Inspection of 28 July 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) The registered provider did not ensure the following: (j) There were no written records maintained of the administration of medication. The registered provider reported that parents were informed of any administration via an online messaging system, but no records were maintained or were available. A full record with an acknowledgment of the administration by the parent must be maintained to prevent miscommunication on the administration of medication. (k) Following a review of a sample of ten accident and incident records, the following was identified: o Four records did not have the date the parent acknowledged they had been informed of the incident. o One record did not have any evidence that the parent had been informed of an incident as there was no parent signature. A full record of the incident with a dated acknowledgment by the parent must be maintained to establish they have been fully informed to enable them to plan for potential further risks related to the incident. This was not in line with the service policy on accidents and incidents which stated that forms will be fully completed
Provider's corrective action:
- (j) The service reports an administration and medication record book was purchased for each room to ensure both the centre and the parents can obtain a copy. Staff were advised by management of the importance of keeping important documents and records such as medical records as this will ensure both the protection of the staff and centre. (k) Management will ensure the correct procedures the correct procedures are followed. Staff were advised by management of the importance of keeping important documents and records such as accident and incidents as this will ensure both the protection of the staff and centre
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for two staff members. However, these vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI- RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Checks on staff must be updated within required timeframes to establish their ongoing suitability to provide care to children. Infection Control: The following increased the potential risk of infection: 2. A child in Toddler 1 and two children in Toddler 2 were observed to sleep on a folded-up duvet placed on their sleep mattress. These duvets had been used in the rooms as seating in the cosy area. This increased the potential risk of cross contamination. 3. Two unlabelled soothers were observed to be stored uncovered in the box containing suncreams. This increased the potential risk of cross contamination. 4. The nappy disposal system in use in the nappy changing room required repeated hand contact with the disposal unit. This does not support effective infection control. This was identified as a non-compliance on the previous inspection held on the 4 October 2023 and actions put in place failed to prevent a recurrence. 5. A child was observed to sleep in their cot wearing their outdoor shoes. This increased the potential risk of cross contamination. 6. Adequate space of 50cm was not maintained between the five low beds in Toddler 1 and two children were observed to sleep directly adjacent to each other in Toddler 2. This is not in line with Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) Management of Infectious disease in childcare facilities and other childcare settings which states that cots or sleeping mats should be spaced at least a half metre apart for infection control purposes. 7. There was no hygienic means of hand drying in the sanitary facility off Toddler 1 and 2. The kitchen roll available required repeated hand touch of the inner tube. This potentially increased the risk of cross contamination. 8. There was a hole in the wall in the preschool, leaving a surface that could not be effectively cleaned. Safe Sleep: 9. The cots in the cot room were positioned with limited space between them. A space of between 23cm to 26cm was measured between the cots. This potentially restricted access to sleeping children. There must be adequate space between cots to tend to the care needs of sleeping children. This also posed a potential infection control risk, detailed in point 6 above. This was identified as a non-compliance on the previous inspection held on the 4 October 2023 and actions put in place failed to prevent a recurrence. Fire Safety: 10. The details of the attendance of the children in Toddler 1 room was not accurately recorded in the Entry checklist which staff reported is used for fire drills. Six children were present and only five children were recorded. The child was not recorded as present on the Toddler 2 Entry checklist when reviewed. Contemporaneous accurate attendance logs must be maintained to support the safe evacuation of children in an emergency. This was identified as a non-compliance on the previous inspection held on the 4 October 2023 and actions put in place failed to prevent a recurrence Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. The service applied for renewed Garda Vetting for the two staff members. One disclosure was received, and the service are waiting for the second disclosure. The service commit to ensure vetting is always up to date. Infection Control: 2. The service has reviewed their sleep policy and will ensure all children will sleep on their individual bed. The service will ensure they will have an adequate supply of beds and bedding. 3. The service report that the soothers belonged to a child that was no longer in the service. Staff were informed that when a child is leaving the service soothers should be either returned to the parent or disposed of immediately. Any child that has a soother while attending the service will be stored in a labelled concealed container. 4. The appropriate foot peddle operated bin was replaced into the nappy change area. The bin will be changed regularly and disinfected every evening to maintain hygiene and prevent bad odours. Staff were advised that a pedal bin is compulsory and cannot be removed for any reason. 5. Staff in the service were instructed to be more cautious when preparing children for sleep and to always ensure shoes are removed before children are put into bed. Staff will ensure children are properly dressed for bed including the removal of shoes at all times. 6. The service has changed the sleep area from toddler room 1 to toddler room 2 which is a bigger space to allow each child to sleep in their own bed with sufficient space. This will also allow space for children who do not sleep take part in quiet activities in the Toddler 1 area. Staff will ensure there is enough space between each bed. 7. An electrician reviewed the electric hand dryer in the room on 25th August and new parts need to be ordered. In the mean time single sheet paper towels will be used until the until the dryer is fixed. The service reported they have practiced good hygiene skills with the children. 8. The hole in the wall has been filled, sanded and painted. The service report they will ensure proper up- keep of the service at all times. Safe Sleep: 9. The service report 1 of the cots from the cot room is moved into Toddler Room 2 to create more room in the sleep room. This ensures all the children have a safe secure sleep. The service will continue to ensure that there is enough distance between all cots at sleep time that staff have easy access to all the children in case of an emergency. Fire Safety: 10. The service discussed the importance of signing children in correctly with staff at the staff meeting. All staff commit to ensure that every child is signed in on entry and out when leaving the building without delay
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 21, 25, 26.