(2)(a)(b) There was one adult working in the service that did not have the two required written validated references on file. There was one student on work placement in the service, that had the two required written references, however these references were not validated by the registered provider or a person acting on their behalf. Following the inspection of the 11/11/25 management stated the following in the corrective and preventative action plan (CAPA). Management will ensure that the Recruitment Policies are adhered to and all required vetting, references, ID and records of employment are in place and validated for the staff member before employment starts. (3) The correct vetting procedures specified in paragraph (2) were not carried out prior to any person being appointed, assigned or allowed access to or contact with a child attending the pre-school service. (2)(d) International police vetting was not available for one adult working in the service that had lived in another state for a period longer than six months
Provider's corrective action:
(2)(a)(b) Written and validated references are now on file for the one staff member and student present in the service. (2) (d) Internation police vetting has been applied for. (3) Vetting procedures will be completed in full prior to any person taking on a position within the service
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. An individual care plan was devised for a child attending the service. However, the staff working with this child informed the inspector that they were unaware of the contents of the care plan as it was developed with management and stored in the office. Contents were not shared with the staff working with the child on a daily basis. It was stated in the CAPA following the inspection of the 11/11/25 that children who require additional support will be identified and their care needs planned for in the form of an individual care plan. 2. On the day of inspection, for the main meal, plain chicken, beans and mashed potatoes with gravy was offered to the children. In the Montessori room, a number of children stated they did not like the plain chicken offered. The staff informed the inspector that they were aware that not all the children liked this dinner, but an alternative was not available. The staff were observed taking chicken off some plates and putting extra potatoes and beans from other plates to try and suit the children’s choices. Three children only had potatoes and gravy. A small jug of gravy was available, 2 children were heard ask for more gravy, but they were told there was no more available. The staff were aware that the children would not eat this dinner, but an alternative was not available and many children did not eat this meal. 3. The children were served their dinner on small plastic plates and were given dessert spoons to eat with. The cutlery and plates were not suitable for the children’s age and stage of development
Provider's corrective action:
(1) The written care plan has been shared with staff members and is available to view within the care room. Management will ensure that this procedure is carried out with future care plans. (2) The main cook within the service was not working on the day of inspection. The cook has taken note of the children’s food interests and will monitor and adjust the menu accordingly. An alternative meal will be available for children. (3) Larger plates and cutlery are now available for the older children. Younger children will have plates appropriate to their age
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
Seven of the eight mattresses needed replacing in the sleep room. They were in poor condition and lumpy. They did not fit the cot base sufficiently or have a cover that was of waterproof material
Provider's corrective action:
Seven new mattresses have been ordered. The sleep room daily risk assessment has been updated to ensure that all staff are aware of the need to record any damage and make the manager aware. The manager will sign off on all risk assessment sheets. These will be stored in the office and any reported issues from the sheets will be logged and action taken in a timely manner
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A staff member was observed entering the Toddler room in an abrupt or forceful manner. The door into the playroom was opened by a staff member without taking due care that the small toddlers could have been standing behind the door. This posed a risk of injury to the children if they were standing or sitting within reach of this door. 2. The front door was not secure when the inspectors went to leave the building. This posed a risk of a child exiting the building unsupervised or unauthorised entry to the building. 3. A trailing cord for a monitor was plugged in adjacent to a cot in the sleep room. The trailing cord beside a cot posed a risk of strangulation. The monitor was immediately unplugged and removed by the inspection team. 4. A drop rail on one of the cots was broken which allowed for the rail to be moved up and down by a child and could pose a risk of injury to a child. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Signs have been put on all care room doors reminding staff and visitors to look before entering. Staff have been reminded of the need for caution when entering care rooms. 2. There is a large sign on the door asking for the door to be kept locked at all times. Staff have been reminded not to leave the door on the latch for any reason and to ensure it is always shut properly when they come in. 3. The monitor has been put on a high shelf with all cables out of reach. The risk assessment for the sleep room has been amended to include this. 4. The cot was removed and a replacement cot has been ordered. All staff have been reminded to advise management if they notice anything is damaged or broken and the room leader will check all the cots weekly as per the sleep room risk assessment
Regulation 25 — First aid
On the day of inspection, there was no person trained in First Aid Responder on the premises and available to the children during the operational hours of the service. There were 2 staff trained in First Aid Responder, one of the staff members was rostered off for the week and the second trained staff member was rostered to work from 07.45 to 16.45 on the day of inspection. The service is open from 7.45 to 18:00 hour each day. This posed a risk to the children and staff attending in the event of an emergency
Provider's corrective action:
There are three staff members trained in first aid responder and will one staff member will be on the premises at all times during the operational hours of the service
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16.
