# Bright Minds Preschool, Salthill — inspection reports and findings > Bright Minds Preschool (Salthill, Co. Galway): what Tusla inspections found — 1 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Bright Minds Preschool Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Salthill, Galway · Tusla ID **TU2015GY135** · Registered since 1 January 2026 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 19 February 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** Non-Compliance Information (8) (1) The service was found to be operating outside of its registration status and the following details were recorded: (a) Type of service registered - sessional service. Written records and practice showed evidenced that the service was operating on a part-time/full day care basis. Attendance records from the week beginning 03 February 2025 evidenced that the service was operating with 2 sessional, 16 part-time and 8 full day care children. In addition, attendance records from the week beginning 23 October 2023 indicated that the service was operating on a part-time basis with 8 children staying on until 14:00. ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (a) (b) Four validations of references were missing in respect of two staff members for whom they were required - (a) (b) Two validations of references have been received for one staff member. The second staff member’s validations are still in progress. In future all procedures shall be in place prior to any person commencing employment or allowed access to the children ##### Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service - 1. The infection control policy did not contain the procedures to be followed for nappy changing or the procedures to be followed in the event of an outbreak of infectious disease should a child not be immunised. While the policy did mention “Our immunisation policy is followed at all times” when the inspector asked to see the immunisation policy the registered provider stated that there was no policy available. 2. The healthy eating policy did not state how children are supervised while eating and drinking - 1. The infection control policy has been amended to include the procedures to be followed for nappy changing and an outbreak of an infectious disease should a child not be immunised. A waiver form is now in place for parents/guardians which outlines the procedures following an outbreak of an infectious disease should a child not be immunised. Policies and procedures will be revised at the beginning of the term to include any recent changes. 2. The healthy eating policy has been amended to include how children are supervised while eating and drinking. Policies and procedures will be revised at the beginning of term to include any recent changes ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - (1) All 27 records of children attending the service were reviewed. None of the items listed in (1) (a) – (i) above were available for one child. In respect of the remaining 26 records the following information was missing: (b) Nineteen dates on individual records noting when the children first attended the service. (c) Provision of a cease date for twelve records. (d) Five parent’s addresses and one parent’s name. (e) Three records of authorisation for collection (f) One record of the details of illness, disability, allergies or special needs. (g) Two records of the general practitioners names and telephone numbers. (h) Nine records of immunisations (i) Twenty-one records did not contain any wording regarding written parental consent for appropriate medical treatment in the event of an emergency. Failure to maintain the required information of children’s pre-school records may potentially compromise the care and safety of the children - (1) (a) – (h) The missing information has been completed for the relevant children’s pre -school records and a complete record is now on file in the service for one child for whom the information was unavailable. At the beginning of term staff will review each child’s pre-school record to ensure that the information required has been submitted. (i) Wording regarding written parental consent for appropriate medical treatment in the event of an emergency has been added to seventeen of the twenty-one records. Four children have since left the service and the information for these children is no longer required ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (i) There was no staff roster available in the service to confirm the correct adult/child ratios. At the opening meeting the inspectors asked the registered provider to furnish a copy of the roster, the registered provider stated that no roster was available - (i) A new staff roster is in place with the required information available for all staff ##### Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play - (b) Contrary to the service’s sleep policy there was no individual bed linen, mattresses or low-level beds for the twelve children remaining on in the service on a part-time and full day care basis. In conversation, the registered provider stated that no children required a rest or sleep - (b) The service has reverted to a sessional service therefore the requirement for sleep equipment and bed linen is no longer required ##### Regulation 22 — Food and drink - (1) The service was found to be operating outside of its registration status and the following details were recorded: (a) Type of service registered - sessional service. Written records and