# First Steps Academy Creche & Montessori Limited, Dublin 15 — inspection reports and findings > First Steps Academy Creche & Montessori Limited (Dublin 15, Co. Dublin): what Tusla inspections found — 3 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## First Steps Academy Creche & Montessori Limited Full Day · 1 - 6 Years · Dublin 15, Dublin · Tusla ID **TU2024FL009** · Registered since 11 September 2024 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 15 May 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (7) (a) The registered provider did not ensure the following was in place within the service, for example: 1. There was no documentary evidence to show that the registered provider had ensured that all ten adults working directly with children were provided with regular supervision on policies or training. This was not in line with the service Staff Supervision Policy which states that support and supervision meetings will be held bi-monthly with the manager and three monthly with the area manager. This is necessary to ensure safe standards of care and wellbeing of children within the service. 2. The review of all ten staff files and conversation with management showed that there was no review of probationary periods for staff, issues identified were not reviewed again in a timely manner. This was not in line with the service policy on staff supervision. Staff require support and training to safeguard the wellbeing of children within the service - 1. The service will hold supervision meetings with all staff and add them to their files; a calendar has been created to schedule meetings with all staff. 2. The service has reviewed the probation period for all new staff and followed up on any issues, a checklist has been set up to ensure probation periods happen on time ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. The transitions in the service were observed to be disorganised and unplanned and did not support the children to move between activities. The following was observed: • In the Snuggle Bear room the transition to sleep was not appropriately managed and timely. The transition to sleep commenced at 11:48am. At 11:50am two children are placed into cots, and one was observed lying on a floor mat while the others continued to eat. The transition continued until 12:14pm when the room was finally dimmed and the children ready for sleep. • In the Boo Boo Bear room, the transition to mealtime and sleep times were not appropriately managed and timely. Children were observed to be placed one by one into highchairs for mealtime at 11:29, three children were served food at 11:40, the last child was served food at 11:45. During this time one staff member facilitated mealtime while another cleaned up and prepared cots. The transition to sleep commenced at 12:01pm with one child being placed into a cot within the brightly lit care room, at this time three children remained in highchairs nearby finishing their meals. At 12:12 two children were placed in cots within a brightly lit care room. Co-ordinated transitions foster children’s sense of familiarity, set expectation and prepares them for change. 2. On the day of inspection, the sleep needs of two children in the Boo Boo room, aged between 16-21 months were not met in a timely manner. The following was observed: • At 10:45 a child aged between 16-17 months was observed to place their head on the table and close their eyes. At 11:56 this child was observed to fall asleep whilst chewing food, in their highchair during mealtime. Staff were observed to note them sleeping but did not pick up on their cues for sleep in a timely manner. The is also a potential risk to aspiration whilst eating when not fully awake. • Between 11:48 and 12:12 a child was observed to show signs of tiredness by crying, rubbing their eyes and star vacantly and refuse food. During this time this child was placed into a highchair to eat lunch, which was refused, they were placed last to sleep. Staff did not pick up their signs of tiredness and need for rest. Staff should be aware of children’s sleep cues and ensure their sleep needs are met in a timely manner. This was a non-compliance noted in December 2024. The corrective and preventative actions submitted by the registered provider have been insufficient to prevent this non- compliance from reoccurring. 3. The schedule of activities planned for both the Boo Boo bear room and Snuggle Bear rooms were not appropriate for the age and development of the children within these care rooms, for example. • In the Boo Boo bear room children were aged between 16-21 months were observed to be given magnetic tiles and cars with finger pinch points and books to play or read from 10:35 to 11:25. During this time children were observed to be disengaged and despondent. Three children showed an interest in water play with books but were redirected back to tabletop reading. It is acknowledged that the children had access to a ball pit and low-level toys, however there was no guidance or development of play by staff. • In the Snuggle Bear Room children were aged between 20 to 31 months were observed to be given small buttons and sponges to play with. This is a choking hazard for this age group. 