# Delta's Little Academy, Limerick — inspection reports and findings > Delta's Little Academy (Limerick, Co. Limerick): what Tusla inspections found — 5 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Delta's Little Academy Sessional · 1 - 6 Years · Limerick, Limerick · Tusla ID **TU2016LK002** · Not Registered - Closed since 1 January 2023 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 7 February 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (d) The larger outdoor playground was not well maintained. The area was covered in leaves following a recent storm. The large tarmac yard was slippy in many areas. A broken basketball net and poll was lying on the ground. These hazards in this area of the service could cause potential tripped risks for the children playing in this area of the service - (d)The registered provider has arranged for a maintenance company to carry out cleaning works in the large outdoor play area. An ongoing arrangement for regular maintenance of all outdoor areas is planned. All broken equipment in the outdoor area has been removed or repaired Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 16, 19, 25, 27, 28. #### Inspection of 15 February 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: The front gate at the entrance from the car park was open on the day of the inspection. The magnetic lock connected to an internal buzzer system in the manager’s office was not working. This posed a risk for the children of unauthorised access to the busy carpark as they exited the building. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - The service provider in their reply to the report stated that the magnetic lock on the entrance gate to the service has been repaired Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 15, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29. #### Inspection of 26 May 2023 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (1)(a) There was no named person to deputise if the person in charge was on leave. (b) The person to deputise for the manager had left the service a few months previously and a new deputy had not been appointed. (2)(a) There was no validated written references for 1 staff member who had taken up employment at the service a week prior to the inspection. (3) The recruitment policy specified that references must be submitted and validated prior to any person being appointed, assigned or allowed access to, or contact with a child attending the pre-school service. This procedure was not followed for 1 staff member who took up employment 1 week prior to the inspection. (4) Evidence of qualifications were not available for 1 staff member who had recently taken up employment at the service - The following information was forwarded by the manager of the service in reply to the above non-compliances. Corrective and Preventive Action (1)(a)(b) A deputy manager has been appointed to the service. (2)(a) All references have been validated and a record of each validation has been documented in writing. (3) New staff members will have to submit references and have them validated prior to taking up employment at the service. (4) The staff without proof of qualifications has had her certificate since forwarded to the QQI for validation ##### Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service - All of the policies for the service were last revised on the 22nd of August 2018 and had not been reviewed since. 1. The policy on Administration of Medication did not address the procedure for the management of emergency medications. 2. The policy on Infection Control did not outline a procedure to protect pre-school children or persons working at the service from the transmissions of infections. 3. The policy on safe sleep did not clearly outline the procedures to follow around recording of room temperatures and sleep checks for children while sleeping. It did not give clear guidance on babies positioning when been put down to sleep. 4. The nappy changing policy did not outline the step-by-step procedures for handwashing of staff and children before and after each nappy change. The practice observed was inadequate as staff did not practice safe hygienic standards during nappy changing. No handwashing took place - The following information was forwarded by the manager of the service in reply to the above non-compliances. Corrective and Preventive Action 1. A revised policy for the Administration of Medication has been written. The policy outlines the procedures for the use of emergency medication at the service. 2. A revised policy on Infection Control has been written which includes all measures and procedures to protect staff and children from the transmission of infectious diseases. 3. The policy on safe sleep has been updated. Staff were informed of the revised policy and it is clearly displayed in the sleep room of the service. 4. The nappy changing policy had been updated and is displayed in the nappy changing areas of the service. All staff have been briefed on the detail of all procedures within the policy ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - The following information was not available on a number of the registration forms which were sampled at the service. (b) the date on which the child first attended the service on 2 of the forms sampled (c) provision to record the date on which the child ceased to attend the service on 2 of the forms sampled. (h) Record of immunisations received by the child was not completed on 6 of the forms sampled. (i) Written parental consent for appropriate medical treatment of the child in the event of an emergency on 2 of the forms sampled - The following information was forwarded by the manager of the service in reply to the above non-compliances. Corrective and Preventive Action (b) The date on which the child first attended