Creche Inspection Reports

Fonthill Lodge Childcare

Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Clonee, Meath · Tusla ID TU2015MH054 · Registered since 1 January 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

4published inspections
3non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 18 May 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • The following information was not available on the day of inspection. (4) It was not possible to evidence if a major award at level 5 or above, had been obtained in the case of one staff member
Provider's corrective action:
  • The official QQI certificate now since been obtained. Employees who have completed a qualification but are awaiting their official QQI certificate will not be employed until the official QQI award has been received and verified

Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

  • (2) The minimum adult to child ratio was not maintained in the Bumble Bees room, on the day of the inspection. At 10:01am, one qualified staff member was present with 9 children. The children present were aged 2-3 years old and were being cared for on a full day care basis. Two qualified staff members were required
Provider's corrective action:
  • The registered provider has confirmed that at the time referred to in the inspection report, one educator was supporting a child with toilet training. On receipt of the report all employees were reminded that temporary toileting support should be called for. To prevent reoccurrence a review of the procedures took place. The procedures have been strengthened to ensure ratios are always met while continuing to meet children's individual care needs

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. Grapes within a child’s lunchbox were observed not to be cut in half, increasing the risk of choking to the child. It is acknowledged the staff member implemented measures to mitigate the risk when brought to their attention. 2. An emergency medication stored in the yellow room had passed its expiry and remained available for use, this posed a potential risk of delayed medical treatment in the event of an emergency. 3. The inspectors observed that the full height glazed doors and windows within the service did not have visibility strips or safety markings positioned at the children’s eye level. The absence of these markings reduced the visibility of the glass panels and increased the likelihood of children inadvertently colliding into the glass surface. Infection Control: 4. In the orange room a low-level cupboard storing cleaning chemicals was not secured by a lock and was accessible to children. 5. Mouthed toys were observed not removed from play once children had placed them in their mouths. These toys were left on the floor or table and observed to be accessible to other children present. This was not in accordance with the service’s infection control policy. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • The registered provider confirmed that findings on inspection were brought to the attention of staff. Assurances were given by management that regular checks and audits will take place to prevent reoccurrence. Staff will further be periodically reminded of procedures through staff meetings and supervisions. General Safety: 1. All employees were reminded that grapes present in children's lunchboxes from home must be cut in half. Communication was sent to all current ECCE parents requesting that grapes be cut prior to including in lunchboxes. To prevent reoccurrence, grapes will be prohibited in the service beginning with the September intake of new ECCE children. 2. The emergency medication identified in the Yellow Room was removed from the service following confirmation from the Childs parents that it was no longer required. 3. Visibility safety markings have been applied to all glass panels. Infection Control: 4. The cleaning chemicals stored in the low-level cupboard in the Orange Room were removed and relocated to the high-level cupboard. Daily room safety checklists have been updated to reflect safe storage of chemicals. 5. Staff were reminded of the Infection Prevention and Control Policy in relation to mouthed toys

Found compliant: Regulation 19, 28.

Inspection of 27 May 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • Fire Safety: 1. An IAN was issued to the registered providers on the day of inspection in relation to the location of a cot in the Nest and Caterpillar sleep rooms. A cot in each room impeded the evacuation of the room in the event of an emergency. It is acknowledged that both of these cots were on wheels. The staff in the service responded on the day of inspection and removed a cot from The Caterpillar room and re arranged the cots in the Nest sleep room. A written response received on the day of inspection confirmed that the removal of the cot did not impact children’s need for a cot for sleep and there was sufficient space between the cots when rearranged in the Nest sleep room. General Safety: 2. The registered provider did not ensure that medication required for a child was in date in the event of an emergency. A child attending the service was prescribed an auto-injector adrenaline pen for specific use in the event of an emergency. The auto- injector pen provided by the child’s parents, which was stored in the service for use in the event of an emergency had expired. The expiry date on the auto- injector pen was dated April 2025. Infection Control: 3. Effective infection control measure were not in place to support the reduction of cross contamination. • The inspector observed that children in The Nest were not provided with plates for their sandwiches and the children ate them off the tables. • Mouthed toys were not removed from play once children had placed them in their mouths. These toys were left on the floor and observed to be accessible for play following children’s snack, sleep and dinner. The service’s infection control policy which referenced mouthed toys did not support staff in the procedure for effectively dealing and cleaning these toys. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • Fire Safety: 1. The registered provider stated in their corrective and preventive action plan the immediate corrective actions taken on the day of inspection as observed by the inspectors which included the relocation of the to the opposite side of the room in the Nest sleep room. This ensured that the emergency exit was no longer obstructed. The evacuation plan was updated to reflect the corridor door as the designated exit for this room. In Sleep Room 3 (Caterpillar) the cot located behind the door, which impeded full opening, was also on wheels and was removed entirely. This ensured a clear and accessible exit route in case of emergency. The inspector also received photographic evidence alongside a written confirmation that sleep needs of children remained met immediately following the inspection. As a preventive action the registered provider has stated that there is a weekly audit checklist which now includes verification of cot placement and evacuation route accessibility. Staff training was completed on 28/05/2025 and a fire drill was carried out and all staff were re-trained on evacuation procedures, including proper cot positioning and maintaining clear exit routes. An updated evacuation plan is in place for the Nest Sleep room and the evacuation route has been reviewed and revised and is clearly displayed. The room leader and manager conduct weekly walk-throughs to ensure compliance with evacuation route requirements and layout protocols. General Safety: 2. The registered provider stated that two new pens are now in the service. A request had been made prior to the inspection, and this was followed up after the inspection. An oversight had occurred due to a staff member being on extended leave and there are now updated internal procedures to ensure continuity in this responsibility. As a preventive action it was stated that a monthly check of all medications, including expiry dates, has been introduced and recorded on a Medication Monitoring Log is in place. A named staff member is responsible for this check and reporting any upcoming expiries at least two months in advance. There is also a formal procedure is in place to notify parents, via email, at least one month before a medication’s expiry to ensure timely replacement. Infection Control: 3. The registered provider stated that the staff in the room were respectfully reminded of the requirement to use the plates provided for all food items, including sandwiches, in accordance with our Infection Control Policy and instructed to provide plates at all times going forward. All staff were reminded of procedures around mouthed toys, including their prompt removal from shared areas, cleaning, and appropriate storage until sanitised. As a preventive action the classroom daily checklist has been updated to include verification of availability of plates for all meals and procedures for cleaning of mouthed toys

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 25, 29.

Earlier inspections

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