Inspection of 16 May 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- On the day of inspection there was not an adequate number of staff working directly with the children attending the preschool service at all times. The following was observed: (2)1. The attendance records were reviewed. On the morning of the inspection there were 20 children registered between 8.00am and 9.00am. There were 2 staff in the service as noted on the staff roster. Based on the number and ages of the children 3 were required at that time
- The children from the baby room were in the outdoor area at 11.20am. There were 6 children aged between 1 and 2 years of age in the care of 1 staff member. Based on the number and ages of the children 2 staff were required
- At 11.20am in the outdoor area the children from the toddler room were in the care of one staff member. There were 8 children in the care of 1 staff. 3 children aged from 1 to 2 years of age; 5 children aged from 2 to 3 years of age. Based on the numbers and ages of the children 2 staff were required
- At 12.50pm 11 children from the provider’s second service joined the children in the ECCE room. The ECCE sessional group was completed, and the children remaining were now attending for full day care. At that time there were 2 staff members with 20 children in the ECCE room. Based on the numbers and ages of the children 3 staff were required
- At 2.40pm the service remained out of ratios with regard to the children attending the ECCE room. There were 18 children from the ECCE room aged between 3 and 6 years in the outdoor area in the care of 2 staff. Based on the numbers and ages of the children 3 staff were required. The registered provider was found non-compliant under Regulation 11 on previous inspections carried out in the service on 6 June 2019 and 16 September 2021. A corrective and preventative action was submitted to the inspectorate following these two inspections. The corrective and preventive actions stated by the registered provider failed to ensure that minimum ratios of adults to children were maintained on the day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider has advertised to recruit additional staff to the service. Parents have been informed that their children will only be facilitated in the service when staff ratios can be maintained. There is a new staff roster in place in the service
Regulation 28 — Insurance
- There was an in-date insurance certificate to cover a maximum of 30 children to attend the service at any one time. At 12.50pm there were 33 children in the service which exceed the number of children the service was adequately insured for
Provider's corrective action:
- Parents have been informed that children will only be accommodated in the service when the service can comply with staff ratios at all times. The registered provider and manager will ensure the numbers of children in the service do not exceed 30 at any one time to ensure the service is adequately insured at all times
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
- There was not adequate clear floor space to accommodate the children attending the ECCE room on the afternoon of the inspection. Room Measurements Age of children No of full day care children that can be accommodated No of sessional children that can be accommodated. ECCE room. 26.6 square meters 3 to 6 years 11 14 At 12.50pm 11 children aged from 3 to 6 years from the registered provider’s sessional service joined the 9 children who were in the ECCE room. At that time there was a total of 20 full day care children in a room where the space only allowed for 11 full day care children
Provider's corrective action:
- Parents have been informed that children will only be accommodated in the service when the service can comply with ensuring there are no more than 30 children at any one time in the service. The registered provider and manager will ensure the numbers of children in the service do not exceed 30 at any one time to ensure the service is adequately always insured
Regulation not named in the report text
- The registered provider did not notify the agency in writing that they had increased the maximum number of children in the service. On the afternoon of the inspection there were 33 preschool children in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider has personally contacted families to inform them that the service will no longer be able to provide them with full day care places. The registered provider and manager will monitor parents requests for flexibility when reserving care for their children to ensure ratios and space requirements are maintained at all times
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.