# Giraffe Childcare Harcourt, Dublin 2 — inspection reports and findings > Giraffe Childcare Harcourt (Dublin 2, Co. Dublin): what Tusla inspections found — 5 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Giraffe Childcare Harcourt Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Dublin 2, Dublin · Tusla ID **TU2015DY314** · 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 6 January 2026 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 11 — Staffing levels - (1) The registered provider did not ensure an adequate number of staff were available to meet the care needs of the children between 1.40pm - 1.49pm. One staff member was caring for a group of children transitioning from sleep. The staff member was unable to adequately meet the needs of children during this time as awake children caused disturbance to those who were still sleeping and engaged in risky behaviours. It is acknowledged that the staff member called for support at 1.40pm - (1) An overall review of transitions, age and needs of the children took place, and a new routine was put place to ensure additional support from part time staff and management in particular rooms. The busier transitions times and particular rooms are closely monitored and supported by the part time staff and management team who are supernumerary in the centre. Additional staff have also been recruited and are due to start this month ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - (1) (b) The transitions in the Masai Mara room were not adequately manged before and after sleep on the day of inspection to meet the needs of the children present. This was evidenced by the following: • The transition after dinner was prolonged for the age range of children present. During this time children were not engaged in an activity as staff prepared the room for sleep, and some became disruptive as a result. Timely and organised transitions can help children to regulate and provide a sense of predictability. • A single staff member was caring for the children during the transition from sleep. While the interactions between the staff member and children were calm and supportive when the staff member was alone, they struggled to meet the needs of all children in the group which resulted in children’s sleep being disturbed and children engaging in behaviours that required attention and support. The following was observed: o A child who was awake was pushing the cot of a sleeping child. o A child who woke from sleep became upset as their sleep was disturbed. o A child who was awake threw a book into the cot of a sleeping child which woke the child. o A child proceeded to hit another child causing them to cry - (1) (b) Staff members were provided with training on supporting transitions. An overall review of transitions, age and needs of the children took place, and a new routine was put place to ensure additional support. The busier transition times and particular rooms are closely monitored and supported by the part time staff and management team who are supernumerary in the centre ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - Safe Sleep: 1. One cot was observed with a toy present as a child was sleeping. This is not in line with service procedure and posed a potential risk to children’s safety. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in February 2025. The preventive action has not been maintained in line with the information provided to the inspectorate following the last inspection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - Safe Sleep: 1. Staff members were retrained on safe sleep practices and the importance of consistently following the Safe Sleep Policy. Emphasis was placed on ensuring that all procedures are followed correctly to maintain children’s safety, wellbeing, and regulatory compliance. This is being overseen by management as they are present in the rooms during these busy times to ensure there is adequate support ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (c) The care room temperature in the Masai Mara room was not maintained at an ambient 18-22℃ while children were present in the room. On the day of inspection, the room temperature was record at 16℃ on the inspector’s calibrated thermometer. It is acknowledged that during the inspection an engineer attended the service to review the issue, and management advised a plan was being developed to resolve the problem - (c) During the inspection, an engineer was on site and increased the temperature of the boiler leading to an increase in room temperature. Staff monitor the room temperatures daily as per our health and safety procedures. In circumstances where the temperature is not accurate, the management team is informed, and they report the issues straight away as was done on the morning of the 6th January prior to the inspectors arriving Found compliant: Regulation 9, 16, 27, 32. #### Inspection of 27 February 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. A child who did not like the main meal served on the day of inspection was not offered a sufficient alternative food option and instead was given a yogurt. The staff advised the inspector they were aware of the child’s dislike for the meal and advised they had a preference for other dinner options. An alternative hot meal should be available and provided. 