# Ilen River Playschool, Skibbereen — inspection reports and findings > Ilen River Playschool (Skibbereen, Co. Cork): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Ilen River Playschool Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Skibbereen, Cork · Tusla ID **TU2015CC187** · 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 9 June 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** • The registered provider/person in charge agreed to a referral to Better Start, Quality Development service in relation to addressing the non-compliance the service received under ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (a)(b) The following vetting records were not available on file on day of inspection. • There was only 1 reference on file for 2 staff members, when 2 validated references are required for each staff member. • Evidence of validation for 3 references were not on file for three staff members - The references and validations identified above were not obtained prior to staff members commencing work in the service - In the corrective and preventative response received from the registered provider the following records were forwarded: Corrective and Preventive Action - (a)(b) The vetting records not present on day of inspection are now on file in the service - All vetting records will be obtained by the registered provider before a person is appointed, assigned or allowed access to, or contact with, a child attending the service ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - • The storage of unused play equipment on the floor of the main playroom impeded the children’s free floor space area to play. Many containers of unused play equipment were noted throughout the room, especially around the perimeter. This did not allow the children to freely access the space or fully engage in child directed play - In the corrective and preventative response received from the registered provider the following was stated: Corrective & Preventive Action • The registered provider spoke with the hall committee; they agreed to provide a storage unit on the premises for the storage of play equipment, (seasonal) not been used. The registered provider has been assured by the committee this will be in place by the start of the preschool year 27 August 2025 ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. On day of inspection, the emergency fire exit route was obstructed. There was a gate in place at the top and bottom of the stairwell that led to the two playrooms which are both located on the first floor of the building. A referral dated the 11 June 25 was sent to the Fire Safety Department. 2. Garda vetting was available for one staff member. However, this vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting. Infection Control: 3. The flow of water from the taps in the wash hand basins was not regular and at times there was no water running from the taps especially in the wash hand basin located in one of the playrooms located on the first floor. It was observed on day of inspection that most of the hand washing for the children occurred at this wash hand basin for example before both food snacks and after messy play - (a) Cobwebs were visible on the ceilings and walls in the two playrooms. (b)Dirt and dust were evident on the skirting boards of the big hall located on the ground floor. To reduce the potential risk of cross infection, a deep clean of the two playrooms and community hall are required. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The Fire Safety Officer had not reviewed the service on completing this report. On receipt of the written referral the Early Years Inspectorate had received a telephone call from the Fire Safety Officer stating he will review, when the service reopens on the 27 August 2025. 2. The process of re-vetting of one adult has been received by the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána. The service will review the staff garda vetting records annually to ensure that all garda vetting records are updated on time and every three years for staff and the registered provider. Infection Control: 3. The registered provider stated that she has emailed and spoken to the hall committee and they have replied in writing to her that they will review the water pressure to the wash hand basin located in the playroom on the first floor of the building. 4. (a)(b) The registered provider stated that she has e-mailed and spoken to the hall committee. They have replied in writing stating a deep clean of the community hall will take place during the summer months that will include the two playrooms on the first floor, removing the cobwebs from the walls and high ceilings. The deep clean will also include removing the dirt and dust evident on the skirting boards of the big hall located on the ground floor. The work will be completed by the time the service opens on the 27 August 25 ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - (b)The first aid box was not suitably equipped, as the following items were stored in the first aid box on day of inspection. Medication for adult use and a tub of nappy cream - The registered provider has stated that the adult medication and the tub of nappy cream have been removed from the first aid box. Going forward, the required first aid equipment will only be stored in the first aid box for the service Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 16, 22, 26, 28. #### Inspection of 3 October 