Inspection of 11 November 2025 — Inspection Report
(2)(a) (b) 1. On the day of inspection, there were 2 adults that did not have 2 validated references each from a recent employer or a reputable source available for inspection. 2. There was 1 adult that had 2 references on file, but these references were not validated. (2)(d) There were 2 adults that did not have a record of employment available for inspection; therefore, it was not possible to ascertain if police vetting was required for these 2 adults. (7)(a) The registered provider did not demonstrate that they had taken all reasonable measures to ensure that all employees were appropriately supervised and provided with sufficient information and training to safeguard the children attending the service and to comply with the regulations. Practices observed were directly at variance with the policies and procedures in place in the service. 1. The staff training policy stated that training needs are identified through support and supervision which was not occurring regularly in the service. 2. Through review of records and discussions with staff and the person in charge, it was evident that staff had not received appropriate supervision. There were no records available and the person in charge told inspectors that no supervision meetings had been carried out. This was at variance with the service staff supervision policy which stated that all staff members must have regular, consistent and uninterrupted supervision
Provider's corrective action:
(2)(a) (b) 1. Validated references are now on file. 2. References on file have been validated. (2)(d) Records of employment are now on file. Management will ensure that the Recruitment Policies are adhered to and all required vetting, references, ID and record of employment are in place and validated for the staff member before employment starts. (7)(a) The policies and procedures have been updated. All staff will receive training on these policies and procedures. Support and supervision meetings have been scheduled to begin on 5th January 2026. An emphasis will be put on identifying training needs. Written records will be kept of the supervision. Supervision will take place every 2 months. Regular reviews of all policies and procedures will take place
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(1) (i) Details of the staff roster on a daily basis was not available for inspection. (k) The staff did not accurately record accidents and incidents that occurred in the service. 1. An accident/incident/injury report for an injury observed in the wobbler room on day 1 of inspection was not recorded. This may compromise the health and well-being of the child should the relevant persons not be informed of the incident/accident/injury or if the care administered while the child was in the service was not documented. 2. On review of the records of accidents and incidents in the Playschool room, the staff recorded a biting incident that occurred; however, they did not have any record of informing the parent of the child that did the biting. Only one record was available for inspection and that was signed by the parent of the child that was bitten
Provider's corrective action:
(3)(i) Staff Rosters are now completed weekly, one week in advance and are on display on the notice board in the entrance hall
(1) The Accident and Incident Policy have been reviewed and updated. All staff have been reminded of the importance of recording all accidents and incidents, minor or otherwise, in the Accident and Incident Book as not doing so can compromise the health and wellbeing of the child. (2) The Accident and Incident Policy and the Biting Policy have been reviewed and updated to state that, in the case of a child biting another child, an Incident Report must be completed for both the child that was bitten and the child who did the biting. All staff have been made aware of this. The service manager will ensure that weekly rosters are in place. The manager will ensure that all staff including staff on induction are aware of the accident and incident policy in the service. The manager will review the accident and incident records regularly
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. Two children within the service displayed behaviours that demonstrated the need for individual care planning. On discussion with staff the practice of using care plans to coordinate and care for these needs were not in place. This posed a risk to the child of not having a planned coordinated proactive approach to managing their needs. 2. Children in the wobbler room did not have the opportunity to practice their balance and coordination skills by not having the opportunity to move themselves using appropriate gross motor equipment. On the 1st day of inspection, the following was observed. 3. In the Playschool room a child (2 years 3 months old) was unsettled and had been crying. The child was carried around the room by a staff member. The child appeared to want to get down on the ground, but the child’s freedom of movement was compromised and the staff member continued to walk around the room while carrying them. This continued for a further 5 minutes before the child was left down on the ground to participate in an action song (head, shoulders, knees and toes) that another staff member was singing. 