Inspection of 10 September 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Programme of activities: • Contrary to the service’s sleep policy there were no alternative activities on offer in the Toddler care room for 3 of the 11 children observed awake, while children were resting. In conversation, staff stated that activities are offered but none were observed on the day
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider. • All children are offered alternative activities if they cannot sleep or do not need a sleep. Table top activities or an alternative room is available if they do not wish to rest
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for 10 adults; however, 1 vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous 3 years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. A bait box was visible and accessible to the children in the Playschool care room, posing a safety risk to the children playing in the area. 3. Two adult sized dolls houses in the ECCE Room and Playschool care rooms were not anchored posing a tipping/falling risk to the children playing in the area. 4. There was no nappy bin for the disposal of used nappies and no aprons available in the changing area of the Playschool sanitary area. Contrary to the service’s infection control policy which stated that “all equipment should be nearby” a staff member stated that aprons are brought from the Toddler room in the event a child requires changing. 5. Due to a poorly positioned safety catch cleaning agents under the counter in the Playschool were accessible to the children, posing a safety risk. 6. The inspector observed that there was a shape sorter with a wide crack accessible to children in the Wobbler care room, posing a pinching risk should a child catch their finger on it. 7. Talcum powder, nappy sacks and individual children’s creams were observed to be within reach of children during nappy changing in the Wobbler changing area, posing a safety risk. 8. There was a crack on the top of the blue slide in the outside area, posing a risk to the children from the sharp edges. 9. There was no handrail offering support and safety to children climbing the gradient to the outdoor play areas at the rear of the service, posing a safety risk. 10. Hazards were observed on the outdoor walls of the building within the courtyard which were accessible to the children. There was a white cable hanging in the walkway from the Playroom to the outdoor area, a piece of steel protruding from the wall alongside the cable and a cable coming from the window outside the yellow entrance door which was dangling down from the adjacent drain pipe, posing a safety risk to children moving around in the outdoor play areas. Infection Control: 11. While there was an up-to-date cleaning checklist furnished to the inspector for the toys in the Wobbler care room the inspector observed a soiled wire bead maze which staff stated had been brought in from the outdoor area in error, posing a risk of infection. 12. A staff member in the Wobbler care room was observed, on two occasions, lifting the lid of the nappy changing bin with their hands to dispose of used nappies, posing a risk of cross infection. In conversation, the staff member stated the lid did not always lift when operated by the pedal. 13. There was no steriliser in use in the Wobbler or Toddler care rooms for soothers observed in use throughout the day. While staff stated a sterilisation system was available and the infection control policy stated “soothers will be washed with hot water and placed in a microwavable steriliser” none was observed in use for soothers or mouthed toys. 14. Contrary to the service’s infection control policy which stated that all equipment should be at hand there were no aprons available in the nappy changing area of the Playschool sanitary area. In conversation, staff stated that if aprons are required they are sourced from the Toddler care room. 15. The inspector observed a swing bin in use in the ECCE lobby area which contained a used nappy, posing a potential risk of infection to the children. Safe Sleep: 16. Documented 10-minute physical sleep checks in the Toddler room reviewed by the inspector were not accurately recorded for each child. The number of recordings for room temperatures, breathing patterns and skin colours did not reflect the number of times the sleep checks were being carried out for individual children. Examples included 3-time checks for an individual child on the day of inspection carried out at 12:30, 12:40 and 12:50 however there were 4 temperature recordings, 4 breathing patterns and 4 skin colour changes recorded. On the previous day there were 12-time checks recorded for an individual child with 10 room temperatures, 11 breathing patterns and 12 skin colours recorded. Not keeping accurate sleeping records could potentially compromise the safety of the sleeping children. 17. The inspector observed a cot placed under a window in the Wobbler designated sleep room, posing a safety risk to the children. 18. Stackable beds in use in the Toddler care room after lunch were not placed 50 centimetres apart, posing a potential safety risk to children sleeping and resting. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Renewed Garda vetting has not been reapplied for the adult as they are not currently working in the service. Management will ensure in future that all garda vetting is renewed in a timely manner. 2. The bait box has been removed to ensure the safety of the children in the Playschool care room. The registered provider will ensure that there are no bait boxes accessible to the children in the service. 3. The adult sized dolls houses in the ECCE and Playschool care rooms have been anchored to prevent them falling or tipping over. All heavy equipment or free-standing furniture will be secured or removed from the care rooms. 4. A new apron dispenser with aprons has been installed along with a pedal operated, lined, sealed and lidded nappy bin in the Playschool sanitary area. 5. A new shelf has been purchased and placed on the wall of the Playschool care room, out of reach of the children. In future all cleaning agents will be stored on a high shelf, inaccessible by the children. 6. The shape sorter with a wide crack accessible to children in the Wobbler care room was removed on the day of inspection. All toys will be risk assessed and removed if broken. 7. Talcum powder, nappy sacks and individual children’s creams in the Toddler changing area have been removed and placed in drawers, out of the reach of children. 8. The blue slide has been removed from the outdoor play area and a replacement has been ordered. A daily risk assessment will be carried on the outdoor play area in the future. 9. A new handrail has been installed offering support and safety to children climbing the gradient to the outdoor play areas at the rear of the service. 10. The hazards on the outdoor walls of the building within the courtyard have all been removed. The outdoor area will risk assessed on a daily basis to ensure the safety of the children playing in the area. Infection Control: 11. The wire bead maze was removed on the day of inspection. Daily risk assessments will be carried out to ensure that all of the toys and equipment are clean in the Toddler care room. 12. A new nappy changing bin which is pedal operated, lined, lidded and sealed is in place in the Toddler nappy changing area to prevent the spread of cross infection. 13. Microwave sterilisers are now available for the Wobbler and Toddler care rooms to prevent cross infection. Staff will ensure that soothers are sterilised throughout the day and as required. 14. A new apron dispenser and a supply of single use aprons have been installed in the nappy changing area of the Playschool sanitary area. Management will ensure that there are an adequate supply of aprons and gloves in each nappy changing area. 15. A new pedal operated, lidded, lined and sealed nappy changing bin is now in use in the ECCE sanitary area, helping to reduce the risk of cross infection. Safe Sleep: 16. New sleep record books are now in use for each child. The registered provider will ensure that all required elements are completed for each of the 10-minute physical sleep checks recorded for each child to ensure the safety of the children while sleeping. 17. The cot has been removed from under the window. Management will ensure that no cots are placed under a window. 18. Staff have removed large items of toys to ensure that there is sufficient room for the stackable beds. All stackable beds are now placed 50 centimetres apart to ensure the safety of the children and for supervision reasons
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) 1. Patches of dampness and areas of flaking paint were visible inside the entrance door of the Playschool care room. 2. Areas of peeling paint were visible in the sanitary area of the ECCE sanitary area below the hand dryer
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the manager; 1. and 2. The painter is scheduled to commence work on the weekend of 17/10/2025 in the Playschool care room and the ECCE sanitary area. The registered provider will conduct regular maintenance to ensure the service is maintained and repaired
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 20, 22, 25, 26, 28.