(1) The registered provider did not ensure that there was an adequate number of staff working directly with the children. For example, six staff were present in the service when the inspector arrived at 9:45am all of whom were required to work directly with th e children to meet their needs. However , staff were required to attend to other tasks such as opening the service door to visitors and preparing snacks for the children which left insufficient staff in the care rooms to work directly with the children. It is acknowledged that an additional staff member who is not normally present in the service arrived at 10:03am to provide cover in the care rooms during the inspection. (2) While it is acknowledged that ratios were maintained within the service on the day of inspection, through discussion with staff, the person in charge, and observation of paperwork, the inspector retrospectively established the following: • Between the times of 12pm-1pm on the week days rostered of 21 and 22 of April, two staff members within the Montessori room were required to cover their own lunch breaks while 14 children aged 3-5 years of age were present. • Throughout discussion with staff and the person in charge, it was reiterated that staff members within the service individually leave the classrooms on a daily basis between 10-15 minutes to prepare the children’s morning snack, leaving the remaining staff member out of the required adult to child ratio inadequate
Provider's corrective action:
1. An advertisement has been placed, with onboarding ongoing at the service to ensure that there is additional staff to cover ratios within the service. 2. An extra staff member is being employed to ensure there is consistent cover at all times and to prepare the snacks and dinners within the kitchen. A daily risk assessment now includes visible cover to ensure ratios are always maintained
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for one adult; however, this disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years for all staff employed. Infection Control: 2. A record of cleaning was not available within the service. It is acknowledged that cleaning sheets were available within the service however, they were not completed to date to indicate that regular cleaning was being completed. This is at variance with the services policy which states that daily and weekly cleaning sheets will be filled in as cleaning tasks are completed within the service. 3. Black residue was observed on the underneath of a nappy changing mat used in the service. This posed an infection control risk to children. 4. Within the sanitary area, there was a build-up of debris surround ing the faucet and part of the sink. It is acknowledged that both areas were immediately cleaned once the inspector brought it to staffs’ attention. 5. Storage of nappy creams were not appropriate to prevent cross infection for example creams were observed to be stored together in a basket and the process for labelling was inconsistent. One cream was stored in a bag and appeared to have leaked significantly coating the inside of the bag. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Garda vetting has been applied for, and staff forms now include the date Garda vetting was obtained and the date in which it needs to be reviewed, six months before it expires. Infection Control: 2. Management will use the daily risk assessments to ensure the cleaning schedules are being signed off daily and management are aware of the importance of checking cleaning sheets on a daily basis. 3. A new nappy changing mat has been bought 4. Staff have been informed to continuously check after each nappy change that the area is free from debris and clean. This has also been added to the daily risk assessments. 5. The creams have been removed and stored in the children’s individual storage boxes
(a) One written reference was available from a past employer for one adult, however, documentary evidence was not available to confirm a validation check had been completed. (d) The following was identified on review of documentation: o International police vetting was available for one staff member in respect of a country that they had lived in other than Ireland for a period longer than six consecutive months as an adult, however, an official translation of this document was not available for review. o Documentary evidence was not available for four adults to determine if international police vetting was required prior to commencement in the service. (3) Evidence was not available to demonstrate that the procedures specified in paragraph (2) were carried out in relation to five adults who had access to the children. The following was observed: o Documentary evidence confirmed that reference validation checks had been obtained after commencement dates for five adults. Full checks must be completed for staff members prior to them commencing employment in the service in order to establish that they are appropriate to have access to children
Provider's corrective action:
(a) The reference for one staff member has been validated and added to the staff file. The checklist for future employees has been updated to ensure all documents are checked before start dates. (d) The following has been added to the staff files: o An official translation for international police vetting for one adult. o Documentary evidence in the form of a curriculum vitae has been updated and added to the staff file for two adults. Two adults are no longer employed in the service. (3) All members of management are now aware that references must be validated prior to new staff members commencing in the service. The checklist for future employees has been updated to ensure checks are carried out before start dates
