-school (Castlebar, Co. Mayo): what Tusla inspections found — 3 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Breaffy Crèche & Pre-school Sessional · 1 - 6 Years · Castlebar, Mayo · Tusla ID **TU2015MO025** · 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 30 April 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - (1) (a) 1. The children from the Baby and Full Day Care playrooms did not play outdoors during the inspection. Staff informed the inspector that the children were not always provided with opportunities to play outdoors daily. 2. Children aged over two years of age in one of the playrooms were placed in highchairs to eat their meals. The children were developmentally ready to sit at the low chairs and tables provided in the dining room. 3. There were a limited number of books available to the children in the Full Day Care playroom and some of them had torn or missing pages limiting their use - The registered provider advised in a written response that: Corrective and Preventive Action (1) (a) 1. All children now go outdoors during the day. All children have wellingtons and waterproof clothing, so they are able to go outdoors in bad weather. 2. The children two years and over are now sitting at the table for snacks and lunch. Staff have been made aware that children aged two and over should not be sitting in highchairs. 3. The library has been restocked with books. Staff will check the library regularly and restock it when necessary ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for five 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. The door to the heating boiler in the outside area had rusted and was not fitted correctly in place with the potential for a child to access the boiler and controls. It is acknowledged that the registered provider refitted the door prior to the inspector leaving the service. 3. The securing mechanism on the gate leading to a section of the outdoor area no longer in use by the children was broken and required repair/replacement. Infection Control: 4. There were rips/tears in the soft seating in the rest area in the Full Day Care playroom exposing the foam posing difficulties for effective cleaning leading to a potential infection control risk. 5. The waste bins in the Preschool playroom and Preschool sanitary areas were not the required foot pedal operated waste bins. 6. A cot used for a child to sleep in had a stained cot mattress and did not have a waterproof cover in place. 7. Cleaning records for the main children’s sanitary area had not been completed by staff since the 16 April 2024. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider advised in a written response that: - General Safety: 1. Garda vetting renewals have been applied for the staff members. The service is still awaiting return of garda vetting renewals for two staff members. The registered provider will forward email copies of the renewals soon as they are received. The staff will regularly check garda vetting to ensure that it is in date for all staff. 2. The door on the boiler has been refitted and has been painted with rust proof paint. The staff will regularly inspect the outdoor area for wear and tear and respond as needed. 3. The gate leading to the small outside play area has been repaired. The staff will regularly inspect outdoor area for wear and tear and respond as needed. Infection Control: 4. The soft seating that was ripped in the Full Day Care playroom has been removed. The staff will regularly inspect indoor area for wear and tear and respond as needed. 5. The waste bins in the Pre-school areas have been replaced with pedal bins. The staff will make sure all bins in the service are pedal operated bins. 6. The mattress in this cot has been removed. The service has not replaced it as the cot is not now being used. The staff will replace the mattress with a new mattress it if in time it is needed to be used cot again. The staff will carry out regular check all cots for stains and make sure they are fitted with mattress protectors. 7. Cleaning records are up now up to date. The staff will check that cleaning sheets are filled out every evening before closing ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - (1) A review of children’s and staff attendance found that there was not a person with First Aid Responder (FAR) training immediately available to the children at all times - The registered provider advised in a written response that: Corrective and Preventive Action One of the two staff members with FAR training will be present in the service until closing time. The staff will make sure that a person with FAR training is in on the premises between 5 and 5.30pm ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (d) Sections of the paintwork in the Baby playroom, children’s sanitary area and dining area were peeling from the walls and required maintenance - The registered provider advised in a written response that: Corrective and Preventive Action (d) The bathrooms have been painted. The painting of the other areas is in progress. The registered provider will submit evidence of the remaining painting work when completed. In future, the paintwork in the building will be checked on a regular basis Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 28. #### Inspection of 17 October 2023 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (a) A written reference from their most recent past employer was required for one staff member. There was no photographic identification available for one staff member. (4) The documentation relating to qualification available on file for one staff member did not show that their qualification met the regulatory requirements - The registered provider advised in writing that: Corrective and Preventive Action - (a) A written reference from most recent employer is now on file. Phot ographic identification is also on file for this member of staff. All staff will be required to provide all the necessary