Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The service had not completed or maintained comprehensive indoor and outdoor daily risk assessments to identify, assess and manage potential hazards within the environment. During the inspection, a number of safety risks were observed that had not been identified or addressed by the provider, including: • A large storage shelf in a care room containing equipment was unanchored and unstable. • The outdoor slide was cracked and broken on the upper surface of the slide posing a risk of injury to children. • Radiator dial covers were missing in both the Sun Room and Moon Room, exposing sharp edges to children. • Cleaning agents were stored beside the nappy changing pad and were accessible to children. • Medication was stored improperly on an open shelf accessible to children. Infection Control: 2. The service did not have sufficient cleaning schedules and monitoring systems in place to ensure that all areas of the service were maintained in a clean and hygienic condition. Records reviewed during the inspection were incomplete and not updated regularly, with cleaning records for the baby room last documented on 6 March. Observations during the inspection identified a number of areas that had not been cleaned or maintained appropriately, including: • Ventilation ducts in the sanitary facilities contained a heavy build-up of dust. • Toilets were observed to be unclean with visible limescale accumulation. • Limescale build-up was also present in some sink areas. • Excessive clutter around sinks in the baby room and nappy changing room prevented effective cleaning and appropriate hand-washing practices. 3. Thermostatically controlled warm water was not available for hand washing at the wash hand basins in the sanitary accommodation in all rooms other than the baby room. The water in both the hot taps and the cold taps felt cold to touch. Cold water does not support children to effectively wash their hands. This is a reoccurring noncompliance as evidenced in the inspection held on the 1 November 2025. 4. In both the Sunroom and the Moon room children’s snacks provided by the parents, some of which contained meat and dairy produce, were stored in the children’s school bags at room temperature on the day of inspection. This increased the risk of bacteria multiplying in the perishable food items. This is a reoccurring noncompliance as evidenced in the inspection held on the 1 November 2025. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: The unit in question has been secured to the back wall using L brackets. Outdoor slides have been replaced Radiators caps have been replaced. Staff have been reminded of the importance of storing cleaning agents safely. This will be part of daily risk assessment. Parents and staff have been reminded to not leave medications in a child bag or indeed a nappy changing box. All medication must be recorded in each morning and placed in the fridge with each child’s name on the box. A risk assessment is in place for items like these and this will be monitored going forward. Infection Control:
While a cleaning system is in place within the crèche and cleaning checklists are readily available to all staff, employees have been reminded of the importance of maintaining high standards of cleanliness throughout the day. All areas have been cleaned and addressed. Monthly checks are in place and all risk assessment forms and cleaning forms are now being collected at the end of each month for examination
The plumber has attended the service and hot water available in some sinks. Service is working together with the landlord to ensure that the hot water system is fully operational and functioning correctly on a permanent basis going forward
A refrigerator has been placed in the upstairs kitchen area for the storage of children's snacks. This arrangement will be implemented going forward and will also apply to all new children enrolling from September 2026
Regulation 29 — Premises
d) The building was observed to not be well maintained and required repair. The premises was observed to be not adequately cleaned, maintained, or repaired, as evidenced by the following: • The outdoor area adjacent to the baby room was deemed unusable due to extensive overgrowth accumulated during the winter. Furthermore, the area was cluttered with hazards, including broken toys and bags of garden rubbish. • A tile in the eaves of the roof appeared to have been displaced and was in need of repair. • Several cracked windows were identified in the care rooms on the ground floor, as well as one on the upper floor. Additionally, a window handle was missing. • An additional toilet seat was required in the children's toilets on the ground floor. • Multiple defects were observed in the functionality of sinks and taps across several facilities. These included slow drainage, active leaks, and a seized tap. Consequently, surrounding floors and walls were found to be wet
Provider's corrective action:
The area directly outside the baby room has been cleared and all broken toys have been removed and disposed of. The misplaced roof tile above the playground has been repaired and secured. All broken and cracked windows within the crèche have been repaired and replaced. A third baby toilet seat has been purchased and installed. This will remain available in the toilet area to support the children's needs. All sinks and taps throughout the crèche have been cleaned using a limescale remover. All taps and sinks are now clear, fully functional, and draining properly. These items added to daily and weekly check list and risk assessment forms