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(k) A sample of fifteen accident and incident records were reviewed. Eight of the fifteen records did not include the following information: o One record did not include the parent’s signature. o Five records did not include the date that a parent signed the form. o Three records did not include the child’s date of birth. o Two records did not include the child’s surname. Any miscommunication around incidents involving children can potentially hamper appropriate care following an injury
Provider's corrective action:
(k) Staff have been informed of the importance of completing accident and incident records correctly. The daily morning checklist has been updated to include checks of all accident record books to ensure all details are included
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. An alternative hot meal option was not available to the children on the day of inspection. A child in the Montessori room was observed to repeatedly tell a staff member that they did not like the dinner. When the inspector asked the staff member if alternative hot meals were available, it was confirmed that there is no hot meal alternative. Additional snack options such as breadsticks and crackers are available if required. This was not in line with national guidelines on food and nutrition, which state that a healthy alternative should be offered. 2. During sleep time in the Toddler room, movement was restricted for three children ranging in age from 2 – 3 years. The children were observed to lie on stackable beds for extended periods of time without showing signs of tiredness. The room was darkened for sleep time at 11:45am, and at 12:41pm, the children were still lying in their beds. During this time, the children were observed to sit up, move from their beds and chat while the staff member present gave instruction for the children to remain in their beds. No alternative activity was provided to the children. 3. The outdoor play area had limited equipment and resources which impeded children’s opportunities for play and as a result, children were observed to be upset and engage in challenging behaviours. Through discussion with management and staff members it was confirmed that there were additional toys and equipment stored in the garden shed but these were not made available to the children on the day of the inspection
Provider's corrective action:
1. Staff members are now aware that individual portions of alternative dinners are available for the children if required. We will always have a supply of alternative dinners available in the event it is required. 2. Children who do not wish to sleep or wake early will spend time in another care room or the garden during sleep time. Staff have been informed of the change to the routine which is now implemented on a daily basis. 3. Toys and equipment had been placed in the shed to allow the garden to be cleaned on the day prior to the inspection. Staff members will check the garden every morning to ensure that there are sufficient toys and equipment readily available for use by the children. The daily checklist has been updated to include garden checks
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. Two radiator covers in the Toddler room were observed to be cracked and broken, posing a potential pinch risk to the children. 2. Children’s buggies were stored in the garden and children were observed to access and remove items from them. Personal items may be kept in a buggy and pose a potential risk to the children’s safety. 3. Gaps between the soft ground surface tiles were observed which present a potential trip hazard. 4. A foam sleeve which covered an external pipe was frayed and torn, increasing the potential risk of ingestion by a child. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The radiator covers have been fixed. Management will carry out weekly checks in the care rooms and staff members have been informed to report required repairs to management. 2. Buggies will always be stored in the shed going forward. The daily checklist has been updated, and management will ensure the garden is checked every morning. 3. The soft ground surface has been fixed. The daily checklist has been updated, and management will ensure the garden is checked every morning. 4. The foam sleeve has been removed and replaced. The daily checklist has been updated, and management will ensure the garden is checked every morning
(3) Evidence showed that the procedures specified in paragraph (2) was not carried out in respect of one adult being allowed access to or contact with a child attending the pre-school service. • A Garda Vetting Disclosure had not been obtained and reviewed prior to the start date of the one adult
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (3) No staff member will be allowed to start in the future without Garda Vetting. Preventive Action (3) Management spoke at staff meeting about the importance of giving as much notice as possible if leaving job and the service will use relief staff from our sister creches if this happens again
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
(2) There was one adult caring for nine children aged between 2 to 3 years of aged in the Toddler room when the inspector arrived at the service at 9.41am. The ratio for this age group is one adult to six children. During this time a child asked the staff member to be brought to the toilet at 10.08am. The child had to wait till another staff member arrived from another service operated by the registered providers at 10.17am to be brought to the toilet. It is acknowledged that the additional staff member remained in this room for the duration of the inspection
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (2) The service when taking relief staff from a sister crèche we will request them earlier the same day or day before if possible. Preventive Action Management will keep a closer eye on ratios and respond in a timely fashion
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