4. Staff in the Playschool room did not recognise a child’s individual cues for tiredness, a young child was observed very upset, unsettled and wandering around the playroom not engaging in any activities. This child was not put down to sleep but was distracted by a member of staff by bringing her for walks around the service. When asked by the inspector why this child wasn’t been put down to sleep, they were informed that the child usually goes home to sleep as they were new to the service and this was the approach taken by the service and the parent. 5. The programme of activity on display on the wall of the Playschool room was not adhered to on the day of inspection. The outdoor area was not in use on the day until after 15:30, even though the weather was suitable and two separate times were listed for outdoor play on the programme of activities. The staff could not explain why the children were not brought outside to play earlier during the session. Following discussion with the inspectors the children were brought out to the outdoor play area. 6. While the children in the Montessori room were having their afternoon snack, the atmosphere did not appear to be pleasant or relaxed and the interactions between a staff member and the children were negative in tone. The staff member was heard saying the following statements to the children in their care. “Eat up your food, remember the children that don’t have any food” “Don’t talk when you are eating, you can choke” “We don’t play with our food” Children that were talking to each together in small groups were told to ”shush”. Two children were observed to be happily chatting during snack but were told to behave or they would be separated. 7. There was no adult chair in the Toddler rooms for the nurturing, feeding and comforting the young children in this playroom. The staff were observed sitting on small child sized sofas and on the floor when they were comforting the young children. 8. There was no record of a staff meetings taking place in the service. The staff members informed the inspectors that staff meetings had not taken place
Provider's corrective action:
1. Individual care plans are now in place for the children. Children who require additional support will be identified and their care needs planned for. 2. Equipment necessary for the gross motor development is now present in the wobbler room. A review of the necessary equipment for the wobbler room has taken place. 3. An individual care plan has been developed to identify and meet this child’s needs in consultation with the parents and wider team. 4. A review of the child’s routine will be completed in consultation with the child’s parents. 5. All rooms have been reminded of the importance of including the outdoor play areas in their planning and daily activities as laid out in our Outdoor Play Policy and Procedures. Staff have been informed of the outdoor play policy. 6. Our Healthy Eating Policy says that an adult should sit with the children at mealtimes to encourage conversation, good eating habits and to make the mealtime a rewarding experience for the children. This is important to nurture healthy attitudes towards food and eating. Negative language is unacceptable. Our policy has been reviewed and updated to reflect this. All staff have been reminded of the importance of positive language in all interactions with the children and have read the Healthy Eating Policy. 7. Adult chairs have been purchased. 8. Staff team meetings have been scheduled starting on the 12 January 2026. These will be held a room at a time. An agenda will be set prior to the meeting which will include a brief discussion of the policies reviewed by staff up to then. Team meeting will be scheduled for every 4-6 weeks and a full staff meeting every 3 months
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
There was a lack of adequate and suitable equipment for children to play with: The wobbler room There was a lack of equipment to allow the children to pull to stand and there were 7 “cause and effect” toys that required batteries, however 5 of the toys did not work as required. The playschool room The playschool room was poorly stocked with play equipment and experiences for the children. This impacted the experience of the children attending this room. The book area had very poor selection of books and most of the books in the book box were torn and in poor condition. The play kitchen present in this playroom was poorly stocked with accessories and did not offer the children a range of experiences. The dress up clothes area was poorly stocked with dress up costumes for the children. The costumes present were in poor condition. They were all stored in a container and not stored in a manner that would be easy for the children to pick and choose which outfit they wanted to try on. There were limited activities observed in the playschool room and the activities listed on the programme of activities did not take place. The staff member present was unable to say why an arts and crafts activity did not take place. At 14:33 the children were observed wandering around the room little or nothing to do
Provider's corrective action:
Wobbler Room – Batteries have been replaced in the cause-and-effect toys. A supply of replacement batteries available when needed. Some pull to stand toys were outside on the day of the inspection. Staff will ensure that some of these are always available indoors. A full review of equipment will be undertaken to identify what further equipment needs to be purchased to ensure that the development needs of the children are being met. Playschool Room – There is a large selection of books in this room, but many are seasonal or themed so are rotated regularly. However, torn books that are too damaged to be read should be removed from the box and disposed of. Staff have been reminded to check the box regularly and remove any torn book and if they are unrepairable to dispose of them. A new play kitchen and washing machine have been added to the home corner. There is a large box of accessories and a list has been made of further items to enhance the area. These will be purchased in the new year. Dress up outfits have been hung on hooks in the dress up corner to make it easier for children to choose their outfits
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. There were 8 garda vetting disclosures reviewed on the day of inspection. However, 1 these vetting disclosures was not dated within the previous 3 years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. Whole grapes were present in a child’s lunch box in the Montessori room. Whole grapes are a choking risk to young children. It was noted on the day that a staff member present cut the grapes into smaller pieces, to reduce the risk of choking. 3. In the Playschool, room a child aged 2 years and 2 months was observed wearing hooped earrings, which may pose a risk of injury. Infection Control: 4. Handwashing prior to snack and mealtimes was not carried out consistently between all care rooms. A child’s hands were not washed following a nappy change and where a child had injured themselves and had been bleeding. 5. A number of floor mats and couches within the service were torn. A blue chair in the Wobbler room and an adult chair in the Toddler room had exposed foam from the insert. This posed a risk of infection as they cannot be cleaned effectively. 6. There were no liquid soap or handtowels in the wobbler sanitary accommodation. This did not allow for effective handwashing after nappy changing. 7. Soothers in both the wobbler and playschool care rooms were stored in the children’s bags or loose on a shelf and not in individual containers. 8. The nappy disposal bins in use in the service were not sealable and airtight and posed a risk of infection to children. This was also noted on the previous inspection. 9. The nappy changing mat in use in the wobbler room was torn. This posed a risk of infection to the children as it cannot be cleaned effectively. 10. The nappy changing area for the Wobblers was used as a storage area for toys, staff bags and staff clothing. This posed a risk of cross infection. 11. There were 2 containers of barrier cream and a tin of powder on the windowsill in the nappy changing area. There containers were not individually labelled and posed a risk of cross infection. 12. The insert in one of the highchairs was ripped, which did not allow of the effective cleaning of the highchairs, posing a risk of cross infection. This highchair was replaced by the second day of the inspection. 13. There were individual labelled bedsheets for the stackable beds for children over the age of 2 years, but all the used sheets were stored together in a cupboard in the staff room. A staff member was observed carrying them into the playroom when the beds were made up, they were left together on a small pile on a table in the playroom and the staff picked through them searching for the various sheets. This posed a risk of cross infection. Safe Sleep: 14. The sleep records used within the service did not record the required details necessary to monitor safe sleep. There was no record of the staff member completing the record, the room temperature at regular intervals, the position and breathing of the sleeping child. The time of the sleep checks were pre- populated on each sleep sheet. This posed a safety risk to the sleeping child. This was also noted on the previous inspection. In corrective and preventative actions submitted following the last inspection in March 2025, the person in charge stated that the manager will do spot-checks at sleep time to ensure the sleep records are completed accurately. Through review of records and discussion with the person in charge it was evident that the person in charge was not carrying out these checks or aware of procedures being carried out within the care room which were at variance with the Safe Sleep Policy within the service. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The in date garda vetting was not available to the inspectors at the time of inspection as it was misfiled. 2. Children’s lunchboxes will be checked by staff members before children have access to their food to ensure there are no choking hazards present. The Healthy Eating Policy has been updated. Staff will be vigilant for choking hazards. 3. The child’s parents were advised of the risk such earring pose. A new Jewellery Policy has been developed to address any future jewellery issues. Infection Control: 4. The Nappy Changing Policy and Healthy Eating Policy have been reviewed with emphasis on handwashing after nappy change, before eating and when needed throughout the day. All staff have been informed of the updated policies. 