Creche Inspection Reports

Caha Childcare

Full Day · 1 - 6 Years · Adrigole, Cork · Tusla ID TU2015CC407 · Registered since 1 January 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

2published inspections
3non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 13 May 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (a)+(b) Two validated references were not on file for 1 adult. (3) It was noted that two validated references were not held in respect of one adult until after the adult had commenced their role working directly with the children in the service. All vetting should be completed before a person is appointed, assigned or allowed access to, or contact with, a child attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • In the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) received from the named person in charge of the service, the following was stated: (2)(a)(b) Two validated references for the required adult in the service were received and are now on file in the service. (3) All vetting will be completed prior to a person being appointed, assigned or allowed access to, or contact with, a child attending the service

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • (a)There was no curriculum vitae on file for 1 adult present in the service on day of inspection. (k) There was an accident and incident record book in the service. The services agreed practice was to have parents receive a duplicate of accident forms once these were signed, however this practice was not being followed. On review of the accident and incident records since the last inspection dated 25 November 2024, the following was noted • There were 6 accident and incident written records that the parent or guardian had not received a duplicate copy of the incident. • There were 2 of the 6 accident and incident records incomplete as the respective parent/guardian had not signed the accident and incident record. The service is not following the Accident and Incident policy and procedure of the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • In the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) received from the named person in charge the following was stated:
  • (a)A copy of the curriculum vitae was received and as a completed curriculum vitae is part of the vetting process. Going forward, curriculum vitae will be obtained prior to a person being appointed, assigned or allowed access to, or contact with, a child attending the service. (k) • The 6 accident and incident written records , that on day of inspection , that the respective parent or guardian had not received a duplicate copy of the written incident that occurred to their child while in the service. The person in charge stated,these parents/guardians have now all received a written copy of the accident and incident that occurred to their child while in the service. • The 2 accident and incident records not signed by parent/guardian at time of inspection are now signed and a duplicate copy has been given to the respective parent/guardian