4. Children were not provided with props to extend their play experiences for example: props were not available in the kitchen area of the Outdoor environment; props allow children to develop the play experience and extends their learning. This was a non-compliance in December 2024.The corrective and preventative actions submitted by the registered provider have been insufficient to prevent this non-compliance from reoccurring. 5. Positive mealtime experiences were not observed on the day of inspection, for example; • Children who were developmentally able to navigate low level chairs were placed in highchairs for mealtimes. Children were observed show a preference for low level chairs by gesturing and rocking them prior to being placed in highchairs. • During mealtime highchairs were positioned in a semi-circle with children facing away from each other. Staff were not observed to sit with children during this time. There was no opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and little socialisation when eating. This is not in line with the service Health and Nutrition Policy which states that meal and snack times are treated as social occasions, where tables are set up for children. 6. Staff were not consistent in their approach to children during mealtimes for example staff did not adequately encourage children to eat the hot meal provided for example a child who refused the meal was given a brioche roll. Other children then refused their meals showing a preference for the brioche roll provided to the other child. A third child who was showing signs of hunger and wanting a brioche roll was repeatedly moved away from the children before being given the roll. Children should be encouraged to eat the meal provided before alternatives are offered and a consistent approach should be employed to ensure fairness - 1. The service has created a Transition SOP, staff were coached on leading smooth, predictable transitions with the daily room leader checklist which includes monitoring of transition practices. Monthly audits will be undertaken along with ongoing mentoring for new staff; transitions will be reviewed at staff meetings. 2. Staff have received a refresher training on recognising and responding to sleep cues, children’s tiredness are now discussed during handovers and logged. Children are immediately put to sleep as soon as the signs of tiredness are observed. All staff will complete sleep policy training every term. Spot checks on room routines will be carried out weekly. A sleep room checklist has been created and implemented already. 3. All materials were reviewed and unsafe items removed. Weekly activity plans were updated with the support of an external support agency. Weekly plans are signed off weekly by the manager, room leaders to review materials and adjust them accordingly. Regular meetings with an external support agency to support developmental appropriateness of materials. 4. New props were added to the indoor and outdoor areas with storage being reorganised to make props more accessible for staff and children. Staff were reminded of the importance of enhancing play through open- ended resources. Weekly review of the rooms with a monthly budget allocated for replenishing and updating props. Ongoing training in play-based learning with an external support agency. 5. Children are now seated according to developmental stage in low chairs were possible, staff are to sit with children during meals to encourage conversation, room layout has been changed to support better mealtime interactions. Monthly observation of mealtimes by the manager. Policy reminders are discussed during team meetings. Daily mealtime set-up included in the room leader checklist. 6. Staff retrained to follow a consistent policy, children are encouraged to eat a hot meal before any alternative is offered. Nutritious balanced alternatives (not brioche or crackers) are now prepared in advance. Random mealtime spot checks by management and room leaders with food choices recorded daily and reviewed weekly ##### Regulation 22 — Food and drink - 1. The provision of alternative meals was not in line with the national guidelines on food and nutrition which state that a healthy alternative should be offered. Children attending the service for full day care who refused the hot meals offered were observed to be given brioches or dry crackers as alternative food offering. Dry crackers or brioche are highly processed food options and alone are not an adequate nutritious food offering. A child’s hot meal serving should include ½ to 1 serving of vegetables, 1 serving of bread, pasta, rice or potatoes and one serving of either meat, poultry, eggs, beans or cheese - 1. The service immediately stopped offering dry crackers or brioches as alternative meals. Healthy nutritious alternatives now include vegetable, proteins, like beans, cheese or eggs and carbohydrates like bread, pasta or potatoes. Staff will be trained on health and nutrition policy and appropriate healthy alternatives. Staff will be reminded about offering healthy alternatives only. Parents will be informed of the healthy food alternatives and to support these choices. The manager will review the meal practices monthly ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. In both the Boo Boo Bear room and Snuggle Bear rooms chairs were noted to be stacked at a height. Children were observed to shake and rock stacked chairs, until the inspector intervened. The stacked highchairs were removed from the Boo Boo Bear room by the manager on the day of inspection. Stacked chairs are a potential crushing risk if toppled. 