Creche Inspection Reports

Bright Beginnings

Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Longford, Longford · Tusla ID TU2015LD020 · Registered since 1 January 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

4published inspections
0non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 18 June 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

No non-compliance recorded in this report.

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33.

Inspection of 19 November 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (4) Two adults employed to work directly with children attending the service did not have a qualification certificate on file that demonstrated a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or higher or a recognised equivalent qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications was held
Provider's corrective action:
  • One adult on long term leave from service. Second adult will not be working directly with preschool children u ntil the major award Early Childhood Care and Education is obtained

Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

  • (1) An adequate number of adults were not available to meet the needs of the children attending. There was no adult available to provide relief cover to the care rooms from 9:40am until the registered provider arrived in the service at 10:36 am. (2) The minimum ratio of adults to children was not adhered to at all times during the day as evidenced by the following observations: • At 9:42 am, the adult in the Toddler room was caring for 6 children aged 3-6 years, 1 child aged 1-2 years and 2 children aged 2 -3 years because the staff member from ECCE 1 room left the room to answer the door. Two staff members were required to maintain the correct adult/child ratio for this age range of children. • At 10:22 am, the adult in the Toddler room was caring for 6 children aged 3-6 years, 1 child aged 1-2 years and 2 children aged 2 -3 years because the staff member from ECCE 1 room left the room to answer the door. Two staff members were required to maintain the correct adult/child ratio for this age range of children
Provider's corrective action:
  • (1) A staff member will be assigned to changing nappies, so that the room leader does not have to leave the room. (2) Ensure that the door is only answered when there is a free member of staff available to answer the door. Make the service an appointment only, inform parents that they have to ring in advance should they wish to collect their child early. Put the service phone number on the front door so anyone that wants to view /request information can make contact by phone and if the registered provider or another member is available then we will answer the door

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • (1)(i) There was no staff roster available in the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • (1)(i) Created a revised staff rota to include staff members full name, the rooms that they are working in and the rooms that the staff are covering

Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials

  • 1. The protective seat covering placed on the moulded plastic low and high feeding chairs for comfort was missing. The children attending the Toddler room were observed sitting in the low feeding chairs for tabletop activities as well as at mealtimes
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. Soft covers for chairs have been ordered and are now in place

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. The daily indoor room environmental risk assessments provided to the inspector requires to be reviewed as the documents used were unlabelled and it was unclear whether it was a risk assessment , environmental cleaning record or a combination of both. 2. Two bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitiser were placed on the tables in the ECCE 1 room and were accessible to the preschool children. 3. The cupboard under sink in toddler room was not secured. It was observed that items such as a cleaning spray, air freshener and a roll of plastic bags were accessible to a child. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. A revised daily indoor room environmental risk assessments have been completed by staff members daily. 2. The hand sanitisers have been removed and will not be left on tables accessible to children. 3. A safety lock has been put on the press to secure it. Ensure all presses with cleaning materials in classrooms have safety locks

Regulation 27 — Supervision

  • The registered provider did not ensure that the pre-school children were supervised as evidenced by the following observations. 1. At 9:41 am, the staff member in Toddler room was observed to be supervising six children aged 3-4 years in ECCE 1 room, one child aged 1-2 years and two children aged 2-3 years in the Toddler room as the staff member in ECCE 1 room answered the front door. At 10:22 am, the staff member in Toddler room was observed to be supervising six children aged 3-4 years in ECCE 1 room, one child aged 1-2 years and two children aged 2-3 years in the Toddler room as the staff member in ECCE 1 room answered the front door. This posed a risk to the safety of the children as the staff member from the Toddler room had to cover both rooms which were separated by double doors. 2. At 10:50 am, a staff member from the Wobbler room brought the four children in her care to the lobby area of the service to sit on seats located outside of the nappy changing room. The staff member proceeded to change each child ’s nappy in turn but could not adequately supervise the children in her care. The children were constantly reminded to sit down but they were observed running, crawling on the floor and kneeling on the seats provided. A child was observed to gain access to inhaled medication and suns creen that was present in an open bag positioned on shelving that was accessible to the children. The inspector intervened, closed the bag and placed it out of reach of the child. There was a risk to the safety of the children as the staff member carrying out the nappy changes was unable to give the children her full attention and adequately intervene during issues observed as described above
Provider's corrective action:
  • An extra staff member has been employed in the service. Have enough staff at all times and use a local childcare agency for relief staff

Found compliant: Regulation 15.