1. It was not evident in the documentation reviewed by the inspectors that the registered provider had ensured that all staff members were provided with relevant information and training when commencing employment in the service in relation to the service policies and procedures. This was evidenced by the absence of induction records for staff members. There was no documentary evidence available to confirm that staff members undertook an induction process and were familiar with the services policies and procedures. 2. The service’s support and supervision policy was not adhered to in respect of the provision of regular formal appraisal for all staff members in the service. Staff supervision records were not provided for inspection and the inspectors were informed by staff members that that a system was not in place for staff members to receive regular support and supervision in the service. The staff support and supervision policy stated that all staff members must have access to bi-monthly supervision to ensure the quality of service to children and families, and that staff appraisals would take place at the end of each staff members probationary period and on a yearly basis from the date they began their employment thereafter. The registered provider confirmed that formal staff supervision or staff appraisals are not conducted in the service. In the event that staff members do not receive appropriate supervision, training and information, this poses a potential risk to the children attending the service due to inappropriate, inconsistent or unsafe care practices
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (7) (a) 1. Going forward, all staff will receive the relevant training and information before commencing employment with the service. An Employee Induction checklist has been implemented, which outlines all the key details and requirements needed to begin employment within the organisation. All completed documentation will be stored in the individual staff folder and retained on file for the duration of employment. 2. New staff supervision form was submitted and this will be used for reviews going forward. This will be rolled out with all staff before the end of 2025 and will continue into 2026. Preventive Action 1. This will be used going forward to prevent any misunderstandings, it will be part of their new policies to work in the service. 2. This will be completed throughout the year
Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service
1. A Staff Induction policy was not available in the service. 2. The following policies were reviewed and did not meet the requirements of schedule 5: The Recruitment policy did not include the following core elements: • The availability of a job description. • Terms and conditions of employment. • The application and interview process. • The procedures for obtaining Garda vetting. • The requirement for potential staff to have police vetting available if applicable. • The qualification requirement for staff members. • The process for checking and verifying staff references. • The process for confirming a staff member’s identity. • The procedures for managing vetting disclosures. • The details of the probationary period of the post. • The availability of a contract of employment. • How records relating to the recruitment process for each individual are stored and a timeframe for the storage of recruitment documentation. The Staff Training policy did not include the following core elements: • How staff training needs are identified and addressed. • The training resources that are provided in the service. • The availability of ongoing training and professional development. • The details of the staff training records kept in the service. The Complaints policy did not include the following core elements: • The procedure for making a complaint to the service • That complaints are treated in a confidential manner. • How complaints are investigated. • The progress of the complaint and how the complainant is kept informed of the progress of the complaint. • Provide a timeline for dealing with the complaint. • How a complaint that is not within the scope of the service is dealt with. • How Child safeguarding concerns are managed in line with the service’s child protection policy. • The process for closing the complaint. • The requirement to maintain accurate and detailed records of how each complaint is kept & how complaints are stored. • The role of Tusla in the complaints process
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action 1. As part of their new induction policy, all staff will be given an induction checklist and this will be held on file. 2. A revised recruitment, staff training and complaints policy policies were submitted. Preventive Action 1. This will be used for all staff before they begin working and all files keep with the staff book. 2. Policies will be adhered to when recruiting staff
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(k) In the Moon room there were no entries in the room diary from 20/08/2025 to the 17/09/2025 and specifically on the 01/09/2025 and the 08/09/2025 when incidents occurred in the care room that were required to be shared with a child’s parent. Although a system of a room diary was in place in the preschool rooms on the first floor for staff to record and communicate incidents involving children to parents, the non-compliance demonstrates this was not always implemented
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (k) Staff will be reminded the importance of communicating with parents at the end of each day. Diaries will be monitored by management regularly. Preventive Action (k) Diaries will be monitored regularly
