# Catkins Early Years Service, Longford Town — inspection reports and findings > Catkins Early Years Service (Longford Town, Co. Longford): what Tusla inspections found — 3 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Catkins Early Years Service Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Longford Town, Longford · Tusla ID **TU2015LD026** · Registered since 1 January 2026 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 17 November 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for all staff members and 4 students on work placement experience; however, one vetting disclosure w as not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. There was no documentary evidence available that daily indoor room environmental risk assessments were consistently completed to ensure a safe play and work environment for the children and staff. 3. The chairs used in the Baby and Junior preschool rooms were not suitable for children aged 1-3 years to use for meals and tabletop activities as they were unable to place their feet on the floor for stability and balance. Infection Control: 4. Twelve low level beds were stored in the lobby of the sanitary area used by the junior preschool room; this was unhygienic and posed a risk for cross contamination. Safe Sleep: 5. Two children aged under two years were observed to be sleeping on low beds instead of a cot. 6. A sleep plan was not available for the two children aged under two years observed to be sleeping on low beds in the Baby room. 7. The mattress used in cot 5 was too small for the cot frame and created a risk of entrapment as gaps were observed at the side of the mattress. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The Garda Vetting disclosure is on file. 2. The Centre Manager went through the forms, requirements and how to submit. All rooms now submitting their assessments daily via the Little Vista App. Centre Manager sent a reminder message on little vista. The task has been delegated by Lead Educators with an alternative person delegated in the case of absence. 3. Two sets of new chairs purchased, 15cm chairs & 20cm chairs. This will ensure we have height appropriate chairs for the smallest children attending regardless of height. Lead Educators know now to check their feet touch the floor. Infection Control: 4. The beds were removed and are now stored in a storage press beside the room. Safe Sleep: 5. Floor beds have been purchased for the children aged under 2 years who do not sleep in a cot. 6. Sleep Plans are completed as per Tusla Sleep Guidelines. The Lead Educator trained in the sleep guidelines to ensure the forms are completed in the future. The sleep plan requirement now included in the full policies and procedures for the service. 7. A new mattress has been purchased . All mattresses are labelled to match with the corresponding cot so the long cot doesn’t end up with a short mattress again after they are stripped for cleaning Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. #### Inspection of 7 May 2025 — Change in Circumstance Full report (PDF, Tusla) No non-compliance recorded in this report. #### Inspection of 22 November 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. A number of items of outdoor play equipment in the outdoor play areas used by the children attending the prefabricated units were damaged and posed potential risks of injury to children. these included: • A broken mirror with jagged edges at the base, • A chalkboard with damage at the base with exposed splinters, • A lath of wood on one edge of a wooden table was loose. 2. Powdered infant formula was not prepared in accordance with National guidance in the Baby room. The staff advised that they made up bottles in the playroom. 3. The lower section of the wooden handwashing unit in the junior preschool playroom was worn and a section from the flooring to the wall had heavy duty tape fitted which was uneven. This area could prove difficult to effectively. The person in charge advised that action was been taken to assess the source of a leak in this area of the preschool room. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The service advised in writing that: - General Safety: 1. The mirror, chalkboard and the lath of wood have been repaired with photographic evidence submitted to the Inspectorate of the repairs on the 26 November 2024. Staff are asked to report issues at the time of carrying out the garden risk assessment. Infection Control: 2. Infant bottles will no longer be made up by the staff in the baby room/ setting. The service will advise parents to provide made up bottles and store them in the fridge in baby room until required to be used. The service will advise parents to provide bottles already made up and store them in accordance with National guidelines until ready for use. 3. The plumber has found the leak under the adult sink that has affected the flooring and the child height sink area. A new unit to include the adult sink/worktop and the step down to the child height sink has been ordered and will be installed by mid-February. The area around the child height sink has been tidied and photographic evidence will be sent to the office of the early year’s inspectorate of the new unit when installed Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 22, 24, 28. ### Other services in Longford - [Catkins on the Move](/creche/catkins-on-the-move-longford.md) Longford - [Center Parcs Longford Forest Activity Den](/creche/center-parcs-longford-forest-activity-den-ballymahon.md) Ballymahon - [Dromard Childcare Community Group CLG](/creche/dromard-childcare-community-group-clg-moyne.md) Moyne - [Lanesborough/Ballyleague Community Childcare Service CLG](/creche/lanesborough-ballyleague-community-childcare-service-clg-lanesboro.md) Lanesboro - [Stars Academy](/creche/stars-academy-newtownforbes.md) Newtownforbes - [Head Start Preschool](/creche/head-start-preschool-lanesboro.md) Lanesboro - [Scallywags](/creche/scallywags-longford.md) Longford - [ABC Childcare Stonepark](/creche/abc-childcare-stonepark-longford.md) Longford - [Winnie the Pooh Montessori](/creche/winnie-the-pooh-montessori-drumlish.md) Drumlish - [Trinity Tots](/creche/trinity-tots-longford.md) Longford [Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md) --- Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/catkins-early-years-service-longford-town/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11