(2)(d) See Statutory Notice section in relation to Immediate Action Notice IAN01221 served. (3) Documentation reviewed evidence that the procedures specified above under 9(2) had not been carried out prior to three adults commencing employment in the service since the last inspection on 05 June 2026. • Two written and verified references for one adult were not in place prior to them commencing employment in the service. • Police vetting for two adults had not been sought prior to them commencing employment in the service
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider has stated: (2)(d) Police vetting has been received for the staff member who required it. A vetting checklist has been implemented for all new staff, clearly outlining requirements for international vetting where applicable. No staff member will be permitted to commence employment without complete and verified vetting documentation. (3) The date for validation of references had been incorrectly recorded by the service; the service will ensure all references are checked and verified prior to new staff commencing employment. This will include ensuring the correct dates are noted in the verification checks. No staff member will be permitted to commence employment without complete and verified vetting documentation
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
The Toddler room did not have a rest area where children could rest or take a break from activities
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider has stated that a rest area has been added to the toddler room to allow children rest of take a break from activities. The rest area will remain in the toddler room going forward
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. See Statutory Notice section in relation to Improvement Notice IN0142 served. 2. The service did not adhere to the re-vetting timeframes as outlined in the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice, requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years for one staff member working in the service Infection Control: 3. In the baby room, the straps on the highchairs used by the babies during mealtimes were observed to be stained, with food residue in the clips and buckles. This poses a risk of cross contamination to children. Outing: 4. See Statutory Notice section in relation to Improvement Notice IN0141 served. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: The registered provider has stated: 1. The lock on the main door has been repaired by a locksmith. The service will ensure maintenance checks are carried out on the door regularly. 2. Garda vetting has been received for the staff member who required updated vetting. Going forward re- vetting applications will be submitted 3 months in advance of the expiry date. Infection Control: 3. The straps on the highchairs used by the babies have been washed. Straps will be washed biweekly. Outing: 4. The preschool children will no longer use the school grounds. All preschool activities and outdoor play will be restricted to the designated creche garden area to ensure appropriate supervision, safety and compliance with regulations
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) The service could not provide evidence that an adult trained in First Aid Response was available at all times to the children attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated that three staff members are currently training in First Aid Response. An additional staff member has booked into an upcoming course to ensure adequately trained staff are always available to the children
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) Throughout the premises, areas of the building were found not to be cleaned, maintained and repaired as required as detailed below: 1. A deep gap was observed between the outside building and the ground surface. This created a large foothold that was accessible to children. 2. Throughout the garden, uneven paving slabs were observed to be loose and lifting. This created a trip hazard for children and staff. 3. The ramp leading from the conservatory area into the sessional Montessori room was loose and broken in parts. This posed potential tripping hazard. 4. The door leading from the toddler room to the outdoor area was off the runner making it difficult to open and close. This posed a potential risk to children as it was the only means of entry from the garden into the room. 5. In the Montessori room the paint on the edges of the shelving units were worn away exposing porous wood, this prevented effective cleaning and posed a risk of cross contamination to children. 6. In the Montessori room, the laminate surface on the three tables used by the children at mealtimes and during tabletop activities was observed to be worn exposing porous wood. In addition, a section of one of the tables had sticky tape holding down a paper shape. The tape was coming away leaving a sticky residue with debris accumulated on it. The corrective and preventive actions submitted by the registered provider following the last two inspections of the service on 02 September 24 and 05 June 2025 did not prevent the re-occurrence of the non-compliance under Regulation 29 on points 1,2 and 3 above
