Creche Inspection Reports

Kilmaley Community Creche

Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Ennis, Clare · Tusla ID TU2015CE065 · Registered since 1 January 2026

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

3published inspections
0non-compliances at latest report read
1immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 16 April 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

No non-compliance recorded in this report.

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 19, 23.

Inspection of 6 August 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. This inspection was triggered by information received to the Early Years Inspectorate. 07 August 2025 An Immediate Action Notice was issued under Regulation 9(2)(c). A mandatory Garda vetting disclosure was not available for three adults who were present in the service contrary to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012. 08 August 2025 A response was received from the service stating the three adults would not attend the service until the Garda vetting disclosures were received and assessed. A Garda vetting disclosure was submitted in respect of one adult on 08 August 2025. The manager confirmed that a copy of the outstanding Garda Vetting disclosures would be submitted to the inspectorate. 23 September 2025 A regulatory compliance meeting was held with the registered provider, service manager and assistant manager of the service, by the inspection and registration manager. The meeting was held to discuss the recurring non- compliances identified under

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • 1. Nine written and validated references were not available in respect of five adults. 2. Four of the references available from a past employer were not validated. 3. Five of the references available from a reputable source were not validated. (c) Contrary to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, Garda vetting disclosures from the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána were not available for three adults who had recently commenced employment at the service. On the 07 August an immediate action notice was issued to the service. A response was received from the service on 08 August 2025 stating the three adults would not attend the service until the Garda vetting disclosures were received and assessed. A Garda vetting disclosure was submitted in respect of one adult on 08 August 2025. (d) It was not possible to determine the requirement or otherwise for police vetting in respect of 5 adults, as their curriculum vitae were not available
Provider's corrective action:
  • The outstanding references in relation to the adults who continue to be employed in the service have been submitted. Evidence of validation of references from past employers have been submitted. Evidence of validation of references from a reputable source have been submitted. All new staff employed will not commence work until references have been received and validated. (c) The adult with the outstanding Garda vetting has not been on the premises while awaiting the Garda vetting disclosure. The second adult is no longer employed in the service. All Garda vetting will be processed before employment commences. (d) Curriculum Vitaes are now available for all staff members in their files

Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service

  • 1. A supervision policy was not in place in the service to indicate how employees, unpaid workers and contractors are supported in their work practices. 2. A recruitment policy was available however this did not include all the steps to be taken when hiring employees and unpaid workers. Further information in relation to the non-compliances identified in the recruitment procedures for the service have been outlined under Regulation 9
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. A Supervision policy has been developed and 2. The Recruitment policy has been reviewed and updated. The service will ensure that all necessary policies are in place

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • (1)(i) A staff roster was available for the service however it was not dated and did not include the full names of the adults or identify the break times for the adults and the staff cover available during this time
Provider's corrective action:
  • The staff roster for the service is updated on a weekly basis and includes all the required details

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29.

Inspection of 7 November 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (a)(b) 1. Four written and validated references were not available in respect of two adults working in the service. 2. Six written past employer references were not validated. 3. Eight written references from a source other than a past employer were not validated. (d) International police vetting was not available in respect of four adults working in the service who lived in another state for a period longer than six months
  • The service had not carried out vetting procedures prior to staff commencing in the service, being appointed, assigned or allowed access to or contact with a child attending the pre -school service This is at variance with the procedures outlined in the service’s recruitment policies
  • Six of the eleven adults working directly with the children did not hold an Early Childhood Care and Education qualification or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent. This non-compliance in respect of one adult who did not hold an Early Childhood Care and Education qualification, or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent was found on last inspection 03 July 2023
Provider's corrective action:
  • (2)(a)(b)(d)(3)(4) Corrective and Preventive Action Corrective Actions
  • (a)(b) 1. The service has now validated four written references. 2. Six past employer references are now validated. 3. The service has validated the eight references. (c) (d) The service has received two of the four police vetting clearance certificates and have applied for the other two police vetting clearance certificates, once received these will be submitted to the inspectorate
  • Staff with qualifications have been moved to work directly with pre-school children. The staff that are in the process of getting their qualifications are now working in the school aged childcare service. All staff that are in training will be qualified in May 2025 Preventive Actions (a)(b) 1. The service will validate every reference at recruitment stage going forward. 2. The service will ensure all references are validated at recruitment stage. 3. The service will ensure that all new staff members have two validated references before employment is commenced. (d) In future all police vetting will be completed at recruitment stage before staff commence working in the service. The service will carry out annual staff file checks to ensure everything is present and up to date

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • Eleven adults did not have an employment history record on file. This posed a concern in determining the adults past history and their suitability to work in the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective and Preventive Action The service will carry out annual staff file checks to ensure everything is present and up to date

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for eighteen adults employed by the service. However, five vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice. Infection Control: 1.The nappy changing procedures observed were at variance with the service’s policy. The following nappy changing procedures were observed and posed a potential risk of cross contamination: • The adults did not wash their hands before or after the children’ nappy changes. • The children’s hands were not washed after the nappy changing procedures. 2. The mattresses in five cots were unable to be cleaned effectively as the covers were not wipeable. T his posed a potential risk of cross contamination. 3. The children were not prompted by the adults to wash their hands after using the toilet, activities and prior to mealtime. This posed a potential risk of cross infection. 4. Lined, lidded, pedal operated bins were not available in the care rooms and sanitary facilities. This practice is at variance with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1.Four of the five of the Garda Vetting disclosures have been returned and updated. The vetting unit was contacted regarding the fifth garda vetting disclosure and this will be available next week and will be forwarded to the inspectorate. The service is now aware that Vetting must be updated every three years and will do a check at the start of each year to review Garda Vetting. Infection Control: 1.The managers will check in with staff during nappy changing to ensure that all procedures are being carried out correctly. 2. Three new mattresses have been purchased. The service will do a yearly check and review to ensure that mattresses are in good condition. 3. The managers have spoken to staff in relation to children’s hand washing and we have given each staff member a copy of our infection control policy. The service will place the infection control policy of the service on the agenda at each monthly staff meeting. 4. New pedal operated suitable bins are in place each room. The service will do a 6 monthly check on all bins to ensure that they are in good condition. A risk assessment check list is now in place. The service will carry out a weekly risk assessment

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (e) 1. The childcare facility did not have an adequate number of nappy changing facilities for the twenty -four children who required nappy changes. One nappy -changing unit including a wash -hand basin, and a changing mat was not available for every eleven children in nappies. Only one nappy changing unit and mat and one wash hand basin was available for the twenty-four children who required nappy changes
Provider's corrective action:
  • (e) 1. The service has two new changing tables with suitable changing mats and have ordered two new wash hand basins and are waiting on the plumber to fit these. The plumber is also changing the taps in all children’s toileting areas. The service will have adequate nappy changing facilities to accommodate all children in our service

Found compliant: Regulation 11.

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