Inspection of 28 April 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 8 — Notification of change in circumstances
- (4) The registered providers did not ensure that all adults working directly with the children were appropriately qualified. The inspectors observed that one adult providing direct care to children in the Toddler room on the day of the inspection did not hold a qualification. Additionally, staff reported that the adult had provided relief cover in another care room on 24 April 2026. This regulatory requirement was non-compliant for this adult on previous inspections dated 29 May 2023,11 June 2024 and 30 June 2025.The preventive actions submitted following these inspections have not prevented the non-compliance from recurring
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered providers submitted the following corrective and preventative actions: The staff member is not permitted to work in ratio or provide unsupervised direct care to children. The individual will only work in a support capacity and will not be counted towards regulatory staffing requirements until an appropriate qualification is obtained and recognised. The staff member is currently on their fourth module and is scheduled to complete the course in October. The service has reviewed all room rosters to ensure that only qualified staff are assigned to positions involving direct care of children and counted in ratio. Relief and cover staff will not be assigned to rooms until their qualification status has been verified. Qualification compliance will be reviewed regularly by management and is included as part of the staffing and recruitment procedures
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (1) An adequate number of adults were not working directly with the children attending the service at all times during the inspection as detailed below. (2) The registered providers did not ensure that the minimum ratio of adults to children was maintained in the service at all times. An insufficient number of adults were available to the children attending in the Junior and Senior Montessori rooms during the morning of inspection. Additionally, a review of documentation available and conversation with staff highlighted that the rooms were also out of ratio on the morning of 24 April 2026 as outlined below: 28 April 2026 • Staff stated that Junior Montessori and Senior Montessori join rooms until a third staff member arrives at 8.45 am. Documentation available for review evidenced that the ratios increased from 16 to 19 between 8.39 and 8.45am during which time there was 2 staff present. These children were in the 3 to 6-year age range attending on a full day care basis; the minimum ratio of adults to children for this age range is 1:8. • Between 10.08 and 10.28 am the inspectors observed that there were 17 children present with 2 adults in the senior Montessori room. 24 April 2026 • Documentation reviewed evidenced that 2 adults were rostered to care for the Junior Montessori children and Senior Montessori children until 9am. Between 8.23 and 9.00 am the ratio increased from 16 to 20 children. When the third staff member arrived at 9am and the rooms split there were 2 adults caring for 17 children all of whom were attending the Senior Montessori room on a full-time basis
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered providers submitted the following corrective and preventive actions: An immediate review of staffing arrangements was carried out following the inspection. Morning rosters have been adjusted to ensure sufficient staff are available during arrival times and rooms will not be combined where this would result in ratios being exceeded. Management will continue to monitor attendance and staffing levels throughout the day to ensure ratios are maintained at all times. Where a staff member is delayed or absent, relief staff will be contacted immediately and deployed without delay to maintain ratios
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for one staff member. However, the vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. The staff members Garda vetting expired on 19 April 2026, it is acknowledged that the staff members application was submitted to the relevant organisation on the 16 March 2026 and evidence was available to demonstrate that the staff member had contacted the organisation in an attempt to obtain the vetting which is currently still in progress. The staff member informed the inspectors that they have not been working directly with the children since the vetting expired. 2. A cable in the baby room cot room was not safely attached to the wall. A cable from a camera was hanging directly behind a cot which had been used by a child during the morning of the inspection. It is acknowledged that the cable was removed when the inspector alerted one of the managers to the concern. 3. There was a significant tear in the artificial grass in the outdoor space used by the Junior Montessori room on the day of inspection. The tear posed a trip hazard to children playing in the space. 4. A wooden blackboard in an outdoor space used by the Wobbler room had a hole in the centre with rough edges posing a potential risk of injury to a child. 5. A wooden play structure in an outdoor area used by the Senior Montessori room was damaged in one section leaving rough jagged edges posing a risk of injury to a child. Infection Control: 6. Children’s hands were not washed in the Toddler room following nappy changing. This practice is at variance with the services nappy changing policy and poses a risk of the spread of infection. 7. Vinyl furniture and play equipment was torn with the internal foam exposed as outlined below: • Child size seating in the outdoor area • Child size seating, a ramp and the surround of the ball pool in the Wobbler room • Ramp in the Baby room The exposed foam is porous and as such cannot be effectively cleaned posing a risk of the spread of infection. Fire Safety: 8. The inspectors observed that fire doors in the Junior Montessori room and the Senior Montessori room were held open. Both doors displayed signage stating fire door keep shut. Staff reported that the doors are kept open at all times to allow children to access the toilet. This practice compromises fire safety measures and poses a potential safety risk. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- s General Safety: The registered providers submitted the following corrective and preventative actions: 1. Garda vetting has been obtained and added to the staff members file. A Garda Vetting monitoring process has been implemented which records vetting issue dates and renewal due dates for all staff. Management will review the register monthly and renewal applications will be submitted at least six months in advance of expiry where possible. The person in charge will monitor outstanding applications and maintain documented follow-up correspondence with Garda Vetting to ensure timely completion. 2. The cable identified by the inspector was removed immediately upon notification. An environmental inspection was conducted throughout the service to identify and rectify any similar hazards. Daily room safety checks have been updated to include inspection of all electrical equipment, cameras and associated cabling. Staff have been reminded of their responsibility to report and address environmental hazards immediately. 3. The area was immediately closed off to children upon identification of the hazard. The necessary repairs were completed. Outdoor play areas are included in the service's routine health and safety inspections and maintenance programme. Any hazards identified will be addressed immediately and recorded in the maintenance log. 4. The area was immediately closed off to children upon identification of the hazard and the outdoor blackboard was removed. All outdoor equipment is inspected regularly as part of the service's health and safety and maintenance procedures. Any damaged equipment identified will be removed from use immediately until repaired or replaced. 5. The pirate ship area was immediately closed off to children. The necessary repairs were completed and the equipment was only returned to use once it was confirmed safe. All outdoor equipment is inspected regularly as part of the service's health and safety and maintenance procedures. Any damaged equipment identified will be removed from use immediately until repaired or replaced. Infection Control: 6. All staff were immediately reminded of the service's nappy changing policy. All team members have since completed refresher training on infection prevention and control procedures. Management will continue to monitor compliance through regular room observations and infection control audits to ensure procedures are consistently followed. 7. All damaged items identified were immediately removed from use and replaced. This included the seating in the outdoor area, seating and equipment in the Wobbler Room, and the ramp in the Baby Room. Fire Safety: 8. Following the inspection, staff were instructed that fire doors must remain closed at all times unless fitted with an approved fire safety hold-open device. The practice of holding the fire doors open to facilitate children's access to the toilet ceased immediately and the doors are now being used in accordance with their fire safety function. A review of all fire safety procedures has been completed with staff. Fire door checks have been incorporated into daily health and safety inspections and monthly fire safety audits. Staff have received refresher guidance regarding the importance of maintaining fire safety measures and ensuring that fire doors are not wedged or held open in a manner that compromises fire safety. Management will continue to monitor compliance through regular environmental and fire safety checks
Regulation not named in the report text
- The registered providers failed to notify the agency of a change in the person in charge which occurred in December 2025. The agency must be informed of any such change at least sixty days before the proposed change
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered providers submitted the following corrective and preventative actions: All of the required documentation relating the change in circumstances for the person in charge were submitted to Tusla. Management has reviewed internal compliance procedures and will ensure that any future changes requiring Tusla notification are submitted within the required timeframe to prevent recurrence
Found compliant: Regulation 19, 25, 26.