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1.The staff members in the Baby room did not follow consistent care practices in line with service policy. This was observed on the day of inspection when one staff member said to a child “I will have to sit you on a chair”. When the inspector asked about this practice, the staff member said that time out is used as a way of managing children’s behaviour. The staff member said that they sit the child on a chair for a minute and talk to the child about their behaviour. The second staff member who was present in the care room stated that this care practice was not conducted in the service. Although the child was not placed in ‘time out’ this practice is considered inappropriate and was not in keeping with the services’ Promoting Positive Behaviour policy’. Inconsistency of practice can also lead to inappropriate care practices
Physical and material environment: 2.At dinner time in the baby room, 2 children in highchairs were placed in a position sitting at the wall away from a group of 3 children that were sitting together at the table. This did not support social interactions or belonging as part of the group at mealtimes
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action
1. Manager held a staff meeting and staff have been reminded about promoting positive behaviour. All staff have been reminded to read their positive behaviour policy and to ask for help when needed. Copy of staff meetings has been submitted. They have engaged the services of the Quality Development (QD) programme and this part of their ground floor supervision for babies
Physical and material environment: 2. Staff have re arranged the room to ensure that all children have a positive approach to eating and for the staff to ensure that they include all children during mealtimes, to make it a social event and children feel they belong to the group. Preventive Action
1. Support and Supervision for staff has been given. All staff have been remined about the policy for positive behaviour and to ask for help when needed. In the near future, they will receive training from the QD mentor
Physical and material environment: 2. This will be monitored going forwards and all staff will be reminded to support all children during mealtimes, to ensure that they are inclusive
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Child Safeguarding: 1. Documentary evidence was not available to confirm that 13 of the 15 staff members in the service had in date training certificates available for Children First training programme. Furthermore, when questioned 5 of the staff present on the day of inspection were unable to name the designated liaison person for child protection in the service. This could result in the services reporting procedures for Child welfare and protection concerns not being followed correctly and promptly. Infection Control: 2. Handwashing practices were observed to be poor and not in-line with the service policies and procedures, increasing the likelihood of cross contamination The following was observed on the day of inspection: • Two children attending the Baby Room did not have their hands washed following nappy changing. Children’s hands were not washed before dinner time in the Baby Room. • Children’s hands and faces were cleaned with wipes rather than warm running water. • Handwashing was not carried out by staff after changing two children’s nappies. Handwashing was not carried out after nappy changing and serving up children’s dinner. Staff did not wash hands after cleaning a child’s nose and wiping another child’s face. • Thermostatically controlled warm water was not available for hand washing at the wash hand basins in the sanitary accommodation in the Sunroom and the Boys toilet. The water in both the hot taps and the cold taps felt cold to touch. Cold water does not support pre-school children to effectively wash their hands. • The paper towels at the sink in the sunroom on the first floor which was used by the children to wash their hands was not hygienically dispensed. The roll of paper towel was stored adjacent to the sink and subject to repeat handling. 3. In both the Sunroom and the Moon room children’s snacks provided by the parents, some of which contained meat and dairy produce, were stored in the children’s school bags at room temperature on the day of inspection. This increased the risk of bacteria multiplying in the perishable food items. Fire Safety: 4. Children’s play materials were stored at the top of the stairs adjacent to the Moon room which lead directly to the fire exit on the ground floor. This could potentially impede staff and children’s exit from the service in the event of an emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action Child Safeguarding: 1. Staff have undertaken the e-Learning Safeguarding training. Child safeguarding will be brought up at staff meetings, their policies and procedures folder has been circulating around each staff member and will be signed of. Notice board in office has evidence of who the child protection officer is. Infection Control: 2. Hand washing has been discussed at their recent staff meeting. All staff have been reminded of the importance of hand washing, Baby room staff have been notified of washing all children hands after nappy changes and the use of gloves for every change, washing hands after wiping noses. The importance of not using the same tissue on two children, or face towel. This has been discussed at their staff meeting. The plumber has been called and has serviced the water system; hot water is running now in both the sunroom and boys’ toilets. They now have a paper dispenser to dispense blue rolls for drying hands. 3. They have spoken to parents about snack time and the importance of sending in nonperishables snack items for snack time. Their kitchen will now supply dairy products for children attending, and for children who have a special diet. They will accommodate this in their kitchen fridges. In the new year 2026 they will provide all snack items for children attending ECCE classes going forward. Fire Safety: 4. Items have been removed from the fire exit, and this will be kept free of clutter going forward. Preventive Action Child Safeguarding: 1. Policies and procedures folder will be made available for all staff to have access to, to ensure that policies are followed. Infection Control: 2. Staff will be given reminders weekly about the importance of washing hands and signs have been erected to remind children and staff about the importance of washing hands. Staff have been reminded to refill soap and tissues, and toilet rolls as required, they do have a daily inspection each morning. 