Inspection of 11 September 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. A safety Immediate Action Notice was issued on inspection on 11/9/2025 in relation to raised radiator surface temperatures which were a potential burns risk. A satisfactory response addressing the non-compliance was received from the registered provider on the 11/9/25.
Immediate action notice. decisions about compliance with regulatory requirements. Where the registered provider fails to meet the statutory requirements an escalation process may be commenced.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2)(a) The second reference for one staff member was not validated. (4) Documentary evidence was not available for inspection for 1 staff member to show they had a minimum Level 5 childcare qualification
Provider's corrective action:
- (2)(a) Staff member’s reference was validated and submitted. The registered provider has stated that measures are put in place prior to a new member of staff commencing in the service, that references are received and validated and signed by management. (4) The staff member referenced is currently present for training experience while completing modules to obtain an overall Level 5 qualification and not counted in ratio, is not to cover breaks or left unsupervised with the children. All existing staff have a full childcare certificate and management will ensure that a full childcare Level 5 qualification will be obtained prior to a new staff member commencing in the service
Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service
- The Infection Control Policy in the service was inadequate, for example; 1. It did not specify the best practice guidance on cleaning toys and equipment. 2. It did not specify how soothers in the service were to be stored and cleaned
Provider's corrective action:
- The Infection Control Policy was reviewed and updated to include best practice guidance and policy on cleaning toys and equipment. Also added was a soother storage policy. Policies will be reviewed to ensure sure they follow best practice guidance
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- The staff rota available for inspection in the service was inadequate: • It did not state the dates the documented shifts pertained to. • Some staff members had 2 different finishing times specified. • Breaktimes and cover were not included on the rota
Provider's corrective action:
- The staff rota has been updated to show the exact hours that are being worked by staff each week everyday Monday – Friday. In addition a staff member is marked as student and the summary at the bottom of the rota shows students are not counted in child- staff ratio nor left unsupervised with the children or to cover breaks
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. In the Junior Preschool Room the door to the toilet was wedged open and therefore the children using the toilet could be seen from the care room and by the children lining up to use the toilet. This does not maintain the privacy and dignity of the child during toileting. This is also at variance with the services ‘Toileting Procedure’
Provider's corrective action:
- Staff ensure the door to the toilet is closed over preventing children and others in the care room from viewing the children using the toilet and therefore respecting their privacy and dignity. The toileting policy and procedure is updated and maintained throughout the care rooms. Summary Comment The inspector accepts the registered provider’s response and assurances given. The non-compliance is addressed and will be for review at the next inspection
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
- 1. There was no safety impact attenuating surface under the large wooden climbing frame with slide outside the Senior Preschool Room. This is a health and safety and potential injury hazard. 2. Some of the chicken wire fencing had sharp bits protruding which were a potential injury hazard should a child ‘hit off’ them. 3. There was a crack in the slide of the plastic climbing frame on the concreted area which was a potential pinch or injury hazard. In addition, one of the plastic platform areas on the frame was broken and a replacement surface was in place which was observed to move up and down when a child stood on it
Provider's corrective action:
- 1.The registered provider stated that adequate safety matting was placed under the climbing frame and pizza swing suitable to meet health and safety requirements. Management will ensure adequate safety matting is always placed under children’s play equipment meeting health and safety requirement and according to the requirements of the children’s climbing equipment. 2. Chicken wire fence has all been checked and any sharp edges have been removed and repaired. 3.Cracked climbing frame slide was removed from the service. Regular checks on fence safety and outdoor slides and play equipment included on risk assessment
