Inspection of 12 March 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2)(a) and (b) • One student did not have their 2 written references validated. • One staff member did not have 1 of their written references validated. • One staff member required a second written and validated reference. (d) Two members of staff who had resided outside the Irish jurisdiction for a period of 6 months or more as an adult did not have international police vetting. (3) The registered provider did not ensure that all vetting procedures as specified above were carried out prior to any person being appointed or having access to the preschool children
Provider's corrective action:
- (2)(a) and (b) The registered provider has validated the two references required for the student. The registered provider has validated one of the staff members written references. The registered provider has validated a second reference supplied by the staff member. The registered provider has introduced a mandatory pre-employment checklist to ensure all required documentation, including written references, are fully validated prior to a staff member commencing employment. The service has strengthened the recruitment procedure to ensure all references are obtained and verified prior to start dates. (d) The registered provider spoke to the two staff members immediately and the process was started for the international police check. One of the staff members has completed their international police check. The other staff member has started the process. The registered provider has introduced a mandatory pre-employment compliance checklist, which includes international police vetting as a non-negotiable requirement prior to commencement. (3)The registered provider acknowledges the non-compliance in relation to vetting procedures not being fully completed prior to appointment or access to preschool children. Immediate corrective actions were taken to ensure all outstanding vetting requirements, including international police vetting where applicable, were completed without delay. No further staff are permitted access to children until full compliance is confirmed
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- The Inspectorate is not assured that adequate steps have been taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the pre-school children attending the service based on the following observations made during the inspection. All rooms formed part of the inspection in relation to this regulation. General Safety: 1. Sharp corners were not protected and were a potential injury hazard on various items of furniture such as the small white tables and shelving units in all rooms. 2. There was a CD player on a low-level ledge unsecured in the Busy Bees Room. This was accessible to the children and a potential impact hazard. 3. In the Ladybird Room there was a speaker with a trailing lead on a low-level surface accessible to the children. This was a health a safety risk. 4. In the Ladybird Room there were some metal shelving pots to contain art supplies on the wall. These were not secured and 2 fell off when bumped into by the children accessing the table directly under them. These are a potential injury hazard. Infection Control: 5. There was no hot water in any of the sinks in the sanitary accommodations off the Butterfly Room, Ladybird Room or Busy Bees Room. This is an infection control risk and does not allow for effective hand washing. 6. During nappy changing the staff member was observed to not wear a disposable apron. This is a recurrent non-compliance and an infection control risk. 7. In the sanitary accommodation off the Butterfly Room the ‘flip” lidded bin observed in use for the disposal of used hand towels was considered unsuitable. This required the staff and children using the bin to touch the lid to open it which is a cross-infection risk. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Sharp corners have been replaced on all corners of shelving and the white tables have been removed from the rooms and rounded tables have replaced them. We have introduced a daily room safety checklist, requiring staff to visually inspect all play and learning areas before children enter. Assigned responsibility to room leaders to complete and sign off on daily safety checks. Established a maintenance reporting system, requiring immediate reporting and removal or repair of any damaged or unsafe furniture. 2. The CD player has been removed out of the service. The registered provider will not have any cd players at low level unsecured. A daily risk assessment will also be carried out. 3. The speaker has been removed and the service now use a tablet to play the music for the children. 4. Metal shelving pots have all been removed from the wall. No shelving supplies or art materials will be placed on the wall, the art supplies will be at low level for the children to access. Infection Control: 5. We have had the plumber out regarding the hot water, we are in progress of fixing the leak. We will use our daily risk assessment three times per day to check for running hot water. 6. Aprons are available in the sanitary rooms. All staff have been issued with the nappy changing policy and held a staff meeting on the importance of infection control risk. There will be weekly team meetings with the room leader and spot checks from management. 7. The registered provider has replaced the bins with foot pedal operated bins. There is now a foot pedal bin in the Butterfly Room
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (2)(a) and (b) While a first aid box was available it did not contain any eye pads
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider has bought eye pads and returned them to the first aid box. The registered provider has completed a first aid checklist where management will check contents of the box and record on a monthly basis. The first aid checklist will be used to identify what needs replaced
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (c) The room temperatures in the care rooms were not maintained at 18-22 o C as per best practice guidelines, for example; • At 11.20am the room temperature in the Butterfly Room was recorded at 16.6o C. • At 11.24am the room temperature in the Ladybird Room was recorded at 16.7o C. • At 11.28am the room temperature in the Busy Bees Room was recorded at 16oC and at 14.06 it was 16oC
Provider's corrective action:
- The heating is maintained at recommended temperatures. It will be monitored three times a day via our daily Risk Assessment
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19.