# Just 4 Kids Creche, Portarlington — inspection reports and findings > Just 4 Kids Creche (Portarlington, Co. Laois): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Just 4 Kids Creche Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Portarlington, Laois · Tusla ID **TU2015LS035** · 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 November 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. A number of lunch boxes provided from home in the Saturn room were observed to have crisps, chocolate and jellies. Staff were observed to pour the crisps out onto a plate for a child to eat. This was in variance with the services healthy food policy which promoted healthy eating. 2. The children in the Sun room attending on a full day basis were not provided with an opportunity for outdoor play throughout the day. Outdoor play provides children with a space for gross motor development such as running, climbing and using equipment such as scooters/trikes. Children’s emotional wellbeing and regulation is promoted by spending time out in fresh air for periods during the day - 1. Staff have been debriefed on the Healthy Eating policy and will no longer be serving foods that are not permitted. Any food that is not in line with the Healthy Eating policy will be returned home in lunch boxes. Parents have been notified regarding foods that are not permitted in the service. A “Healthy Lunchbox Guide” has been sent to parents and posters have been displayed at the entrance to the service. Daily monitoring of lunchboxes has been added to the room leader duties. 2. A daily outdoor schedule has been implemented in the service ensuring children have two outdoor sessions per day. Staff have been briefed on the importance of outdoor play for children’s development. Outdoor time is being recorded in the room logbook and monitored weekly ##### Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials - 1. The Saturn room had no rest area or cosy area for the children to sit quietly or take a break from activities if they wished. The rest area in the Sun room also required development as there were only two cushions and a soft mat available to the children, and a number of children in the Sun room did not sleep at the designated sleep time and required a place to rest during the day. 2. The two highchairs provided for babies in the Earth room had no foot holds. A baby being fed was observed to have their legs dangling, making it more difficult and uncomfortable for them to sit upright during feeding. 3. It was observed that two children in the Mars room were sitting on chairs that were too high preventing the children to sit with their feet placed on the floor for balance and stability. 4. In the Sun room there were a number of battery-operated toys with no batteries which prevented them from working. There was a large kitchen and home area available however, there were no supporting materials available which prevented the children from extending their play experiences - 1. The Saturn room rest area has been established with soft mats, cushions and a cosy tent. The Sun room rest area has been upgraded with additional cushions, soft furnishings and quiet-time resources. 2. New highchairs were ordered with adjustable footrests. All feeding equipment included in quarterly equipment safety audits. Staff have been refreshed on correct feeding/posture guidelines. 3. Children chairs have been replaced with appropriate seating per child’s height. Staff ensure children’s feet can reach the floor when sitting for stability. 4. Batteries were placed in toys requiring batteries. The home area has been stocked with play equipment such as pots, pans and dress-up items. A weekly toy audit has been introduced. A “Broken/needs battery” box has been placed in the hallway for quick identification ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. A child from the Saturn room was observed to have whole grapes for their lunch presenting a potential choking hazard to a child. Staff did not take immediate action and were notified by the inspectors to cut remove the grapes in half. 2. It was advised to the inspector by a staff member in the Earth room, that bottles of powdered infant formula were being reconstituted by staff for babies in the Earth room. This practice is not recommended by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland guidance note 22 which states that it is not recommended that child day - care facilities prepare prepared infant formula for the children in their care. Baby bottles should be prepared at home prior and stored safely in a fridge in the service. Infection Control: 3. Handwashing practices were inadequate to control the spread of infection as children’s hands were not routinely washed. Children were not brought to wash their hands before eating meals and snacks in the Mars room. 4. A number of children in the Sun room were observed to drink from each other’s cups throughout the morning. Staff did not sterilise or remove these cups from the room to be cleaned. This poses a risk of cross infection. 5. Children and staff in the Sun room were observed to handle the bin in the drawer under the sink with their hands. This poses a risk of cross contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. Grapes are now immediately cut in half. Staff have been retrained on potential choking hazards and safe food preparation. Parents were resent the Healthy Eating policy. 2. Preparation of infant formula has stopped and parents have been informed that bottles must be prepared at home. Infection Control: 3. Staff refresher training on correct handwashing protocols. Handwashing posters are displayed at sinks. Room leaders will monitor hygiene routines daily. 4. Cups were replaced with labelled photographs, and the water station is monitored more appropriately. 