2023 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** An Immediate Action Notice (IAN) was issued on the 03 October in relation to Safety, as there was no adult available on the premises with First Aid Responder training (FAR). The registered provider reverted the following day to submit information to address the non-compliance, details of which are described in the report under ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (2) (a)&(b) A member of staff did not have a second written reference on file. The 5 written refences available did not have records of validation attached. (d) Police vetting was not available in respect of the adult who had lived outside the jurisdiction of Ireland for a period longer than 6 consecutive months - & Supporting Documentation Submitted (2)(a) & (b) & (d) The registered provider stated that an additional reference had been secured and the 5 outstanding records of validation have been obtained. In addition, the outstanding police vetting was submitted with the appropriate translation. The above information was scanned to evidence that the non-compliances had been suitably addressed. Summary Comment The Requirement has been met ##### Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service - The following policies were reviewed and found to be inadequate – 1. Whilst there was a policy on infection control, it did not set out specific measures for the prevention of cross infection; infection control of managing outbreaks of infectious diseases including reporting notifiable infectious diseases to Tusla. 2. The behaviour management policy did not state how support is offered to staff on how to support children’s behaviours and emotional needs. 3. Although there was policy on the management of accidents and incidents it did not set out how notifiable incidents will be submitted to the early years inspectorate, or that a risk assessment is carried out following an incident /accident to prevent further events - & Supporting Documentation Submitted 1.2. & 3. The registered provider stated that the above policies were revised and amended to contain the required information. The policies were submitted to evidence that the non-compliance had been addressed. Summary Comment Documents in the form of scanned policies were submitted to the early years office, they were examined and found to be adequate. The Requirement has been met ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - The following information was not completed on the enrolment forms reviewed – (b) the date on which the child first attended the service was not included on 7 forms; (d) the name and address of a parent or guardian of the child and a telephone number where that parent or guardian or a relative or friend of the child can be contacted during the hours of operation of the service was not included on 2 forms; (e) authorisation for the collection of the child was not entered on 4 forms; (g) the name and telephone number of the child’s registered medical practitioner was not completed on 3 forms; (h) record of immunisations, if any, received by the child was not completed on 7 forms; (i) written parental consent for appropriate medical treatment of the child in the event of an emergency was not completed on 2 forms - & Supporting Documentation Submitted The registered provider stated that the children’s enrolment forms have been updated to contain the required information, and that going forward the forms shall be checked prior to be being placed on file. A sample of the forms were submitted. Summary Comment Submitted documentation was reviewed and found to be satisfactory. The Requirement has been met ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (a) A member of staff did not have a record of experience on file. (j) An administration of medication book was not made available on the day of the inspection - & Supporting Documentation (a)&(j) The registered provider stated that the outstanding record of experience for an adult was obtained and that the medication book was found on file after the inspection. Photographs of the documents were scanned to evidence that the issues had been correctly addressed. Summary Comment The information was reviewed and found to be satisfactory. The Requirement has been met ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Supporting Relations Around the Children. 1. Staff members did not sit and eat with the children to encourage a sociable, relaxed atmosphere and role model the correct table etiquette - & Supporting Documentation Submitted 1. The registered provider stated that the staff members now sit with the children during lunch and staff members have trained to continue this practice. A photograph of the adults sitting with the children whilst they ate their lunch was submitted Summary Comment The Requirement has been met ##### Regulation 22 — Food and drink - 1. During the lunch meal it was observed that some children had unhealthy and unvaried food items, for example 1 child had a packet of waffles and another had only berries and crisps. 2. Blackcurrant juices were observed in the water bottles. It is recommended that children shall be offered sufficient servings which must include appropriate servings of protein, starch, dairy, vegetables/fruit and iron. Only water or milk is recommended for drinks - & Supporting Documentation Submitted 1.