Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
Physical and material environment: 1. There was limited interest areas developed for the children to initiate or sustain child led play experiences in the Wobbler room, Toddler room, Busy Bees room 1. Due to the room layouts, there was minimal opportunity for child-initiated activities and opportunities for children to engage with a range of materials in the environment based on children’s choices, interests and preferences this resulted in the activities being predominantly adult led. 2. There was a lack of sensory or wooden materials available for the children to use, there was no sand, water or other materials provided for the children to enjoy hands on sensory play experiences in the Wobbler room, Toddler room or Busy Bees room 1 or in the outdoor area of the service. Therefore, this did not provide opportunities for children to engage with materials that stimulated children’s senses and or to enhance children’s learning and development experiences. 3. The play resources in the Toddler room were not easily accessible to the children which did not support child led play, for example the dress up materials were stored in a box which was difficult for the children to retrieve, and the children’s books were stored in a box on a shelf which were not easily accessible to the children
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action Physical and material environment: 1. The physical and material environments in the Wobbler Room, Toddler Room, and Busy Bees Room 1 have been thoroughly reviewed and restructured to support child-led learning and development. Dedicated interest areas have been developed in each room to encourage self-initiated play experiences based on children’s individual interests and emerging preferences. Staff have been trained and reminded to maintain child-accessibility standards daily and to rotate resources based on observation of children’s interests. 2. Open-ended, natural and sensory materials including wooden toys, sand and water trays, and textured sensory boards and boxes have been introduced across all three rooms and the outdoor area. 3. In the Toddler Room, all play resources, including dress-up clothes and books, are now stored at child- friendly heights and in open shelving units or shallow trays that allow for independent access. Staff have been trained and reminded to maintain child-accessibility standards daily and to rotate resources based on observation of children’s interests. Preventive Action 1.2.3. Ongoing audits will be conducted monthly to ensure that materials remain accessible, appropriate, and reflective of the children’s interests. All room leaders are now responsible for documenting interest areas and sensory provision in their weekly planning. Regular photographic evidence will be collected to monitor compliance
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The front gate and entrance doorway into the premises were found to be unsecured on the inspectors’ arrival to the service at 9.00am and at 1:40pm. This posed a risk to a child to leave the service unsupervised, or an unauthorised person could gain access to the service. 2. Garda vetting was available for the registered provider and 14 adults. However, two vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence to the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Infection Control: 3. Ineffective handwashing practices were observed which increase the risk of cross contamination and reduce infection control as evidenced by the following: • Wipes were used to wash children’s hands and faces after the children had finished eating dinner in Busy Bees room 1. • The children attending the Toddler room did not have their hands washed following nappy changing. • The children in the Toddler room were provided with a communal bowl of water to wash their hands in before they ate their morning snack, children should have their hands individually washed with warm water and soap. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action General Safety: 1. The current gate arrangement remains in line with fire safety instructions issued by the Fire Officer, which require that the gate be able to freely open and close to ensure a safe emergency exit. However, additional measures have been put in place to ensure child safety and to control unauthorised access: Children have no access to the courtyard or front entrance area once inside the building, as internal doors remain secured and children are always under supervision. Security cameras are installed and actively monitoring all entry points around the crèche grounds and Lusk House, including the front gate and entrance doorway. Staff are fully aware of their responsibility to question and verify any unexpected persons entering the premises. 2. Garda vetting has now been renewed for the two individuals in question. All adults working in the service, including the registered provider, now have up-to-date Garda vetting disclosures dated within the past three years, in full compliance with the requirements of EYI-RN12.3. Infection Control: 3. All staff have been reminded of and retrained on correct hand hygiene procedures in line with HSE and Tusla guidance. The following actions have been taken: • Children’s hands and faces are now washed with warm water and soap at sinks following all meals. • Handwashing is now carried out for each child after every nappy change in the Toddler Room. • The use of a communal bowl for handwashing has been discontinued. All children now wash their hands individually at a sink using warm water and soap before meals and snacks. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. The crèche will continue to comply with fire regulations while also maintaining high standards of security. All staff have been reminded of access control procedures and are expected to remain vigilant throughout the day. CCTV footage is regularly reviewed, and a visitor log is maintained. Should fire regulations change, the manager reported that the service is prepared to install an alternative secured entry system in compliance with safety and fire guidelines. 2. Staff files will be reviewed on a monthly basis to ensure everything is up to date. Infection Control: 3. Room leaders will monitor hand hygiene practices daily, and management will carry out monthly audits to ensure compliance with infection control procedures. Supporting documentation submitted • Evidence of Garda vetting. • Photographic evidence submitted. Summary Comment The inspector has reviewed the actions and evidence submitted. The non-compliances under Regulation 23 have been addressed
Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the second day of inspection in relation to the designated emergency evacuation route leading from the sleep room adjoining the Wobbler Room to the corridor (and subsequently the outdoor area) being obstructed with 4 foldable cots and 2 foldable sleep mats during the inspection. On the same day the registered provider provided evidence to the Inspectorate confirming the cots had been relocated, appropriately addressing the identified risk by making this emergency evacuation route clear and unobstructed.
