Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: (1) A small external gate in the designated outdoor play area was observed to be unsecured while children were availing of outdoor play in the morning time. The inspector brought this to the attention of the registered provider who then secured the gate. (2) A pre-school child was observed to eat popcorn as part of their morning snack. Popcorn for children under the age of 5 years old is deemed a choking hazard. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: (1) The registered provider has put a small lock on all gates, that can only be opened by an adult/staff member. The Managers daily morning checklist has now been updated to include checking gates and staff have also been reminded to check them before outside play. (2) The registered provider has sent a message to parents on the day of inspection advising them of the dangers of certain fruits and that popcorn is not permitted in preschool. Checking lunch boxes has now been included in the daily check list and all staff have been made aware that popcorn is not permitted and should be removed immediately if found
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 19, 21, 29.
(2) Two references in respect of one staff member and 2 references in respect of the transition year student were not available for inspection
Provider's corrective action:
Two references have been sought in respect of each person. Vetting procedures will be put in place before new staff commence in the service. Summary Comment The response from the registered provider has been accepted. Outstanding vetting procedures have been put in place. Regulation 9 has been addressed
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
Basic Needs 1. A child’s signs of tiredness/ prompt for sleep were not acted on, the child was observed sitting at a table with his head resting on the table and then fell asleep. The child was moved to a more comfortable facility when requested by the inspector. The child was availing of part time day care. 2. The children’s basic care needs in relation to meaningful play was not met in the afternoon period which did not promote the children’s wellbeing and development. Up to 14 school aged children were cared for in the same room as the seven pre-school children. Two staff members were present, but their attention was drawn to the needs of the school aged children. The staff members sat away from the pre-school children and did not adequately engage in meaningful conversation or collaborate in meaningful play with the children. Instead, the transition year student chatted with the pre-school children and engaged in making puzzles with them or children played alone. 3. The noise level in the pre-school room was high from normal school aged children’s activity but uncomfortable for the pre-school children. A pre-school child was observed lying on the floor and pulling his hoodie over his head when the school aged children were doing their lessons. 4. A child was placed to sleep lying on a woollen blanket, appropriate linen (bed sheets) was not available to ensure children’s comfort during sleep
Provider's corrective action:
1. As the child was due to be collected at that time, I failed to notice he fell asleep in the two minutes after I had given him his bag. I will be more aware in the future of the possibility of this one of incident. I am glad it was brought to my attention. 2. We have now employed a person to work with part-time and full-time children while the other 2 staff members engage with the after-school children. 3. The new staff member will have her own room to engage with the part-time /full-time children. 4. Sheets are now used on the sleep beds. Photograph submitted
Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials
1. Some of the designated areas were poorly resourced and the variety of play material was limited. For example, the kitchen area in the playroom contained minimum amount of support material and no natural material. There was limited sensory play material available, such as sand, or water play. There was also limited natural material noted. 2. Valuable space was taken up by the presence of a photocopier and staff administration material such as workbooks, roll books and admin paper. Additionally, valuable space was taken up by a container holding extra dress up clothes. 3. In the outdoor area the wooden kitchen unit / messy play area was empty and contained no support play material
Provider's corrective action:
1. Since the visit from the inspectorate, we have reconfigured our room into different areas. We have a sand and water area, construction area, library with soft seating. Dressing up and home corner which includes natural materials. Musical instruments are used freely during circle time. The photocopier is needed daily as staff members cannot leave the room to photocopy materials in the interest of health and safety. Therefore, it has now been given a designated area within the writing area. Photos included. 2. The extra clothes box has been removed and room reconfigured. 3. The outdoor wooden kitchen materials were in a box in the playhouse. Photo included
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A Christmas tree was noted on top of a storage cupboard that was unsecured. 2. A TV was noted on top of a cupboard that was not secured. 3. Cleaning agents was noted on top of a radiator accessible to pre-school children. 4. Trip hazards were noted in the outdoor area, the cement surface was uneven and consisted of multiple step-down levels and a large gully running through the outdoor area that posed trip hazards. 5. A drain in the outdoor area was uncovered and posed a trip hazard. 6. The lower aspect of the fridge door was rusted. 7. There was inadequate space for the storage of the school aged bags and coats. They were seen lying on the floor and in a large heap which posed a trip hazard. Administration of Medication: 8. While a policy for the administration of medication was available a procedure for the safe administration of medication was not available. A consent form or a record form for recording the administration of medication was not available. The registered provider stated the service does not administer medication and parents attend the pre-school if medication is to be administered. Therefore, administration of medication especially in an emergency was not considered. Safe Sleep: 9. Ten-minute sleep observations were not carried out on a pre-school child who was placed to sleep on a low bed. Ad hoc checks were carried out by two staff members in variance to safe sleep guidance. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
1 The Christmas tree is now secured, and a photo was sent to the inspector. 2. The brackets have been bought and the TV will be secured to the wall during the Christmas break. 3. As per photograph, cleaning materials have been moved to a designated high shelf out of the reach of children. 4. The uneven areas have been highlighted using orange paint, additional all weather mats have been sourced to place on uneven surfaces, designated play areas have been put in place such as messy kitchen area. 5. The drain has been covered by an appropriate steel lid, see photo attached. 6. Rust areas on the fridge was sprayed using enamel spray, however it was unsuccessful. A new fridge has been ordered. 7. School bags and coats from school-aged children will be stored on the shelves in the covered outdoor play area. Administration of Medication: 8. New medication record book is now available for use by staff in the case of an emergency. Photo included. Safe Sleep: 9. A new sleep observation roster and documentation has now been put in place, with a designated staff member. Photo included. Ten-minute sleep observations are now carried out in relation to the child’s colour, breathing status and position
Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance
(3) A system was not in place to ensure that no person other than employees or authorised visitors can enter the pre-school. A visitor’s book was not maintained, the inspector was not requested to record her attendance and departure time
Provider's corrective action:
3. This was an oversite on my behalf, and I will ensure this doesn’t happen again. The book was there on the day, is used correctly but unfortunately not on this day. Summary Comment The response from the registered provider has been accepted. Appropriate documentation is in place. Regulation 24 has been addressed
Regulation 29 — Premises
(c) The service was inadequately heated on the day of inspection. At 10.30am the room temperature was cold with a temperature of 16.4°C recorded, in variance to the recommended temperature 18°C to 22°C. The temperature was rechecked at midday and recorded at 17.7°C. (e) A staff toilet was not available. This was previously located in the adjoining domestic house but that is no longer available
Provider's corrective action:
(c) It was -5 degrees on the Monday morning in question, the heating had not been on all weekend as is usual and had been turned on at 6.30am. I now realise the heating needs to come on at an earlier time during cold spells in order to rectify this problem. This is done on an app on my phone. (e) An area has been secured which will serve as an office and a staff toilet. Works commence in the early the New Year and will be completed by the end of February 2024. Summary Comment The response from the registered provider has been accepted. Regulation 29 has been partly addressed as construction work is required to rectify the staff sanitary accommodation, therefore Regulation 29 (e) remains outstanding and will be reviewed at the next inspection