Creche Inspection Reports

Clever Cats Childcare

Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Inistioge, Kilkenny · Tusla ID TU2015KK016 · Registered since 1 January 2026

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

3published inspections
6non-compliances at latest report read
2immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 4 September 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • One staff member who was working directly with the children did not have a valid certificate in place to confirm they held an award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework
Provider's corrective action:
  • The certificate is now in place to confirm the staff member held an award in Early Childhood Care and Education on the National Qualifications Framework. The service will ensure going forward all required certification of qualification will be in place in future in the service

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • The children in the toddler room were put down to sleep on cot beds in the preschool room. They were provided with blankets but there were no sheets placed on the beds
Provider's corrective action:
  • The service has purchased sheets for the beds in the toddler room. The beds will be set up with the sheets for the comfort of the sleeping children

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. The service did not demonstrate compliance with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice requiring services to re-new Garda vetting every 3 years. There were Garda vetting disclosures on file for all staff members, however the vetting disclosures for three staff members were 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. Through conversations with staff, it was established that the service did not have any appropriate means of quickly and safely evacuating immobile younger children. Infection Control: Inconsistences in practice were observed and at variance with the service’s infection control measures: 3. Children in the baby room were not observed to have their hands washed after nappy changing which is not in line with the service’s nappy changing policy. 4. A staff member involved in nappy changing were observed to wear rings and bracelets which posed as a risk to cross contamination and is at variance with the services dress code policy and hand hygiene policy. 5. Premade formula bottles were observed not stored in the fridge in line with Safe Food guidelines. 6. The changing mat was not cleaned between nappy changes in the baby room. 7. A staff involved in nappy changing was not observed to wash hands before feeding young children. 8. There was no hand soap available for hygienic handwashing in the wobbler room toilet. 9. In the toddler room toilet one of the toilets did not have hand soap available at all times. 10. The service had no policy on the cleaning and sterilising of soothers. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • Garda vetting disclosures have been renewed for all three staff members and are now available on file in the service. The service will ensure all required Garda vetting will be renewed every 3 years as required
  • A double buggy has been purchased to aid the existing evacuation procedure. 3. 4. Staff have been reminded of the nappy changing policy in place in the service. This policy has been discussed at the staff meeting following the inspection
  • Staff have been reminded to store premade formula in the fridge in the service as per the policy in place in the service which adheres to safe food practice. 6. 7. Staff have been reminded to clean the nappy changing mat between nappy changes as stated in the services nappy changing procedure. Staff have also been reminded of the importance to wash their hands following changing nappies and before serving food. 8.9. All soap dispensers in the service have been replenished made available at all sinks for hand washing
  • A new policy on the cleaning and sterilising of soothers has been developed shared with staff and is now available in the service.2,

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • On review of the staff roster in the service the inspector noted there was no staff member trained in a first aid responder course immediately available to the children on two mornings between the hours of 07:45 and 09:00 while there were children in the service. This non-compliance has been found on previous inspections. Despite a submission of a corrective and preventative response following these inspections it has not prevented the same non-compliance again on this inspection
Provider's corrective action:
  • An additional two staff members have been booked to complete a First Aid Responder course in October 25. There will be a total of five staff trained in a first aid responder course working in the service on completion of this course

Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures

  • Fire drills were not completed monthly. Through discussion with four staff, it was established that fire drills are only completed every 3 months and not monthly as recorded and outlined in the service’s fire safety policy
Provider's corrective action:
  • A fire drill was carried out shortly after the inspection. The requirement to carry out monthly fire drills in the service has been added to the workbook in the service and will be checked monthly by the manager

