Inspection of 24 February 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a)(b) The required validated references were not available in three files of the four reviewed
Provider's corrective action:
- (a)(b) A copy of the required validated references was submitted to the inspectorate. The registered provider stated that to prevent further non-compliance they have developed a spreadsheet to record Garda vetting, training requirements and expiry dates as required
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- The lack of a designed environment and considered staff engagement impacted on the experiences and care of the children attending the Daisy room. On both days of the inspection this room accommodated up to 12 children between 1 and 2 years. This room did not facilitate individual’s children’s development or learning through the provision of activities materials and equipment. The room layout did not enable the children to independently engage with activities or experiences. The following was observations were made: 1. The children had no free access to play materials and toys. There were no shelving units or furniture in the area of the room where the children occupied. The children’s toys were stored on shelving in the area which was inaccessible to them. 2. There was a limited amount of play materials in the children’s space, for example there was only soft matting and with soft shapes for climbing and crawling and two climbing apparatus. 3. Staff were not observed to offer planned activities or experiences for children. On day two when the children returned from the garden, a box of magnetic squares were placed on the floor for the 12 children. These did not engage the children in meaningful play as only two children played with the shapes while the other children walked around the room. No additional toys were introduced into the play area. 4. Children’s artwork and pictures displayed on the wall were placed high and out of the children’s eyeline. 5. Staff described how the partitioned part of the room is only used for art activities or if the children are eating as this is the space with tables and chairs. This reduced the space the children had free access to
- A number of interactions between the staff and children were observed in the Daisy room which were at variances with the service’s ethos, statement of intent and policies. Staff members in the Daisy room were observed not picking up on children’s cues. For example, the following was observed: 6. At 11:50 a staff member was observed to sit and read a book with the children, one child lay on the mat with their soother and teddy and two staff acknowledged that they were probably tired but there was no action taken to support the child’s needs. The service guidance policy stated that soft quiet spaces are provided for children to withdraw comfortable when they are feeling tired or overwhelmed or just want to be alone. 7. The staff in this room did not display awareness of the services behaviour guidance policy which stated that staff member need to know the service’s approach to supporting children in their social, emotional and behavioural development. Staff were overheard commenting negatively about a child who had hit a second child with a book. Staff did not intervene only to say, ‘ah ah, stop that’, no alternatives were offered to the child to distract them and engage them in positive behaviour. 8. There was limited engagement by staff with the children during transition periods. Children were upset and crying as the dinner was brought into the room. Two staff members left the play area to prepare the serve the food. One staff was left with 12 children, and 5 children stood at the divider with 2 of these children visibly upset
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider stated that a new floor plan for the room has been agreed and a board meeting was held with funding allocated to purchase the necessary furniture and toys for the rooms. The divider will be removed from the room to give the children full access to clear floor space. A meeting was held with the room leaders and a follow up meeting with the team in this room. Management discussed activities, and curriculum planning with the team in this room. A follow up meeting is planned for the end of the month. Management have been in touch with the Better Start the Quality Development service, and a date has been agreed for a site visit
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Safety: 1. Garda vetting for 10 staff members whose disclosures were identified as due for renewal were requested for review and of these 3 these were not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Infection Control: 2. Children’s soothers were not stored in clean labelled containers as per the service’s infection control policy. Staff in the Daisy room left the children’s soothers in their individual cubbies or on open shelving during the day. 3. A child’s bottle of milk was stored on the child’s shelf in the Daisy room during the day. This is not in line with the service Infection Control policy which stated that perishable food will be stored in the fridge and not in room temperature for longer than two hours. 4. Staff were observed to prepare powdered infant formula (PIF) in the baby room. It is not recommended that early year’s settings prepare PIF for children in their care. Safe Sleep: 5. There was inadequate supervision of some children while they slept. At 13:51, 3 children over the age of 2 were observed to sleep on low beds with 5 children under two sleeping in cots. Staff completed 10- minute checks however, children sleeping on low beds require constant supervision which sleeping. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- Safety: 1. The registered provider stated that Garda vetting has been applied for. They stated that to prevent further non-compliance they have developed a spreadsheet to record Garda vetting and expiry dates as required. Infection Control: 2. Containers have been supplied for individual children’s soothers. 3. Staff have informed parent that all children’s bottles must be stored in the fridge. 4. Parents have been informed that baby’s bottle must be prepared at home Safe Sleep: 5. The registered provider stated that a staff member will stay in the room while children are sleeping. The staff rota has been revised to accommodate extra staff to be available at sleep time
Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance
- (3) (b) On the inspector’s arrival there was no requirement to sign in or out of the service. Through discussion with staff, it was determined that there was a visitors’ sign in book however it was not used on the day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- (3)(b) The registered provider stated that a visitor sign in book has been acquired, and all visitors will be required to sign in and on arrival and exit. The book will be places at the front entrance of the building
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 22.