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
(1) On the first day of inspection the minimum adult to child ratio was not maintained in the Pre-Montessori Room for the duration of the day. There were an inadequate number of adults working directly with the pre-school children, there were 8 children aged 2 years 6 months to 3 years 6 months being cared for by 1 staff member. However, 2 staff members were required to maintain the minimum adult to child ratio in this care room
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action (1) On the day of the inspection, the service was short a team member in this instance due to staff illness. However, since then, the situation was rectified, and there are now three adults consistently working in the Pre-Montessori Room to ensure that the appropriate adult-to-child ratio is maintained at all times. Preventive Action (1) To prevent this from happening in the future, the manager has implemented a system (a daily rota with a section for room cover) for monitoring staff availability and ensuring immediate coverage in case of illness or unexpected absences
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
Basic needs: 1. Water was not freely available to the children in the Pre-Montessori Room as the water jug and cups were stored on a high shelf out of sight and reach of the children. Physical and material environment: 2. The play kitchen in the Toddler Room was insufficiently resourced to facilitate meaningful play as evidenced in the small amount of supportive play materials provided in the room, consisting mainly of plastic food, which were stored separately from the kitchen. There was a lack of real-life everyday objects, food packaging and baby care items to support the children to engage in role play. 3. Family photographs were not displayed in most care rooms in the service, including the Wobbler Room and the Toddler Room. The lack of family photographs prevented children from using photographs as a means of maintaining links with and bridging the gap between the service and home
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action Basic needs: 1. Manager has promptly addressed this issue by relocating the water jug and cups to a low shelf at the children's level, ensuring that water is easily accessible at all times. Physical and material environment: 2. Manager has fully stocked the play kitchen with a variety of real-life materials, including food packaging, and everyday household objects. These resources are now easily accessible to the children, encouraging more meaningful and engaging role play. 3. Staff has requested family photographs for the Toddler Room and will display them at the children's level as soon as they received. In the meantime, family photographs are already displayed at the children's level in the Wobbler Room. Additionally, small, laminated family books have been created for each child, containing photographs of their family members. These books are accessible to the children at all times, allowing them to engage with the images whenever they want. Preventive Action Basic needs: 1. To prevent this from recurring, manager has conducted a review of the room's layout to ensure all essential items are within the children's reach. Staff will regularly check that water remains accessible throughout the day, and the importance of keeping basic needs available has been reinforced in staff meetings. Physical and material environment: 2. To maintain a well-resourced environment, regular audits of the play areas will be conducted to ensure that materials remain abundant and varied. Staff will also be encouraged to refresh and rotate items to keep the role play environment stimulating and reflective of real-life experiences. 3. Staff will ensure that family photographs are consistently updated and accessible in all care rooms. Regular check-ins with parents will also be conducted to gather new family photos as needed, reinforcing the connection between the service and the children’s home life
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
(1)(b) The rest areas provided in the Toddler Room and the Pre-Montessori were unsuitably equipped. For example, the rigid circular low-level cushions provided for this purpose in the Toddler Room did not fit snugly together to form a comfortable flat base and therefore did not facilitate a child to relax and rest comfortably if they wished to do so during the day
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action (1)(b) Manager has improved the cosy areas in both the Toddler Room and Pre-Montessori Room. Flat mats have been added to create a more even and comfortable surface, and soft cushions have been introduced to enhance the comfort of the rest areas. Preventive Action (1)(b) The rest areas will be regularly monitored to ensure they remain comfortable and inviting for the children. Staff will also be encouraged to continuously assess the quality of these areas and make adjustments as needed to support children's relaxation and rest throughout the day
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Infection Control: 1. Three unlabelled soothers were observed in the Toddler Room, stored loosely on a shelf rather than in individually labelled lidded boxes. Staff members stated they recognised which soother belonged to each individual child. This posed a risk of cross-contamination. Fire Safety: 2. The corridor leading from the sleep room to the designated emergency evacuation route and exit to the garden was obstructed with 4 foldable cots and 2 sleep mats. This posed a safety hazard as it would delay staff and children in evacuating the building safely and quickly in the event of an emergency. This risk had been identified to staff members on the first day of inspection, however it was observed on the second day of inspection that no corrective action had been undertaken and the risk remained unaddressed
