# Ladybug Childcare LTD, Dublin 6 — inspection reports and findings

> Ladybug Childcare LTD (Dublin 6, Co. Dublin): what Tusla inspections found — 3 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions.

## Ladybug Childcare LTD

Full Day · 0 - 6 Years · Dublin 6, Dublin · Tusla ID **TU2015DY284** · Registered since 1 January 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md).

#### Inspection of 11 March 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

- (a), (b) There were no written validated references available for one staff member. (3) Documentation reviewed evidenced that the procedures specified above under 9(2) had not been carried out prior to one of the staff members commencing employment in the service as detailed above

- (a), (b) To address this non-compliance, two written references have now been obtained from the employee’s previous employers. These references have been reviewed, verified, and added to the staff member’s personnel file to ensure full compliance with record-keeping and recruitment verification requirements. To prevent recurrence, going forward, all staff members (including staff that are not directly working with the children) will be required to provide written references prior to commencement of employment. Verbal references, if obtained, will be fully documented, dated and retained in the personnel file

##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- (1)(a), (b) 1. In the Pre-Montessori room, it was observed during lunchtime that drinking water was not routinely offered to all children. Only a small number of children were provided with beakers. This issue was previously identified during the last inspection on the 29 January 2025, and the corrective actions submitted have not effectively addressed the non-compliance. 2. In the Pre-Montessori room staff were not consistently seated with children during mealtimes to support and engage with them. 3. In the Pre-Montessori room staff were observed communicating with one another in their native language during mealtime from approximately 11. 36am until 11. 50. The inspector intervened and requested that english be used. This practice limited children’s inclusion and understanding and reduced opportunities for meaningful interaction, and did not support a fully accessible, language rich environment for all children present. 4. In the Pre-Montessori room Children were put to bed at approximately 12. 08 pm. Two children remained unsettled and did not fall asleep at approximately 13. 03 pm a staff member then asked the children if they would like to colour, after which they were brought to a table to engage in drawing activities. 5. In the Pre-Montessori room the home corner lacked accessible resources and props, limiting opportunities for imaginative and role-play activities

- 1. The Person in charge assigned the pre-Montessori room leader to physically check at the beginning of each day to ensure the water beakers are always full of water and accessible to all children. . The individual water beakers are now placed at the children’s level so they can reach themselves. . There is always also available a full jug of water and spare cups at the water station in the room. Staff have been retrained by the person in charge and reminded of the importance of children’s hydration. Person in charge is closely supervising staff to ensure compliance with this matter. To prevent recurrence in the future, the service provider has engaged with Better Start and a staff member will be assigned to work along with the pr e-Montessori teachers to help them improve their best practices. 2. Ensure staff are seated with children at all three tables dur ing mealtimes effective immediately . Staff are assigned to each table / group to ensure consistent supervision and interaction. Tables have been rearranged during mealtimes; every staff member has a group of six . Each staff member sits down and actively engages in conversation . Providing encourag ement and supervision during mealtime with all children in the pre-Montessori room. Daily checks will be carried out by the person in charge . To prevent this happening in the future the service provider has engaged with Better Start and a staff member will be assigned to work with the person in charge and the three staff members in the pre-Montessori room to help and guide on best practices during transitions. 3. The person in charge addressed the issue immediately with the staff involved, reinforcing expectations regarding inclusive communication. A staff meeting was convened the next day to clearly communicate and remind all staff members the importance of creating a language-rich, inclusive environment for all children in our care. Staff were re instructed that english must be the primary language always used during working hours. Person in charge will conduct regular observations and room audits to ensure consistent implementation. Our setting promotes a culture of respect, inclusion, and professionalism and wants to ensure that all staff understand the importance of this action. 4. The person in charge has reinforced the importance of responsive caregiving and flexible rest routines in line with children’s individual needs. The person in charge had a meeting with the pre-Montessori class teachers to review the importance of rest and time policies to ensure alignment with best practice and regulatory requirements for children in our care. The person in charge implemented that children who are unable to settle after a reasonable period (e. g. 20-30 minutes) may transition to quiet, relaxing, supervised activities at a designated activity area in the room. The room leader is responsible to implement responsive caregiving to the children in our pre-Montessori room. The person in charge is daily monitoring the pre- Montessori rest time ensuring guidelines are being followed by staff. To prevent reoccurrence in the future, the service provider has engaged with Better Start and a staff member will be assigned to work in the pre- Montessori room to help staff within all transitions. 5. The home corner in the pre-Montessori room has been rearranged to improve accessibility and engagement. The materials are organised at child-accessible levels to promote independence. Staff will prevent this from happening again in the future ensuring a consistent rotation of resources to maintain children’s interest and support a variety of play themes. The room leader will schedule regular room environment reviews to ensure all learning areas remain well-resourced and fully accessible to all children to support children’s wellbeing, autonomy, and holistic development. The person in charge will carry out daily room inspection. The service provider will engage with Better Start to help prevent reoccurrence