Inspection of 5 August 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (a)(b) Two written and verified past employer references or references from a reputable source other than a past employer, were unavailable in respect of one student whose file was reviewed. (d) Police vetting was not available for one adult who had resided outside the state for a period of longer than 6 consecutive months in two jurisdictions whose records were reviewed. (4) Two adults employed to work directly with children attending the service did not have a qualification certificate on file that demonstrated a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or higher or a recognised equivalent qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications was held
Provider's corrective action:
  • (a)(b) References were forwarded to the inspectors. (d) Police vetting obtained. Ensure correct police vetting is got. (4) All staff members have applied to get their qualifications verified by the DCDE. At this moment for staff member 1 we have been unsuccessful in getting confirmation that the qualification is recognised. For staff member 2, awaiting results to be sent out from the college. Once confirmation of these staff qualifications is received they will be emailed to the inspectors

Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

  • (1) There was not at all times an adequate number of adults working directly with the children. In the ECCE room there were two adults working with seventeen children aged 3 - 6 years throughout the day. Three staff members were required to maintain the correct adult/child ratio for this age range of children. (2) The minimum ratio of adults to children was not adhered to at all times during the day as evidenced by the following observations: • At 9:57am, the adult in the Pre-ECCE room was caring for 5 children aged 2-3 years and 2 children aged 1-2 years because the staff member from Wobbler room was in the sanitary area attending to a child. Two staff members were required to maintain the correct adult/child ratio for this age range of children. • At 10:03am, in the ECCE room there were two adults caring for 17 preschool children aged 3- 6 years. Three staff members were required to maintain the correct adult/child ratio for this age range of children. • At 10:49am, the adult in the Pre-ECCE room was caring for 4 children aged 1-2 years in the Wobbler room and 6 children aged 2-3 years in Pre-ECCE room. Two staff members were required to maintain the correct adult/child ratio for this age range of children. • At 12:35 hours, in the ECCE room there were two adults caring for 17 preschool children aged 3 - 6 years and 9 children who were school age. Three staff members were required to maintain the correct adult/child ratio for this age range of children
Provider's corrective action:
  • (1) Ensure there is sufficient staff at all times. Ensure there is sufficient staff at lunch time. We have stopped taking bookings and have reduced the number of Full day children. The number of full day care children has been reduced to 13 attending 5 days a week and 15 children stay on a Tuesday and a Wednesday. The registered provider stated that she has tried getting additional staff and there is a running advertisement on an employment platform, and has availed of a local childcare agency. (2) Ensure staff are better organised when it comes to nappy/toileting. The number of children in this age group are reduced, and the service has stopped taking names for children for this room it is planned to close the room for the 1–2-year-olds. The service have stopped taking bookings and have reduced the number of Full day children. The number of full day care children has been reduced to 13 attending 5 days a week and 15 children stay on a Tuesday and a Wednesday. The service has tried to get additional staff and there is a running advertisement on an employment platform and the service has availed of an agency when they can give staff

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • A sample size of 11 administration of medication records were reviewed dated between 21 November 2024 - 28 May 2025. There was inadequate information documented on the forms as follows: • 4 records did not contain the signature of the parent/guardian acknowledging medicine had been administered on the particular date. • 1 record did not contain a witness signature. • The child’s full name was not recorded on 1 form. • 3 records did not have the parent/guardian signature to authorise the administration of a prescription only medication
Provider's corrective action:
  • (1)(j) At the staff meeting all staff were reminded about filling out paperwork correctly. The forms that were missing signatures of parents and witnesses have been completed

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • (1)(a) Basic care needs. 1. Infant formula was being reconstituted by the staff members in the Baby room. This practice is not recommended by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland guidance note 22 which states that it is not recommended that child day-care facilities prepare powdered infant formula for the children in their care
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. Formula will not be made up on site

Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials

  • 1. The chairs used in the Pre-ECCE room were not suitable for children aged 1-3 years to use for meals and tabletop activities as evidenced by the following observations: • At 11:56 am it was observed that two children aged 1-2 years and one child aged 2-3 years were sitting on chairs that were too high for them as they were unable to place their feet on the floor for stability and balance. • The three chairs used for the children did not have supportive sides to the chairs
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. Lower chairs with arms have been put in the 1-2 room. Ensure children are seated in chairs that offer support to them

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. There was no documentary evidence available that daily indoor room environmental risk assessments were completed to ensure a safe play and work environment for the children and staff. This did not align to the risk management policy which stated that “A daily risk assessment of the rooms should take place”. 2. There were two exposed light bulbs observed in the entrance which created a potential risk of injury if they shattered. 3. There were no v isibility strips on the glass panel door in the Wobbler room which created a potential risk of injury to a child if they did not recognise the glass. 4. The cable from a wall mounted light in the Pre-ECCE room was not adequately secured to the wall and could cause a potential injury to a child as they could access the cable light flex. 5. In the Pre -ECCE room hanging fairy lights were partially secured along door frame . A corrective action was completed by the registered provider who removed the lights. 6. The mattress in cot three on the right-hand side of the sleep room did not have a fire safety tag. Infection Control: 7. There was minimal oversight of children’s handwashing and toileting by the staff member from the Pre-ECCE room as children were observed to be attending the sanitary area on the ground floor unsupervised. This is not adequate for infection control purposes. 8. A s taff member was observed blowing on food to cool it which was not appropriate for infection control purposes. This did not align to the healthy eating policy which stated that “ Staff never blow or taste children’s food”. 9. After lunch, the staff member in the Pre-ECCE room used wipes to firstly clean the children’s faces and then used the same wipe to clean the children’s hands posing an infection control risk as the children’s hands were not adequately cleaned. 10. Nappy changes were observed on the day of inspection. On four occasions, the adult failed to remove their apron following the bagging up of the soiled nappy and removal of used gloves. Soiled nappies used aprons and used disposable gloves need to be disposed of at the same time following removal of the old nappy for infection control purposes. 11. The low-level sleep beds were stored stacked upright with the sheets placed on the beds . The e dge of sheet was in direct contact with the ground which was not appropriate for infection control purposes. 12. Paper towels were not placed in dispensers for the hygienic dispensing in the Pre-ECCE, Wobbler and ECCE rooms and the upstairs sanitary area. This was not adequate for infection control purposes. 13. A toilet roll was not placed in a toilet toll holder in the upstairs sanitary area and was placed on the cistern of the toilet. Fire Safety: 14. Three of the five care rooms in the service were located on the first floor of the premises and had capacity to accommodate 33 pre-school children aged 2 years 8 months – 6 years. This did not align with the requirement specified in Fire Safety in Pre-Schools as there was one fire evacuation route for the first floor in the service which was the main staircase for the building. A written referral was sent to the Chief Fire Officer in Longford County Council 15. The kitchen for the service was located on the first floor. A written referral was sent to the Chief Fire Officer in Longford County Council. 16. There was not a clearly identified means of escape in the event of a fire as there was no fire signage (green running man) observed above the doors in the care rooms located on the first floor. 17. One of the three doors in the ECCE room located upstairs was obstructed by a child sized couch and mats. 18. The maintenance record for firefighting equipment was dated December 2023. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. There were risk assessments on the walls in all rooms at time of inspection. A book is in each room that staff can write into if they see any danger/ri sk. They will also record what risks they take care of themselves i.e. a broken toy. This book will work in conjunction with our daily risk assessments that take place before any children enter the service. 2. Put enclosed light shades in the hall. Ensure all light bulbs are covered. 3. There were stickers on the glass in the door on the day of the inspection, while there was one panel of glass at the bottom that did not have stickers. All panels have glass now. 4. Light was removed. Ensure no cables are adequately secured 5. Fairy lights were removed in the presence of the inspector. 6. All mattresses have fire safety tags Infection Control: 7. Ensure children wash their hands and younger children are supervised. Children who are able to go to the toilet themselves will and a staff member will ensure that they can ‘hear/see’ that the child has washed their hands by standing at the open door. We always do lessons with the children on the importance of hand hygiene. 8. The staff member read policy on infection control and has been informed that this was forbidden and bad practice. This was discussed at the staff meeting on 08/08/25 and all the policies have been forwarded to the staff members again. 9. Discussed this with staff at meeting on 08/08/25. Parents have been asked to provide face cloths for the children’s faces. 10. Staff training to demonstrate the correct way to carry out nappy changing. Nappy changing policy was reviewed. 11. All beds are now stored without been dressed when not in use . The bed clothes are stored in bags with each child’s name on the outside of the bag and all bed clothes are washed weekly or soon if needed. This was discussed at staff meeting on 08/08/25. 12. All paper towels are in a dispenser. 13. Toilet roll dispenser is mounted on a wall in toilet. Fire Safety: 14. There are only two ECCE rooms on the top floor with no more than 20 children. Ensure that there are no more than 20 preschool children on the top floor at any one time. 15. Not applicable - fire officer has been to the service. 16. All routes of exit have additional signage. 17. This is a bathroom, and we were told by Tusla to close off the door and the children had to access the toilet from a hallway. 18. All fire equipment has been serviced and certified