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider has stated: 1. The gap between the outside building and the ground surface has been temporally filled with sand. The outdoor area will be landscaped in July. This gap will be filled with a pipe, and a grate will be laid on top. 2. The garden will be resurfaced in July; this will include laying grass on the ground instead of paving slabs. 3. The ramp has been covered by an anti-slip tape surface; this will be maintained to ensure it is not a tripping hazard. 4. The track for the sliding door was cleaned to ensure the door opens and closes easily; a company has been appointed to replace the door. 5. The shelves in the Montessori room have been sanded and repainted. The service will carry out regular checked to ensure the shelves are maintained. 6. New tables have been ordered for the Montessori room, these tables will be monitored and maintained
(3) Although a second written and verified reference for one adult was available, it had not been verified prior to the staff member commencing employment
Provider's corrective action:
The register provider has stated that in future all references will be verified prior to a person commencing employment
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. An electrical cable from the clock in machine in the sessional Montessori was hanging down in reach of children during the inspection posing a risk of injury to a child. 2. An asthma inhaler was observed to be stored in a low storage unit assessable to children in the Montessori room. This poses a potential risk to a child if they accessed it. 3. The road map mats in the sessional Montessori room and the Montessori room were curling up at the edges. This posed a risk of tripping to a child or adult in each room Infection Control: 4. Perishable food items in children’s lunch boxes were stored at room temperature in the Montessori and preschool rooms prior to consumption posing a risk of gastrointestinal illness. 5. Adequate space of 50cm was not maintained between cots to limit the spread of infection. Two cots in the baby sleep room were positioned 5cms apart. 6. The bins in use for disposal of waste in the toddler room and sessional Montessori room were unlidded. They both contained soiled nasal tissues and used paper hand towels. They were accessible to the children in each room posing potential a risk of cross contamination. 7. In the Montessori room, the pedals on the two pedal operated bins were broken, both bins were in use and required staff and children using their hands to open bin to dispose of waste. This posed a potential risk of cross contamination Administration of Medication: 8. Some of the procedures in place for the administration of medication were at variance with the policy and associated procedures in place in the service and posed a risk of harm to a child as follows; Documentation reviewed contained no evidence to show that parents had provided pre-consent for the administration of medications to their child or evidence they had been informed that their child had received medication in the service. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: The registered provider has stated: 1. The electrical cable from the clock in machine in the sessional Montessori has been secured with casing and is no longer a risk to children. This will be monitored more closely in the future. 2. The asthma inhaler has been moved to the medicine cabinet out of reach of children. Staff have been remined of the importance of storing medicine out of reach of children. 3. The 2 road map mats have been , going forward any mats that are curing at the edges and that are potential tripping hazards will be removed. Infection Control: 4. A note has been sent to all parents of children in the sessional preschool to ask them to provide lunch in a zip seal bag to allow perishable lunch be stored in the fridge. 5. The cots have been moved to allow adequate space between them, new space saver cots have been ordered to give additional space in the sleep room. 6. The unlidded bin has been removed from the Montessori room. The register provider has stated that the unlidded bin was intended for recycling however had not been used for this purpose. Only bins with lids will be used in the room. 7. The 2 broken bins in the Montessori room have been replaced with 2 new bins. Broken bins will be replaced as needed. Administration of Medication: The administration of medication form has been updated to include a section where parents/ guardians can sign to acknowledge they have been informed about any medication administered by staff
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) Throughout the premises, areas of the building were found not to be cleaned, maintained and repaired as required as detailed below: 1. A deep gap was observed between the outside building and the ground surface. This created a large foothold that was accessible to children. 2. Throughout the garden, uneven paving slabs were observed to be loose and lifting. This created a trip hazard for children and staff. 3. In the toddler room, 2 radiator covers were loose and could be pulled down by children. 4. In the toddler nappy changing area, mould spores were observed on the walls, and the area behind the nappy changing mat was unclean and rusty. 5. The window ledge in the toddler room was loose and coming away from the wall. 6. Parts of the walls, doors, and ledges in the baby, toddler and sessional Montessori rooms were soiled and heavily chipped with paint missing in parts. 7. In the baby, toddler and sessional Montessori rooms, Plaster was missing from a number of walls exposing holes and metal rendering. 8. Part of the skirting board in the Toddler room was missing exposing chipped plaster and debris. 9. In the sessional Montessori room, the chairs were heavily stained and soiled, they required a deep clean. 10. The ramp leading from the conservatory area into the sessional Montessori room was loose and broken in parts. This posed potential tripping hazard. 11. Areas of the flooring in the sessional Montessori room and Montessori rooms were worn away exposing porous wood and creating a trip hazard. The corrective and preventive actions submitted by the registered provider following the last inspection of the service on 02 September 24 did not prevent the re-occurrence of the non-compliance under Regulation 29 on points 6, 7 and 8 above