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action Infection Control: 1. Manager has now implemented proper storage for all soothers in the Toddler Room. Each soother is stored in an individual, labelled plastic container with the child's name clearly marked on it, ensuring hygiene and preventing any risk of cross-contamination. Fire Safety: 2. On the second day of inspection, this issue was immediately addressed following the post-inspection briefing. The corridor is now clear and remains unobstructed. The foldable cots and sleep mats have been relocated to a more suitable storage area, ensuring the evacuation route is fully accessible at all times. Preventive Action Infection Control: 1. Staff have been reminded of the importance of proper storage and labelling practices for personal items to prevent hygiene issues. Regular checks will be conducted to ensure all soothers remain stored appropriately and labelled containers are used consistently. Fire Safety: 2. Manager has implemented a regular check system to ensure that the evacuation routes remain clear and free of obstructions. Staff have been reminded of the importance of maintaining clear pathways, and additional storage solutions have been put in place to prevent similar issues from arising in the future
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
(1)(b) There was no up-to-date official maintenance record available for the fire fighting equipment provided on the premises
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action (1)(b) An up-to-date maintenance certificate for the firefighting equipment is now available on the premises. Preventive Action (1)(b) Registered provider will implement a system for regularly updating and maintaining all safety records. This includes scheduling periodic reviews and ensuring that maintenance certificates are kept current and readily accessible for inspection
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) 1. A child-sized cloth-covered armchair in the Toddler Room was heavily stained and in need of cleaning
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action (d) 1. The stained armchair has been disposed of. Any items found to be heavily stained or damaged will be promptly addressed to maintain a hygienic environment for the children. Preventive Action (d) 1. Regular inspections of all furniture and play equipment will be conducted to ensure they are kept clean and in good condition
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 15, 16, 24, 25, 28.
(4) Documentary evidence was not available to confirm that 2 staff members whose files were reviewed and who work directly with children in the service held an appropriate childcare qualification at Level 5 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent. One of the two staff members is employed to specifically care for school aged children but provides support and relief across the early years’ rooms in the service
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (4) Staff Member 1: We are pleased to confirm that Staff Member 1 is already qualified at Level 8, and their graduation is scheduled for early November. The staff member’s qualification has been received and is now on their file). Staff Member 2: Staff Member 2 is actively working towards obtaining a QQI Level 6 qualification in early childhood care and education. Until the Level 6 certification is officially granted, manager has taken proactive measures to align with the compliance standards. During this period, Staff Member 2 will exclusively work with school-aged children, ensuring that all requirements are met in a timely manner. Preventive Action (4) Registered provider is committed to maintaining and enhancing the qualifications of service’s staff to ensure the highest quality of care and education for the children in our service. Manager will promptly update the respective staff files with the necessary documentation as outlined above to address the compliance issues effectively. Registered provider is ready to provide any additional information or if there are further steps needed to ensure full compliance
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(1)(j) The medication administration forms maintained in the service were not always completed accurately as evidenced in the following examples: • Two forms did not include a second staff member’s signature to show that the medication had been appropriately checked and the procedure undertaken by 2 staff members. Examples of this practice included forms maintained in relation to medication administered in the service on 18/05/2023 and the 29/09/23. • A parent had not signed the administration of medication form on the 18/09/23 as a means of ensuring that they were aware that their child had temperature reducing medication administered while attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action