2. The registered provider failed to ensure that an individual risk assessment was carried out after parents disclosed a suspected nut allergy in a child who did not require medication. This poses a potential risk to the child’s safety. 3. Children in the Snuggle Bear room had access to a container with small buttons, posing a risk of choking. 4. A chalkboard in the outdoor area was broken with sharp edges exposed. Posing a risk of injury. Infection Control: 5. Handwashing practices were inconsistent across the service and not in line with the service policy on handwashing. For example: • In Boo Boo Bear room staff were observed to use the same set of gloves while picking up children, cleaning faces and equipment. Handwashing was not preformed between these activities. This is a risk to cross contamination. • Handwashing was not observed to have been completed prior to mealtime for staff or children in the Boo Boo Bear room. There is a risk of cross contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. Stacked chairs were removed immediately and room leader daily safety checks will include monitoring of stacked chairs and removal of hazards. 2. An individual risk assessment was completed for the child with a suspected nut allergy and a care plan put in place. Allergy disclosures will trigger a standard process for risk assessment and care planning. 3. Choking hazards such as small buttons were roomed from all rooms, play materials will be regularly audited for safety and suitability and included in the room leader checklist. 4. The broken chalkboard was removed from the outdoor area. With materials audited for safety and suitability which is included in the room leader checklist. Infection Control: 5. Staff received immediate training and reminders on proper handwashing and glove use. A SOP has been created and reinforced during regular training sessions Found compliant: Regulation 11, 26. #### Inspection of 4 December 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on 4 December 2024 in relation to concerns under ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (3) A review of the staff files showed that the checks required under (2) above had not been completed in advance of the employment start date for three staff members, for example; • Police vetting was dated after the start date of one staff member. • Five references in relation to the three staff members were verified after the start date of the staff members. The checks required must be completed prior to the start date of the staff members to ensure they are suitable to work directly with children - (3) We have amended our recruitment policy to make sure we carry on all the checks before the start date of any staff. Management have received training based on our updated policy ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. Adequate sleep equipment in line with the “Guidance for the Early Learning and Care sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months” was not used for two children aged under two years old on the day of inspection. The following was observed; • The children were observed to sleep on low level stackable beds which did provide adequate support or comfort for children of this age. • Individual sleep care plans completed in conjunction with the children’s parents which detailed the developmental rational for moving the children from cots were not available. • Risk assessment which detailed the potential risks for children both in the cot and if moved to a low-level bed were not available for review. It is acknowledged that the service had ample cots available for the children to sleep in on the day of inspection. 2. The sleep needs of two children aged 12-13 months in the Boo Boo bears room were not observed to be met on the day of inspection. Between 10:52am and 11:24am two children were observed crying, yawning and rubbing their eyes, one child was observed putting their head down on a cushion in the cosy area at 11:24am and staff acknowledged the two children were tired. At 11:27am one child had dosed off in the cosy area when a staff members called them by name and told them they will have dinner and then they can go to sleep. At 11:55am the children were brought to the cot room for naptime. Staff advised one of the children had been put into a cot in the care room at 9am and did not sleep however there was no record of this in the child’s parental communication record. 3. Children of this age often require a nap in the morning time and staff should be responsive to the children’s sleep cues to ensure their needs are met in a timely manner. 4. An alternative hot meal was not available or provided to a child aged 15 months old who refused the meal offered. Staff advised alternative hot meals are not available when children refuse to eat the meal provided but that children are given crackers or rice cakes instead. The child was provided with one dry cracker to eat. An alternative meal should be provided to ensure that children receive adequate food and nutrition to maintain energy levels and support development. 