Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for one adult. However, this vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Fire Safety: 2. A child who recently began attending the service and was present on the day of inspection had not been added to the attendance record. As a result, there was an inadequate record of attendance on the day This may hinder safe evacuation in the event of an emergency. Accurate attendance records was a non-compliance on the previous inspection. The preventative action was not maintained in line with the information provided to the inspectorate following the last inspection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. A submission has been made for updated garda vetting. Once vetting is received it will be forward to the agency. Management will ensure to update vetting, so no expiry dates are missed again. Fire Safety: 2. The child was added to the roll book that day. Going forward all children will be added to the roll book even if attending a part of a session
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) The registered provider did not ensure a person trained in first aid responder (FAR) was available to the children at all times during the operating hours of the service. On the day of the inspection there was no staff member present who held a valid FAR certificate. It is acknowledged there was a person present with an expired certificate. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection. The preventative action was not maintained in line with the information provided to the inspectorate following the last inspection
(a) (b) A suitably equipped first aid box was not available. A review of the available first aid boxes showed there was no burn dressings available. A suitably equipped first aid box including two burn dressings should be available at all times to support the care and safety of children attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
(1) Two staff have been registered to complete FAR over the summer months. Management will review for when this needs to be renewed. (2) (a)(b) Burn dressings were purchased for the first aid box. Management will ensure all equipment is available in the first aid box each month
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
(1) (a) 1. Toys and equipment were not grouped into defined interest areas in Vernan hall and additional toys and equipment were required to support a variety of spontaneous play experiences for example a small folding kitchen was available on the shelf however it was not obvious what this was on first view and children did not have access to any dress up costumes for imaginative play. A range of play equipment which is readily available in clearly defined areas encourages and supports children to make choices and engage in a range of play experiences. It is acknowledged that all toys and equipment must be cleared away each day and the room left empty for use by other groups. 2. The behaviour management practice used by staff were not observed to be supportive of the individual needs of the children or in line with the behaviour management policy for example two children were arguing over some toys. The staff member who intervened gave the toys to one child and did not provide adequate support to the other child to understand what was happening. The child was then observed wandering aimlessly around the room for a short period
Provider's corrective action:
1. The service has grouped toys into areas and taken the toy kitchen off the shelf and put it on a table so the children can access it. The service has a basket of accessories to go with it i.e. pots, pans, empty cartons, play fruit and veg. The registered provider will make sure they are out each day for the children to play with. 2. This was addressed at a staff meeting. Staff were reminded of the need to support all children when upset. The registered provider has offered to provided training if required
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A child was observed to have whole grapes for lunch which posed a choking hazard. The service healthy eating policy does not identify potential choking hazards which should not be included in the children’s lunches. Infection Control: 2. Paper handtowels were not hygienically dispensed in the sanitary areas and were observed in a basket behind the sink which posed a risk of cross contamination. Administration of Medication: 3. Medication held in the service for one child was observed to have expired. It is acknowledged that the child has never required the medication to be administered in the service. This posed a risk of injury to the child should the medication be administered in the event of an emergency. Fire Safety: 4. A review of the fire drill records showed that fire drills were not completed during March and April 2024 which posed a potential risk to the children in the case of a fire evacuation. Monthly fire drills are required to ensure children are prepared for an evacuation in an emergency situation. 5. Attendance records did not adequately reflect the times of arrival and departure of the children which may pose a risk in the event of a fire emergency. The arrival time of only one child was recorded in the roll book for each room followed by a double line symbol indicating the arrival of all other children. The time of departure of a child who was observed leaving the service at 12pm was not recorded until 12:20pm when another group of children had left the service. Attendance records which detail the time of arrival and departure of each child are required to be completed in a timely manner to ensure the safe evacuation of all children in the event of a fire emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Parents were texted about cutting up fruit and vegetables and this was added to the policy and procedures. The registered provider will send reminders to all parents, especially to all new parents starting in September. Monthly reminders will be sent to parents over group text. Infection Control: 2. The service ordered tissue dispensers to put the tissues in each bathroom. Staff will make sure the tissues are put in the dispenser when the service reopens in September. Administration of Medication: 3. New medication was obtained for the child. Management will keep a note of all dates of any new medication from September and ask parents to replenish once out of date. Fire Safety: 4. Fire drills were talked about in staff meeting and the importance of them to be done each month. The service have scheduled time to complete the drills monthly going forward. The registered provider will remind teachers towards the end of each month. 5. At a staff meeting it was decided to only have one attendance book for each class. The staff will date and have a time written down for each child. The registered provider will make sure to keep a note of the teachers doing this. The registered provider will review this process at the end of September to make sure it is working
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) The registered provider did not ensure that a person trained in First Aid Response was available at all times to the children in the service. A review of FAR certification showed that one staff member held up to date FAR certification however this person was not present on the day of inspection. This posed a risk that a child may not receive adequate intervention in the event of a medical emergency. It is acknowledged that one staff member who was present on the day held paediatric first aid
Provider's corrective action:
(1) Two more staff members will complete FAR training to ensure cover for absences or sick leave. The deputy manager is scheduled to complete the course prior to the service reopening in September. Management will make sure all certificates are in date and that the service always have enough cover