the service has been added to all registration forms. (c) The date on which the child leaves the service has been added to all registration forms. (h) Records of each child’s immunisations will be completed and updated as required in all registration forms. (i) Written parental consent for appropriate medical treatment in the event of an emergency will be sought for all children who register to attend the service ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Basic Needs 1. There was no suitable adult seating available in the rooms to facilitate staff to sit with and hold the younger children. The one adult chair in the Toddler room was unsuitable, uncomfortable and the cushions were stained and required cleaning. Supporting Relationships around Children 2. Childrens bags containing their personal belongings were stored in a disorganised manner on the floor of the service. Labelled spaces with children’s name and/or picture displayed is required to promote childrens independence. 3. Regular formal staff meetings did not take place at the service. A staff mentoring programme was not in place to ensure adequate staff supervision at the service. Physical and Material Environment 4. Interest areas were poorly defined in the downstairs ECCE room. All equipment was located along the walls of the room. Storage units were over stocked and play materials were packed together making it difficult for children to make informed choices when choosing play equipment. 5. In the Toddler room items of interest to the children and children’s artwork was stored too high on the walls for the children to view them. There was limited natural materials in the room. There was little sensory play materials visible to the children - The following information was forwarded by the manager of the service in reply to the above non-compliances. Corrective and Preventive Action Basic Needs 1. New adult seating has been ordered for the service. Supporting Relationships around Children 2. Childrens bags and personal belongings have been relocated to a more suitable location and are now stored in a more organised manner. 3. Regular staff meetings will be scheduled and a record of the meetings will be taken. Physical and Material Environment 4. Interest areas in the ECCE room downstairs will be revised. All interest areas will be reviewed on a monthly basis. 5. Items of interest in the Toddler room will be placed at a level where children can engage with the material ##### Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play - 1. There were no sheets placed on the low-level beds that children over 2 years used in the downstairs preschool room at sleep time. 2. In the Toddler sleep room folded bed linen was piled high on a shelf next to a cot in the room. This store of linen was accessible to the children sleeping in the adjacent cot. An appropriate storage location for the bed linen was required - The following information was forwarded by the manager of the service in reply to the above non-compliances. Corrective and Preventive Action 1. No response received. 2. Childrens individual bed linen is now stored in labelled baskets and safely stored in the sleep room ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The internal doors to the kitchen and the staff room upstairs remained open during the inspection thus allowing children possible access to these unsafe areas of the service. A washing machine and a dryer were stored in the staff room. Sharp implements were stored in the kitchen area. Accessibility to these areas of the services posed a risk to the safety of children at the service. 2. A cable was hanging loosely from a window next to the stairs. This was accessible and posed a risk to children who used the stairs to access the first floor of the building. 3. A bottle of bleach was observed to be stored on a shelf in the Kitchen area, next to boxes of dry food. Appropriate storage of all hazardous materials was required. 4. Outdoors there were broken scooters, bikes and trikes. Many were missing at least 1 wheel. A set of wheel covers from a car were accessible to the children in the playground. These were not suitable to be used as play materials. They had sharp, exposed edges that could cause injury to a child. 5. A large climbing frame with an elevated fall height was located in the bigger playground. There was no impact absorbent material under this piece of equipment to minimise the risk of injury to a child if they fell from the frame. 6. The services refuse bins were located in the outdoor play area and were accessible to the children while playing in this area of the service. This posed a risk of injury to a child. 7. The protective cover on a drain located close to the entrance to the service was broken. This posed a risk of tripping for people as they approached the entrance to the building. 8. Evidence that fire drills were carried out on a monthly basis was not available. This posed a risk to both children and staff in the event of a fire. Infection Control: 9. Staff were observed not to wash hands before or after changing children’s nappies. Childrens hands were not washed after they were changed. The staff did not clean the mat before or between changes. The staff did not change their gloves after each change and wore the same gloves for a number of changes. The same gloves were worn as the staff checked if other children required their nappies changed. This posed a risk of cross infection to staff and children. 10. There was no foot pedal operated lidded bins in the sanitary accommodation or in any of the playrooms in the service. The swing open top lids on many of the bins were broken. This posed a risk of cross infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The following information was forwarded by the manager of the service in reply to the above non-compliances - General Safety: 1. Kitchen and staff room doors will be closed at all times 2. The hanging cable noted on the window by the stairs has been removed. 