2. The toileting practices in the Toddler Botswana room did not provide for privacy during toileting. A child was observed in the sanitary area washing their hands as a child who had entered the care room from the garden was using the toilet. This is a small space and resulted in the toileting child being in full view of another child - 1. All base room staff and the centre chef have been retrained to ensure children’s preferences are taken into account and alternative food options are provided when required. The management team are overseeing that the above practice is taking place daily. 2. Staff have been retrained in our toileting policy, emphasising the importance of privacy. Staff have been actively communicating amongst each other to support the children’s privacy where there is shared toileting and hand washing facilities. New procedures have also been put in place to support children during garden time who need to use the toilet in an adjoining room ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The hot water in a low level handwash basin in the sanitary areas of the Botswana room and Acacia room exceeded the allowable maximum temperature of 43°C. This posed a risk of injury and did not support effective hand washing. • The water temperature in the Botswana room was recorded at 45.4°C. • The water temperature in the Acacia room was recorded at 44°C. 2. Cleaning products were accessible to children in the Acacia room sanitary area. A press was observed with a broken safety lock and contained cleaning agents. The door to the sanitary area was open leaving the area accessible to children. This posed a risk of accidental poisoning. Infection Control: 3. Poor hand hygiene practices were observed which posed an infection control risk. Two staff members did not wash their hands after assisting children with nasal care. 4. A changing mat in the Toddler Serengeti sanitary area was observed to be torn with foam exposed which prevented effective cleaning and posed an infection control risk. Safe Sleep: 5. Two children were observed sleeping with teddies in their cots. This is not in line with service policy and posed a potential risk of injury. Fire Safety: 6. Attendance records were not accurately maintained to reflect the children present on the premises on the day of inspection. This posed a risk of hindering safe evacuation in the event of an emergency. The following was observed: • In the Wobbler Safari room at 10.50am 9 children were present however only 8 were signed in. • In the Wobbler Acacia room at 12.05pm 7 children were present however only 6 were signed in. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The high-water temperatures were reported to our Maintenance Manager. An external maintenance company reviewed the temperatures/ equipment and found a faulty valve which was replaced on the 14th of April 25. Each room is checking the water temperatures daily and these are recorded in the Health & Safety Diaries which are checked by management. 2. New door lock was placed in the sanitary area, so all cleaning products are safely locked away. Staff members must inform management immediately when door lock is broken or missing. Infection Control: 3. Staff were retained on our handwashing policy. Daily observations by management. 4. The changing mat was replaced. Additional changing mats were purchased in case required. Daily checks will be recorded in the health and safety diary. Safe Sleep: 5. Staff were retrained on our safe sleep policy. Daily checks by management. Fire Safety: 6. Staff were retrained on the importance of signing children in and out when required. Management are monitoring this daily ##### Regulation 32 — Complaints - (2) (a)(b) There was no written complaints log available for review and management confirmed the service does not have a mechanism in place to maintain a list of complaints received. This was not in line with service policy that advises complaints may be aired verbally or in writing and are noted in the complaints record book - Complaints and compliments book in now in place. Management are using this book since inspection, and this will be evident on the next inspection Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 21, 25. #### Inspection of 4 July 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Basic needs 1. The toileting practice of the toddler Masi Mara and toddler Serengeti rooms did not provide for children’s privacy during toileting. One child sized toilet was located between the nappy changing areas of both rooms. At 12:02pm as a child was using the toilet a staff member formed a queue with a group of four children from the Serengeti room to wash their hands following dinner. The staff member and children used a low-level sink located directly in front of the toilet as a child remained seated on the toilet. This a narrow space and resulted in the children being in touching distance and having full view of the toileting child. An additional child from the toddler Masai Mara room entered the sanitary space on the opposite side also watching the child toileting while they waited to access the sink. This is not in line with service policy that advises staff will always support children’s privacy during the toileting process. It is noted additional sinks are available at both nappy changing bays and within the care rooms. 