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider has stated: 1. A new drain pipe will be placed in the deep gap in the back garden and a grate will cover it fully. A building company has been hired to carry out the work. 2. The paving slabs in the back garden will be fixed once additional building work is complete. Slabs will be monitored in the future to ensure they are secure. 3. The radiator covers have temporarily removed and will be replaced securely when the room has been painted. They will be carefully monitored and fixed if they become loose again. 4. The roof of the toddler room is being repaired to stop any leaks, the wall has been cleaned, replastered and repainted to prevent mould spores reoccurring. Regular checks will be carried out to monitor any reoccurrence of mould. 5. The window ledge has been repaired; regular checks will be carried out to monitor the window ledge. 6. The walls in the baby room have been resurfaced with panelling. The room will be replastered and repainted during the week of 14 July 2025; a contractor has been hired by the service to carry out repairs and painting. 7. The room will be replastered and repainted during the week of 14 July 2025; a contractor has been hired by the service to carry out repairs and painting. 8. The skirting board in the toddler room will be repaired when the painting is completed in the room. All rooms will be monitored for any maintenance work needed. 9. The chairs in the Montessori room have been deep cleaned. The chairs will be wiped down daily and deep cleaned monthly. 10. The ramp between the conservatory and the sessional Montessori room has been removed, it will be replaced securely when the new floor is fitted. 11. The floors in the sessional Montessori room and Montessori room will be replaced in July or august. A company has been hired to carry out this work
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
(1) (2) The minimum amount of clear floor space required for the number and age of the children attending the Toddler room was not available on the day of inspection as follows: •In the Toddler room, 8 children aged 2 years were present on the day of inspection on a full day care basis requiring a minimum of 18.8 square metres clear floor space when only 16.6 square metres is available. A review of attendance records evidenced that 9 children are registered to attend the Toddler room daily. The corrective and preventive actions submitted by the registered provider following the last inspection of the service on 02 September 24 did not prevent the re-occurrence of the non-compliance under Regulation 30. •In the full day Montessori room, 15 preschool children aged 3 to 5 years were present on the day of inspection on a full day care basis requiring a minimum of 34.5 square metres clear floor space when only 27.6 square metres is available. A review of attendance records evidenced that 15 children are registered to attend the Montessori room daily
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider has stated: The numbers availing of the service are children who were booked in prior to the previous inspection on 02 September 2024, the numbers will be reduced in September 2027 as the capacity for intake has now been reduced. The correct numbers will be maintained from September 2027
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 27.
Inspection of 2 September 2024 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. The inspection focused on an examination of compliance under regulations 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, and 23; however, on inspection additional non-compliance which posed a risk was identified under Regulation 27, 29, and 30. These findings are outlined within the relevant regulations within this report.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
(2) The registered provider did not ensure that each employee, unpaid worker and contractor is suitable and competent taking into consideration the nature of the needs of children as follows: (a) (b) - There were no references available for 4 of the adults. (d) - Although documents were available for 3 of the adults which appeared to be international police vetting, the contents of the documents could not be verified by the inspectors as they were not written in the English language. (3) A review of documentation evidenced the registered provider had not taken the required steps as outlined in Regulation 9(2)(a)(b)(d) to ensure that new recruits were suitable and competent before allowing them access to children, as detailed above. (4) There was no evidence available to show that 1 of the adults who were working directly with the children held a relevant major award in Early Childhood Care and Education on the National Framework of Qualifications. (7) Regulation 9(7) was included as part of this inspection to assess previous corrective and preventive actions submitted by the registered provider following non-compliance identified on the last inspection of the service. Through a review of documentation and discussions with 2 staff members who had recently commenced employment in the service it was evidenced that no formal induction training had taken place for the adults. The staff were did not receive appropriate inform ation and training on the policies and procedures in place in the service prior to commencing employment which may directly impact on the care provided to the children. The corrective and preventive actions submitted by the registered provider following the previous inspection of the service on the 17 th January 2023 did not prevent the re -occurrence of the non -compliance identified under Regulation 9(2)(a)(b) and (7)
