Creche Inspection Reports

Kids at Play

Sessional · 3 - 6 Years · Waterford City, Waterford · Tusla ID TU2023WD002 · Registered since 28 August 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

4published inspections
0non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 12 March 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

No non-compliance recorded in this report.

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 15, 19, 21, 22, 23.

Inspection of 25 August 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

  • (1) The adult-to-child ratio was observed to be compliant; however, due to the nature of the children’s additional needs, extra staff support was required. In the morning, the two staff members present with the six preschool children were observed spending time comforting and reassuring the children as they transitioned from the large classroom to the outdoor play area. It is acknowledged that when a third staff member arrived at 11:45 to assist, more opportunities were presented for engaging in play with the children. However, this extra support was not always available
Provider's corrective action:
  • The registered provider stated that management, while performing administrative duties do also work directly with the children daily. Going forward, the staff team will organise the children in groups to increase the number of staff available to the children

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • 1. Other than the rest and reading area in the large classroom, there were no other defined areas of interest and play materials and resources were limited and unorganised. 2. Children’s ability to engage in play was restricted by staff practices regarding the provision of play materials and supervision of play. Two children were observed to show interest and enjoyment in playing with sand; however, the sandbox was supplied with only a thin layer of sand, restricting their ability to play. Staff explained that they had reduced the amount of sand available as children had tried to eat it. 3. While it is acknowledged that the windows in the service were open to the capacity allowed, the inspectors observed that the overall temperature of the physical environment in the service was not maintained within the comfortable recommended limits of 18°C to 22°C. Temperatures recorded in the service varied between 22.7°C to 24°C in the large classroom, 25.3°C to 26°C in the small classroom, and 23.1°C to 25.6°C in the toilet
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. The registered provider stated that due to the nature of the children they work with, they have made the decision not to divide the room into centres/corners. They stated they did try this after a previous non- compliance in this area, as evidenced in the last report, but found that it did not aid the children’s experience of play. As an alternative, they will create play stations throughout the day. These stations include mark-making, imaginative/role play, reading and relaxation and construction. The registered provider stated that a team meeting was held following the inspection to discuss the importance of consistency in care and adherence to care plans. Going forward, a manager will conduct unannounced room observations fortnightly and work with the staff team. In addition, a training day has been booked for the 5th of January 2026. 2. The registered provider stated that during a team meeting, a discussion was held about the importance of using the methods which are available to the team and the children, which enable choice making. Staff were asked to complete a reflective exercise to gauge the children’s abilities and to see what the child enjoys doing to pre-empt their wishes. The aim is for this exercise to be repeated every 8 weeks. The registered provider stated whiteboards will be used to share areas of special interest or enjoyment for the individual children – in this way, the staff can share their personal knowledge and understanding easily with the whole team. In addition, the amount of equipment and toys available to the children had increased. 3. The registered provider stated that they now have an increased awareness of the building temperature and they have set up an alarm system on an online application. The open/ close procedures now include the of running mobile extractor fans to manage temperatures

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. While it is acknowledged that the children did not use the trampoline on the day of the inspection, it was noted that it was frayed in two areas and could potentially tear and cause a child to fall through and injure themselves. 2. Two pieces of furniture located at either end of the large classroom were broken. At the top end of the room near the service’s toilets, a tall white shelving system with slide-in storage containers was observed to be broken, with the shelf holders missing, loose or broken. The loose containers that were sitting on top of each other could potentially fall on a child and injure them. The white sideboard unit at the other end of the classroom had a missing door. The door hinges and the sharp pointed edges of the unit exposed could injure a child. 3. On the pathway outside the exit door to the outdoor play area, there were four rubber mats which were arranged haphazardly at intervals, posing a trip hazard to both children and staff. This non-compliance has been identified on the previous inspections, 28 August 2024 and 04 August 2023. 4. While children’s times of entry and exit were recorded on the service’s record application, there was no record maintained of any visitors to the service, and neither inspector was requested to record their details and purpose of visit. Infection Control: 5. The handwash basin located in the large classroom had two loose taps and was not functioning and therefore was not accessible for handwashing in the classroom. 6. The painted windowsills in the large classroom were worn, which did not provide for effective cleaning and disinfecting of the areas. 7. One of the sleep mats was observed to be frayed at one of its folds, which did not allow for effective disinfecting between uses. 8. The sensory mats that the inspector found in one of the loose storage shelves were observed to be ingrained with dirt and not properly cleaned. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. The trampoline has been removed and the registered provider is sourcing a more robust one. 2. The damaged furniture has been removed with new furniture in its place and the weekly risk assessment has been amended to include furniture wear and tear. 3. The rubber mats have been secured with stronger ties and the weekly risk assessment has been amended to include the mats. 4. There is now a sign in sheet in place to record visitors arrival and departures and all visitors are obliged to use it. Infection Control: 5. This handwash basin is not in use. It was in the room and the registered provider has decided to leave it there as it does not pose a risk. 6. The windowsills have been cleaned and the registered provider is organising for them to be repainted. 7. The frayed mats have been removed. Going forward the frayed or damaged items will be removed. 8. The registered provider stated that the sensory mats are frequently used outdoors and have been fully cleaned and have been added to the weekly deep clean list

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 25, 26, 28.

Inspection of 28 August 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child

  • (f) On the last inspection in November 2023 care plans with written details relevant to the provision of special care or attention, were not documented for the benefit of children’s learning needs or individual learning profiles. As the service continues to cater for children with varying developmental stages and specific learning needs, documentation for planning for each child attending the service is essential. However, this continues to be undocumented and not implemented
Provider's corrective action:
  • The registered provider stated in the response that a communication passport and curriculum has been created and is being implemented daily. Time has been allocated for continuous curriculum creation and review

Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play

  • 1.(a)(b) The main room was under refurbishment on both days of the inspection and some of the designated areas of interest were not available such as the construction zone. The open shelving was not stocked. All wall prompts/ posters and photographs were removed. The registered provider said that the room was being redecorated. However, as the room was in active use by the preschool children it was necessary that materials and equipment remain accessible to the children
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action The registered provider stated in the response that the refurbishments of the main care room have been completed and the room has been put back together as we usually use it

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1.There were sharp and rough cement corners at children’s height on the granite window sills in the outdoor play area. 2.There were sharp pointed corners on the laminate shelving furniture units in the main playroom. 3.There were four rubber mats on the tiled ramp for access to the outdoor play area. These mats were arranged along the ramp at intervals with gaps between that could pose as a trip hazard. The registered provider informed that the mat had been sprayed with a nonslip protective material. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • The registered provider stated in the response for items 1,2 of general safety that cushioned protective material has been fitted to all sharp edges and corners. With respect to item 3. the registered provider stated in the response that rubber mats have been attached together and that all these protective measures will be maintained and replaced/repaired if and when they need to be

Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance

  • (3) While these template records were adequate for recording of children’s names and times, there was no space available on the template to record the dates
Provider's corrective action:
  • The registered provider stated in the response that they have included a space for the date to be written in daily. This document has been saved and this template will be used moving forward

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 22, 27.

Earlier inspections

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