5. Damaged items have been removed from the care rooms. Staff have been advised to complete daily risk assessments and advise management of any damaged items. 6. Handsoap and hand towels have been replaced within the sanitary accommodation. Staff have been advised to complete daily risk assessments and cleaning schedules and ensure these are completed fully. 7. Soothers will be stored in individual labelled containers. 8. Sealable, foot operated nappy bins have been purchased for the service. 9. The nappy changing mat has been replaced. 10. The Wobblers nappy change area has been cleared of all unnecessary items. Staff have been reminded that all personal items should be stored in the staff room and nothing other than nappy/toileting items should be stored in the area as this carries a risk of cross infection. 11. Unlabelled creams and powders have been disposed of. The Nappy Changing Policy has been reviewed and updated to address this. 12. The highchair has been replaced with a new highchair. 13. Individual labelled baskets are in place in the service and will be used to store the children’s bed linen. The sleep policy has been updated to reflect this change. Safe Sleep: 14. Staff have been reminded of the importance of correctly completing the sleep sheets. The Safe Sleep Policy has been reviewed and updated to ensure that all staff are aware of the procedures for ensuring the children’s health and safety during sleep. All staff will receive training on completing the sleep sheets before supervising in the sleep room. Manager’s weekly checks have been updated to include checks that the sleep record sheets are being correctly completed
Regulation 29 — Premises
(3) The registered provider did not ensure the sanitary accommodation in the wobbler room was adequately heated at the required temperature range of between 18 – 22 °C. At 12.27 on the second day of inspection, the room temperature of the nappy changing room in the wobbler was recorded at 15.7 °C. This temperature did not ensure the comfort for the children within the room during nappy change
Provider's corrective action:
There was a fault in the radiator which was repaired. The temperature in the sanitary accommodation will now be maintained between 18 – 22 °C
Immediate action notice. a) 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 4 March 2025. The registered provider submitted a response on the 5 March 2025 to the Early Years Inspectorate in relation to the immediate action notice. The registered provider submitted evidence of an installation of a digital thermometer to check the temperatures in the sleep room to ensure they are within the 16 – 20 degrees.
Immediate action notice. However, on inspection additional non-compliances which posed a risk were identified under Regulation 23: Safeguarding Health, Safety and Welfare of Child and Regulation 8: Notification of Change in Circumstances. These findings are outlined within the relevant regulations within this report.
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. The privacy and dignity of the children at nappy time was not maintained as two children from two different care rooms had their nappy changed at the same time within the same space. 2. The healthy eating policy was not implemented on the day of inspection. Children were observed to eat biscuits, chocolates, chocolate bread and crisps during their snack. It is acknowledged that the registered provider had shared the healthy eating policy in place in the service with the parents
Provider's corrective action:
1. Staff were reminded to only bring one child at a time in to be changed. The nappy changing policy was reviewed and amended. 2. Parents were reminded of the healthy eating policy. Staff will send home snack items that are unsuitable as per the healthy eating policy and offer the children an alternative if needed
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. Two highchairs in the Wobbler room were not used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, only two out of the five-point harnesses were used when children were sitting in them, which posed a risk of falling to the children as they were not safely secured in the chairs. 2. In the Playschool room, children were observed playing with small lids from drink’s containers. It was clearly stated on the containers, that the lids should not be used for children under 36 months, as they posed a risk of choking. When this was brought to attention of the staff present, they removed them immediately. 3. The metal radiator covers in the playrooms required removal, as they were preventing the radiators from been cleaned. On the day of inspection dust and dirt was evident behind the radiator in the Toddler room. The staff members informed the inspection team that they had tried to clean the area but were limited to what they could clean as the covers restricted access. Infection Control: The following posed a risk of cross infection: 4. The nappy mat in the nappy changing area was ripped, therefore it could not be effectively cleaned. 