• Regarding the absence of a second staff member's signature: manager acknowledges the non-compliance issue with some medication administration forms not including a second staff member's signature. This signature is essential to ensure that medication has been appropriately checked and administered by two staff members, in line with service’s safety protocols. To rectify this, staff has taken the following steps: • Manager has conducted a review of their medication administration process to emphasize the importance of dual staff verification for all medication administered. Staff has been retrained to adhere to this protocol without exception. • Regarding the missing parent's signature: registered provider acknowledges the issue where a parent did not sign the administration of medication form, which is crucial for ensuring their awareness of medication administered to their child. To address this, registered provider has initiated the following measures: Parents will be provided with clear and concise information about the importance of signing medication administration forms during orientation and throughout their child's enrolment. Staff will emphasize the significance of this signature as an essential safety measure. In cases where a parent fails to sign the form, service’s staff will make direct contact with the parent to seek their signature or written consent. This ensures that parents are actively involved and informed about any medication administered to their child. Preventive Action
• Registered provider will implement a new cross -check system, which mandates that no medication can be administered without the verification and signatures of two responsible staff members. This practice will be strictly enforced, and compliance will be closely monitored. • In cases where a parent fails to sign the form, service’s staff will make direct contact with the parent to seek their signature or written consent. This ensures that parents are actively involved and informed about any medication administered to their child
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
Basic needs: 1. In the Wobbler room the children’s water bottles were positioned out of reach of the children on the window ledge making it difficult for the children to access a drink should they require it. Supporting relationships around children: 2. There was no care plan available in the service to support staff members in their care of 2 children who required additional support. Physical and material environment: 3. There was a lack of natural, sensory and open-ended materials in the Wobbler room, Toddler room and in the Busy Bees full day care room in order to facilitate sensorial play experiences or encourage the children’s creativity and imagination. For example, sensory type materials such as sand, water, rice or pasta trays were not available to the children. 4. There was a very limited range of play equipment provided in the Busy Bees full day care room to support the development of the children’s fine motor skills such as wooden peg jigsaws, bricks, interlocking materials, stacking toys, shape sorters or threading equipment. 5. There were no books available to the children in the Wobbler room to support their language development. 6. There was no supportive equipment available at either of the 2 play kitchens in the outdoor play area to enable the children to extend their play
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action Basic Needs: 1. Staff will immediately relocate the children's water bottles from the window ledge to a more accessible and child-friendly location within the Wobbler room. This will ensure that the children can easily access their water bottles when they require a drink. Supporting Relationships Around Children: 2. Immediate Development of Care Plans: Manager will promptly develop care plans for the two children who require additional support. These care plans will be comprehensive and individualized to address each child's specific needs, challenges, and requirements. The care plans will include detailed information on the child's medical history, developmental milestones, and any specific care instructions or accommodations needed. • Staff Training: Staff members will be provided with thorough training on the contents of the care plans and how to effectively implement them. This training will focus on the best practices for providing care, support, and accommodations tailored to each child's unique needs. • Regular Updates: manager will establish a protocol for regularly reviewing and updating the care plans to ensure that they remain current and relevant to each child's development and needs. Physical and material environment: 3. Immediate Provision of Sensory Materials: Manager will promptly acquire and provide a variety of sensory materials such as sand, water, rice, and pasta trays in the Wobbler room, Toddler room, and the Busy Bees full day care room to facilitate sensorial play experiences and encourage creativity and imagination. 4. Immediate Equipment Procurement: manager will acquire and introduce a more extensive range of play equipment in the Busy Bees full day care room to support fine motor skill development. This will include wooden peg jigsaws, bricks, interlocking materials, stacking toys, shape sorters, and threading equipment. 5. Immediate Introduction of Books: manager will promptly introduce a selection of age-appropriate books in the Wobbler room to support language development. 