Inspection of 22 October 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. Non-Compliance Information (1) The Inspectorate has not been notified of a number of changes to the services registration status as outlined as follows; • The person named as being the registered provider and the person in charge is no longer involved with the service. While a change in circumstances was submitted regarding this matter in May 2024, this was not approved by the Inspectorate. • The service was found to be operating outside of the hours that it is registered for. The service is registered to operate from 08:45 to 11:45 and 12:00 to 15:00, however on the day of inspection, the service was found to be operating from 08:45 to 13:00. Corrective & Preventive Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective and Preventive Action (1) The Inspector received confirmation that the change of registered provider and person in charge and was approved in November 2025. The change in part time hours was approved in December 2025. As a preventive action the registered provider stated that all CIC applications will be submitted a minimum 60 days prior to any change taking place as required by Tusla inspectorate.
Immediate action notice. Supporting documentation submitted A copy of the approval letter for the registered provider, person in charge and part time hours approval letter. Summary Comment The actions and evidence submitted by the new registered provider, in their corrective and preventive action plan, has addressed the non-compliance.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a) There was no designated person in charge in the service. The person named in the register of early years services is no longer involved with the service. (c) In the absence of the registered provider or a designated person in charge there was no clear management structure in the service that identifies the lines of authority and accountability in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- (1)(a) Following the inspection a new registered provider and person in charge were approved by the inspectorate. (c) There are clear roles established in the service and there is a management structure in place. The manager is now the registered provider and works with one additional member of staff, who both work in the room with the children during the operation hours of the service. Summary Comment The actions and evidence submitted by the new registered provider, in their corrective and preventive action plan, has addressed the non-compliance
Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service
- The following policies were not available for staff members to support them in establishing and maintain safe and effective practices whilst working with the children. (a) statement of purpose and function; (b) complaints policy; (c) policy on administration of medication; (d) policy on infection control; (f) policy on safe sleep; (h) inclusion policy; (l) policy on healthy eating; (m) policy on outdoor play where such play is provided to children attending the service; (o) policy on staff absences; (p) policy on the use of the internet and photographic and recording devices; (q) recruitment policy; (r) risk management policy; (s) settling-in policy; (t) staff training policy; (u) supervision policy. The following policies were available but were not sufficient to support staff in their practice. (e) The policy on managing behaviour did not detail how children’s well-being was supported and appropriate to the age, stage and development of the child. It did not detail the procedures for protection and welfare. It is acknowledged that it set out prohibited practices and supports available to staff to support children’s behavioural and emotional needs. (g) The fire safety policy did not detail how often fire drills should be completed or specify the record keeping requirements in relation to fire safety. It is acknowledged that it set out information about the way staff are informed and trained in the procedures to be followed in the case of fire. (i) The outings policy did not set out the risk assessment process, detail the management of a critical incident or detail the insurance cover. It is acknowledged that it set out information about parental consent for outing, adult: child ratios and first aid measures for outings
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action (a-u) The new registered provider has stated that the policies are in development. Once developed all policies will be reviewed annually and on a need to basis. Summary Comment The new registered provider has stated that the policies are in development and evidence of their completion must be submitted to the Inspectorate. Regulation 10 remains non-compliant
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) (i) A staff roster was not available to demonstrate that appropriate adult cover was planned for and implemented to provide the correct adult and child ratios
Provider's corrective action:
- (1)(i) The registered provider stated that there is a staff roster that is displayed in the service. The register provider/manager will develop a weekly staff roster in advance and inform staff of the staff roster the Friday before the start of new week. Summary Comment The actions and evidence submitted by the new registered provider, in their corrective and preventive action plan, has addressed the non-compliance
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. The service did not demonstrate compliance with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years. The Garda Vetting disclosures for one staff member had not been updated in the last three years. Infection Control 2. The service did not ensure that all equipment could be easily cleaned to support effective infection control measures. For example, the plastic couch had worn areas which could not be effectively cleaned and there was a torn nappy mat exposing the internal foam padding. This practice was found to be non- compliant on previous inspections on 8 December 2023. The corrective actions submitted following that inspection failed to prevent recurrence of this non-compliance. Fire Safety 3. The service did not demonstrate firefighting equipment had not been serviced on an annual basis. The service records indicated that the servicing had expired in April 2025
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. The registered provider stated that both staff members Garda vetting is currently in date and stored in the staff file in the service. All staff member’s Garda vetting will be renewed every three years, and staff file checklist will be updated to include Garda vetting is renewed every three years and stored in the staff file. Infection Control : 2. Nappy mat has been replaced. Sofa has been disposed of, and a new sofa will be purchased. Service will carry out a daily safety checklist to ensure all materials and equipment are safe and suitable for use. Fire Safety : 3. The registered provider submitted the maintenance record for the December 2025 for the fire extinguishers and stated they will ensure regular annual maintenance
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (1)(b) There were no maintenance records for the fire alarms in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action (1)(b) The registered provider submitted the maintenance record for the 1 December 2025 for the fire alarm and will ensure annual servicing. Summary Comment The actions and evidence submitted by the new registered provider, in their corrective and preventive action plan, has addressed the non-compliance
Regulation not named in the report text
- (1) The Inspectorate has not been notified of a number of changes to the services registration status as outlined as follows; • The person named as being the registered provider and the person in charge is no longer involved with the service. While a change in circumstances was submitted regarding this matter in May 2024, this was not approved by the Inspectorate. • The service was found to be operating outside of the hours that it is registered for. The service is registered to operate from 08:45 to 11:45 and 12:00 to 15:00, however on the day of inspection, the service was found to be operating from 08:45 to 13:00
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) The Inspector received confirmation that the change of registered provider and person in charge and was approved in November 2025. The change in part time hours was approved in December 2025. As a preventive action the registered provider stated that all CIC applications will be submitted a minimum 60 days prior to any change taking place as required by Tusla inspectorate
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 22, 25, 28.