documents before commencing employment in the service - Evidence of all staff qualifications are on file in the service ##### Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service - A policy folder with written policies was presented to the inspector for inspection. The written policies were based on templates that related to school aged children and did not reflect the practices in the service in relation to care of preschool children. The last dates of review of the policies by the service were recorded as September 2020. The following policies required under Schedule 5 of the regulations were unavailable for inspection: (b) complaints policy; (h) inclusion policy; (i) policy on accidents and incidents; (l) policy on healthy eating; (m) policy on outdoor play where such play is provided to children attending the service; (o) policy on staff absences; (p) policy on the use of the internet and photographic and recording devices; (q) recruitment policy; (r) risk management policy; (s) settling-in policy; (t) staff training policy; (u) supervision policy - The registered provider advised in writing that: Corrective and Preventive Action (b),(h),(i),(l),(m),(o),(p),(q),(r),(s),(t) and (u) Assistance has been sought from a company to review the service’s policies that are in draft form and undergoing review by the registered provider for approval. Once the draft policies have been approved, a hard copy will be kept on file in the service and parents will be issued copies by email ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - (b) There were no dates provided for when two of the children had first attended the service. (c) There was no written parental consent for appropriate medical treatment in the event of an emergency for four of the children sampled - The registered provider advised in writing that: Corrective and Preventive Action (b) The children’s enrolment information has been updated and first attendance dates have been included. (c) The written parental consents for appropriate treatment for their child in the event of an accident or emergency have been updated and are on file in the service ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (a) There was no employment history available for inspection for one staff member. (k) Three of the accident and incident forms sampled had not been signed by parents in the section provided for parent signature with no record to demonstrate that the parents had been informed of the accident or incident relating to their child in the service - The registered provider advised in writing that: Corrective and Preventive Action - (a) A curriculum vitae is now on file for the member of staff. All staff must supply up to date CV before commencing employment in the service. (k) The accident and incident forms have now been signed. All accident and incident forms will be checked on the day of the accident and incident report ##### Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials - There was no seating suitable for adult use in the Baby playroom to facilitate an adult to sit on for example while comforting a child - The registered provider advised in writing that: Corrective and Preventive Action A chair has been put in the Baby playroom for adult use. Staff have been instructed not to remove the chair from the Baby playroom ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The stone boundary wall of the outdoor area used by the Baby playroom measured 70cm in one area and had footholds. An outer perimeter metal fence had fallen down behind the wall and did provide adequate enclosure of the area. 2. Two wall fixtures in the outdoor area were damaged with potential pinch points that posed a risk of injury to children. Infection Control: 3. Three of the cot mattresses in the Baby sleep room were stained and required replacement. 4. At 12:30hours two of the children’s soothers were observed to be stored teat down on a windowsill in the Baby playroom beside children’s shoes posing a risk of cross contamination. 5. A feeding bottle of oat milk belonging to one of the children was stored in a storage basket in a cubby hole in the Baby playroom with an air temperature of 19.1°C. The milk should be stored in a refrigerator once opened. 6. One of the staff was observed to change a nappy without wearing the required apron. 7. There was stagnant water in a water table that required cleaning in the outdoor area posing an infection control risk to children. It is acknowledged that the outdoor area was not used by children on the day of the inspection. 8. The lower straps on two of the highchairs in the dining room were soiled and required cleaning. 9. There was a hamster kept as a pet in a cage in the Preschool playroom. However, there was no policy on pets or associated risk assessment in the service to guide staff on the management of the pet. 10. The temperatures of the water emitted from the hot taps in both children’s sanitary units and at the nappy changing sinks ranged from 12.1°C-12.9°C. This was not adequately warm enough to facilitate children washing the hands effectively. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider advised in writing that: - General Safety: 1. Mesh has been erected in this area at the boundary wall. The mesh will be checked on a regular basis when in use. 2. The wall fixtures have been removed. The wall fixtures will be replaced. Infection Control: 3. The cot mattresses have been replaced. The cot mattresses will be checked on a regular basis for staining. 4. The soothers are kept in plastic boxes with the children’s names on them when not in use. Staff have been instructed to make sure the storage boxes are used, and soothers are not left on a windowsill. 5. Feeding bottles will be stored in the fridge. Staff have been instructed that feeding bottles should be kept in the fridge when not in use. 6. Aprons are always available for nappy changing. Staff have been instructed to use aprons when changing nappies. 