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: The following are potential safety issues observed on day of inspection: 1. The main service entrance door was found not adequately secured for 30 mins (11:30am) when the staff and children from the Preschool room went to play outdoors in the all-weather pitch which is a walking distance away from the facility but within the GAA grounds. The main entrance door was not adequately secured to prevent unauthorised access to the service. 2. On day of inspection, it was observed that constant supervision of two sleeping children in the sleep room aged 19 and 21 months was not provided at all times by the supervising adult. If one or more children are sleeping on individual floor beds, the supervising adult remain in the sleep room at all times to ensure adequate supervision of the sleeping children. 3. Children had access to stacked chairs; five to six high observed in the Creche room. Stacked chairs were also observed in the Preschool room three to four high. Due to the potential safety risks of stacked chairs, falling on a child and children climbing on them and injuring themselves. The stacking of chairs when not in use is not allowed in preschool setting in areas where children have access to. 4. On day of inspection, children had access to 3 /4 stacking beds that were not in use and were stored loosely up against the wall of the sleep room. There was the potential safety risk of a stacking bed falling on and injuring a child. Infection Control: The following are potential cross infection practises observed on day of inspection 5. A staff member was observed changing a child’s nappy on a countertop in the sleep room. To reduce the potential risk of cross infection, nappy changing only take place in designated toilet/nappy changing facilities in early years settings. 6. A large hole/tear was visible on the cloth seating of the dark coloured two-seater chair at child height located in the Preschool room. Protruding from the tear was the inner foam. As this is not an easily cleanable surface there is a potential, cross infection risk, to the children in the service 7. A staff member was observed not wearing a disposable apron while nappy changing. 8. It was observed, at nappy changing, a staff member did not ensure a child’s hands were washed and dried after nappy changing. This issue was identified as non-compliant in the last inspection dated the 25 November 2024 following which the service gave assurances in the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) that staff would ensure that children’s hands were washed and dried after nappy changing, however, this did not prevent a reoccurrence of this non-compliance. 9. While a refuse bin was purchased for the disposal of soiled nappies following the last inspection on 25 November 2024, the bin was not considered adequate. To reduce the potential risk of cross infection, a lined, pedal operated, tight fitting lidded bin is required. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • In the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) received from the named person in charge the following was stated: and preventative response (CAPA) received from the named person in charge the General Safety 1. When the children are playing outdoors the main entrance door to the service is now adequately secured. The service has purchased a lock box to store the main entrance door key when the children are playing outdoors, accessible only to childcare staff. This will ensure that all staff will know where the main entrance door key is stored when playing outdoors. The main entrance door will be adequately secured at all times to prevent unauthorised access. 2. To ensure sleeping children in floor beds will be constantly supervised by a staff member at all times. The service has decided that all sleeping children from the creche room will now be accommodated in the creche playroom while sleeping and that quiet play activities will be organised for the children that are awake. 3. Chairs are no longer stacked in the preschool and creche room. Only the necessary number of chairs needed daily will be brought into the two care rooms. All staff have been advised of same. 4. All stacking beds, when not in use are now stored in the room beside the creche room which had previously being used as the sleep room and now used as a storeroom for sleep equipment when not in use. Staff have been informed to lay stacking beds flat on the floor when not in use. The person in charge has informed the service community board to discuss long term storage options for the stacking beds when not in use, in case of this room being required again in the future as an extra space for the children to play from the creche room or as a sleep room. Infection Control: 5. The person in charge stated that going forward all nappy changing will take place in the one designated nappy changing area in the service. All staff have been informed, and all nappy changing equipment has been removed from the sleep room. 6. A new two-seater chair cover was purchased for the two-seater chair located in the preschool room. The cloth cover will be checked regularly to ensure it is in a proper state of repair. The cloth cover will be removed and laundry weekly. 7. Staff have been informed to comply with the services nappy changing policy and to wear a disposable apron when changing each child’s nappy. The service will ensure that staff have easy access and plentiful supply of aprons for nappy changing in the service. 8. Staff members and students have been informed on the importance of handwashing for the children and staff after nappy changing to prevent cross infection in the service. New wall mounted posters have been erected at low and high levels in the toilet and nappy changing facilities to prompt staff and children to wash hands after use of facilities. A low-level step has been placed by the wash hand basins to ensure easy access for the children when hand washing. 9. A new pedal operated, tight fitting lidded bin for disposal of used nappies has been purchased to prevent the risk of cross infection

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 19, 22, 25, 26, 28.

Inspection of 25 November 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (a) (b)There was no named person in charge on day of inspection. There was no named person to deputise as required. (c) On day of inspection, there was no clear management structure in place in the service that identified the specific roles and responsibilities of each staff member working in the early years service
Provider's corrective action:
  • The coordinator in her written response has stated the following: Corrective and Preventive Action
  • (a)(b) The service has appointed a named person in charge and a named person to deputise as required (c)The coordinator held a meeting with management and staff, and all are now aware of the newly appointed person in charge and the named person to deputise as required and the specific roles and responsibilities of each staff member working in the service

Regulation 22 — Food and drink

  • • It was observed that three of the eight children attending full day care service were not provided with a suitable and nutritious hot meal at lunch time. Each child had just a portion of reheated plain pasta for their hot meal on day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
  • The coordinator in her written response has stated the following: Corrective and Preventive Action The coordinator has written a letter to all parents of children attending the full day care service stating that the parents/guardians are to provide a nutritious lunch time meal that will be reheated in the service. Adequate portion size to include potato/pasta, protein and vegetables