2. A divider used to separate two children’s toilets in the preschool Kenya room sanitary area was open in the front meaning children remained in view of each other when using the toilet while their peers or staff accessed the sink or changing bay in the adjoining space. This did not provide for the privacy of children during toileting. Physical and material environment 3. The outdoor area used by the children of the toddler Masi Mara room lacked resources to allow the children to follow their own interests and provide opportunity for free choice in play encouraging movement. On the day of inspection, the garden included 1 ride on bike, 1 tunnel, 1 wooden framed structure of a train carriage and a small number of plastic blocks. It is acknowledged that staff tried to engage children in games however at times the children lost interest and wandered in the space - Basic Needs 1. Corrective action: The issue of privacy during toileting and handwashing in Toddler Masi-mara and Serengeti has been addressed with the staff members through re-training on our policies and by introducing the use of the adult sink via a small step ladder for the children to use during busier periods. Preventive action: Management will continue to monitor the new practice. 2. Corrective action: Maintenance installed doors to the toilet area in Pre-school Kenya to provide additional privacy for the children when the toilets are in use. Preventive action: Should not be an issue going forward now toilet doors have been installed. Physical and material environment 3. Corrective action: Additional resources were purchased for the garden however the service is restricted in providing too many resources due to the size of the garden and the need space to allow children to freely run and jump. Preventive action: Observation of the garden equipment will be carried out regularly by management ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. Trailing flexes posed a risk of injury to the children. The following was observed: • In the wobbler Safari cot room, a shelf had four trailing flexes. • In the wobbler Namibia sleep room, a shelf had one trailing flex. Infection Control: 2. A dried in yellow stain was observed on a cot in the wobbler Cameroon sleep room. This posed an infection control risk. 3. The nappy changing procedure was not in line with service policy or best practice guidelines and posed a risk of cross contamination. Over a sample of five nappy changes the following was observed: • A staff member was observed to change a soiled nappy without the use of an apron. • Three children with wet nappies had fresh nappies placed on without thoroughly cleaning the child as detailed in the service policy. • Four children did not have their hands washed following nappy changing. 4. A sand pit in the outdoor area accessed by the wobbler Namibia room was not fitted with a suitable cover and contained stagnant water mixed with sand. This posed the potential risk of illness from contaminated water. 5. In the outdoor area accessed by the wobbler Namibia room a section of the wall was observed with chipped plaster and paint posing a choking hazard. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. Corrective action: The flexes in the Safari cot room and Namibia sleep room have been encased. Preventive action: Management have informed all staff about the dangers of trailing flexes and are aware they need to inform management if moving or replacing electrical equipment. Infection Control: 2. Corrective action: The yellow stain was removed from the cot mattress and staff were retrained on the cot room checklist form as part of our health and safety diaries. Preventive action: Regular checks of cots and cot rooms are done by management. 3. Corrective action: Refresher training has been carried out on our nappy changing policy and procedure including the correct procedure for handwashing. Preventive action: Management will monitor the staff to ensure the policy is being followed correctly. 4. Corrective action: Sand pit had been removed from downstairs garden and was cleaned, filled with fresh sand and is based in upstairs garden. Little wooden sand pit with a lid stayed based in little garden filled with different materials which are going to change on weekly basis. Preventive action: Observation of garden area equipment on regular basis. 5. Corrective action: The wall in the garden outside of the Wobbler Namibia room has been cleaned and repainted. Preventive action: Regular checks on the condition of the garden is included in the health and safety diaries and management will continue to monitor this Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16. ### Earlier inspections - 6 December 2023 — Inspection Report · PDF - 19 April 2023 — Inspection Report · PDF ### Other services in Dublin - [Giraffe Childcare IFSC](/creche/giraffe-childcare-ifsc-dublin-1.md) Dublin 1 - [Giraffe Childcare Landsdowne](/creche/giraffe-childcare-landsdowne-dublin-4.md) Dublin 4 - [Giraffe Childcare Lucan](/creche/giraffe-childcare-lucan-lucan.md) Lucan - [Giraffe Childcare Rathfarnham](/creche/giraffe-childcare-rathfarnham-dublin-16.md) Dublin 16 - [Great Beginnings Montessori](/creche/great-beginnings-montessori-dublin-6w.md) Dublin 6W - [Headstart Preschool](/creche/headstart-preschool-dublin-24.md) Dublin 24 - [Just Like Home Childcare](/creche/just-like-home-childcare-swords.md) Swords - [Links Childcare](/creche/links-childcare-malahide.md) Malahide - [Naionra Thaobh na Coille](/creche/naionra-thaobh-na-coille-dublin-18.md) Dublin 18 - [Treehouse Childcare](/creche/treehouse-childcare-dublin-15.md) Dublin 15 [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/giraffe-childcare-harcourt-dublin-2/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11