7. The water has been removed from the table and the lid replaced. Staff have been advised to make sure the table is emptied when finished using it and the lid replaced. 8. The lower staps were removed and laundered. The straps are laundered over the weekend. 9. The hamster is no longer in the service. The service now has a policy in relation to pets/animals. 10. The temperature of the water in the bathroom sink fluctuates. A plumber was sourced, and a replacement water heater has been ordered to be installed and is expected to be delivered by the 12th of December 2023. Once the replacement water heater is installed the water temperature will be checked on regular basis ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - (a) There was only one member of staff with certification of the required First Aid Responder (FAR) training and this was not adequate to provide cover at all times when children were in the service - The registered provider advised in writing that: Corrective and Preventive Action - (a) There are now two members of staff with FAR training completed. A further member of staff will complete this training next year ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (c) Heated: At 12:40hours, the air temperature of one of the children’s sanitary areas was recorded at 13.9°C, with the air temperature of the nappy change area recorded at 14.3°C. This was below the required range of 18-22°C for these areas. The registered provider was informed, and the heating was turned on in the areas. At 12:55hours the air temperature in the second sanitary area was recorded at 16°C. The inspector rechecked the air temperatures at 14:30hours and found that the air temperatures in the children’s sanitary areas had risen to 17.3°C and 17.7°C respectively with the air temperature of the nappy change area recorded at 17.6°C - The registered provider advised in writing that: Corrective and Preventive Action (c) Heated: The windows are now closed at this time of year to keep in the heat apart from the middle window that is left open to ventilate the space as it is a nappy changing area. Both radiators have been turned up to heat the areas Found compliant: Regulation 11. #### Inspection of 28 July 2021 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - : A significant risk in relation to the safety of the children has been identified in relation to: (h) The records of attendance of the children in the Baby playroom did not include records of the times of departure of the children from the service. (i) The roster displayed on the wall in the entrance hallway did not accurately reflect the staff present in the service on the day of the inspection. The roster did not record the break times of the adults and did not set out the adult:child ratio on a daily basis for each area of the service. One of the adults was inaccurately recorded in the staff attendance records as being in attendance in the service at 9am on the 26th of July 2021 but informed the inspector that they had in fact been in attendance from 8am - submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider advised in a written response that: CORRECTIVE ACTION The record attendance book in the Baby playroom now records in and out times. A new roster has been written up and is checked weekly on Fridays. PREVENTIVE ACTION The Baby playroom attendance book is now checked every Friday. The staff roster will be altered daily with any staffing alterations. EVIDENCE SUBMITTED The registered provider submitted the following evidence: Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 REF: EYIRIRFDC02-2017: Version 12: Mar 2021 1.0 TUSLA REGULATORY INSPECTION REPORT Additional Significant Risk(s) to Children Additional Significant Risk Identified ##### Regulation 25 — First Aid - : (2)(a) &(b) The first aid box was not suitably equipped with inadequate supplies of sterile eye pads, antiseptic wipes, triangular bandages and dressings for the numbers of children in the service - submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider advised in a written response that: CORRECTIVE ACTION The first aid box has been restocked. Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 REF: EYIRIRFDC02-2017: Version 12: Mar 2021 1.0 TUSLA REGULATORY INSPECTION REPORT ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - : A significant risk in relation to the safety of the children has been identified in relation to; (d) There were large extensive cracks observed in the ceiling and walls of the Sessional playroom and in the ceiling of the Full Day Care playroom. Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 REF: EYIRIRFDC02-2017: Version 12: Mar 2021 1.0 TUSLA REGULATORY INSPECTION REPORT Additional Significant Risk(s) to Children Additional Significant Risk Identified Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 23, 26. ### Other services in Mayo - [Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre](/creche/bright-beginnings-childcare-centre-westport.md) Westport - [Bualadh Bos](/creche/bualadh-bos-crossmolina.md) Crossmolina - [Care and Education Academy Limited](/creche/care-and-education-academy-limited-claremorris.md) Claremorris - [Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta Naíonra Acaill](/creche/comhar-naionrai-na-gaeltachta-naionra-acaill-condae-mhaigh-eo.md) Condae Mhaigh Eo - [Glór na Nóg -Aghamore Community Childcare](/creche/glor-na-nog-aghamore-community-childcare-ballyhaunis.md) Ballyhaunis - [Little Treasures Creche](/creche/little-treasures-creche-castlebar.md) Castlebar - [The Mulberry Tree Learning Centre](/creche/the-mulberry-tree-learning-centre-ballina.md) Ballina - [Naionra Dhun Chaochain](/creche/naionra-dhun-chaochain-beal-an-atha.md) Béal An Átha - [Greenwood Montessori](/creche/greenwood-montessori-ballyhaunis.md) Ballyhaunis [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/breaffy-creche-pre-school-castlebar/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11