• A child who does not require sleep time during the day was not provided with an alternative room to play at sleep time which took place between 11.55 and 13.43 in the toddler room. During this time the room was darkened with the blinds pulled down and soft music was playing. The child was observed to sit quietly at a table and read books and play toys while nine children slept on low beds. This did not support the child’s individual learning, development and well-being and inhibited opportunities for movement and natural play
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action The child who does not sleep now goes to either the wobbler room or Montessori room after lunch. Preventive Action Management spoke at the meeting about this and the child in question will move to the Montessori class in the next couple of months
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. On the inspector ’s unannounced arrival at the service at 9.41am, the main door of the service was not secure or monitored by staff to restrict unauthorised persons from gaining access to the premises and to prevent children from exiting the service unsupervised. An immediate action notice was issued . It is acknowledged that the service took immediate action to address the non -compliance. The service maintenance person arrived during the inspection at 11.35am to check out why the door was not closing properly and the door closer which was identified as the not working efficiently was replaced the following day. 2. Cleaning agents were not stored safely out of the reach to the children, cleaning agents were observed to be stored in an unlocked press in the downstairs sanitary area which posed a risk of injury. 3. A bottle of antifebrile medication was observed to be stored on top of a radiator accessible to children in the cot sleep room at 11.03. This posed a risk of injury. It is acknowledged the medication was removed during the inspection. 4. There were two broken radiator covers with holes accessible to children; one in the Toddler Care room and one which was positioned opposite the kitchen area. This posed a pinch risk for the children. Infection Control: 5. In the Wobbler room, children were observed to clean their hand before mealtimes using a hand steriliser which does not support adequate hygiene. Children should be facilitated to wash their hands under thermostatically controlled running water, with liquid soap and paper hand towels provided in line with HSPC guidance in relation to infection control protection measures. Safe Sleep: 6. The registered provider did not follow Tusla’s “Guidance for the Early Learning and Care sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months”. An individual sleep plan was not available for one child aged 1 year and 7 months who was observed to be sleeping on a low bed. Sleep plans should include an assessment of the individual child’s sleep routines and sleep requirements, to be determined and agreed in collaboration with parents/guardians and consideration of the child’s developmental readiness to move from a cot to a floor bed. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
s General Safety: 1. The slow release on the door has been fixed. The door is checked every day to ensure it is closing properly and management spoke to staff at meeting and a message was sent to all parents to remind them to keep it closed. 2. Cleaning agents have been removed to a high shelf. Management will check the low press in the changing room daily and management spoke to staff about this at the meeting. 3. The antifebrile medication was removed from the cot room. At the meeting management spoke about ensuring that medication is always kept in designated press. 4. The radiator covers were replaced the week of the 27th of May. Radiators covers have been added to service risk assessment checklist. Infection Control: 5. The wobblers now go to the toddler room to wash their hands. Handwashing was discussed at the staff meeting. Safe Sleep: 6. The sleep plan for the child has been filled out. Management and staff are now aware about the requirement for sleep plans for the low beds from the staff meeting
Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance
(1) Attendance records were not completed in a timely fashion as children arrived in the service. The attendance of a child who was present in the service from the morning was not recorded in the attendance book at 9:51am. (3)(b) While a visitor record book was available in the service the inspector was not asked to sign in on arrival or for the duration of inspection. A similar non-compliance was observed on last inspection June 2023. The preventive actions had not been maintained
Provider's corrective action:
(1) Staff now complete the roll books in a timely manner on arrival. Management spoke about the importance of this at the staff meeting and the manager will regularly check this throughout the day. (3)(b) All visitors now sign in the visitor book on arrival. The manager will regularly check this
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) On review of the staff roster it was observed that there was no staff member with First Aid Responder (FAR) training available to the children between 8am to 10.17am on day the inspection. At 10.17am a staff member who held certification in FAR training arrived from another service operated by the registered providers. It is acknowledged that five staff members who were present on the day were trained in paediatric first aid and two staff members who were absent on the day were trained in First Aid Response. However, on the morning of the inspection there was no person with FAR training available to meet the regulatory requirements
Provider's corrective action:
There is now always a member of staff with FAR on the premises. In the unfortunate event that both members of staff are off, management will ensure that the relief staff have FAR certification. In addition, another staff member is going to be trained in FAR to prevent this happening again