Creche Inspection Reports

Happy Valley Childcare

Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Castlemaine, Kerry · Tusla ID TU2015KY076 · 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
2immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 9 February 2026 — Change in Circumstance

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

No non-compliance recorded in this report.

Inspection of 15 April 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. A change in circumstance (CIC) submitted by the registered provider in respect of moving to the prefabricated building is still in progress with the inspectorate. The service was escalated to the service operating outside registration status (SOORS) process within Tusla. A referral was sent to the Fire Safety Officer in consultation with the registered provider for advice on fire safety measures in the service.

Immediate action notice. Non-Compliance Information (1) The service was founded to operating outside the terms of its registration status on the last inspection 29.08.’23. The service was operating from a prefabricated building. A Change in Circumstance (CIC) has been submitted to the inspectorate, it is still in progress. Corrective & Preventive Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective and Preventive Action compliance from re occurring. The Corrective Action and Preventive Action plan (CAPA) will be used to inform decisions about compliance with regulatory requirements. Where the registered provider fails to meet the statutory requirements an escalation process may be commenced.

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • 1. Of the three Police vetting on file, one vetting was not translated into English by a verified translation company
Provider's corrective action:
  • The staff member was asked for the translation as soon as was possible

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • (1) The following records were not maintained in writing: - (h) The children’s arrival times to the service in respect of the children present on the day of the inspection. The inspector observed that 20 children were present in the room at 9:15 am for which the arrival time for 8 children was not recorded. This posed a risk to the safety of the children in the event of a fire evacuation as the staff had not recorded the children present. This was brought to the attention of the staff member who immediately completed the record
Provider's corrective action:
  • The staff were corrected to evidence the children’s in and out times properly for all children

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • 1. The children’s drinks bottles were not freely accessible to them during the course of the inspection. The bottles were stored in their respective bags stored in the entrance hall some of which were on high level hooks above the children’s reach
Provider's corrective action:
  • There is a designated blue shelf in the playroom for the children’s drinks bottles. When going to the outdoor area the bottles will be taken in a cool bag

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. There was a handbag belonging to a staff member stored in an unsecured low-level staff locker located near the children’s sanitary accommodation posing a risk of injury to children. 2. There were opening plastic bags of nappies, plastic aprons, a barrier cream and plastic nappy sacks accessible in the unsecured press under the nappy changing unit in the sanitary accommodation. 3. The office door was not secure posing a safety risk to children from computers and unsecured cables. 4. There was an unsecured gate that did not restrict unauthorised persons access to the outdoor play areas used by the children at alternate times to the children attending the National school. 5. There was an uncovered light bulb on the wall near the rest area posing a risk of injury to children. The inspector was informed that the cover had fallen off and was not replaced. Outdoor area located at the rear of the building 6. There was a section of a blocked wall attached to the modular building that was not plastered, it had rough sharp sections posing a risk of injury to children. 7. There was a painting fixed to the timber fencing that had exposed rusting nails posing a risk of injury to children. 8. There was a disused roll of carpet in the middle of the concrete surface posing a risk of tripping over and causing injury to children. Infection Control: 9. The children’s perishable food items provided by the parents/guardians observed on inspection were not stored in the fridge posing a risk of illness to children due to food spoilage. 10. There was a tub of unlabelled barrier cream stored in the nappy changing unit posing a risk of cross infection to children. 11. The covering on the vinyl couch was torn all the way across the seat, posing a risk of cross infection as it could not be adequately cleaned. Fire Safety: 12. The records on file demonstrated that Fire drills were not conducted on a monthly basis. The most recent fire drill that took place on 21.11.’24. 13. The record of file demonstrated the smoke alarm was not serviced on an annual basis. The last service took place on 31.08.’23. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. All the staff lockers are now locked at all times. The staff have been informed that all lockers are to be locked at all times. 2. The press under the nappy changing unit now has a child lock. The staff will ensure the cupboard is locked at all times. 3. The office door is now secure with a high-level eye and hook lock at adult height. The staff were informed that the office is to be locked at all times. 4. The gate has a padlock in place to prevent unauthorised person’s access. The gate has been added to the daily risk assessment. 5. The light bulb is covered, it is checked daily. 6. The service is waiting for the builder to complete the work by 30/5/’25. The inspectorate will be informed when the work is complete. 7. The painting was removed. The fencing will be checked weekly to ensure there are no hazards. 8. The roll of carpet was removed. The staff will ensure that there are no hazards on the ground. Infection Control: 9. All lunch boxes are stored in the fridge. The staff will put the children’s lunches in the fridge when they arrive to the service. 10. The cream was removed. Parents will be asked to label all the children’s items. 11. New seating has been ordered. The seating will be checked on a monthly basis. Fire Safety: 12. The fire drills will be carried out each month. A fire drill was carried out on 30/04/’25. 13. The maintenance cert was submitted, the next service will be in 6 months

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • (1) The staff roster evidenced that a person trained in first aid for children was not at all times immediately available to children. It was acknowledged the registered provider demonstrated that 2 staff members have enrolled for a FAR course commencing on the second week in May 2025
Provider's corrective action:
  • (1) The roster was changed to provide cover at all times by a staff member with a FAR qualification. A further 2 staff members completed FAR training on 9.05.’25. All staff will be trained before the summer of 2025

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (d) 1. The fire door with the low-level push bar handle used to open the door located in the playroom was not opening freely on occasions. The release catch located on the top of the door was not freely releasing. 2. There was no lid on one pedal operated bin in the children’s sanitary accommodation. 3. There was an area of the wall cracked with the paint peeling away in the children’s sanitary/nappy changing room
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. The fire door was fixed. It will be checked each month to ensure that it is in working order. 2. A new bin was provided. 3. The wall was cleaned and painted

Regulation not named in the report text

  • (1) The service was founded to operating outside the terms of its registration status on the last inspection 29.08.’23. The service was operating from a prefabricated building. A Change in Circumstance (CIC) has been submitted to the inspectorate, it is still in progress
Provider's corrective action:
  • compliance from re occurring. The Corrective Action and Preventive Action plan (CAPA) will be used to inform decisions about compliance with regulatory requirements. Where the registered provider fails to meet the statutory requirements an escalation process may be commenced. The inspectorate reserves the right to edit responses received for reasons including clarity, completeness and compliance with administrative and legal processes. The contents of the report are compiled by the inspectorate body. Acknowledgments The inspector wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of the registered provider, staff and children who were present on the day of the inspection

Found compliant: Regulation 8, 11, 26, 28.

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