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider provided the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action
(a)(b)(d) References were obtained and verified. Some references the provider had but had not been filed correctly. Police vetting was translated. The provider will ensure all references are obtained, verified and filed correctly before a new employee commences. (4) The staff member working that day holds a Level 5 Special Needs Assistant qualification. This member of staff does not normally work with our early years children and is employed as after school support. The adult will not work with the early years children as the service have agency staff now employed. Any staff member who does not hold an ECCE qualification will not work with the early years children. Rooms will be closed if the service are short staffed and unable to get agency staff. (7) The two staff members received formal induction training over several days. All new members of staff will receive a detailed induction when they commence work and in a timely manner
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
An adequate number of adults were not working directly with the pre-school children attending the service during the inspection as the minimum ratio of adults to children was not maintained at all times in the Montessori full day care room, the Toddler room, and the Preschool ECCE room at times as outlined below
The registered provider did not ensure that the minimum ratio of adults to children was maintained in the service at all times throughout the inspection. An insufficient number of adults were available to the children attending on a full day and part time care basis in 3 care rooms at times as outlined below: - One adult was caring for 2 children aged 2 years and 7 children aged 3+years in the Montessori room for the duration of the inspection. - One adult was caring for 8 children aged 2 years in the Toddler room from 8:46and to 9:00am on the day of inspection. - One adult was caring for 18 preschool children aged 3 to 4 years from 11:58 to 12:11 while 1 staff member left to collect school aged children from school. - Two adults were caring for 6 preschool children and 29 school aged children from 2:30pm in the Preschool room. The required ration is 1:6 for children aged 2 years and 1:8 for children aged 3 to 6 years
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider provided the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. Agency staff were in from the following day and have been in since. Interviews are taking place. If there is a shortage of staff and/or agency staff call in sick or cannot be acquired, rooms will be closed as needed. The service provider or other staff will cover in a room when it is over ratio. Rooms will be closed if agency staff and staffing levels cannot be obtained. 2. There are two staff members are working in the Montessori room. The registered provider goes out to the Toddler Room if one adult has more than 6 children. Agency staff members often start at 8.30am meaning there are two adults in the room from 8.30am. Staff or the service provider will cover a room if another member of staff needs to tend to a child. Preschool children are never with after school children. The service were short staffed and a room should have been closed. This has not happened since
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
The registered provider did not ensure that each child’s development and wellbeing was facilitated at points during the day as evidenced by the following: 1. At 11.50am 2 staff began to settle 7 children to sleep. Between 11.50am and 1.05pm all of the children were observed at various times getting out of their beds, running around the room, jumping on beds, climbing on furniture resulting in them injuring themselves and each other. During this time one child was asleep and staff were attempting to soothe others to sleep. Staff repeatedly told children to get into their beds and lie down, which was at variance with the behaviour management policy of the service. 2. During the designated sleep time a child attending the Toddler room did not routinely sleep. Staff reported the child usually attends the Preschool room during this time but was unable to during the inspection due to issues with adult to child ratios on th e day. The child remained sitting at a table in the darkened care room for the hour-long period and was provided with two books and five blocks to play with. The staff members interacted with the child sporadically during this period and repeatedly reminded the child to be quiet. 3. There were no blankets offered in the Toddler room at sleep time to provide comfort to the children. 4. Self-feeding was not promoted in the Baby room for some children aged over 1 year at mealtimes. Staff were observed holding some children’s food out of reach of the child and spoon feeding them