5. The nappy disposal bins that were used in the nappy changing areas were not sealable, airtight and foot pedal controlled to prevent the spread of cross infection. Safe Sleep: There was a risk to sleeping child children as outlined below: 6. Accurate sleep checks were not maintained. The time of the sleep checks were pre-populated on each sleep sheet. The name of the person who did the sleep checks was not clear on the sleep chart. The room temperatures of the room were inaccurate, the temperature was taken once and not updated throughout the day. 7. The condition of the mattresses in the cots used by the service were not well maintained. There were five cots where the mattresses required replacing. They were showing signs of wear and tear and did not fit the cots correctly. 8. The sleep temperatures of the sleep room were not maintained and kept at temperatures of between 16 °C and 20°C. The following temperatures were recorded throughout the session, when the sleep room was in use. At 12.15pm with 8 children aged between 1-2 years sleeping in the room the recorded temperature was 22.1°C. At 12.22pm with 8 children aged between 1-2 years sleeping in the room the recorded temperature was 22.9°C. At 1.15pm with 8 children aged between 1-2 years sleeping in the room the recorded temperature was 22.9°C. 9. A child was sleeping in a cot that was positioned directly adjacent to a heated radiator with a radiator temperature of 51.8°C. It is noted that there was a grid around the radiator, but it did not offer protection. This posed a potential risk of burning. 10. The wall thermometer used in the sleep room was not working and could not accurately monitor the sleep room temperature. This posed a risk to sleeping children as the sleep rooms temperatures exceed the recommended safe sleep temperature guidelines. Fire Safety: The following posed a fire safety risk to the children and staff in the event of a fire. 1. The fire evacuation route in corridor between wobbler and toddler room was obstructed with items which included stackable beds and chairs. 2. Firefighting equipment in the corridor between the wobbler and toddler room was blocked and obstructed with items such as stackable beds. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Two highchairs with harnesses not working correctly were removed. Staff were reminded to report any broken or damaged equipment to the manager 2. The lids were immediately removed from the room. Staff were reminded that using lids for arts and crafts is unsafe for under 3s. 3. On the 4th April 2025, a deep clean of the crèche was carried out. Metal radiator covers were removed, and the radiators were thoroughly cleaned. Radiator covers will be removed and cleaned periodically going forward Infection Control: 4. The nappy mat with the tear was removed and replaced with a new one. Staff were reminded to report any damaged equipment to management. 5. The nappy disposal bin was removed and replaced with a plastic, airtight and foot pedal-controlled bin. Safe Sleep: 6. Staff were reminded how to record sleep checks, including signing their name and continuing to monitor the temperature of the room. A colour changing thermometer was purchased to monitor the temperatures in the sleep room. The manager will do spot-checks at sleep time to ensure the sleep records are completed accurately. 7. The cot mattresses will be replaced in the coming weeks. Staff were reminded to report equipment that is damaged or in need of repair/replacement to management. 8. The new sleep room thermometer will accurately record the room temperatures. Staff were reminded how to record sleep checks including the sleep room temperature. The manager will do spot-checks at sleep time to ensure the sleep records are accurate. 9. The cot was moved out from the radiator, and temperature of the room was adjusted, and new thermometer purchased on March 5th 2025. Staff were asked to ensure the distance to the cot was enough that a child cannot reach the radiator. 10. A colour changing thermometer was purchased and staff reminded of accurately checking sleep room temperatures. The manager will do spot-checks at sleep time to ensure the sleep records are accurate. Fire Safety: 1. The beds were removed from the doorway and stored in a separate room. Beds now have an allocated storage space. 2. The beds were removed from the doorway and stored in a separate room. Beds have an allocated storage space
Regulation 25 — First aid
(2)(a) (b) The first aid box was not suitably equipped. The first aid box contents present on the day of inspection were four wound dressings and a box of plasters. This poses a risk to children in the event of an accident
Provider's corrective action:
The first aid kit was fully restocked. A first aid officer was appointed, and a record of monthly checks is in place to ensure all used or out of date stock is replaced immediately
Regulation not named in the report text
On the day of inspection, the name of the registered provider that was listed on the register of the Early Years Inspectorate, was at not the same as the person that was on the premises and in charge on the day. A change in circumstance application had been submitted to the early years inspectorate, but the contract of sale had not been completed at the time of inspection and therefore the name of the new owner was listed but that person had yet to take ownership of the company
Provider's corrective action:
A change of circumstances form was completed and approved for the change in the name of the registered provider. A change in circumstances form will be completed as per the regulations in the future