Inspection of 5 February 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a)(b) One written past employer reference and one written reference from a reputable source in the absence of a past employer reference, for one workplace student present in the service, had no documentary evidence they had been verified by the registered provider. (3) The procedures specified in paragraph (2) were not carried out in respect of one adult prior to the person being appointed, assigned or allowed access to or contact with a child attending the pre-school service as the documents for two references were not verified by the registered provider. (4) Four adults working directly with the children did not hold qualifications in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework. (6)(A) The registered provider did not ensure that the adult employed under AIMS funding had a qualification in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework
- (a) 1. There was no documentary evidence available that a system of regular structured team meetings was held with the staff. It is acknowledged that the staff members in the three care rooms had completed monthly meetings and there was a record of these meetings available. There was no evidence available of oversight by the Registered Provider of these meetings. 2. There was no evidence that individual staff supervision was completed between the registered provider and each staff member on a regular basis. 3. There was no documentary evidence available that service wide training had been undertaken in the policies and procedures for the service. 4. There was no documen tary evidence available that induction training was completed for new staff members commencing in the service. This did not align to the training policy which stated that Induction training would be provided to “all newly appointed staff/students/ volunteers”. This includes, “health and safety, Child Protection procedures, Policies and Procedures”. 5. There was no documentary evidence provided that the designated liaison person named in the service as the person to manage child safeguarding concerns had completed the necessary training for the role. (b), (c) 6. There was no evidence of service wide staff training undertaken in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016
Provider's corrective action:
- (2)(a), (b) Validated references for adult and student on file. (3) All reference to be verified before all staff/ student is accepted in service to work or training with the early years. (4) The service will not allow any staff to work with early year’s children unless they have a level 5 in childcare and education. (6)(A) Staff member with early years qualification now working in this role
- 1. The Registered Provider attended the room staff meetings held in February. Two staff with level 6 in childcare and over 16 years’ experience have been hired for morning and afternoon cover in the Toddler room. They will commence in the service when their vetting is completed. This will allow the Registered Provider to return back to management and oversight responsibilities throughout the service. Management will r emind the staff to keep their training up to date and if they need help/training in any of childcare management will seek to source it from O ffaly County Childcare Commi ttee or external training provider’s. Staff have attended training in managing behaviours organised by Offaly County Childcare Committee a nd facilitated by an external training provider. The staff members who are the designated liaison persons in the service have registered for DLP training on 6th June 2026. 2. One to one meeting’s to be held and recorded. 3. Sent staff update child protection and managing behaviour policies. All staff members have received the updated policies on Managing Behaviours and Accidents and Incidents, have read and understood them and signed to this effect. A copy is provided in each room of the service. When the service receives the updated set of policies and procedures for the service, all staff will receive them by email and as a team, we will go read and review each one at quarterly staff meetings going forward. 4. All staff will be provided with child protection procedures, policies and procedures and health and safety policies on induction and given training and asked to sign it to say they received it on induction. New update child protection policy, and Child Safeguarding Policy issued to staff by email and new one put up in entrance hall in the service. 5. eLearning in DLP completed and a date for full training by Offaly County Childcare Committee on the 6th of June received. (b), (c) 6. The Registered Provider has completed training in the Quality and Regulatory Framework eLearning programme. All staff have b een advised by email to complete this training and some of the staff members have started the training. A copy of the Child Care Act 1991 (early years’ service) regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (early years services) Amendment) regulations 2016 is available in the entrance hall to all staff. Offaly County Childcare Committee are arranging training in this area soon. All staff that are employed by the service will and must have a knowledge of The Child Care Act 1991 and Amendment regulations 2016
Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service
- 1. There was no staff supervision policy or a standalone staff induction policy available for inspection. It is acknowledged there was a reference to staff induction in the staff training policy assessed. 2. The behaviour management policy was not available for review on the day of inspection; this was forwarded by email 6 February 2026, it is noted the policy had not been reviewed/updated since 2020
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. A staff supervision policy will be introduced, and the induction policy will be given to all staff. 2. The Behaviour policy was updated in February 2026 and given to all staff by email . All policies, supervision, induction and Behaviour Management will be given to all new staff member in the future, and they will sign to say they received and it will be noted in the new staff induction book. Behaviour management policy update in Feb 2026 and emailed to all staff. When they have read and understood a copy will be placed in each room. The service has sent an email on 12 March on the updated policies on Managing Behaviours and Reporting incidents and Accidents and plan to implement the new up to date policies and procedure s from April 2026 at staff meeting initially discussing one or two policies per meeting . The policies will be reviewed and updated yearly or sooner if any change occurs
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- 1. In Green room there were three adults caring for eight children aged 2 to 3 years. Two adults were students and unqualified. Students on placement are there for learning purposes and are not part of the staff ratios. They are not counted in the adult to child ratio for the care room . Two qualified adults were required to maintain the correct adult child ratio for the Green room
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Registered provider has taken over the role until a new staff member is recruited with a minimum level 5 in childcare and education . All staff have to have at least a minimum level 5 in childcare and education before working with the early years
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (a) A curriculum vitae was not on file for one adult employed in the service. (i) There was no staff roster maintained in the service. (k) 1. There were three separate records being used to maintain details of any accident, injury or incident involving a pre-school child attending the service. The duplication requires to be aligned to one document for the purpose of consistent recording. 2. Seven accident and incident records dated 26 November 2024 – 14 February 2025 were reviewed and the following was observed: • Six of the seven records did not have a parental signature. • Four of the seven records did not have a staff member signature. • Four of the seven records did not have the child’s date of birth recorded. • There were no dates recorded on the seven forms
Provider's corrective action:
- (a) CV for staff member has been put into their file on the day after the inspection. Anyone employed to the service in the future will has a C.V. (i) Staff roster now in place. (k) Single accident and incident book used to record any accidents and incidents
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. During conversation with the Early Years Inspector, the staff demonstrated knowledge of the prohibited strategies which are unsuitable in the management of children’s behaviour . However, a ‘thinking chair’ was used to manage challenging behaviour in the service rather than approaches which supported a child to self- regulate to encourage pro-social behaviour. This behaviour management strategy did not align to the behaviour management policy for the service
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The practice of ‘thinking time ’ to manage children’s behaviours has ceased. We have attended training in managing behaviours and the service have updated and sent policy to all staff members on Managing Behaviours. All staff are working on their tone (playful) when managing children’s behaviour. The manager will complete spot checks in the care rooms and intervene if a staff member needs assistance when managing children’s behaviours. The one-to-one supervisory meetings held every two months will be an opportunity for staff members to discuss with the Registered Provider any practice issues or challenges that they may have or need support with
Found compliant: Regulation 15, 27, 32.