Inspection of 26 August 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. 26/08/2025 An immediate action notice regarding the high temperature in the sleep room was issued by the Early Years Inspectorate to the registered provider on the 26/08/2025. 27/08/2025 The registered provider submitted a response to the Early Years Inspectorate in relation to the immediate action notice which was accepted. On the 27/082025 the registered provider submitted evidence of a dual function cooler fan as a temporary measure to ensure that room temperatures remain between 18 – 22°C. On the 01/09/2025 the registered provider submitted evidence of an air conditioning unit installed in the sleep room which will ensure that the sleep room temperatures remain between 18 – 22°C. A referral was made to the fire officer on 02/09/2025 in relation to the maximum number of 20 children allowed in the first-floor playroom which was found to be non-compliant.
Regulation 8 — Notification of change in circumstances
- (8)(1) The service was found to be operating outside of its registration status and planning. The following details were recorded: The service was registered to accommodate 38 children. A sample of records from 25 May 2025 to 27 June 2025 indicated that there were 42 children present in the service. This was also documented as a non- compliance on the last inspection report on 14 October 2022 in which it was noted that a change of circumstances form had been submitted to the registration office on 27/10/2022, however this had never been finalised. Operating outside registration status could potentially compromise the safety and wellbeing of the children attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider will only allow a maximum of 38 children within the service. The registered provider will ensure by monitoring the number of children that the number of children in attendance will not exceed the registered amount
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Safe Sleep: 1. The temperatures of the toddler sleep room were not maintained and kept at temperatures of between 18°C and 22°C. The following temperatures were recorded throughout the session, when the toddler sleep room was in use. At 1.05 pm with 9 children aged between 2 and 3 years sleeping in the room the recorded temperature was 24.6°C. At 2.37pm with 1 child aged between 2 and 3 years sleeping in the room the recorded temperature was 23.9°C. This posed a safety risk to the children. Fire Safety: 2. A sample of records from 25 May 2025 to 27 June 2025 indicated that there were 22 children present in the playroom on the first floor. Galway fire department had conditions attached to the fire certificate stating that “no more than 20 children who are not sleeping to be accommodated on the first floor “. In conversation, the area manager stated that it was planned that 22 children would be accommodated in the playroom in the new term posing a safety risk to the children. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- Safe Sleep: On the 27/08/2025 the registered provider submitted evidence of a dual function cooler fan as a temporary measure to ensure that room temperatures remain between 18 – 22°C. On the 01/09/2025 the registered provider submitted evidence of an air conditioning unit installed in the sleep room which will ensure that the sleep room temperatures remain between 18 – 22°C for children aged over 12 months. Fire Safety: The number of children who will be accommodated in the playroom on the first floor has been reduced to 20 children
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (1) Documentation available in the form of the staff roster and the First Aid Responder (FAR) certificates on file indicated that there was no FAR trained person available in the service from 07:30 to 09:30 on the morning of inspection, posing a safety risk to the children. It was acknowledged that 2 FAR trained adults were available from 09:30 and that a person with Paediatric First Aid was available at 07:30. (2)(b) The inspectors observed the following which could potentially compromise the care of the children in the service: • There was no sterile water in either fixed first aid box in the office or in the reception area. • A total of 6 out of date triangular bandages were found; 4 in the upstairs first aid box with expiry dates of 2020-03 and 2 in the downstairs first aid box with expiry dates of 2024. • Insufficient quantities of antiseptic wipes. There was only 1 antiseptic wipe available in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) The staff roster has been adjusted to ensure a First Aid Responder trained staff member is on site during the service operational hours. An additional third staff member has been enrolled in the training course. (2) (b) The required first aid contents have been replaced and a new daily checklist is in place to monitor the contents of the first aid kit
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 19, 26, 28.