3. This will be monitored for the time being by the staff and for 2026 they will implement a new policy for snack being brought to the creche, parents will be reminded about bringing dairy and meat snack items to the creche and to inform the staff upon arrival. Fire Safety: 4. Stairwell will be monitored to prevent any clutter being placed in the stairwell. Supporting documentation submitted Documentary evidence that staff have undertaken child safeguarding training. Photograph of signage in service identifying the DLP. Invoice for work undertaken by plumber. Photograph of signage reminding promoting hand washing. Photograph of hand towel dispensers on wall. Summary Comment The inspectors have reviewed the actions and evidence submitted. The noncompliance identified under regulation 23 - Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child has been adequately addressed
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) Following review of staff files and the staff roster, it was evident that the registered provider did not ensure that there was a member of staff trained in First Aid Response (FAR) on the premises at all times. One member of staff held an in date FAR training certificate only. It is acknowledged that all other staff members had valid training in paediatric first aid
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (1) Copy of FAR course booked. Course will be completed on the 11 December 2025. Preventive Action (1) Course will be updated as required
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) The registered provider did not ensure the premises of the service are cleaned, maintained and repaired, as required A thick accumulation of dust was present in the extractor fan in the boy’s toilet
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (d) The vent has been cleaned and will now become part of the daily cleaning schedule. Preventive Action (d) Vents are now added to the daily cleaning schedules
Regulation 32 — Complaints
(1)(b) The process of making a complaint was not outlined in the complaints policy, furthermore, the details of how the complaint would be dealt with by the service was not documented in the policy. (c)The complaints policy did not detail how the complainant would be kept informed of the complaints procedure. (2)(a) A record in writing was not available of a recent complaint that was made to the service. (b) The complaints policy stated that complaints would be recorded, this had not occurred following a recent complaint that was made to the service
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (1)(b) New complaints policy was created which details how they will be managed going forward. (c) New complaints policy which details how complainant will be kept informed of complaints. (2) (a) Going forwards all complaint will be recorded in writing and kept on file. (b) As part of their new Complaints Policy all complaints will be recorded going forward. Preventive Action (1)(b) Policy will be adhered too. (c) Policy will be adhered too. (2) (a) Complaints Policy will be adhered too. (b) Complaints Policy will be adhered too
(b) A review of the roster for the week of the inspection did not demonstrate that designated person in charge. was in the service at all times during operational hours. The two other staff members named as the deputy person in charge also did not fully cover the core opening hours of 8.00am to 5.30pm when children were in attendance. (c) On discussion with staff members and the registered provider, the was no clearly defined deputy person in charge to ensure lines of accountability in the event of an emergency
Provider's corrective action:
(1)(b) The registered provider submitted a roster which demonstrated that the person in charge or deputy person in charge was available during the operational hours. They stated that this will be available on the service noticeboard. (c) The registered provider stated that in discussions with staff the designated deputy persons in charge are named and staff are aware of these deputies
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
(8) Following discussions with staff members and the registered provider the inspectors could not confirm that two staff members were on the premises at all times, as there was no documentation available that detailed the sign-in and sign-out times of staff members on a daily basis
Provider's corrective action:
(8) The registered provider has stated that there is now a staff record for staff to sign in and out daily. This will coincide with the staff roster which clearly states that two members of staff will be present at all times throughout the working day