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (d) The service required cleaning, repair and general maintenance, the following was observed: 1. The outdoor play area was unkempt and lacked invitations to play. For example: • The resource of the outdoor classroom was not used to its full potential. There were large boxes stored in the area impeding the children’s free movement and enjoyment of the room. • There was a couch which was worn, torn and grubby and needed to be replaced. • The area had limited resources for children to play. For example, the mud kitchen had limited equipment for the children to play with. • There was an adult sized bench with broken shards of plastic on the arm rests. 2. There were several repairs required in the service: • There was a picnic bench for children broken up in pieces lying against the wall beside the door out to the area. • A child was observed on a small tractor with no seat on it as it was broken. • There was a large planter unit to the side of the area with two overgrown and rotting plants in the unit. One of the plants had fallen through the piece of furniture and it was on the concrete. • Old and broken toys were thrown up on to the roof of the storage unit used to store the toys in the outdoor area. • The door handle to the sleep room from the toddler room was broken and therefore the sleep room was not accessible for staff. Staff were required to access the sleep room from the main hallway. • A number of hand towel dispensers were broken in the service. The service required cleaning and upkeep: • A dustpan and brush full of debris and dirt was propped against the wall beside the playroom door to the garden and accessible to children. • Within the wobbler room there was dust, cobwebs and build up observed in the corners. • The preschool walls and skirting boards were visibly marked, dirty and had scuffed and peeling paint. • In the entrance hall there was dust and cobwebs evident and paint on the walls was scuffed and marked
Provider's corrective action:
  • The service has contacted an outside agency to advise on how to continue to develop the outdoor play area. A horticulturist has been employed to upgrade the planting in the garden area. The outdoor area will continue to be reviewed and developed in the service in consultation with the staff during staff meetings. All worn and damaged toys have been removed from the outdoor classroom and outdoor play area. The classroom has been cleared and is now set up for the play and enjoyment of the children
  • All broken equipment has been removed from the outdoor area. The large plantar has been emptied of soil. The door handle has been repaired. The hand towel dispensers and soap dispensers have been replaced. A contract cleaning company has carried out a deep cleaning in the service since the inspection. This service has been contracted to carry out regular scheduled deep cleaning in the service going forward

Found compliant: Regulation 10, 11, 17, 22, 28, 32.

Inspection of 11 April 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on 11 April 2024, regarding non-compliance identified under Regulation 25, First Aid. It is acknowledged by the inspector that the registered provider submitted a response to the immediate action notice on 15 April 2024, outlining the steps planned to address the non-compliance found on the day of inspection.

Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice concerning the same non-compliance was issued to the registered provider following the previous inspection on 16 June 2023. The registered provider completed a corrective and preventative response following this inspection. The response did not prevent a reoccurrence of the same non-compliance on this inspection.

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • Basic needs: Access to daily outdoor play was not adequately provided for by the service as demonstrated by the following examples: 1. Children from the baby room and Montessori room did not get outside on the day of the inspection. There were no buggies available to bring babies outside for a walk or provide opportunities for sensory outdoor play. The weather during the morning of inspection was dry. The issue of the children not being provided with opportunities for daily outdoor play was highlighted on previous inspections. Physical and material environment: The environment was not suited to the play needs of children in some areas of the service: 2. The outdoor area to the rear of the service was overgrown and unkempt. The grass was high and there were weeds visible. The outdoor classroom was in disarray and did not appear to be in use. The provision of the outdoor classroom would provide additional opportunities for children to get outdoors regardless of the weather. Staff who spoke to the inspectors said this area had not been in use for “weeks”. 3. The lean-to area to the side of the service had been resourced for the younger children to play in. There were small trampolines, plastic balls, and a wooden teepee. Staff who spoke to the inspector said the children from the Montessori room used this area to play when the younger children had gone back into their rooms. The play area was not adequate to meet the needs of the older children attending the service. The area was small and did not provide adequate opportunities for free movement or free play for the older children. 4. The wobbler room was not resourced with adequate play equipment for the children attending on the day of inspection. For example, there was a quantity of broken toys stored in a container in the corner of the room. There were some battery-operated toys in this container which did not contain any batteries
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1.2. The registered provider has employed a professional landscaper to renovate the outdoor area. The plan is to install a path from the back door to the outdoor classroom to ensure the children have access during the wet months. The landscaper has also been requested to install a hard surface area along with further drainage to ensure outdoor play activities will be maintained in the service. The outdoor classroom has been redeveloped to ensure children always have access. The re development of the outdoor classroom has given children in the service additional outdoor play opportunities. There is a rota now in place in the service to ensure all preschool rooms have daily access to the outdoor play areas in the service
  • The children attending the Montessori room now have access to the grass area and outdoor classroom so no longer use the lean-to area which has been developed for younger children. A monthly audit of toys and equipment required in all the rooms in the service will be carried out by the manager. Equipment will be replaced as needed
  • New equipment and toys have been purchased for the wobbler room. Toys which require batteries have been checked and spent batteries have been replaced

Regulation 22 — Food and drink

  • The food requirements were not fully met and not in line with the services healthy eating policy for preschool children. The following were observed: 1. Inspectors were not assured of the adequate provision of meals and snacks in the service. There was no menu plan available for the provision of snacks and meals in the service. Staff advised the inspectors that they were not aware of what meal was available daily. Therefore, parents were also not aware in advance of the foods and snacks served to their children. 2. The main meal served to a child under one year of age was not in line with the nutrition standards for early learning and care services. The meal provided was highly seasoned with three packets of seasoning mix, which has a high salt content
Provider's corrective action:
  • There is now a system in place where the detailed weekly menu plan is shared with both parents and staff at the start of the week
  • Seasoning mixes with high salt content are no longer used in the service. A review of the menu in the service was carried out and adjustments made to cater for the nutritional needs of all the children attending the service

