# First Steps Creche and Montessori, Dublin 3 — inspection reports and findings

> First Steps Creche and Montessori (Dublin 3, Co. Dublin): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions.

## First Steps Creche and Montessori

Full Day · 0 - 6 Years · Dublin 3, Dublin · Tusla ID **TU2015DY070** · 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 September 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

- (4) Documentation was not available to demonstrate that one adult who worked directly with children attending the service held at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed eligible by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs

- Corrective Action (4) Post inspection the staff member handed in their notice of employment as they felt they would not be able to further their education at the present time. During this notice period a new member of staff was hired. The new team member holds a recognised Fetac Level 6 qualification. Preventive Action (4) Going forward management will ensure to check all qualifications meet requirements on the National Framework of Qualifications or their eligibility by the Department of Children & Youth Affairs before offering an interviewee a position

##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

- (h) The number of children present in the service was not recorded accurately, as follows – • In the Toddler room between at 10.00am and 10.22am, only 7 children were present but 8 children were recorded in the electronic application as one child who left for an appointment was not marked as absent. • In the Preschool room between 8.16am and 10.19am, 10 children were present but 11 children were recorded in the electronic application. (i) The roster did not reflect the presence of the registered provider in the service. (j) On review of five medicine administration forms sampled, the following information was missing: • The parent’s signature acknowledging administration of the medication was missing on three forms. • The date of the parents signature was missing on one form. • The date of the staff members signature was missing on four forms • The name of the medication administered was missing on two forms (k) On review of ten accident and incident record forms sampled, the following information was missing: • The parent’s signature was missing on seven forms. • The date of the parent’s signature was missing on three forms • The service managers signature was missing on six forms. • The date of the manager’s signature was missing on four forms

- Corrective Action (h) The registered provider had a meeting with the team post inspection the importance of accuracy when roll taking was spoken about. Particularly in relation to Fire & evacuation. The attendance roll must reflect the correct number of children on the premises at all times. After the meeting each staff member re-read the points of the policy and were given an opportunity to ask any questions. Once everyone was of agreement and they understood this policy it was signed and dated by each staff member. (i) The registered provider is now back on ratio in Pre-School room and this will be reflected on roster going forward. (j) Post inspection the service reverted back to using physical medicine administration books as the electronic application enables too many inaccuracies. The Service found a new Medicine Administration book and an Accident/Incident book in basement so started using these straight away. The service has also purchased a further two new books to have at hand if needed. Staff were all re-introduced to these books and as a team they all went through what was needed to be filled out in the best interest of the child’s health and safety and also what would be needed to keep up with compliance. (k) The service has reverted back to physical Accident & Incident record form books as it will provide more accurate detail that was previously missing. Parents will be notified on the electronic application that an accident/incident occurred and they will be provided with a copy of the physical form at pick up time. After parent is satisfied with all information on it, it will be signed and dated by both parent and manager. Parents can then take their copy home with them and a copy will be left in the book for service files. Preventive Action (h) The Manager will periodically check numbers in rooms on daily basis against roll on electronic application to ensure numbers are correct and there are no oversights with roll taking. Continue to train staff on ‘Children’s Roll policy’ on a regular basis. (i) The deputy manager will run weekly roster by the registered provider to ensure they are added to it each day/week before posting to notice board. (j) Now with use of physical books the registered provider can more easily check that all dates and signatures are in place before the final sign off of forms. This will eliminate any missing information on forms going forward. Staff training on the correct procedure for filling out such forms will be addressed at each Team meeting going forward. (k) Now with use of physical books, the manager can more easily check that all dates and signatures are in place before the final sign off of forms. This will eliminate any missing information on forms going forward. Staff training on the correct procedure for filling out such forms will be addressed at each Team meeting going forward

##### Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials

- 1. In the Toddler room, the play materials and equipment were stored in boxes on a high shelf and not accessible to children, limiting child led play, decision making and independent free play

