Creche Inspection Reports

Cairde ELC

Sessional · 1 - 6 Years · Roscam, Galway · Tusla ID TU2022GY005 · Registered since 10 October 2025

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

3published inspections
4non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 21 October 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (2)(a) There were 2 references on file for the staff member that had recently started working in the service. However, these references were not validated by management prior to the person commencing work in the service. This may pose a risk to the children as appropriate vetting procedures were not carried out prior to the staff member commencing employment in the service. (3) The procedures specified in paragraph (2) were not carried out prior to the staff member being appointed, assigned or allowed access or contact with a child attending the service, therefore may posed a risk to the children attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • The references have been validated and management will ensure that staff vetting is completed in full prior to commencing employment in the service

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • 1. There was no evidence that staff members were using ongoing observations and interests of the children to create an effective programme of activity for the children in the playrooms. The Toddler and the ECCE playroom followed the same curriculum plan. The curriculum plan was developed in September outlining the weekly plan until December. This may have a negative impact of the wellbeing, learning and development of the children attending. 2. A staff member in the Wobbler room was observed placing a child’s dinner directly down on the highchair tray, the young child was expected to eat their dinner of chicken stew with their fingers from the tray. There was no effort to provide the child with age-appropriate crockery and cutlery suitable for their age and stage of development. This practice did not encourage the child to learn the skills of using cutlery and learn the skills of self-feeding
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. Staff have received training on child led activities and emergent curriculum planning from the service area manager. Staff will continue to review and discuss curriculum planning at team meetings. 2. This was discussed at a staff meeting and staff will ensure to follow the service policy on healthy eating and use age-appropriate crockery and cutlery

Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play

  • The points below outlined areas where the learning and the development needs of the children were not accommodated and may have an impact on the children attending these playrooms: (1) The interest area provided for children in the Wobbler room and the ECCE room were poorly stocked with toys and had poorly defined interest areas for the children to play. The children in the ECCE room were observed to be engaged in predominantly tabletop activities through the session. There was a lack of sensorial developmental toys and imaginative role-playing toys available to the young children attending this room. (2) The children were observed taking part in adult led activity which involved making a cobweb. This activity was linked to the theme which was “Halloween”. The staff member was observed to show a child how to weave wool around lollipop sticks in the shape of a 6 sided cross, to represent a cobweb. The child attempted to do this activity; the staff intervened and took the sticks from the child and proceeded to undo what the child had done and handed it back to the child and redo it again correctly. This activity was adult led. There were 4 children sitting around the table watching each child been shown individually. This arts and craft activity carried a risk of not facilitating the children’s learning and development as it was not based on their ability and skill level. (3) The children in the Wobbler room were observed engaging in a painting exercise (painting on a paper plate), however only 2 of the 11 children attending got to complete the activity as the staff member informed the inspector there weren’t enough resources for each child to complete the task. This arts and craft activity carried a risk of not facilitating the children’s learning and development as there were insufficient resources to facilitate the number of children present
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. The management team and room leader have made changes to the preschool room to allow for more imaginative role play. A referral has been made to Better Start to help the staff further their understanding of the need for a variety of play activities. 2. A review of the planned activities within the preschool room took place at staff team meetings. An early year’s child led approach will be adopted and the support of the Better Start service will reinforce this. 3. There are sufficient materials to complete the tasks and activities set for the children

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: There were a number of tall free-standing units in each of the care rooms that were not secured to the walls. This posed a safety risk to the children in the care rooms. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: The units have been attached to the wall with appropriate wall brackets. All free-standing units will be wall attached in the future

Found compliant: Regulation 10, 11, 16.

Inspection of 3 July 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • BASIC NEEDS 1. The dignity of the child was not respected at all times during nappy changing, it was observed that more than 1 child was brought to the nappy changing area at one time, while a child was being changed the other child was left sitting on a chair in the lobby area. 2. A sufficient alternative meal was not provided to children who did not like the meal that was offered. - The main meal of the day was sweet and sour chicken with white rice. Five plates of white rice were given to children in the Playschool room, the staff informed that the children didn’t like the meal offered and this was the alternative meal offered to them. This was at variance with their Healthy eating policy of the service. - A child that was offered a plate of rice was observed going to the fridge and taking out her lunch box and directly eating a snack that was allocated for her afternoon snack. 3. When some children were finished snacks there were no activities that these children could play with and had to wait until all children were finished their snack. These children were observed to jump on the soft seating, stand on chairs and pushed and shoved each other. 4. Areas/interests of play were not readily available to allow children to transition from one activity to another in line with the programme of activity the service had developed for the day. Staff did not appear to communicate with each other with regard to these activities. 5. Positive behaviour management techniques were not observed. Staff did not help children to recognise and understand the guidance for playing and sharing with others. On the day a child was happily playing with a doll, when another child came and removed the doll, when the first child objected, a staff member was seen taking the doll from their hands without asking any questions or getting the children to resolve the conflict together. The child that was playing with the doll was observed to be very upset and was not comforted by the staff member
Provider's corrective action:
  • The registered provider stated the following in their reply: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. Staff will only bring one child at a time to the nappy changing area, this practice is now part of the staff induction training. 2. If a child does not like the dinner served, we offer the child an alternative nutritious meal. 3. When a child is finished their snack, they are free to choose which ever toy they would like to play with. All shelving with toys is at child level. 4. The defined interest areas have been enhanced with extra toys and equipment. 5. Staff have received training on behavior management strategies, and it is included in the staff induction training

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. While there were 3 staff trained in first aid, there were no staff trained in First Aid Responder or rostered on the premises during the operational hours of the service. This posed a risk to the safety of children attending. 2. The storage of sleep mats on a trolley and against the wall in the Toddler playroom posed a safety risk to the children. It was observed that a child’s toy rolled under the trolley and when a child went to retrieve the toy sleep mats were observed to fall on the child. Infection Control: The following points may pose a risk of cross infection: 3. A minimum 50 cm space was not provided between each sleep mat in the Toddler room, it is acknowledged the mats were moved ,when this was bought to the attention of the staff by the inspector. 4. The staff toilet was used to store personal belongings and cleaning equipment 5. The ventilation vents in the sanitary areas off the Wobbler room, did not appear to be working and had a build-up of dust. Safe Sleep: 6. The temperature of the sleep room was not maintained between 16℃ and 20℃. The temperature was recorded by the inspection team at 22.4℃, which differed with the temperature that was recorded by staff on the sleep check log. Staff checked the temperature in this room in the morning and in the afternoon and then documented the temperature on the sleep check log, on the day a temperature of 20 ℃ was recorded every ten minutes when children were sleeping. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. Two staff members have recently been received training in First Aid responder and this will be monitored in the future to ensure that at least 2 staff are trained in FAR at all times. 2. The sleep mats have been removed from the playroom. Infection Control: 3. The sleep mats are placed 50 cm apart at all times during sleep time, this is monitored by management. 4. All staff have since been provided with sealed boxes for their belongings. Cleaning products are stored in a cupboard out of reach of the children. 5. The vents are cleaned on a monthly basis. Safe Sleep: 6. The temperature of the sleep room is now maintained at 18℃

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11.

Earlier inspections

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