Inspection of 26 February 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- Two written and validated references were not in place for 1 staff member who commenced working in the service in August 2025. There were 6 validations from previous employers and from sources other than past employers where documentary evidence was not available to demonstrate validation. (3) All of the required vetting documentation was not furnished to the registered provider prior to each staff member taking up employment at the service. This could pose a risk to the health and safety of children when appropriate vetting of staff has not taken place prior to being allowed access to children. (4) There were 2 staff members working directly with the preschool children that did not have evidence of an appropriate childcare qualification in Early childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent. One of these staff was working in the service since August 2025 and the second staff was working in the service since October 2025. Staff members working without an appropriate qualification could impact on the care provided to the children
Provider's corrective action:
- : The registered provider has stated in the Corrective and Preventive (CAPA) form that:
- The two written and verified references were submitted for the 1 staff member who had commenced working in the service in August 2025. Copies of the 6 validations on references from previous employers and from sources other than past employers are now on file in the service. (3) All the required vetting documentation for the staff has been furnished to the inspectorate and are on file in the service. The service will ensure that measures will be in place to ensure all the required documentation for newly appointed staff will be obtained and on file before being appointed, assigned or allowed access to or contact with a child attending the pre-school service. (4) One of the two staff members will have completed a childcare qualification in a number of weeks. No member of staff will be allowed to work directly with children, unless they are qualified going forward
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. The following posed a risk to the safety and well-being of children. - There were 3 preschool children between the age of 1 to 2 years of age each observed to be given a bottle of formula milk while settling in their cot just before a sleep. Staff did not remain in the room while the children drank their bottles. This practice may have posed a safety risk to the children of choking or suffocation. The staff advised that this was the practice with these children. This was at variance with the Safe sleep policy for the service which stated that “no bottles should be in the cot.” Infection Control: 2. The following practice was observed which posed a risk of cross infection. - A staff member working in the Toddler was observed not to wash her hands after each nappy changing procedure. The staff only changed their apron and gloves after each nappy change. - This was at variance with the nappy changing procedure for the service which stated “always wash hands after changing a child.” - The children’s hands were not observed to be washed following each nappy change. Safe Sleep: 3. Safe sleep checks were not carried out in line with the service safe sleep policy. - Staff in the Pre-Toddler room completed checks on sleeping toddlers by looking through the window panel on the sleep room door as opposed to entering the room. A child placed in its cot was not checked at 10-minute intervals as it was put in its cot at approximately 10.30 hrs and wasn’t physically checked by staff until 11.30 hrs. This was at variance with the safe sleep policy which stated, “physical checks are made of each of the sleeping children and use of viewing panel for monitoring is only useful in detecting if a child is upset or crying between the 10 minutes checks or for security”. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: The registered provider has stated in the Corrective and Preventive (CAPA) form that: The service management have reviewed the “Safe sleep policy “with all the staff caring for preschool children aged 1- to 2-year-olds. No bottles will be given to the children while in their cots or when they are going down to sleep. Infection Control: The registered provider has stated in the CAPA form that: The service management have reviewed the “Nappy changing policy “with all staff and the managers are carrying out daily checks to make sure the policy is being adhere to. Safe Sleep: The registered provider has stated in the CAPA form that: The service management have reviewed the “Safe sleep policy “with all staff who are involved in putting children to sleep and them. The manager will carry out checks bi-weekly to ensure the policy is being adhere to. The service management team will do regular checks and will review the sleep and nappy changing policy every few months with the staff
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25.