practice showed evidenced that the service was operating on a part-time/full day care basis. Attendance records from the week beginning 03 February 2025 evidenced that the service was operating with 2 sessional, 16 part-time and 8 full day care children. In addition, attendance records from the week beginning 23 October 2023 indicated that the service was operating on a part-time basis with 8 children staying on until 14:00. (b) Number of children registered was 22. Written records indicated that there were 27 children on the attendance book on the day of inspection, average daily attendance on week beginning 17 February 2025 was recorded as 26 children. A referral to Better Start quality development service, was made on 20/2/2025, with the permission of the registered provider. Acknowledgments The inspectors wish to acknowledge the cooperation of the registered provider, deputy, staff and children who were present on the day of the inspection ##### Regulation 22 — Food and drink - The following points were contrary to the service’s healthy eating policy: 1. The requirement of two meals, one of which should be hot, for the six children remaining on a full day care basis was not met. While the inspectors observed two snacks being served at 10:45 and 13:00, the registered provider and staff were unaware of the food requirements for children availing of full day care. While corn cakes were offered there was no other alternative foods available in the service should the children be hungry or not like their snacks. 2. Water was not available at all times. Water bottles were observed in use at snack times only and were noted to be taken out and returned to the children’s bags after each snack. 3. There was no cutlery available for the children to use in the service - 1. The requirement of two meals, one of which should be hot, for the six children remaining on a full day care basis no longer applies as the service has reverted to a sessional service. 2. Water bottles have been put into a tray on a work top at the children’s level ensuring the children can access water while present in the service. 3. Cutlery is now available for the children to access at snack time, if required ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The main entrance gate to the service was accessible as the hook and eye device was placed on the wrong side of the fencing. This posed a safety risk to the children as unauthorised adults could access the catch and enter the outdoor play area. In conversation, the adults in the service were unaware of the issue. 2. The main entrance door could not be appropriately secured from the inside as children had access to the push bar which was located within reach. There was no means available of securing the door, from the inside, should an unsupervised child push the bar which led to the outdoor play area. 3. Electrical flexes from the microwave, extension cable in the children’s toilets and kettle were accessible to the children, posing a safety risk. 4. Children entering the care room from the sanitary area, in a large group, were observed climbing over school bags in the care room which posed a safety risk from the children tripping or falling over them. 5. A large garden rake, wooden pole and adult brush were accessible to the children in outdoor play area, posing a safety risk. 6. Webbing in place, under the bark chippings, in the outdoor play area was noted to be torn posing a potential tripping hazard in the outdoor play area. 7. Electrical equipment including a mini fridge and microwave was located on the floor of the rest area, accessible to the children, posing a safety risk. 8. The edges of a black mat, at the entrance door of the service, were curled on all sides posing a safety risk should a child trip or fall. Infection Control: 9. Although there were four wash hand basins and three toilets allocated for sole use by the early years children, these were shared with a separate group of ten children from the primary school who were temporarily using the facilities thus posing a risk of cross infection. 10. Two children’s toilet seat pads and one potty were observed left lying on the floor of the toilet cubicles, posing a potential risk of infection. 11. There was no pedal operated, sealed, lined and lidded bin in place for used nappies in the children’s sanitary area. Staff stated that the used nappies are sealed in a plastic bag and placed in a bin for used paper towels. 12. There were no disposable aprons available for nappy changing. Staff were observed putting disposable gloves on in the sanitary area and when the inspector asked where the aprons were a staff member explained that they did not use aprons for nappy changing, posing a potential risk of cross infection. 13. Perishable food was not stored in the service’s fridge contrary to the healthy eating policy. Children were observed removing perishable food from their lunch bags, posing a risk of the food spoiling. 14. At variance with the infection control policy which stated “a wash hand basin is provided in each room” there was no wash hand basin available in the care room to wash adult hands or the used children’s plates after morning snack at 10:45. In conversation, staff stated that they wash the plates in the wash hand basins of the children’s sanitary area, posing a risk of cross infection. 