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. Children could access the cleaning products in the toilet in the toddler room as they were on a low shelf beside the toilet. 2. There was a strong odour of cigarettes in the kitchen during the morning. It was noted that there were many cigarette butts in the bin in the kitchen, with the lid not fully closed. 3. Garda vetting was available for seven staff members. However, there were six staff members whose Garda vetting was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with regulation notice EYI- RW12.3 renewal of Garda vetting. Infection Control: 1. Formula bottles did not come into the service prepared in line with safe foods guidelines which poses as risk under food safety. Bottles were not premade by parents which is recommended under safe food guidelines for preschool settings. 2. The thermometer in the toddler room was unclean, with the ear cover still in place. This is a single use item, which should be discarded after each use. 3. Bins within the service were noted to be full and overflowing on the inspector’s arrival. 4. A staff member involved in the preparation of food was not observed to wear any protective clothing such as gloves or apron and was observed holding a baby in the baby room, while also preparing dinner. 5. The foot pedal mechanism on the bin in the Montessori room was broken. This posed an infection control risk to the children as they had to handle the bin when disposing of items in the room. 6. The hand soap dispenser and disposable hand towel dispenser were both empty in the baby room on the inspector’s arrival. 7. Bed linen was not changed between individual children who were using the cots for sleep. 8. There was no system in place to clean and sanitise cots between use or at the end of the day. 9. There was masking tape used to cover a tear in the floor covering in the toddler room, which posed as an infection control risk as it cannot be adequately cleaned, and also posed a trip hazard. 10. There was a foul smell of nappies noted in the changing unit in the toddler room, despite the window being open and the bin emptied when checked by inspector. Administration of Medication: 1. A child who required administration of medication daily while attending the service, did not have a consent form signed by the parent. 2. There was incorrect storage of medication noted on the day. Medication that was required to be stored at room temperature was stored in the fridge in the baby room. Safe Sleep: 1. Staff had no means by which to monitor temperatures to ensure a safer sleep environment as there were no room thermometers available to monitor the temperature of the service’s sleep rooms. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • Cleaning products are no longer accessible to children in the toddler room. 2 Staff have been reminded of the no smoking policy in the service. A designated smoking area for staff has been established away from the service. 3 Garda vetting for all six staff has been renewed and is now available on file in the service. Infection Control:
  • Parents have been asked to provide the service with premade formula for their children in line with safe food guidelines
  • New ear thermometers and covers have been purchased for each room in the service. Ear probe covers will be disposed of after each use
  • Bins are now emptied twice a day. Infection and prevention control measure will be discussed at each staff meeting held in the service going forward
  • Protective clothing and hairnets have been purchased and provided for all staff who are responsible for serving food. All staff have been enrolled in the safe food for business training programme
  • A new foot pedal bin has been purchased for the Montessori room
  • Staff have been reminded to replace the soap and handtowels regularly in the nappy changing area attached to the baby room. 7 & 8 The registered provider has developed a new policy regarding the procedure for sanitising the cots and changing bed linen after each child has used the cots in the service
  • A new threshold bar has been purchased and will be installed by the carpenter when he is next in the service
  • The bins are now being emptied twice a day and an air freshener has been installed in the changing unit next to the toddler room. Administration of Medication:
  • A medication consent form signed by parents is now available on file in the service for all children who require medication in the service
  • All medications are now stored appropriately in the service. For example, all medications which are required to be refrigerated are stored in the fridge and all medications which require to be stored at room temperature are stored in cupboards which are in accessible to children. Safe Sleep: Room thermometers have been purchased and are now in place in both sleep rooms. Staff will monitor and record the temperature of the sleep rooms before putting children down to sleep

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • There were two staff trained in a first aid responder course for children. However, on reviewing the staff roster it was clear that a person trained in a first aid responder course was not available to the children at all times
  • The first aid box in the main hallway was checked on inspection. It was noted that the first aid box was sparsely equipped. There was a number of items out of date, including saline solution an auto adrenalin injector
Provider's corrective action:
  • There are now three staff who completed a First Aid responder course. The staff rota has been adjusted to ensure there is a staff member qualified in a First Aid Responder course available to the children always attending the service
  • The first aid box has been restocked and out of date items removed

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 26, 28.

Earlier inspections

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