3. Extra shelving has been added to the kitchen to ensure appropriate storage of all materials in this area of the service. 4. All broken toys from the outdoors have been removed. 5. The zip line has been removed from outside. 6. Refuse bins have been relocated and are no longer stored where children can access them in the playground. 7. The protective covers over all drains have been checked and replaced where needed. 8. Fire drills will be carried out on a monthly basis. Infection Control: 9. Staff have been given a copy of the revised nappy changing policy and the policy is clearly displayed in all nappy changing areas of the service. 10. Food pedal operated lidded bins have been added to all areas of the service ##### Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures - (1)(a) A record in writing of monthly fire drills was not maintained. The last documented fire drill took place on the 30th of October 2022. The manager of the service stated a drill took place in March 2023 but the details of which were not recorded. (b) There was no maintenance record available to show that smoke alarms were checked in the building - The following information was forwarded by the manager of the service in reply to the above non-compliances. Corrective and Preventive Action (1)(a) Fire drills will be carried out on a monthly basis and these will each be recorded. (b) All smoke alarms will be checked on a monthly basis. An electrician has been booked to check the smoke alarm system but no date to complete this work has been agreed ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (b) The timber fence surrounding the larger outdoor play area was broken in many areas. Sharp edges were exposed along the surface of the fencing. These posed a risk of injury to the children when playing outside. (c) There was inadequate ventilation in the service and room temperatures were not maintained at a maximum of 22 degrees Celsius as recommended. - The large ECCE room on the ground floor had a small openable window in the door. The room temperature in this room was recorded at 24 degrees Celsius. - The room temperature in the upstairs ECCE room was 24.5 degrees Celsius. - The room temperature in the Toddler room was 24.5 degrees Celsius. - There was no ventilation in the staff room neither mechanical nor natural. - There was no ventilation in the kitchen neither mechanical nor natural. - The mechanical vents in each of the sanitary accommodations were clogged with dust therefore reducing the efficiency of this type of ventilation system. (d) No cleaning schedules were signed off on the week beginning May 22nd of 2023. Cleaning materials such as brushes and mops were stored in the playrooms and were accessible to the children. A deep clean of all areas was required as evidence of dust was visible in many areas of the building. A drinks holder using to carry 6 water bottles outside during outdoor play was dirty and the base covered in dust. The carpet on the stairs, the landing and the upstairs rooms was frayed and worn. Threads were hanging loose and the carpet was lifting at the joining posing a trip hazard. On exiting the service, 5 refuse bags were piled high at the entrance gate. Staff from a building next door were observed smoking along the entrance path to the front door. Waste papers and cigarettes buts were observed along the entrance path. There was no person appointed responsibility to check and clean the entrance area where parents and children access the building. (e) 7. The nappy changing facility downstairs was located in the staff sanitary accommodation. Separate staff facilities are required in the service - The following information was forwarded by the manager of the service in reply to the above non-compliances. Corrective and Preventive Action (b) The area of fence that was broken has been replaced. (c) Air conditioning units have been added to each room at the service. (d) All cleaning schedules will be signed off when tasks are completed and these will be checked by the manager of the service. The container for storing the drinking bottles will be cleaned on a regular basis. New flooring has been purchased and will be in place within a week. The communal space at the entrance to the building will be checked and maintained in a proper condition. (e) The nappy changing area will be relocated from the adult toilet and be accommodated instead in a more appropriate location Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 28. ### Earlier inspections - 23 September 2021 — Change in Circumstance · PDF - 22 June 2021 — Inspection Report · PDF ### Other services in Limerick - [Desmond Community Creche](/creche/desmond-community-creche-newcastlewest.md) Newcastlewest - [Diane's Montessori](/creche/diane-s-montessori-tournafulla.md) Tournafulla - [Dromin & Athlacca Community Childcare Ltd](/creche/dromin-athlacca-community-childcare-ltd-kilmallock.md) Kilmallock - [Freckles Childcare](/creche/freckles-childcare-limerick.md) Limerick - [Hope Childcare](/creche/hope-childcare-murroe.md) Murroe - [Little Explorers](/creche/little-explorers-cappamore.md) Cappamore - [St. Paul's Montessori School](/creche/st-paul-s-montessori-school-dooradoyle.md) Dooradoyle - [Galbally Childcare Services Ltd](/creche/galbally-childcare-services-ltd-galbally.md) Galbally - [Kiddies Corner Preschool](/creche/kiddies-corner-preschool-pallaskenry.md) Pallaskenry - [Munroe Kids Club](/creche/munroe-kids-club-limerick.md) Limerick [Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md) --- Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/delta-s-little-academy-limerick/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11