Inspection of 10 March 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (1) (b)(c) Upon the inspection teams unannounced arrival at the service at 9.40am the person in charge was not present and staff were unclear about who was assigned to deputise in her absence. It is acknowledged that the person in charge arrived to the service shortly after the inspection had commenced
Provider's corrective action:
- Staff are aware that there is a Deputy Person in Charge in the service and that they are the point of contact in the person in charge’s absence from the service
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Infection Control: 1. There was no hot water available to children to wash their hands in the Montessori room. Children should be facilitated to wash their hands under thermostatically controlled running water, in line with HSPC guidance in relation to infection control. 2. Foot pedal operated bins were not available to allow for the hygienic disposal of contaminated materials such as used tissues. 3. Effective infection control measures were not in place in the Playroom. A build-up of mould was visible on the surface surrounding two windows in close proximity to where children were observed playing. It was noted that cleaning checklists were not completed. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- Infection Control: 1. New hot water boiler was purchased for the Montessori room by service in 2025, with sufficient capacity for all children to wash their hands in line with best practice. 2. Two large pedal operated foot bins have been ordered for the service. 3. Anti mould solution has been applied to the windows and a deep clean has taken place
Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance
- (1) The attendance and departure of children from the service was not accurately or contemporaneously recorded. Five children remained on the premises after the morning session had ended who were marked out as having left at 11:45. This poses a risk to child safety, safeguarding and the operational management of the service. (3) (a)(b) The inspection team were not requested to sign a visitor’s book upon arrival in the service. It was acknowledged by the person in charge that there is no visitors book on the premises. It is essential that accurate records of visitors to the service are kept as part of health, safety and safeguarding standards
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) The service has applied to change its service type from sessional to part time and will operate as a sessional service until this is approved. All children departure times will be accurately recorded. (3) (a)(b) A visitors’ book has been purchased for the service and is in use
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (4) A notice of the procedures to be followed in the event of fire was not displayed in a conspicuous position in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- (4) There is a notice of procedures to be followed displayed on the wall beside the door in the playroom. It is above the fire extinguishers. It is also on display in Montessori room
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
- (1) The morning sessional service is registered to operate from 08:45-11:45am. On the day of inspection, 5 children remained on the premises when the morning session ended. Staff informed the inspection team that some children stay on for 30-45 minutes. The registered provider did not furnish the agency in writing of any proposed changes to the operational hours of the sessional service or submit an application to operate as a sessional and part time service
Provider's corrective action:
- The service has submitted a change in circumstance application to change service type from sessional to part time care. The service will operate as a sessional service until this is approved
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
- (3) On the day of inspection, the inspectors observed 9 children present within the Montessori room. The total number of children currently accommodated in this room is 10. The room was measured at 15.98 m2. To ensure that a minimum of 1.818 square metres of clear floor space is available for each child attending the service 9 children can be accommodated in this room
Provider's corrective action:
- (3) Effective immediately 9 children will be accommodated in this room, additional children being accommodated in the Playroom. From September 2026, 9 children will be registered for the Montessori room
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25.