Inspection of 27 September 2024 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on 27th September in relation to concerns under Regulation 23- Safeguarding Health, Safety and Welfare of Child. A response which adequately addressed the concerns was received on 30th September 2024. See body of report for details under the respective regulation. The inspection focused on an examination of compliance under;
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2) (d) The registered provider did not ensure that police vetting was available for all staff members who had lived in a country other than Ireland for a period of more than 6 months as an adult. The following was observed; • The inspectors could not establish if police vetting was required for two staff members who lived in a country other than Ireland as dates were not provided on the persons CV. • An international child protection certificate was required for one staff member who left the UK after October 2012. It is acknowledged that a standard DBS check was on file for this person. (3) The registered provider did not ensure the checks required under (2) above were conducted prior to the start date of all staff members
Provider's corrective action:
- (2) (d) • Two staff members CVs have now been updated to include the dates of all places of work. The updated CV’s show that neither staff member lived outside of Ireland for a period of more than 6 months. The updated CVs are on file. • International Child Protection Certificate has been applied for and will be held on file once received. For all future successful recruitment processes, it will be a requirement to present a Child Protection Certificate, if necessary, along with all other relevant documents, prior to the start date of employment. These will be retained by the service manager on the premises for inspection in accordance with our GDPR policy. (3) All references have now been verified. The action to verify references will be completed before the staff member starts to work in the school. Future recruitment processes will ensure copies of reference will be retained by the service manager in line with the services GDPR policy and available for inspection, our recruitment policy will be updated to reflect this
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (1) The registered provider did not ensure that adequate staff were available to meet the needs of the children at all times. Additional staff were required in the bottom room between 10:05am and 10:19am to support the transition to the outdoor area. During this time children were observed standing with their coats on in a confined area by the door while the staff supported other children to put on their coats and prepare for the transition. Children were observed climbing on shelves and pushing each other, other children continued to play in the room as no clear direction was given. Some children were observed to stand by the door for 15 minutes without any activity and appeared bored and restless. Children need clear direction during times of transition and transitions should be completed in a timely manner to ensure the children are engaged. Additional staff were required to meet the needs of the children during this time
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) The Manager and Board had addressed the need for extra staff in the room in question prior to the inspection. An additional staff member had been approved for appointment as an AIM assistant pending vetting but had not yet started. The additional staff member started their role in that room on the 7th of October 2024. A meeting was also held with all staff members to address and remind them of the procedures for transitioning children. A staff meeting has been held and regular staff meetings/discussions will occur in future also to identify if any actions are needed to ensure smoother transitions. The board of management are kept informed of this through monthly meetings with Principal
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (k) A sample of twelve accident and incident record forms were reviewed, and the following was observed; • The form does not have space to record the child’s date of birth. This is required to ensure the correct child can be identified if the record is required in future. • The child’s surname was not recorded on two forms. This is required to ensure the correct child can be identified if the record is required in future. • One record did not contain the signature of the child’s parent acknowledging they had been advised of the accident. This posed a risk to the child
Provider's corrective action:
- (k) A meeting was held on 3/10/2024 with staff members. All staff are to now record full name and date of birth on the accident/incident report forms. A review of the template of accident and incident report form will be completed by the board and any required updates will be adopted by the board for mandatory use in required circumstances and communicated to staff. All previous versions of the template will be disposed of
Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials
- 1. The chalk board in the bottom room did not have a supply of chalk readily available for use which limited it’s use and prevented children engaging with the equipment independently. 2. No supporting equipment was available for a mud kitchen in the outdoor area which limited it’s use and prevented spontaneous imaginative play experiences
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Staff members in the preschool service have been instructed to ensure that chalk is always readily available to the children. A staff meeting was held, and staff informed that they are to check at the beginning of every day that all supplies are accessible to the children. 2. The mud kitchen has since been removed from the garden area. Only fully operational and fit for purpose equipment shall remain in the garden. Items requiring repair are reviewed on a monthly basis by the person in charge with a member of the board then informed of same. Maintenance of equipment is carried out by appropriately qualified parents. This practice will continue in the future
