Inspection of 27 May 2025 — Inspection Report
No non-compliance recorded in this report.
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 28.
Happy Hearts Childcare
Full Day · 1 - 6 Years · Killarney, Kerry · Tusla ID TU2015KY053 · Registered since 1 January 2026
An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.
2published inspections
0non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions
Inspection of 26 September 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (c) An adult in the service did not appear to have a clear understanding of the lines of authority and accountability in the service when reporting a recent incident in the service
- On discussion with management and staff, not all staff were appropriately supervised and provided with appropriate information, and where necessary training, in relation to the policies and procedures of the service
Provider's corrective action:
- In the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) received from the registered provider /person in charge the following was stated:
- (c)Following a meeting of all staff working in the service, all staff are now aware of the lines of authority and accountability in the service when reporting an accident or incident. All staff have received a copy of the Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and a copy of the amended Accident and Incident policy to review and team discussion has taken place to ensure it is implemented
- Retraining on core policies and procedures has commenced for all staff and will be completed by Mid-December 2024. A review of the implementation of the services policies and procedures will take place in March/April 2025. There will be annual training on core policies and procedures in August of every year going forward . Induction training for all new staff will include a mixture of reading policies with a sign off on having read the policies and working in the rooms during the first two weeks. The registered provider/person in charge plans on commencing recorded supervision meeting with each staff member on a regular basis commencing in January 2025 . Team meeting have taken place on a monthly basis with recorded minutes of meetings
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (k) In the service Accident and Incident policy under the section “Reporting Accidents and Incidents”: The policy stated: “All accidents/incidents even minor ones are recorded and sent to the parent/guardian to read and sign, with details on how they are dealt with or treated” In discussion with management, it was found that not all accidents and incidents that occurred recently in the service were recorded as per the Accident and Incident Policy
Provider's corrective action:
- In the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) received from the registered provider/person in charge the following was stated Corrective and Preventive Action (k) Retraining for all adults on the amended Accident and Incidents policy and procedure in line with Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedure has taken place, including discussion at team meetings to ensure going forward all staff are aware of the importance of correct reporting and recording of all accidents and incidents. The Accident and Incidents policy and procedure will be part of the review policies and procedures in March/April next year and then annually going forward
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 19 (3) On discussion with management in the service, there was recent evidence of inappropriate handling and isolation used to manage a child’s behaviour that was considered inappropriate to the child’s age and stage of development. The following was recorded in the services Behaviour Management Policy: “It is not the service’s policy to use any kind of restraint in managing behaviour” The registered provider did not ensure that practices that were disrespectful, degrading, intimidating, emotionally or physically harmful, were not carried out in respect of a child attending the service. Supporting relationships around children: 19(1)(a) At time of inspection the registered provider stated, the service had not completed an incident record following a recent incident that took place in the service, nor had they informed the child’s parents when this incident had first occurred. Failing to keep incident records or communicate clearly with parents about incidents as they occur would pose a risk to the children attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
- In the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) received from the registered provider/person in charge the following was stated Corrective and Preventive Action 19 (3) All staff have completed training on Staff Code of Behaviour in line with the services Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedure on 22nd October 2024 which was provided by Kerry County Childcare. Staff have identified their own code of behaviour when working with children in conjunction with Kerry County Childcare. The implementation of the Staff Code of Behaviour in Early Years settings and the staff’s implementation of the services Behaviour Management Policy in line with Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedure and Accident and Incident Policy will be included in the services review in March /April 2025. There will be an annual review of policies and procedures in the service going forward. The Quality Development Program, Better Start, have commenced a quality support program with management and staff in relation to safe childcare practises in the service. (1)(a) The retraining of all staff on the services Accident and Incidents Policy and Procedure in line with Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedure has taken place. The training included correct recording of accidents and incident records and emphasised the importance of communicating clearly with parents about incidents as they occur. The implementation of the services Accident and Incident Policy and Procedure will be included in the services review in March /April 2025 and annual review of policies and procedures in August 2025
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Phone cables not in use were within reach of children in the cutlery drawer in the Toddler Town room and the Honey Tree room on day of inspection. Cables have a potential safety risk if a child had unsupervised access to same. 2. Empty plastic bags of different sizes were stored in a drawer within reach of children in the Honey Tree room. Due to the potential safety risks attached to plastic bags young children should have no access to such bags. 3. Garda vetting disclosures had been obtained for 17 adults. However, 1 vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EY- RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. It is acknowledged the process of renewing the garda vetting in question had commenced during the course of the inspection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider In the corrective and preventative response (CAPA) received from the registered provider/person in charge the following was stated:
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Phone cables have been removed and placed in an overhead press out of the reach of children in the Toddler Town room and the Honey Tree room. 2. Plastic bags have been removed and placed in an overhead press out of the reach of children the Honey Tree room. All staff have been instructed to use the overhead presses for any item with a potential safety risk to children. Childproof locks have been placed on all low-level cupboards at child height in the playrooms. 3. The processed Garda vetting record on one adult was forwarded to the Early Years Department. A record is now in place with the list of staff and the expiry dates for each staff Garda vetting record in an effort to renew Garda vetting prior to expiratory date
Found compliant: Regulation 10, 11, 22, 25.
Other services in Kerry
- Happy Valley Childcare Castlemaine
- Holy Cross Mercy Early Years and School Age Service Killarney
- IRD Waterville Early Years Centre Waterville
- Listowel Family Resource Centre Listowel
- Little Voyagers Childcare Ardfert
- Naíonra na Dromada Cill Airne
- Budding Explorers Tralee
- St. Brigid's Pre-school Crèche Tralee
- Greta's Childcare Tralee
- Fossa Community Pre-school Killarney
Alert me when a new report is published · Dated report on this service — €19