Inspection of 18 September 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on 19 September 2025 in relation to Garda vetting requirements under
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2)(a)(b) The registered provider had not ensured the following: Four written and validated references were not available for two adults including the student. (c) Garda vetting disclosures were not available for one staff member employed to work directly with the children. This staff member was not present when the inspector arrived in the service. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider. (3) The procedures as outlined in paragraph (2)(c) were not carried out prior to one adult working with or having access to children in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action (2) (a)(b) All 4 written and validated references were submitted. (c) The registered provider now has Garda Vetting for the staff member who was not present on the day of the inspection. The immediate action notice was responded to by ensuring the staff member would not be in direct contact with the children until the Garda Vetting was received. The staff member was on leave and Garda vetting had been received upon the staff members return. (3) The staff member is now Garda Vetted. Preventive Action (2) (a) (b) The registered provider will ensure that every new employee and student will have 2 written references from past employees, but in the case of no previous employment (students) from a reputable source. (c)The registered provider will ensure that any new staff or students who have direct contact with the children will have Garda Vetting prior to commencing employment or work experience. (3) The registered provider will address Garda Vetting when the services’ policies are due for review. The registered provider will also explain this to future employees and students
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1)(a) In respect of 2 adults, there was no recorded history of past employment and relevant experience available for inspection. Therefore, it was not possible to determine whether international police vetting was required in accordance with Regulation 9(2)(c)
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action 16. (1) (a) A copy of a CV with recorded history of past employment and relevant experience has been submitted for two adults. The registered provider has added both CVs to the staff files kept on the premises. Preventive Action 16. (1) (a) The registered provider will ensure that all CV’s for any new staff members will be added to the staff files before commencement of employment in the service
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Physical and material environment: 1. There were no supportive materials available at the outdoor mark making area to provide opportunities for creativity and mark making. 2. In Room 1 a shelving unit was observed to be turned away from the children and stored against the wall which prevented the children from accessing the play resources contained within, which included tabletop materials. This practice restricts children’s freely chosen play, through reducing their access to play materials and resources. It is acknowledged that a staff member turned the shelf around at 11.40am when the inspector brought this to the attention of staff
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action Physical and material environment: 1. To provide different opportunities for all children for creativity in the outdoor area, paint sticks and washable markers are at the outdoor board at all times. The children can freely access these at any time. 2. The registered provider will ensure that the children will have free access to all the play resources and materials in their service to encourage each child’s development. Preventive Action 1. One staff member is now responsible for ensuring that there are always art supplies in the garden, these can be stored overnight in Zoe’s Den. 2. Staff members who set up Room 1 and Room 2 each morning are now aware that all shelving must be facing the children, this is regardless of the children going to their outdoor area at the start of the session instead of when they return. This will include the tabletop materials
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Five Garda vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence to the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action General Safety: 1. All 5 staff members Garda Vetting are now in date. Preventive Action 1. The ECCE manager is now assigned to check the staff files regularly to ensure they are applying for all Garda Vetting as soon as the 3 years is approaching. Supporting documentation submitted General Safety: • Documentary evidence of Garda Vetting. Summary Comment The inspector has reviewed the actions and evidence submitted. The non-compliance under Regulation 23 has been addressed
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 21, 25, 26.