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. The children were observed playing outdoors in a covered area that was not adequately secured by a fence on one side. While the children were adequately supervised while playing there, because the area was not adequately secured at all sides, there was the potential safety risk of a child escaping and having easy access to an open onsite car park. . Infection Control: 2. There was no thermostatically controlled hot water available for hygienic hand washing in the wash hand basins in the adult and children’s toilets and nappy changing facilities increasing the potential risk of cross infection. 3. During observed nappy changing procedure, appropriate infection control measures were not ensured as the children did not wash their hands after nappy changing. Children’s hands were not washed after nappy changing therefore increasing the potential risk of cross infection. 4. The two cot mattresses were not waterproof or were not fitted with a waterproof mattress protector, as required to reduce the risk of cross infection. 5. Cobwebs were visible on the walls in the preschool room and in the sleep room and dirt and dust were evident on the perimeter of the preschool room. To reduce the potential risk of cross infection a deep clean of these two rooms are required (This room is a community hall shared with community groups in the area, in late afternoon, evening and weekends). 6. The lidded operated pedal bins in the preschool room, children’s toilet and nappy changing facility were in poor repair and need to be repaired or replaced. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The coordinator in her written response has stated the following: General Safety: 1. As the children have access to a secured-on-site all-weather surface pitch for outdoor play. The service will use this outdoor play area for the moment until works are completed on securing the covered outdoor play area/room. Staff have been informed and there is a notice located on the covered outdoor play area/room stating area is not used at present until play area is adequately secured and safe for the children to play. The service recently received funding to secure the covered outdoor play area, and management are currently seeking quotes and tasking a builder to complete same. This will be reviewed on the next inspection. Infection Control: 2. The coordinator stated in her written reply that staff forgot on day of inspection, to turn on the thermostatically controlled hot water switch for the wash hand basins in the children’s toilets and nappy changing area. The coordinator stated that following the inspection she spoke to staff regarding this. A decision has now been made in the service, that the staff member that opens the service each morning is responsible for switching on the thermostatically controlled hot water in the service. 3. The coordinator stated in her written reply that staff were informed of the importance of hand washing post nappy changing for both the staff and the children to prevent the spread of cross infection. Also, that staff assist each child with hand washing and hand drying post nappy changing. 4. Two new waterproof mattress covers have been purchased and are now covering the safety mattresses in the standard cots in the sleep room. 5. A deep clean of the walls, ceilings and floors in the preschool room and sleep room have now been completed and going forward a deep clean will take place once a month. 6. The bins in poor repair in the service have been replaced with new lidded pedal operated bins in the preschool room, children’s toilet and nappy changing facility. The bins will be reviewed regularly to ensure they are in a proper state of repair and when found in poor repair will be replaced. Supporting documentation submitted General Safety: 1. Supporting documentation included, the written response from the coordinator and a copy of the notice in the covered outdoor stating, currently not in use until adequately secured, are accepted as evidence Infection Control: 2. Supporting documentation included: a copy of the notice in the kitchen to remind staff to turn on the hot water each morning. The written response from the coordinator are accepted as evidence. 3. Supporting documentation included: a copy of the written notice located beside the wash hand basin in the children’s toilet and nappy changing area to remind staff to assist children to wash their hands post nappy changing. 4. Supporting documentation included: photographic evidence of the purchase of the two waterproof mattress covers. 5. Photographic evidence of the equipment in place to reach and clean the high ceilings. Photographic evidence of the rooms before and after deep clean and around the perimeter of the preschool room after the deep clean. 6. Supporting documentation included photographic evidence of the newly purchased refuse bins. Summary Comment Correspondence forwarded to the Early Years Inspectorate was examined and deemed to meet the requirement of Regulation 23, 2.3.4.5.6. of the Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. 1. How the service has secured the covered outdoor play area will be reviewed on the next inspection

Regulation not named in the report text

  • (1). (3) The registered provider had not informed the Agency in writing that the service was operating outside of the service current registration status. On inspection, it was found that a new person in charge was commencing in the service in December 2024. In the interim and on day of inspection there was no named person in charge in the service since the 6th November 2024
Provider's corrective action:
  • The coordinator in her written response has stated the following: Corrective and Preventive Action The service has informed the department of the new named person in charge. The coordinator of the service will ensure that the department will be informed of any changes to the current registration status of the service prior to the change taking place

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 19, 25, 26, 28.

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