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. At 10.55am the radiator surface temperatures in the Creche Room were recorded at 67.7 o C and in the Senior Preschool Room at 56.1 o C and 52 o C. These temperatures exceed the safe surface temperatures of 50 o C and are a potential burns risk. A safety Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider and an appropriate response was received. 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 1 staff member. 3. A copper pipe was protruding through the wall adjacent to 1 of the cots in the sleep room. This was potentially accessible to any child using this cot. This is a health and safety risk. 4. One of the 3 cot mattresses checked was ill-fitting and a foothold was evident where a child’s foot could get stuck. This is a health and safety risk. Infection Control: 5. Staff confirmed that toys and equipment, soothers and mouthed toys are cleaned with a sterilising agent and hot water which is not an effective means of cleaning and a variance of best practice cleaning guidelines. 6. The nappy bins in the service require the user to handle the bin a number of times during the disposal process when placing the nappy inside the bin and were not lidded pedal operated bins. This is a cross contamination and infection control risk. 7. There was not a continuous supply of thermostatically controlled hot water in the service throughout the inspection i.e. at 12.45pm in the Junior Preschool Room and at 13.35pm in the Creche Room when the water was checked it was cold. This does not allow for effective hand washing and is an infection control risk. 8. The nappy changing mat observed in use in the Junior Preschool was not maintained in a clean and hygienic condition. Accumulations of dirt and particles were observed around the edges and in the folds. Safe Sleep: 9. At 11.25 - 11.30am the staff member recording the sleep room temperature on the sleep log was not observed to check the room thermometer and recorded it as 19 o C, when the room thermometer was registering 22 – 22.5 o C. This practice was also confirmed by the staff member
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1 and 3. The children were removed from the radiator area, heat was turned off and ensured no child was exposed to the radiators. The registered provider also ensured room stats were at an appropriate temperature of 18oC-200C. Heat controllers to be fitted on radiators where children are exposed. Plumber was called and ensured the boiler was turned down to 43 – 50 o C to ensure the surface temperature and the copper pipe are within the recommended temperature range. Staff will carry out radiator surface temperature checks and adhere to as part of daily room risk assessment. 2. The service applied for the staff member’s vetting in June 2025. Staff member’s updated Garda vetting disclosure obtained and submitted. The registered provider will ensure all vetting requiring updating is applied for as early as possible as it took 3 months for this Garda vetting to be obtained. 4. Registered provider measured and replaced cot mattress. Staff will ensure that there are no gaps in the cots between frame and mattress and that they are fitted properly in the cots. Infection Control: 5. All staff know and use detergent for cleaning as indicated on updated cleaning policy and that a cleaning agent / hot soapy water before sterilising is an effective means of cleaning mouthed toys. Staff training and update took place and a copy of the Bright Stars Cleaning Policy was given to each room for staff to sign as part of their cleaning duties. 6. All nappy bins were replaced by the manager with pedal operated bins. The registered provider will ensure pedal operated nappy bins are used and nappies are disposed of properly. 7. The registered provider ensures there is a continuous supply of hot water present at all times. Hot water is being topped up by using an immersion heating for all taps which are thermostatically controlled in the bathrooms. A time clock shows that the immersion heating is on during the day providing hot water. Staff must always ensure there is hot water available at all times for cleaning and hand washing. 8. The nappy changing mat was replaced in the Junior Preschool Room. Staff will ensure that the nappy changing mats are cleaned thoroughly and no dirt particles are observed around the edges. Safe Sleep: 9. Staff members are all aware that they must observe the temperature in the sleep room and do observe it before writing it in the log. All staff will be reminded to observe the temperature of the sleep room each time a record is taken
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (1) The registered provider did not ensure that there was a person trained in First Aid Response (FAR) for children, on the premises at all times. For example, one FAR cert was available for inspection and the person qualified was rostered to commence work at 8.30 am. On the day of inspection approximately 7 children were signed in as attending between 8am – 8.30am. This is a recurrent non-compliance identified on the last inspection in 2022 and at variance to the registered provider’s CAPA response at that time stating “The manager has full FAR training and will send more staff members on FAR training to obtain certificates .The manager will ensure staff members have full up to date FAR Training certificates and the rota is covered at all times with qualified FAR trained staff”. The corrective actions submitted following that particular inspection failed to prevent recurrence of this non-compliance
Provider's corrective action:
- Management will ensure FAR trained staff are always present on the premises at all times. The manager has FAR training therefore their start time will be 8am until a second member of staff obtains FAR training. As ratios must be maintained a 2nd member of staff will carryout training at a suitable time when the manager can ensure child – staff ratios are met
Found compliant: Regulation 11.