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A risk of injury was observed in the Toddler room as the radio, in use on the day of inspection, had a lead that was accessible to the children. The children could pull on the lead, leading to possible injury. 2. A child in attendance in the Moon room was observed to wear a teething necklace. Teething jewellery poses several serious risks including the risks of strangulation and choking/inhalation. Amber bead teething jewellery is prohibited for use in early years services for children under 3 years old. Infection Control: 3. Children’s snacks provided by the parents, which contain perishable items, were stored in the children’s bags in the care room at room temperature on the day of inspection, rather than in the fridge. This increases the risk of bacteria multiplying in the perishable food items. 4. The pedal bin at the handwash basin in the Sun room was broken, requiring children and staff to lift the lid with their hands each time to dispose of waste, which poses a risk of cross contamination. 5. Paper hand towels were not provided in the toilet areas accessed by children in the Sun room, instead the children used the toilet, and then walked from the toilet area across the hallway back into their care room to wash their hands and use paper towel in the care room. This poses a risk of cross contamination. 6. The nappy changing observed did not support effective infection control measures and there was the possibility of cross-contamination. The inspector observed that the nappy changing did not adhere to the service’s procedure, which was displayed in the nappy changing area. The following was observed; • The same gloves were used for the nappy changes of three different children. • No apron was worn throughout the nappy changing procedure. • The changing mat was not wiped down between each child. • The staff members’ and children’s hands were not washed after nappy changing and before they were placed back in the care room. 7. The water in the handwash basins in the Toddler Room, Baby Room, Nappy Changing room, the three downstairs toilets, the girls and boys toilets upstairs and the Sun room was cold to the touch and therefore did not support effective handwashing. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The registered provider submitted a photograph of the lead being secured and made inaccessible to children. The registered provider stated that as a preventive action this has been added to the room checklist. 2. The registered provider stated that amber beads have been removed, and they submitted a policy regarding amber beads not being worn. Infection Control: 3. The registered provider stated that for children who bring in snacks parents are requested to put perishable items in a clear, named bag so the items can be put in the fridge. 4. The registered provider submitted a photograph of new bins and that this has been added to the monthly checklist. 5. The registered provider stated new dispensers were purchased and will be checked every morning. 6. The registered provider submitted a record of a staff meeting regarding handwashing and nappy changing. The registered provider stated that all staff are reminded of the importance of hygiene around nappy changing and hygiene in general with reminder signs in place in the service. 7. The registered provider engaged the service of a plumber who advised that a new water heater was required. The registered provider put in place interim measures for hand washing with water from other areas of the service being made available. Following the submission of the second CAPA the registered provider advised the work was still ongoing in the weekend and evenings
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) The registered provider had not ensured that a person trained in a First Aid Responder (FAR) course was available to the children attending the preschool service. On review of the documentation available, there was no staff with an in-date FAR training certificate. It is acknowledged that all other staff members had valid training in paediatric first aid. (2) The first aid equipment available in the service did not provide adequate resources in the event of a first aid emergency. A review of the two first aid boxes for the service demonstrated that there were insufficient resources for the size of the service. Some of the resources available such as eye pads and bandages were out of date
Provider's corrective action:
(1) The registered provider provided confirmation of a training course for July 2025. The registered provider submitted evidence of partial completion of the FAR course. They also stated that another staff member will be trained over the summer. (2) The registered provider stated that there are two new first aid kits available, one for each floor. Supplementary items are also available in the first aid kit located in the kitchen. The registered provider stated that this will be checked monthly
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
(1)(b) The registered provider could not provide evidence of the annual maintenance of either the fire alarm system or the fire extinguishers
Provider's corrective action:
(1)(b) The registered provider submitted evidence for the maintenance of the fire alarm on the 6 June 2025, the fire extinguishers on 27 May 2025 and that an annual contract is in place
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) The registered provider did not ensure the premises of the service are cleaned, maintained and repaired, as required 1. The upstairs sanitary areas were not maintained in good repair; • The mechanical ventilation units in both the boys and girls toilets had an accumulation of dust present. • There were holes in the walls of the girls toilets and paint was chipping of the wall. • A toilet bowl in the girls toilet was stained and rusted. • The high-level ceiling window had an accumulation of cobwebs. 2. The edging of a table used by the Toddlers, was not sufficiently sealed to allow for effective cleaning
Provider's corrective action:
1. The registered provider stated that they had engaged the services of a local handyman to complete the works. Photographs were submitted of cleaned ventilation units, high level windows and the toilet bowl. The registered provider stated that maintenance work was still ongoing and no photographs of the holes being rectified were submitted. It is acknowledged that the registered provider is having the work completed when the children are not in attendance and there is planned work for the summer. 2. The registered provider submitted a photograph of a new tabletop