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. A Garda vetting disclosure that was available for one staff member was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. A child aged 4 years old was observed to eat popcorn for lunch which is a noted choking hazard for children under 5 years old. The healthy eating policy does not mention choking hazards or restricted items other than unhealthy foods such as sweets. 3. Radiator covers throughout the service were not adequately secured to the wall and presented a risk of injury to the children should they pull at them. 4. Two high shelves in the bottom room were not adequately secured to the wall and presented a tipping risk. A child in this room was observed to climb on the lower shelves which increased the risk. 5. Cleaning sprays and liquids were observed to be stored in a low-level press in the lobby of the sanitary area accessible to the children. This posed a risk of injury to the children who were observed to access this area independently. 6. A lamp in the corner of the middle room was unsteady and had a trailing flex which was not secured and posed a risk to the children. 7. A crawl space was accessible under the building to children playing in the outdoor area and pipes were visible. This posed a risk to the children who could crawl under the building and access unsafe materials or become stuck. Infection Control: 8. Radiator covers throughout the service did not have an easy to clean surface and were observed to be made from porous wood and heavily stained. This posed an infection control risk; all surfaces should be easy to clean. 9. Three pedal operated bins in the service were not fitted with lids; the lids were missing from the bins. Pedal operated bins are required for hygienic disposal of contaminated items such as tissues. 10. Perishable items such as yoghurts were observed in children’s lunch bags on the counter in the middle room. It is acknowledged that some lunchboxes were refrigerated. All perishable items should be refrigerated to prevent spoiling. 11. Containers of crackers and rice cakes were left open after lunchtime posing a contamination risk. 12. Handtowels were not hygienically dispensed in the service care rooms or sanitary area. A dispenser was present in the bottom room. Handtowels should be hygienically dispensed to prevent cross contamination. 13. Two toilet seat adapters were observed on the floor of one of the children’s toilet cubicles which presents an infection control risk as well as posing a tripping risk. Toilet seat adapters should be stored off the floor when not in use. 14. Toys and low-level beds were observed to be stored in the adult toilet which posed a cross-contamination risk. Classroom equipment should not be stored in the sanitary areas. Administration of Medication: 15. Medication was not disposed of in line with the service policy for example Ventolin was present in the first aid box which staff confirmed was for a child who no longer attended the service. The service policy states medication will be disposed of. Fire Safety: 16. An entrance hall which formed part of the designated fire evacuation route was used for the storage of a number of items which may have delayed or impeded the safe evacuation of children in the event of a fire emergency. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider. 17. Boxes were stacked in front of the fire extinguishers in the entrance hall which may impede access to them in the event of a fire emergency. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider. 18. Attendance records were not completed contemporaneously in either classroom for example in the bottom room at 9:52am the attendance of eighteen children who were present in the room was not recorded in the roll book while in the middle room at 11:28am the attendance record showed both arrival and departure times for fifteen children who were present in the service. Attendance records should accurately reflect the attendance of all children to ensure safe evacuation in the event of a fire emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Renewed Garda vetting is complete and on file. All Garda vetting on file is to be checked monthly by the person in charge, so that the need for renewal may be communicated to the staff member/board member in question and completed in a timely manner/when necessary. 2. An email was sent to parents in relation to popcorn to state that it was not permitted as it is a choking hazard. The healthy eating policy has been amended and approved and adopted by the board to state choking hazards as of 30/09/2024. The Board has amended the healthy eating policy and this has been included in the risk register. This updated policy has been made available to parents/guardians. 3. Radiators have been secured to the wall and painted with a wipeable gloss finish to prevent infection. Items requiring repair are reviewed on a monthly basis by the person in charge with a member of the board then informed of same. Maintenance of equipment is carried out by appropriately qualified parents. This practice will continue in the future. 4. High shelves have now been secured to the wall. We will ensure that all future purchased furniture will be secured to wall where necessary. Items requiring repair are reviewed on a monthly basis by the person in charge with a member of the board then informed of same. Maintenance of equipment is carried out by appropriately qualified parents. This practice will continue in the future. 