& 2. The registered provider stated that the healthy eating policy has been reinforced to the parents and that only water and juice drinks are permitted whilst the children are in the service. Summary Comment Photographs of healthy lunches were submitted to indicate that the non-compliance was being addressed. The Requirement has been met ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The gates leading from the car park were open for most of the inspection, despite signage requesting that they were to be closed. This posed a risk of unauthorised persons accessing the grounds of the service during operation. 2. The door to the ground floor kitchen was open and posed a risk of the children having access to potentially hazardous kitchen items such as 3. The children had access to a staff members bag which was stored on a chair in the playroom. 4. There were 2 space heaters on the premises that are not permitted in childcare settings. In addition, the heaters had broken legs/supports and their cables posed a trip hazard. Infection Control: The following issues posed a risk of cross infection. 5.The large pedal bin in the quiet room was not working. 6. The play mat in the playroom was stained and dirty. 7. There were 2 microfibre cloths stored on the quiet room wash hand basin. 8. In the toilet facility an unused changing unit had a stock of barrier creams and wipes that were not labelled with the child’s name. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - & Supporting Documentation Submitted General Safety: The registered provider stated the following – 1. New gates have been installed which provided adequately security and the children cannot access either the public car park or the main road. A photograph of the new gates was submitted. 2. The door to the kitchen is now secured. A photograph of the secured kitchen door was submitted. 3. The adult’s bags are now stored safely on a high hook inside a cupboard door out of reach of the children. A photograph of the stored bags was submitted. 4. Space heaters have been removed and radiators with covers now provide the required heat. A photograph of the radiators was submitted. Click or tap here to enter text. Infection Control: 5.Only on-contact pedal bins are in use in the service. A photograph showing pedal bins was submitted. 6.The play mat has been cleaned and going forward will be checked and cleaned as required. A photograph of the mat was issued. 7. The microfibre cloths have been removed and only paper towels will be used going forward. 8.Barrier creams that were placed in the changing mat area have been discarded. A photograph of the area was submitted to evidence that the issue had been addressed. Summary Comment Documentation in the form of photographs were reviewed and found to adequately meet the Requirements ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - At the time of the inspection an adult was not on the premises with first aid responder certification on file (FAR). An immediate Notice Action was issued on the day. (2)(a) & (b) There was a wall mounted first aid box available which was out of reach of the children however, it was not adequately stocked, for example most of the items reviewed were found to be dusty an out of date; an individual wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressings had an expiry date of 2010 and the sterile eye pads had an expiry date of 2012 - & Supporting Documentation Submitted - The registered provider responded to the issued Immediate Action Notice within the 24-hour timeframe on the 04 October 2023 and stated that a first aid responder course had been booked for the 28 October. An email confirming the course booking details was submitted, it was reviewed and found to be an adequate response. Summary Comment The Requirement has been met ##### Regulation not named in the report text - The registered provider had failed to notify the Agency in writing at least 60 days prior to proposed change in respect of times of operation of the service. This was identified when reviewing the children’s attendance register and from a letter available to parents, detailing that the service accommodated children from 09:00am - & Supporting Documentation Submitted The registered provider stated that the times of operation have been changed. A copy of the change in circumstance form was submitted to evidence that the changes had been completed. Summary Comment The Requirement has been met Found compliant: Regulation 11, 26, 28. ### Other services in Cork - [Innishmore Family Centre CLG](/creche/innishmore-family-centre-clg-ballincollig.md) Ballincollig - [J & J Over the Rainbow Pre-School Ltd.](/creche/j-j-over-the-rainbow-pre-school-ltd-kinsale.md) Kinsale - [Janeville Childcare Ltd](/creche/janeville-childcare-ltd-carrigaline.md) Carrigaline - [Karen's Playschool](/creche/karen-s-playschool-glanmire.md) Glanmire - [Krafty Kidz](/creche/krafty-kidz-mallow.md) Mallow - [Little Wonders Montessori Preschool](/creche/little-wonders-montessori-preschool-charleville.md) Charleville - [New Beginnings Pre-school](/creche/new-beginnings-pre-school-dunmanway.md) Dunmanway - [The Children’s House Preschool](/creche/the-children-s-house-preschool-whitechurch.md) Whitechurch - [Curious Minds Burnfort](/creche/curious-minds-burnfort-mallow.md) Mallow - [Blossom Grove, Togher Family Centre](/creche/blossom-grove-togher-family-centre-togher.md) Togher [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/ilen-river-playschool-skibbereen/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11