6. Immediate Addition of Supportive Equipment: manager will acquire and add supportive equipment to the play kitchens in the outdoor play area to extend children's play opportunities. Preventive Action Basic Needs: 1 Going forward, manager will implement a regular check and adjustment schedule to ensure that water bottles remain within the children's reach at all times. Staff members will be responsible for monitoring the placement of water bottles during daily activities and playtime. Supporting Relationships Around Children: 2 Standardized Care Plan Procedure: manager will institute a standardized procedure for creating care plans for children who require additional support upon their enrollment in our service. This will ensure that no child is without a care plan, and that all staff members are adequately supported in their care responsibilities. • Staff Training: Ongoing training sessions will be conducted for all staff members to reinforce the importance of adhering to care plans and providing specialized support to children with additional needs. This training will also serve as a platform for discussing any concerns or challenges related to the care plans. • Regular Staff Training: Ongoing training sessions will be conducted for all staff members to reinforce the importance of adhering to care plans and providing specialized support to children with additional needs. This training will also serve as a platform for discussing any concerns or challenges related to the care plans. Physical and material environment: 3 Regular Inventory and Restocking: manager will establish a regular inventory management system to ensure that sensory materials are consistently available. Manager will restock these materials as needed and maintain a diverse and engaging selection. 4 Regular Equipment Assessment: manager will conduct regular assessments of play equipment to ensure its condition and relevance. Any damaged or out-of-date equipment will be replaced promptly. 5 Regular Review of Reading Materials: manager will establish a routine to review and update the selection of books in the Wobbler room to ensure they remain stimulating and age appropriate. 6 Regular Equipment Assessment: manager will implement a schedule to assess and update the equipment in play kitchens as needed to ensure a dynamic and engaging play environment
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Infection Control: 1. The toilet rolls and paper hand towels used by the staff and children in the service were not always hygienically dispensed as loose rolls of toilet paper and paper towels were provided in the sanitary facilities between Montessori room 1 and Montessori room 2 which were subjected to repeated handling. This posed a risk of cross-contamination and was inadequate for infection control purposes. Safe Sleep: 2. From 12.12 to 12.28pm staff member in the Wobbler room was observed checking the children who were sleeping in the sleep room adjacent to the Wobbler room by observing them through the glass door panel. All sleeping children must be physically checked every 10 minutes observing their colour, breathing pattern and position. Fire Safety: 3. In the Wobbler room the fire extinguishers which were stored on a stand on the floor were blocked by a large floor abacus making them inaccessible in the event that they would be required. 4. The fire door leading into the corridor adjacent to the Pre-Montessori room was unable to be opened fully as it was obstructed by a large rubber floor mat. This could potentially impede access in the event of an emergency. 5. The records reviewed on inspection confirmed that fire drills are not conducted on a monthly basis in the service in order to familiarise staff and children with the procedures for safe evacuation in the event of a fire occurring. The records indicated that fire drills were conducted on the 13/10/22, 10/03/23, 13/04/23, 14/06/23 and the 08/09/23. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action General Safety: 1. Registered provider acknowledges the concern regarding the hygienic dispensing of toilet rolls and paper hand towels in the sanitary facilities between Montessori room 1 and Montessori room 2. To rectify this issue, she would like to emphasize that there are already dispensers available in this bathroom. Their immediate corrective action will involve the following: • Ensure Dispenser Filling: staff will ensure that these dispensers are consistently filled with toilet paper and paper hand towels at all times. This will help prevent the use of loose rolls, which were subjected to repeated handling and posed a risk of cross-contamination. Safe sleep: 2. Immediate Adherence to Physical Checks: staff will ensure that all sleeping children are physically checked every 10 minutes, as required for their safety. Staff members in the Wobbler room will strictly follow this protocol. Fire Safety: 3. Immediate Unblocking of Fire Extinguishers: manager will promptly unblock the fire extinguishers in the Wobbler room by relocating the large floor abacus to a more appropriate location, ensuring that the fire extinguishers are easily accessible in case of an emergency. 4. Immediate Removal of Obstruction: staff will promptly remove the large rubber floor mat that is obstructing the fire door to ensure that the door can be fully opened without hindrance’s. 5. Immediate Monthly Fire Drill Implementation: registered provider will immediately implement a policy requiring monthly fire drills to familiarize staff and children with safe evacuation procedures in the event of a fire. The first of these monthly drills will be scheduled within the next 30 days from the date of this inspection report. Record Keeping and Documentation: manager will establish a clear and organized system for recording and documenting the monthly fire drills. This will include the date, time, duration, and any observations or areas of improvement noted during the drill. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Regular Monitoring: staff will establish a routine for the regular monitoring and replenishing of these dispensers to maintain a hygienic and convenient supply of toilet paper and paper hand towels. Safe sleep: 2. Standardized Sleep Monitoring Procedure: manager will create a standardized sleep monitoring procedure (included) that includes clear instructions for conducting physical checks. This procedure will be part of the staff training and orientation process. Fire Safety: 3. Reorganization of Room Layout: manager will review and reorganize the room layout to prevent any future obstructions to fire safety equipment, ensuring that fire extinguishers remain unobstructed. 4. Re-evaluation of Floor Mat Placement: manager will conduct a thorough assessment of the placement of floor mats in the facility to prevent any future obstructions to fire doors. The re-evaluation will consider the best location for floor mats that doesn't interfere with emergency access. 5. Ongoing Monthly Fire Drills: manager will continue to conduct monthly fire drills as per the established schedule. These drills will include variations to simulate different emergency scenarios, ensuring that staff and children are well-prepared for various situations. Supporting documentation submitted Photograph of toilet rolls in dispenser. Photograph of hand towels in dispenser. Photograph of repositioned fire extinguishers. Photograph showing removal of mat and door opened fully without obstruction. Evidence of fire drills completed since inspection. Summary Comment The evidence submitted has been reviewed and accepted. The non-compliances observed under Regulation 23 have been adequately addressed
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) One staff member only was trained in FAR training. From a review of the staff roster this staff member is not available in the service at all times during the operational hours of the service. For example, from 07:30am to 08:15am on 09/10/2023, and on 10/10/2023 from 16:45pm to 18:00pm none of the rostered staff members held in-date FAR training. It is acknowledged that staff members have recently undertaken paediatric first aid training
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (1) Registered provider acknowledges the non-compliance related to the availability of a staff member with FAR (First Aid Response) training during all operational hours of the service. To rectify this, she has taken immediate steps to ensure that another team member will receive FAR training. Preventive Action (1) Once this training is completed, registered provider will have a FAR-qualified person onsite at all times. This measure will help ensure that the service is consistently staffed with personnel trained in FAR going forward, enhancing the safety and well-being of all individuals in service’s care
Regulation 29 — Premises
1. There was a build-up of dust and residue in the crevices of the nappy changing table and the underneath the nappy changing mat in the sanitary area used by the children attending the Pre-Montessori room. This poses a risk of cross-contamination
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action 1. Immediate Sanitization and Deep Cleaning: staff has promptly cleaned and sanitized the nappy changing table, including its crevices, and the area under the nappy changing mat to remove all dust and residue. This has been carried out using appropriate cleaning materials and methods. Quality Control: manager will introduce quality control measures, including regular checks and inspections, to verify that nappy changing areas remain clean and free from dust and residue. Preventive Action 1. Revised Cleaning Protocol: manager will review and revise their cleaning protocol for nappy changing areas to ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. Summary Comment The evidence submitted has been reviewed and accepted. The non-compliances observed under Regulation 29 - Premises have been adequately addressed
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
(2) The Montessori room 2 was observed to be overcrowded on the afternoon of inspection. The available floor space in Montessori room 2 is 15.3 square metres which allowed for 8 children availing of the ECCE scheme attending on a sessional basis, or 6 pre-school children aged 2-3 years and 3-6 years attending on a part-time or full day care basis. However, on the day of inspection there were 8 children aged 3 years 7 months to 4 years 6 months who were attending the service on a full day care or part-time basis being cared for in this care room, outside of the ECCE programme which ran from 9.00am to 12.00midday. This non-compliance was identified at the last inspection of the service on the 10/10/2022. The registered provider gave written assurances in the corrective and preventative actions that procedures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence of the non-compliance, however these were insufficient to ensure that the non- compliance did not re-occur
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (2) Compliance with Capacity: Going forward registered provider will ensure that the number of children in Montessori room 2 aligns with the available floor space and age-appropriate capacity limits, as outlined in the regulations. Preventive Action (2) Annual Review of Capacity: To prevent a recurrence of this non-compliance, registered provider will conduct an annual review of their room plans and capacity limits. This review will be carried out well in advance of the academic year to ensure that we they are fully compliant with regulations. Summary Comment The inspectors reviewed the corrective and preventive actions and evidence submitted by the registered provider following the inspection. Assurances given by the registered provider have been accepted and these will be reviewed at the next inspection