5. A child safety lock for the cabinet containing the cleaning products has been purchased and is in situ. Applied the child safety lock to the cabinet in question. Staff meeting has been held and ensured that staff are aware that all cleaning products should be kept in a secure place at all times. Staff are to check the cabinet is closed securely with the safety lock after using cleaning products. Management has added this to the indoor risk assessment and informed board of same. 6. Tall lamp from the middle room has been removed from the school. Staff meeting has been held and staff have been informed that any appliance that is electrical must be safe, secure and all wires must be secured to prevent tripping and other safety hazards, in compliance with our board-adopted Slips, Trips, and Falls Risk Assessment. Staff are to check appliances throughout the day and act immediately, should an appliance need to be secured. 7. This space has been panelled in securely. Staff meeting has been held and both management and staff have been reminded that when carrying out outdoor risk assessment, they must check the building and surrounding areas for potential safety hazards. Items requiring repair are reviewed on a monthly basis by the person in charge, with a member of the board then informed of same. Maintenance of equipment is carried out by appropriately qualified parents. This practice will continue in the future. Infection Control: 8. All radiators have been painted with non-porous wipeable gloss finish paint. 9. Three new pedal bins with lids have been purchased and are in place. The old bins have been disposed of. A staff meeting has been held and staff requested to inform the person in charge if bins should break or need replacing, so that action may be taken immediately. Items requiring repair are reviewed on a monthly basis by the person in charge, with a member of the board informed of same. Maintenance and replacement of equipment is carried out by appropriately qualified parents. This practice will continue in the future. 10. The staff have been instructed to ensure that all lunches are to be refrigerated, every day. A staff meeting has been held and staff have been requested to ensure that putting all lunchboxes in the fridge is part of the daily routine. Board have been informed and it is included in risk assessment. 11. Staff meeting was held. Staff were instructed to ensure that all open food products are kept in a secure container and sealed during intervals between times when children are eating. Staff meeting was held. Staff were instructed to ensure that all open food products are kept in a secure container and sealed during intervals between times when children are eating. Staff are required to check the snack area several times throughout the day, to ensure food is stored in sealed containers. Board have been informed and it is included in risk assessment. 12. Hygienic hand towel dispensers have now been installed in all relevant areas. Staff meeting was held and staff have been requested to put all used tea towels in a laundry basket and replace with fresh tea towels regularly. Staff meeting was held and staff have been requested to check throughout the day to ensure that separately dispensed towelling is replaced and available in the hygienic hand towel dispensers, when necessary. Staff have been requested to put all used tea towels in a laundry basket and replace with fresh tea towels regularly. 13. Hooks have been installed in both children’s toilets for the correct storage of the seat adapters. The children have been shown where the seat adapters must be hung on the hooks after each use. A staff meeting was held, and the staff have been instructed to check throughout the day that the seat adapters are stored correctly when not in use. Items requiring repair are reviewed on a monthly basis by the person in charge, with a member of the board informed of same. Maintenance and replacement of equipment is carried out by appropriately qualified parents. This practice will continue in the future. 14. Toys have been removed from the toilet area. Beds are now stored in each classroom. A staff meeting was held, and staff were instructed on the correct storage of toys and equipment to be used in the service. Administration of Medication: 15. Staff were instructed to dispose of all non-relevant medication. A staff meeting was held. Staff were instructed to check the first aid box monthly, with a checklist, in order to remove and dispose of any items that do not belong, in line with first aid training. Fire Safety: 16. The hall was cleared immediately of all items. A sign was placed in the hall reminding all staff and parents that nothing is to be stored in the hall, and it must be kept clear at all times, as it is an emergency exit. A staff meeting was held. The hall area will be reviewed on a daily basis by staff and the person in charge, with immediate action to be taken, if required, to ensure compliance with our fire safety policy. 17. The boxes were removed immediately when clearing the hall. A sign was placed in the hall reminding all staff and parents that nothing is to be stored in the hall and it must be kept clear at all times, as it is an emergency exit. A staff meeting was held. The hall area will be reviewed on a daily basis by staff and the person in charge, with immediate action to be taken, if required, to ensure compliance with our fire safety policy. 18. A staff meeting was held. All staff were reminded, as a vital health, safety and fire requirement, to mark attendance as each child arrives and also to mark the child out when they are leaving. The Principal will check the roll books regularly, to ensure proper procedure is followed
Regulation not named in the report text
- (1) The registered provider did not notify the agency of a change of the designated person in charge of the service. Discussion with management on the day of inspection showed that the change was enacted in September 2023 and has not been notified to the agency to date
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) EYI Notification Form of proposed change in circumstance has been filled in and sent with the request to apply the change in retrospect. Management and Board of Management are now aware of this. A board member is registered to attend a webinar regarding the change in circumstance form and to gain knowledge regarding same. The item is to be included as a potential risk on the risk register under staffing
Found compliant: Regulation 25, 26.