5. Children were not provided with props to facilitate and extend their play experiences, for example props were not available for use with a kitchen in the outdoor area while in the Buddy bears room did not have supporting equipment for the easel such as paint, paper, or chalk. Props and supporting equipment allow children to engage in spontaneous, interest-based play experiences and extends their learning - 1. The children that were sleeping in non-suitable floor beds for their age, are back in the cots as we always have a staff member with them. Stackable beds are now removed from the service. The service have created individuals sleep care plans that parents will complete and share with us so we can accommodate their sleep needs better. Risk assessments are in place now so parents will sign them before moving the children from cot to floor mat. Management have received training in safe sleep guidance and policy was reviewed. 2. Individuals sleep care plans have been created that parents will complete and share with us so we can accommodate their sleep needs better and we are training the staff to identify children’s needs and act according to it. Staff and management have received training in safe sleep guidance and policy was reviewed. 3. We arranged for an additional alternative food option alongside our regular menu to accommodate those who decline the hot meal offered. Staff and management have received training in healthy eating guidance and the policy was reviewed. 4. The outdoor area has now been enhanced with new kitchen toys, and the Buddy Bears room has been equipped with the necessary supporting equipment. Staff and management have received training in outdoor play and interest-based play guidance. Policy was reviewed ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - Infection Control: 1. Appropriate infection control practices were not used in relation to the bedding used by children in the Cub Bears room. The sleep mats were observed to be stacked with the sheets on and the sheets were observed to be touching each other which posed a risk of cross contamination. Staff advised that the sheets had been used the previous day. Safe Sleep: 2. An ambient sleep temperature was not maintained in the Snuggle Bears room where children aged 1.5- 2.5 years old were sleeping. The temperature was recorded to be 23℃ at 12:40pm on the inspector’s calibrated thermometer. The thermometer in the care room registered the temperature as 21.2℃ Fire Safety: 3. Two designated fire exits; one in the Boo Boo bears room and one in the adjacent cot room used by children from the Boo Boo Bears room were observed to be blocked by cots between 11:54am and 12:25pm. At 12:25pm the cot in the care room was moved from in front of the fire exit door but the other door remained blocked. This would have impeded the safe evacuation of children in the Boo Boo Bears room in the event of a fire emergency. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of the inspection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - Infection Control: 1. The service now has a system to store the sheets and blankets individually in waterproof zip wallets. Staff and management have created a system to avoid cross contamination and get trained in infection control. Safe Sleep: 2. New thermometers were purchased to provide more accurate and detailed temperature information. Staff and management have received training in safe sleep guidance and policy was reviewed. Fire Safety: 3. The staff received training of Fire Safety in accordance with regulation 23, so they all remember the importance of not blocking the fire exit to ensure the kids and staff safety in the event of a fire or emergency. The staff will ensure that less cots are in the cot room during sleep times so the fire exit is not blocked by a cot and is fully compliant with Regulations 23. Head Office will meet to ensure the Cot Room has more facilities for the staff to be in full compliance with Regulation 23. The staff received training of Fire Safety in accordance with regulation 23, so they all remember the importance of not blocking the fire exit to ensure the kids and staff safety in the event of a fire or emergency Found compliant: Regulation 11. #### Inspection of 6 September 2024 — New Service Full report (PDF, Tusla) No non-compliance recorded in this report. ### Other services in Dublin - [First Steps Academy Crèche & Montessori Ltd.](/creche/first-steps-academy-creche-montessori-ltd-dublin-13.md) Dublin 13 - [First Steps Academy](/creche/first-steps-academy-dublin-13.md) Dublin 13 - [First Steps Creche and Montessori](/creche/first-steps-creche-and-montessori-dublin-3.md) Dublin 3 - [Flower Childcare Clonskeagh](/creche/flower-childcare-clonskeagh-dublin-14.md) Dublin 14 - [Four Plus In School Care Ltd](/creche/four-plus-in-school-care-ltd-dublin-12.md) Dublin 12 - [Giraffe Childcare Leopardstown](/creche/giraffe-childcare-leopardstown-dublin-18.md) Dublin 18 - [Hi5 Childcare](/creche/hi5-childcare-portmarnock.md) Portmarnock - [Krafty Kidz Breakfast and Afterschool Club](/creche/krafty-kidz-breakfast-and-afterschool-club-dublin-24.md) Dublin 24 - [Mo's Montessori](/creche/mo-s-montessori-dublin-13.md) Dublin 13 - [Tiger's Childcare](/creche/tiger-s-childcare-dublin-16.md) Dublin 16 [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/first-steps-academy-creche-montessori-limited-dublin-15/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11