# Dolphins Early Education & Childcare Centre, Laytown — inspection reports and findings > Dolphins Early Education & Childcare Centre (Laytown, Co. Meath): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Dolphins Early Education & Childcare Centre Sessional · 1 - 6 Years · Laytown, Meath · Tusla ID **TU2015MH045** · Registered since 1 January 2026 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 9 February 2026 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play - The sleep mats used in the Toddler room were not the minimum dept of 6 cm and therefore were not sufficiently comfortable to support sleep - The sleep mats have been replaced with new mats which meet the requirements minimum dept. The registered provider will ensure that all staff members are aware of the requirements to support safe sleep ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - The wallpaper was torn over the nappy changing area off the Wobbler room. In the sanitary closet the wallpaper was also torn over the sink. Smooth surfaces must be available in areas that require regular cleaning. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - The area over the nappy changing mat and over the sink in the sanitary closet off the Wobbler room has been tiled. The registered provider will ensure that all sanitary areas are maintained and tiled where necessary with smooth surfaces that require regular cleaning Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28. #### Inspection of 19 August 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of inspection for excessively hot water at two wash hand basins in the sanitary area adjacent to the Full day care room in the service. The registered provider provided the inspectorate with written assurances of appropriate preventive actions being implemented in the service to reduce the likelihood of the hot water temperature exceeding 43oC within 24 hours of the notice being issued. ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (3) Following a review of the staff files it was apparent that 1 staff member who works directly with the children had commenced working in the service in advance of Garda vetting procedures being completed - Corrective Action (3) The registered provider stated that a r eview of the services recruitment and selection policy has taken place and garda vetting section has been updated. Staff use a buddy system throughout their first month of employment at Dolphins and are never working alone with the children. This time is used to familiarize themselves with the policies, procedures and expectations of the service as part of their induction. Preventive Action (3) Garda vetting will continue to take place prior to commencement of employment, where Garda vetting is delayed, commencement of employment will also be postponed. New staff use a buddy system for their first month of employment as part of their induction a t Dolphins and are never alone with children regardless during their induction process. This time is used to focus on familiarising themselves with daily routines, policies, procedures and expectations of the service ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The hot water supply provided at the two wash hand basins in the sanitary area of the Pre- Montessori room exceeded the maximum safe water temperature of 43oC as detailed in table 1.1 below. When identified, the inspector informed the practitioners of this scalding risk and the children were subsequently supervised when hand washing, using the cold-water tap for the remainder of the inspection. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider in relation to the water temperatures. Location Water temperature Time recorded Sinks in the sanitary area of the Full day care room. 57.0°C (both taps) 11am 60.0°C (both taps) 1 pm 57.5°C (both taps) 2 pm Table 1.1 Water temperature readings recorded on the day of inspection. Infection Control: 2. The infection control procedures in relation to nappy changing were not implemented correctly in the Toddler room as a staff member was observed to change the children’s nappies without changing disposable gloves or aprons between each nappy change. This was observed during the morning nappy changing round and the mid-day nappy changing round. 3. Handwashing practices were not always followed in the Toddler room therefor increasing the risk of cross contamination, the following are examples. Following nappy changes children were not facilitated to wash their hands. The staff member did not wash their hands after each nappy change. A child cleaned their nose and was not asked or supported to wash their hands. A staff member cleaned the nose of a child and did not wash their hands afterwards - Corrective Action General Safety: 1. Maintenance man was called immediately to the premises following the inspection to lower the water temperature on the boiler supplying the cabin. It was discovered that the cabin boiler required replacement. Infection Control: 2. A staff meeting was held following the inspection on Wednesday 4th September to discuss the inspection and findings in detail. The service’s nappy changing policy was reviewed with the whole staff team at the meeting and a nappy changing demonstration took place using a doll to help staff visually see what the procedures and policy entails. Staff were all given another copy of the nappy changing policy to reread. 3. Review of infection control policy has taken place following the inspection. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Boiler was replaced by their maintenance man and a limiter placed to ensure water temperature remains under 43 degrees. The boiler was replaced on 4th September 2024 following inspection. Infection Control: 2. Continue to demonstrate nappy changing policies and procedures to all new staff and include this demonstration in our induction process. 3. The infection control policy was discussed in detail at their September staff meeting also. A copy of the policy was given to each staff member to review following the meeting. Importance of handwashing and personal hygiene practices were reiterated Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26. ### Other services in Meath - [Duleek Community Childcare](/creche/duleek-community-childcare-duleek.md) Duleek - [Early Buds Creche](/creche/early-buds-creche-slane.md) Slane - [Elderdale Creche and Montessori](/creche/elderdale-creche-and-montessori-duleek.md) Duleek - [Freffans Little Montessori](/creche/freffans-little-montessori-trim.md) Trim - [Headfort Montessori School Ltd](/creche/headfort-montessori-school-ltd-kells.md) Kells - [Knightstown Montessori](/creche/knightstown-montessori-navan.md) Navan - [Reiltini](/creche/reiltini-ashbourne.md) Ashbourne - [Daughters of Charity Mabuhay Early Childcare Development Service (Mosney)](/creche/daughters-of-charity-mabuhay-early-childcare-development-service-mosney-mosney.md) Mosney - [Dara's Scoil Na n-og Montessori School Teoranta](/creche/dara-s-scoil-na-n-og-montessori-school-teoranta-navan.md) Navan [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/dolphins-early-education-childcare-centre-laytown/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11