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider provided the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. As this had never happened before it was discussed with all staff members that beds should be put away if the children are continuously getting out of them. It has not happened since but if one or two children are not asleep by 12.30pm they are taken up from their beds. The service provider helps with sleep time from 12pm. Staff have been reminded of the behaviour policy and have been emailed the behaviour policy again. This will also be discussed at the staff meeting on October 7th. 2. The child has not been in the toddler room at sleep time since that day. The service provider informed staff that a child should not be taken out of their normal routine regardless of ratios. The service provider gave ideas to the staff members on what toys/activities to bring out for children that are not asleep by 12.30pm. This will be discussed at a team meeting on the 7th October. 3. Blankets are provided to the children and this has been discussed with staff that blankets are to be offered. 4. Staff are placing the food in front of the children to foster independence. Checks are being completed and staff members have been spoken to about this
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The door in the Preschool room which was used for drop off and collection was open and accessible during the inspection posing a risk of a child exiting the service unsupervised or an unauthorised person accessing the service. The door led directly out into the main road outside. The inspector brought this to the attention of the person in charge during the inspection and secured the door. 2. The side door into the kitchen was open and accessible to children from the Preschool room who were accessing the bathroom alone during the inspection. The kitchen contained a number of electrical appliances and cooking utensils which could pose a risk of harm to a child. 3. An electrical cable was hanging down in reach of children in the Baby room during the inspection posing a risk of injury to a child. 4. During discussions with staff members, it was stated that a microwave was in use to heat babies milk bottles posing a risk of scalding to a child should uneven heating create hotspots in the milk. 5. The service did not adhere to the re-vetting timeframes as outlined in the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice, requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years for one staff member working in the service. Infection Control: 6. The handwashing practices observed in some care rooms were at variance with the handwashing and nappy changing policies in place in the service and posed a risk of cross contamination as follows: - Babies’ hands were not consistently washed after nappy changing. - Babies’ hands were not consistently washed prior to mealtimes. 7. The pedal operated bin in use for disposing of soiled nappies was broken resulting in staff members handling the bin lid to dispose of soiled nappies and paper towels following handwashing. This posed a risk of cross contamination. 8. The bins in use for disposal of waste, including soiled nasal tissues, were unlidded and accessible to the children in the Baby and Toddler rooms posing a risk of cross contamination. 9. Perishable food items in children’s lunch boxes were stored at room temperature in the Montessori and preschool rooms prior to consumption posing a risk of gastrointestinal illness. 10. One of the cots in the designated sleep room which staff indicated is shared between two children did not have a waterproof covering to prevent cross contamination. 11. The couch in the Preschool rest area was heavily torn with internal foam exposed and could not be effectively cleaned. 12. The fabric on an adult chair in use in the Baby room was heavily stained and soiled and required a deep clean. Administration of Medication: 13. Some of the procedures in place for the administration of prescribed medication to children in the service were at variance with the policy in place and posed a risk of incorrect dosage to a child as follows: - Staff members reported that parents were not filling in required documentation to provide pre- consent for the administration of prescribed medication to a child. Staff stated that they were filling in the pre-consent form information on the medication to be administered and parents were signing this at a later stage. Fire Safety: 14. The entrance door to the service which staff members indicated was the main fire exit point was partially blocked on the day of inspection. The school bags for 29 school aged children and their coats were all stored in the hallway which was partially blocking the exit route which may effect the timely evacuation of children and staff in the event of a fire. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. A sign has been put next to the lock to remind staff to lock the door. All staff were spoken to about the importance of making sure all doors are locked. 2. The lock which is on the door has been locked. The lock at the top of the door will remain locked. 3. A cable clip has been placed around the wire, so it does not hang down. The provider has looked through other rooms to double check for any hanging cables. Nothing was found but will be reviewed when necessary. 4. A bottle warmer has been purchased for the room. Staff were informed about the non-compliance and the reason for it. 5. Re-vetting for the staff member has been applied for. Has not yet been received. The provider has made a note of when the staff’s re-vetting needs to be applied for again, so this does not happen in the future. Infection Control: 6. The provider has spoken with the staff from the room to remind them of the importance of hand washing. At the next staff meeting on October 7th, the importance of handwashing will be discussed as well as a training session on how to wash hands. 