5. Bin has been relocated away from child-accessible areas ##### Regulation 27 — Supervision - 1. At 13.45, adequate supervision was not provided to four children were sleeping on floor beds in the Mars room. A staff member briefly left the room and did not seek assistance from other staff when they needed to leave the room briefly. 2. Children in the outdoor play area observed to be climbing onto and jumping off a mud kitchen unit. Staff were observed to have their backs to the children while they climbed and jumped. This posed a risk to injury to the children if they fell - 1. Staff have been reminded that preschool rooms cannot be left unattended. The sleep supervision protocol was reviewed with all staff. Supervisor will conduct spot-checks during sleep periods. 2. The outdoor area was risk assessed, and staff have been reminded to maintain visual supervision and positioning outdoors. Staff have been recommended completing Risky play training. Outdoor supervision zones have been defined. Summary Comment The inspector has reviewed the corrective and preventive actions taken and evidence submitted. The non- compliances identified under Regulation 27 have been adequately addressed ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (d) The flooring in the Sun room sanitary accommodation was torn and coming away from the edges leaving large gaps in the flooring. This cannot be cleaned effectively; a build-up of dirt and debris were observed in the exposed parts - Corrective Action The registered provider arranged for the flooring in the Sun room sanitary accommodation to be replaced with safe, hygienic, non-slip vinyl. Date of repair to be advised, as soon as a tradesman is available to attend. Preventive Action Maintenance checklist updated to highlight wear and tear. Quarterly maintenance walk through introduced. Summary Comment The inspector has reviewed the corrective and preventive actions proposed. The non-compliance identified under Regulation 29 (d) remains outstanding until the maintenance work has been completed Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 26. #### Inspection of 5 April 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** Framework (QRF) as evidence of training undertaken in The Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016. Non-Compliance Information (7)(b)(c) In respect of eighteen staff there was no evidence of training undertaken in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016. ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - In respect of eighteen staff there was no evidence of training undertaken in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 - The registered provider stated in the response that staff are in the process of completing training on the Quality Regulatory Framework (QRF). The managers have repeated the QRF training. All staff will be fully trained in the QRF by the end of summer 2024. QRF training will be conducted as part of induction training for every new member of staff. Summary Comment The corrective action should meet the regulatory requirement. The registered provider will submit the evidence to the Early Years Inspector of the completed QRF certificates upon completion. The regulatory requirement will be met when the registered provider submits the evidence ##### Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service - The following policies were found not to be in keeping with the requirements of Regulation 10. 1. The Risk Management policy did not state the following information: • That risk assessments completed by the service are documented. • That the risk management strategy will be included in the service’s safety statement. • That the risk assessment record must show who is involved in the risk assessment process. • It sets out how long the risk management records will be kept. 2. The staff training policy did not state the following information: • How staff training needs are identified and addressed. • The resources that are provided for training. • The availability of ongoing training and professional development. • Details the staff training records kept in the service. 3. The Supervision policy did not state the following information: • That the employees, unpaid workers and contractors are supervised and supported in the service in relation to their work practices. • The records that will be kept for supervision, where records will be stored and how long they will be kept for. • The supervision of relevant staff, contractors or trainees where appropriate - The registered provider stated in the response that the risk management policy, staff training policy and supervision policy have all been updated to be in line with the requirements (Revised policies included). All Policies and procedures will be reviewed and updated on a more regular basis. Summary Comment In respect of the corrective action taken documentary evidence was submitted to the office of the Early Years Inspectorate, reviewed by the Early Years Inspector and deemed to meet the regulatory requirement Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 32, 33. ### Other services in Laois - [Kiddiecare Childcare](/creche/kiddiecare-childcare-mountmellick.md) Mountmellick - [KIDDIECARE](/creche/kiddiecare-rosenallis.md) Rosenallis - [Kolbe Pre-School](/creche/kolbe-pre-school-portlaoise.md) Portlaoise - [Little Learners Pre-School](/creche/little-learners-pre-school-graiguecullen.md) Graiguecullen - [O’Moore Place Childcare](/creche/o-moore-place-childcare-portlaoise.md) Portlaoise - [The Maples Creche](/creche/the-maples-creche-portlaoise-2.md) Portlaoise - [Kilminchy School House](/creche/kilminchy-school-house-portlaoise.md) Portlaoise - [Play Together Montessori Preschool](/creche/play-together-montessori-preschool-graiguecullen.md) Graiguecullen [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/just-4-kids-creche-portarlington-2/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11