- Corrective Action 1. The Toddler room staff re-arranged the children’s play areas within the room and introduced more toys at a reachable level to the children. A large box of kitchen toys has been placed beside toy kitchen, in the construction area staff have brought down some large cars from the above shelves and also added a large box of building bricks. The baby doll section has had some pieces added and all areas have photos added to the boxes/areas for recognition by the child. Staff have also lowered family wall down for easier viewing for children. Preventive Action 1. Going forward the staff will be more mindful in the toddler and all other rooms when planning room lay out. They will swap high and lower-level toys around weekly for continued stimulation of play for the children. They will ensure there is always an adequate number of toys on floor level for the children to enhance more child led pay, decision making and independent play of the child

##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

- Infection Control: 1. In the Toddler room, one cot mattress and the blue couch were torn, leading to poor infection control as they could not be cleaned effectively. 2. In the Preschool/ Montessori room, sanitary facilities, the toilet paper was not stored in a holder and was observed to be sitting the back of the toilet, making it difficult for the children to access, leading to poor infection control. Safe Sleep: 3. In the Toddler room, nine children under two years of age were observed to be sleeping on low floor mats. Sleep assessments for these nine children were not available, this is at variance to the best practise sleep guidelines issued to the sector in September 2023. Action submitted by the Registered Provider

- Infection Control: Corrective action 1. Post inspection, the torn toddler couch was removed from room & binned. There is an adequate rest area in toddler room with padded mats and cushions. A new mattress has been purchased so the torn cot mattress will be replaced when new one arrives. 2. Post inspection, new toilet roll holders were purchased and attached to wall at child level, within easy access. Preventive Action 1. Going forward any item which is deemed unfit for purpose under the infection control regulation will be removed and or replaced with immediate effect. This will ensure all hygiene standards are being met. 2. Sanitary facilities will be monitored daily to ensure each child has access to all items needed within the bathroom area. Any missing items such a toilet paper, soap or hand tissues will be replaced immediately and displayed at child friendly levels. Safe Sleep: Corrective Action 3. Post inspection all children under the age of 2 years now sleep in a cot. The service will be closing their Toddler room next summer so have decided against the purchase of toddler beds. The service is quite small so they would not have an area to even store the toddler beds if purchased. The service have devised a plan for the nine cots the service already owns which can be used to allow each child under two have sleep time in a cot rather than on a mat. The youngest of our toddlers will have two small naps mid- morning & afternoon, whilst the older toddlers will have their sleep time after dinner at 12pm. This allows the service to ‘share’ some of the cots with separate bedding. Post inspection, sleep assessments were filled out for every child who naps on a mat over the age of 2 years. The service did this in conjunction with each child’s parents. Preventive Action 3. It is the intention of the service to start transition into a Montessori & afterschool service. This will mean the closure of the toddler room which in turn means the service will not have any under 2’s which will be needing sleep. Until then, all under 2’s will continue to sleep in a cot and will not be moved onto a mat until a full sleep assessment has been completed between service and parent. Going forward any child moved from a cot to a sleep mat will have a Sleep assessment record kept on file for them

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 26, 28.

### Earlier inspections

- 22 July 2026 — Inspection Report

### Other services in Dublin

- [First Steps](/creche/first-steps-dublin-22.md) Dublin 22
- [First Steps Movement](/creche/first-steps-movement-dublin-9.md) Dublin 9
- [Fizzy Fingers](/creche/fizzy-fingers-dublin-13.md) Dublin 13
- [Fonthill Lodge Childcare](/creche/fonthill-lodge-childcare-dublin-22.md) Dublin 22
- [Funtimes Creche](/creche/funtimes-creche-balbriggan.md) Balbriggan
- [Giraffe Childcare Northern Cross](/creche/giraffe-childcare-northern-cross-dublin-17.md) Dublin 17
- [Hollypark Montessori](/creche/hollypark-montessori-blackrock.md) Blackrock
- [Lambkins Montessori](/creche/lambkins-montessori-dublin-18.md) Dublin 18
- [Montessori Matters Ltd](/creche/montessori-matters-ltd-lucan.md) Lucan
- [Tigers Childcare](/creche/tigers-childcare-dublin-15.md) Dublin 15

[Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md)

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Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/first-steps-creche-and-montessori-dublin-3/
Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate
Recolha: 2026-09-11