7. & 8. Pedal bins were purchased for the two changing rooms. Broken pedal bins will be replaced in future. 9. Parents/Guardians were informed to bring perishable food items in a labelled bag or small container so it can be stored in the fridge. Children attending the ECCE class next year and onwards will be informed to bring perishable foods in a bag/small container which can be stored in the fridge. 10. New waterproof mattresses were purchased which can be wiped down between uses. Spoke to staff members to ensure mattresses are wiped down or turned over between use. 11. A new couch has been purchased. Remove or fix any torn furniture in the future. 12. While waiting to get the chair upholstered, two removable covers have been purchased which can be rotated and washed. Ensure furniture is cleaned as necessary. Administration of Medication: 13. The provider has spoken individually to staff members to inform them that parents must fill out the pre- consent form. Ensure all future staff are made aware that parents fill out the pre-consent form. Fire Safety: 14. All children put their coats and bags on hooks. One staff member stands with the children in the hallway and makes sure bags and coats are on hooks and not thrown on the ground
Regulation 27 — Supervision
The supervision of the children attending the Toddler and Preschool rooms was inadequate on the day of inspection at times and posed a risk to the safety and wellbeing of the children in attendance as follows; • 18 children aged 2 and 3 years had one staff member caring for them while another staff member left the service to collect school aged children. During this time, one of the children had a toileting accident . 17 of the children were alone in the care room from 12:05 to 12:11 while the staff member tend ed to the child in the bathroom
Provider's corrective action:
Supervision, and the importance of supervision, was discussed with staff members throughout the service. Ensure children are supervised at all times. The provider has spoken to the staff in the room again regarding the importance of supervision. The provider has ensured that a staff member is available to go into the room to cover for any necessary reason. All staff have been spoken to regarding the importance of supervision both in the rooms and outside in the garden
Regulation 29 — Premises
(c) 1. The registered provider did not ensure that the Toddler nappy changing room was adequately ventilated. Throughout the day of inspection, a strong malodour was present in the care room and the nappy changing room indicating that the ventilation available was inadequate. (d) Throughout the premises, areas of the building were found not to be cleaned, maintained and repaired as required as detailed below: 2. Throughout the service, parts of the walls, doors, and ledges in all care rooms were soiled and heavily chipped with paint missing in parts. 3. The wooden ledge beneath the handwash sink in the Montessori room was heavily worn with the lacquered surface missing in parts exposing a porous surface which was damp and could not be effectively cleaned. 4. Part of the skirting board in the Toddler room was missing exposing chipped plaster and debris
Provider's corrective action:
1. A new pedal bin has been purchased. Staff were asked to remove waste as needed when smell occurs. The window will remain open and staff will be asked to remove the waste bin as needed. 2. I have received a quote from a painter who will undertake the works. It can’t be started immediately due to their schedule. Keep on top of paint work as needed and within reason. The Baby Room is being painted in November and the Toddler Room is being painted in December. The rest of the paint work will happen in the new year. 3. & 4. Someone coming to look at the work and materials needed to complete the jobs. Fix items as and when is needed. The skirting board in toddler room and panel under sink are getting fixed over the Halloween break
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
(1) (2) The minimum amount of clear floor space required for the number and age of the children attending the Preschool room and the Toddler room was not available on the day of inspection as follows: • In the Toddler room, 8 children aged 2 years were present on the day of inspection on a full day care basis requiring a minimum of 18.8 square metres clear floor space when only 16.6 square metres is available. A review of attendance records evidenced that 8 children are registered to attend the service daily. • In the Preschool room, 6 preschool children aged 3 to 4 years and 29 school aged 5 years and over were in attendance on the afternoon of inspection. There was 43.97 square metres available in the care room
Provider's corrective action:
I have always had 8 children in this room as when the business was sold to me it was advertised as being 18.48m2 with a capacity for 8 children. I will have the same number next year as the children currently in the baby room will move to this room between July and September 2025. I also would have had the same issue in 2026 but I have contacted one family to inform them that their child will be unable to move forward into the toddler room in 2027. Now that I am aware the room can only hold 6 children, I will ensure that this number is adhered to in the future