# Kate's Montessori, Mitchelstown — inspection reports and findings > Kate's Montessori (Mitchelstown, Co. Cork): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Kate's Montessori Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Mitchelstown, Cork · Tusla ID **TU2015CC194** · 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 18 November 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (2) (a) One employer reference was not validated by the registered provider. Not ensuring all staff are appropriately vetted may allow for staff that are not suitable have access to children - (2)(a) The relevant employer reference has been validated, and the registered employer has committed to ensuring that all references are validated prior to staff commencing in the service ##### Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service - 1. The complaints policy was reviewed. The policy contained most of the guidance required for the service to manage a complaint should one be received. However, the policy did not state how the records of all complaints received by the service would be stored. Not ensuring the records were safely stored may hinder them being found in the event they were required - 1. The complaints policy has been updated and now includes the managing of the complaints records. The registered provider is responsible for the safe storage of all complaint records ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - (1) (f) The requirements as set out requiring the registered provider to have knowledge of any illnesses, disabilities or allergies for all children in attendance were not demonstrated as one child’s records had no indication of the child having any medical needs. Not having this information may hinder the care of the children should they require medical care or attention - (1) (f) The enrolment form for the child in question was updated following the inspection. A system has been put in place to ensure all children’s details that may be required by the service are recorded and immediately available should they be required. A process has also been put in place for how to address any gaps in information should they be missing. The registered provider is responsible for this to be completed ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. One of the children brought uncut grapes in their snack to the service. These were not seen by the staff, and the inspector asked the staff to cut them before being eaten by the child as uncut grapes pose a risk of choking. 2. The two fire extinguishers near the main exit door were unsecured and were stored on the ground near the sink. This posed a risk of the children pulling them over on top of themselves. Infection Control: 3. The staff toilet in the Semora Dearg was also being used by the pre-school children as evidence of a step up was in this toilet. Sharing of toilet facilities between adults and children poses a risk of cross infection. 4. There was a nappy changing mat stored in the toilet cubicle in the toilets beside the Butterfly care area. This posed risk of contamination and cross infection if used. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The staff have been advised about the safety of foods being eaten by the children and for their increased vigilance on children’s snacks and lunches. Parents have also been communicated with regarding the need to ensure the food sent into the service are suitable and do not pose a risk of choking. 2. The fire extinguishers have been wall mounted and the registered provider shall ensure that they remain wall mounted. Infection Control: 3. The children will no longer use the toilet in Seomra Dearg and will be brought into the children’s toilets in the service should they need same. 4. The nappy changing mat has been removed and the policy has been updated to reflect how the service will manage nappy changing with the children inclusive of the use of a step for the nappy changing unit Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 32. #### Inspection of 27 November 2023 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - (1) Of the fifteen records being reviewed one record was not available on file for assessment. (b) Three records did not have the commencement date of when the children started in the service. Not having records or having incomplete records for each child in attendance may hinder their care when attending the service - (1) The enrolment form that was not available on the day of inspection has been obtained and filed. (b) The commencement date has been added to the records of the children where this was not previously recorded ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. Childrens snack/lunches contained whole fruit berries (Blueberries) that were a size that could pose a risk of choking in a child, the staff did not chop them until requested to do so by the inspector. Infection Control: 2. There were no paper towels at the adult sinks and a cloth towel was available. Cloth towels harbour potential bacteria following use by multiple staff and pose a risk of cross infection. This non-compliance was also identified on the last inspection. 3. The water table for use in the outdoor area beside the car park was filled with rainwater that was in the water table for an unknown amount of time. Using stagnant water that could be contaminated poses a risk of cross infection to the children who play with the water table. Fire Safety: 4. The fire evacuation notice was not updated and indicated that the main door was a fire exit door however this was locked by a chain lock and as explained by the registered provider was not used for fire drills. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The staff are now aware to check children’s lunch boxes daily and ensure that any choking hazards are identified and managed. The staff have discussed this at a staff meeting. Infection Control: 2. Paper towels have been added to the adult toilet facility. This has been added to the cleaning checklist to ensure the paper handtowels are available at all times. The responsibility for this has been given to a staff member. 3. The water tray has been emptied and the registered provider has submitted assurances that the water tray will be emptied daily and filled with fresh water. Fire Safety: 4. The registered provider has updated the fire evacuation notice and has removed the chain locks. The staff have been informed of the updates and have been shown the new evacuation procedures Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 19, 22, 25, 26, 28. ### Other services in Cork - [Kealkil Childcare](/creche/kealkil-childcare-bantry.md) Bantry - [Kids Corner Pre-School](/creche/kids-corner-pre-school-cork.md) Cork - [Kilmeen Early Years School](/creche/kilmeen-early-years-school-clonakilty.md) Clonakilty - [Krafty Kidz](/creche/krafty-kidz-mallow.md) Mallow - [Little Giggles Childcare Lisgriffin](/creche/little-giggles-childcare-lisgriffin-mallow.md) Mallow - [Mayfield Community Pre-School Ltd.](/creche/mayfield-community-pre-school-ltd-cork.md) Cork - [Orchard Childcare](/creche/orchard-childcare-douglas.md) Douglas - [The Shalom Montessori Pre-School](/creche/the-shalom-montessori-pre-school-cork.md) Cork - [Donoughmore Family Resource Centre CLG](/creche/donoughmore-family-resource-centre-clg-donoughmore.md) Donoughmore - [Bright Start ELC Ltd.](/creche/bright-start-elc-ltd-north-monastery-road.md) North Monastery Road [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/kate-s-montessori-mitchelstown/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11