Creche Inspection Reports

Gingerbread Preschool

Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Athlone, Roscommon · Tusla ID TU2020RN001 · Registered since 18 August 2023

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

2published inspections
3non-compliances at latest report read
2immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 12 March 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. On the day of the inspection, an immediate action notice was issued, for

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. On the day of inspection, a temperature of 66.6°C from the hot water tap used by children taken at 10.44am. a temperature of 67.6°C taken at 10.55.am and 73.9°C taken at 11:49am. These water temperatures were above the recommended 43°C upper safety limit to prevent potential risk of scalding. 2. A cover on a four-inch pipe on the footpath in the outdoor area was not securely fixed and could pose a potential tripping hazard. 3. There was a worn lath of wood on the wooden gate, which was broken and had a metal nail exposed, posing a safety risk. 4. The window frame of the playhouse was broken with a sharp edge exposed which could pose a safety risk 5. The children were observed consuming popcorn which could pose a risk of choking. 6. A roof ridge tile was in the grassed area which could pose a potential safety concern Infection Control: 7. The covering on the goal post and the donut swing was ripped and in poor condition which could prove difficult to effectively clean. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • On 12th and 18th of March and 24th of April; the registered provider advised the office of the early year’s inspectorate General Safety: 1. The plumber has adjusted the system to limit the hot water temperature to a maximum of 42°C. and the energy diverter has been turned off, and the thermostat on the immersion heater has been adjusted. 2. A new metal cover has been installed. 3. The timber on the garden gate has been replaced. 4. The little green window on the playhouse has been removed. 5. A letter has been sent to parents to advise them not to send popcorn in the children’s lunchboxes and lunch boxes will be checked to ensure there is no choking hazards such as popcorn and it will not be provided as a party treat by the service. 6. The roof ridge tile has been removed. Infection Control: 7. A new goalpost and donut swing has been purchased. and we have added the above non-compliances into our Daily Health & Safety Checklist, so that we can carry out necessary repair and replacement in time if it’s required in the future. We will continue to monitor the solar panel system and keep a record of the water temperature to ensure the hot water temperature does not exceed 43°C

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • (2) There were items in the first aid box to include plasters, medium and large wound and finger dressings and eye pads which were out of date
Provider's corrective action:
  • (2)On the 18th of March and 25th of April the registered provider submitted evidence of a newly purchased first aid box and advised that the first aid box has been added into the Daily Health & Safety Checklist to check and ensure all items are in date

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (c)The wall under the window and the windowsill in the preschool room had evidence of chipped paint
Provider's corrective action:
  • (c) The registered provider submitted a written response on 25th of April to advise that the chipped paint of the wall under the window and the windowsill has been sanded and repainted and the registered provider will check for chipped paint regularly and carry out necessary repair or repaint during children’s holidays

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 15, 19, 26, 28.

Inspection of 12 September 2023 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. On the 13th of September 2023, an immediate action notice was issued, for

Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child

  • (g) The name and telephone number of the child’s registered medical practitioner was not available or recorded on the child’s record. (h) No record of any immunisations the child has had was recorded on the child’s records. (i) No written parental or guardian consent was included to allow the child to have appropriate medical treatment if there was / is an emergency
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action The registered provider submitted a written response on 3/10/2023 to state: (g) A copy of all children’s GP contact details was submitted to the office of the early years inspectorate on 19/09/2023. (h) A copy of all children’s immunisation records and a ‘Protection by Exclusion’ form have been submitted to the office of the early years’ inspectorate. A total of eight children are registered in the preschool. Seven children are immunised, and one child is not immunised as the family chose not to. Therefore, the parents have signed a ‘Protection by Exclusion’ form. (i) A copy of parental consent which allows the child to receive appropriate medical treatment at the preschool if there is an emergency are signed by parents. Preventive action The registered provider submitted a written response on 3rd of October to state: (g) All families will be reminded to provide the GP contact details before the child starts preschool every September. (h) All families will be reminded to provide the children’s immunisation records before the child starts preschool every September. (i) The registered provider will ensure that make sure parental consent for medical treatment is obtained prior to the child commencing in the service

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • • The privacy and dignity of a child using the toilet could not be maintained in the sanitary area, as a shower curtain was provided which was held open or partially open resulting in the possibility of a child, being easily viewed by another child and or a staff member, while toileting
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action The registered provider submitted a written response on 3/10/2023 to state: • The shower curtain in children’s bathroom has been removed. The bathroom door is kept closed at all times when toileting. Preventive action The registered provider submitted a written response to state • The children will be reminded to close the bathroom door to protect their privacy and dignity when toileting

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. On the day of inspection, a temperature of 57°C from the hot water tap used by children taken at 11.32pm. a temperature of 60°C from the hot water tap used by children taken at 11.33.pm and 60.2°C from the hot water tap used by children taken at 11:34pm. These water temperatures were above the recommended 43°C upper safety limit to prevent potential risk of scalding. 2. A cover on a four-inch pipe on the footpath in the outdoor area was not securely fixed and could pose a potential tripping hazard. 3. There were two wheels absent from a plastic lawn mower in the outdoor play area, thereby posing a safety risk, as it was unstable. 4. There was a worn lath of wood on the wooden gate, which was broken and had a metal nail exposed, posing a safety risk. 5. A pipe cover from the kitchen sink to the exterior drain was broken and could pose a potential safety hazard. 6. A section of the plastic playhouse in the outdoor area was worn and had a sharp edge exposed posing a potential safety concern. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action The registered provider submitted a written response on 3/10/2023 to state: 1. After consulting the solar panel company, the water temperature has been reduced by turning off the hot water booster during operating hours and by using the control panel to set the maximum temperature at 43°C. 2. The builder used a strong construction adhesive to glue the round pipe cover onto the ground. 3. The toy lawn mower has been disposed of. 4. The nail has been replaced with a new screw. 5. The pipe cover has been replaced. 6. The sharp edge at the entrance of the playhouse has been duck taped. Preventive action The registered provider submitted a written response to state: 1-6. Regular checks will be carried out on the above areas to ensure the equipment is in good condition and in a proper state of repair. Supporting documentation submitted Photographic evidence was submitted to the office of the early years’ inspectorate on 3/10/2023. 1. Evidence of the water temperature reduced to a safe temperature less than 43°C was submitted on 14/09/2023. 2. Evidence of the glued cover of the four-inch pipe on the foot path. 3. Evidence of the removal of the toy lawn mower. 4. Evidence of the old nail removed from the wooden gate in the outdoor area. 5. Evidence of the pipe cover replaced from the kitchen sink. 6. Evidence of the covered section of the plastic playhouse. Summary Comment The early years inspectorate has reviewed the actions taken and evidence submitted for points 1-6 and deems them to adequately address the non-compliances. These will be reviewed on the next inspection

Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures

  • (1)(a) A written record was not available of the monthly fire drills completed in the service. (1)(b) Records of the annual servicing by a competent person, of the firefighting equipment and the smoke and fire detection system were not available. The last documented records presented were dated June 2020
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective action The registered provider submitted a written response on 3/10/2023 to state: (1)(a) The records of the monthly fire drills have been submitted to the office of the early years’ inspectorate. (1)(b) The fire alarms and fire extinguishers have been inspected and serviced. Preventive action The registered provider submitted a written response to state: (1)(a) They will ensure fire drills records are up to date. (1)(b) Make sure all fire alarms and fire extinguishers are inspected and serviced annually

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 20, 22, 25, 29.

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