Regulation 27 — Supervision

  • The registered provider did not ensure that the pre-school children were supervised as evidenced by the following observations. Pre-ECCE room 1. At 10:33am, a child from Pre-ECCE room was observed going to the bathroom across the corridor unaccompanied. The child returned to the care room and then requested to go to the bathroom again. The staff member then brought child to bathroom and left the remining four children in the room unsupervised. 2. At 10:47am, five children aged 2-3 years in Pre-ECCE room were observed sitting unsupervised while the staff member attended to child in adjoining Wobbler room. The staff member in the Wobbler room was not in the room. 3. At 10:49am, the staff member in Pre-ECCE room was observed to be supervising six children aged 2-3 years and four children aged 1-2 years in the Wobbler room as staff member in Wobbler room had to leave the room. 4. At 12:04, there was one adult supervising four children aged 1-2 years and five children aged 2-3 years while a staff member answered the door. A child aged 2-3 years was in the toilet unsupervised. There was no other adult available to provide assistance in the event that it was required. 5. At 12:05 hours, a child was observed to have fallen asleep in the highchair at lunch. There was one staff member in the Pre-ECCE room who was present with nine children aged 1-3 years. The second staff member was assisting a child in the sanitary area. The inspector brought the situation of the sleeping child to the attention of the staff members, and it is acknowledged that they attended to the child quickly. 6. At 12:10 hours – a staff member who was holding a child in her arms, was present in Pre-ECCE room alone with 9 children aged 1 -3 years as the other staff member was attending to the toileting needs of a child prior to settling children to sleep. There were three children aged 2-3 years still eating their lunch at the table. The staff member in the care room was not in a position to attend to a child if any emergency arose and they required immediate attention. There was no other adult available to provide assistance. 7. At 12:27 hours, the staff member was observed to leave the Pre-ECCE room to answer the door. Three children aged 2-3 years were in the room unsupervised. Sleep room. 8. At 12:25 - 12:40 hours, there was no adult present in the sleep room to supervise three children aged 2-3 years on low beds and four children aged 1-2 years in cots
Provider's corrective action:
  • Pre-ECCE room 1. Spoke to staff at staff meeting on 08/08/25. The number of children in these rooms have been reduced. The service has stopped taking names for these rooms and will close one of the younger children’s 1-2-year-olds room at end of June 26. A staff member will assist staff downstairs at nappy changing / bedtime. The service is actively looking for staff. The parents of children (on the waiting list) that were supposed to start in September have been informed that we cannot accept their child. 2. Another staff member will assist staff downstairs at nappy changing /bedtime when she is finished in the ECCE room. 3. Spoke to staff members. Have advertised for staff. 4. As above 5. The child’s routine has been changed to avoid this happening. 6. As above 7. As above Sleep room. 8. Spoke to staff member about checking on children every 10 minutes . Allow staff member their phone while in sleep room to ask other members of staff for assistance. Spoke to staff regarding our safe sleep policy at staff meeting on 08/08/25

Found compliant: Regulation 24, 25, 26, 28.

Earlier inspections

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