15. Children putting rubbish into the overfilled pedal bin in the care room were observed coming into contact with used tissues, posing a risk of cross infection. In conversation, an adult in the care room stated that the bin was emptied every two to three days. Administration of Medication: 16. There was no temperature reducing medication available in the event of an emergency, posing a safety risk to the children. Fire Safety: 17. There was no fire assembly sign visible in the outdoor area to display the predesignated assembly point which would lead the staff and children to safety in the event of an emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. A provisional date of the Easter holidays 2025 has been proposed by the school caretaker to increase the height of the fencing and to reposition the hook and eye device. These actions will prevent unauthorised adults from entering the service and prevent children from leaving the service unsupervised. 2. A safety device has been fitted to the main entrance door to alert staff in the event the bar on the door is pushed open by a child. 3. The cables have been removed from the area to prevent an accident from occurring. 4. Staff ensure the children’s bags are kept on the allocated shelving. The area is checked regularly to make certain that the walkway is free of obstruction. 5. The garden equipment has been removed and stored securely. 6. The torn webbing has been replaced. 7. The mini-fridge and the microwave have been removed from the area. 8. The mat has been replaced. The new mat is colourful and decorated with numbers and letters. Infection Control: 9. There are now designated sanitary facilities for each group reducing the risk of cross infection. 10. The potty and seat pads are sanitised and stored on nearby shelving when not in use, away from the floor area. 11. A new sealed, pedal operated and lined nappy bin has been purchased and placed in the sanitary area. Staff will ensure the bin is emptied daily. 12. Single use disposable aprons are available in the nappy changing area. 13. A new fridge is now available in the care room for storing perishable food to prevent it from spoiling. 14. The plates will be washed in the school kitchen at a time designated by the school principal. 15. Staff ensure the bins are emptied daily, or as required, to prevent the risk of cross infection. Administration of Medication: 16. Temperature reducing medication is now available in the event of an emergency. Fire Safety: 17. A new fire sign has been erected on the school grounds which is visible from the service to guide staff and children to a safe place in the event of a fire or emergency ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - (2) (b) (1) The inspectors observed that the following supplies, with expiry dates in 2024, were noted to be out of date in the first aid box: Two large and six medium wound dressings Four eye pads Vinyl gloves Sterile water vials (2) In addition, there were no small wound dressings, and two packets of plasters had no expiry dates visible - (2) (b) (1) and (2) The first aid box has been restocked, and staff will review the box each term or as required to ensure adequate supplies are available and in date ##### Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures - (a) There were no written records of fire drills available in the service, posing a risk that children and staff were unaware of the measures and procedures to be followed in the event of a fire or emergency. The registered provider stated that the fire drills are carried out with the school; however, there were no written records available - (a) Fire drill templates and the procedures for evacuation in the event of an emergency are clearly visible now in the classroom. Monthly fire drills will be conducted and recorded by staff to ensure compliance and to ensure the staff and children are kept safe when on the premises ##### Regulation 28 — Insurance - The registered provider did not ensure that the service was adequately insured: While the policy stated that the service was insured for thirty sessional children the registered provider failed to inform the insurance company that the service was operating on a full day care basis. A referral was made to the registration office on 20/02/2025. The expiry date of the policy was noted as 27 March 2025 - The service has reverted to sessional therefore the requirement for insurance for full day care is no longer required Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19. ### Other services in Galway - [Bright Sparks Early Years (Radharc Na Mara) Limited](/creche/bright-sparks-early-years-radharc-na-mara-limited-mervue.md) Mervue - [Bright Sparks Playschool & Montessori](/creche/bright-sparks-playschool-montessori-tuam.md) Tuam - [Burren View Creche & Montessori](/creche/burren-view-creche-montessori-gort.md) Gort - [Cairde Early Learning Centre](/creche/cairde-early-learning-centre-claregalway-2.md) Claregalway - [Cleggan Claddaghduff Community Playgroup](/creche/cleggan-claddaghduff-community-playgroup-cleggan.md) Cleggan - [Forever Friends Montessori](/creche/forever-friends-montessori-turloughmore.md) Turloughmore - [Little Hands Montessori and Afterschool Care](/creche/little-hands-montessori-and-afterschool-care-galway.md) Galway - [Sunny Meadow Pre-School CLG](/creche/sunny-meadow-pre-school-clg-galway.md) Galway - [Mothercare Creche](/creche/mothercare-creche-loughrea.md) Loughrea - [An Chead Eitilt](/creche/an-chead-eitilt-spiddal.md) Spiddal [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/bright-minds-preschool-salthill/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11