##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

- General Safety: 1. In the outdoor play area the wooden seating on the stationary fire truck was chipped with splinters of wood exposed posing a potential safety risk. 2. In the Pre-Montessori room, a large heavy toy shop and café were not safely secured posing a potential injury risk. Infection Control: 3. In the Pre-Montessori room children’s hands were not washed after outdoor play and prior to eating. 4. In the Pre-Montessori room after dinner, staff used individual cloths to clean each child’s hands and faces. There was no soap on these cloths which is essential to break down germs, which water alone cannot remove. After the children’s faces and hands were cleaned, the staff wiped the table with these cloths. Fire Safety: 5. In Junior and Senior Montessori rooms the fire doors were jammed open. Fire doors must be kept closed at all times to prevent rapid spread of fire in the event of a fire on the premises. Action submitted by the Registered Provider

- General Safety: 1. The wooden seating on the stationary fire truck in the outdoor area will get replaced by a specialised company. Immediate isolation of the fire truck until the damaged part is replaced. The person in charge will document maintenance schedule for the outdoor equipment. 2. The person in charge has inspected the large toy shop and café units in the pre-Montessori rooms. These items are sourced from Wesco and are designed for safe use in childcare settings, meeting relevant safety standards. Both units are fitted with wheels that include locking brake mechanisms, which have been fully engaged to ensure full stability. In addition, the maintenance personnel have been requested to review and confirm that the units are secure. Following these checks, the furniture is deemed stable and does not pose a potential risk. All movable furniture in the setting, in all the rooms is checked regularly to confirm that locking mechanism (e. g. wheel brakes) are fully engaged and functioning correctly. Staff are aware of the importance of verifying the stability of equipment before use, any concerns will be reported immediately to the person in charge for prompt review and action. Infection Control: 3. The person in charge has immediately addressed this issue with the pre-Montessori room staff. Staff have been reminded that handwashing with soap and warm water is required after outdoor play and prior to meals. Immediate supervision has been implemented to ensure staff always follow the handwashing procedures. A consistent hand hygiene is ensuring that all children wash their hands with soap and water after outdoor play and before eating . Staff are supported through guidance and monitoring to ensure compliance, and regular checks and reminders are and will be provided to reinforce good hand hygiene practices in line with infection control procedures. 4. The person in charge has instructed staff that soap and water must be always used to effectively clean children’s hands, and that separate, appropriate cleaning materials must be used for surfaces. The practice of using the same cloths for children and tables has stopped with immediate effect. The person in charge has reinforced the infection control procedures to staff to ensure appropriate handwashing practices are always in place and to eliminate any risk of cross-contamination between children and environmental surfaces. Fire Safety: 5. The person in charge has immediately addressed this issue with staff in both the junior and Senior Montessori rooms. All fire doors have been closed and any objects used to hold them open have been removed. Staff have been reminded that fire doors must always remain closed to ensure their effectiveness in preventing the spread of fire and smoke. Staff will be reminded of their responsibility to always maintain all fire doors in a closed position. Regular room checks will be implemented by the person in charge to ensure compliance. Signs will be placed on all doors to remind staff to keep them always closed

##### Regulation 29 — Premises

- (d) The inspection included a review of maintenance works previously identified, including those the registered provider had committed to completing over the Easter period in 2025. However, during this inspection, it was found that these works had not been completed despite assurances from the registered provider in the corrective and preventative action submitted following the last inspection on the 29 January 2025. In addition, further areas of non-compliance in relation to the premises were identified, as outlined below. 1. The gaps remained present on the flooring in both the Junior and Senior Montessori rooms and the floor covering was visibly worn. 2. The stair gate was broken outside the Senior Montessori room. 3. In the Toddler room the paint was chipped beneath the window and around the skirting boards. This was identified on last inspection. 4. In the Senior Montessori room, the heater provided was broken and held together with a cable tie. It was visibly covered with dust and dirt. 5. In the Junior Montessori room, the window was not fitted properly and was stuffed with paper towel to prevent a draft. There were cobwebs visible around the window and the window sill was visibly stained with dirt. 6. In the Junior Montessori room, a cracked remained on the wall beneath the window. This was identified on last inspection. 7. In the Junior Montessori room, the walls were visibly stained and chipped. This was identified on last inspection. 8. In the Junior Montessori the paint was chipped off the pillar and mesh beneath was exposed. 9. There were water marks on the ceiling in the Senior Montessori room. 10. In the Senior Montessori room there were two holes in the wall. The paint was chipped off the window sills and evidence of water damage was visible on the wooden panelling frame around the window. There was a heavy layer of dust visible around the opening of the window. 11. In the outdoor area outside the Junior Montessori room the artificial grass surface was coming away from the wall

- 1. Following the identification of gaps remaining present in the flooring in both the junior and senior Montessori rooms, as well as the visibly worn condition of the existing floor covering, immediate action has been taken to address these issues. The service provider has engaged a specialist safety flooring company to attend the service and carry out a full replacement of the flooring. Confirmation of works has been secured, and a deposit has been paid to initiate the project. Photos with the new flooring in both, junior and Senior Montessori rooms will be emailed to Tusla inspectors in due course. Approved contractors specialising in safety flooring will be engaged for all future works. 2. Both locks have been replaced at the stair gate outside Senior Montessori Room and outside Junior Montessori room. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 3. In the Toddler room the skirting boards and the wood beneath the two windows have been freshly painted. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 4. In the Senior Montessori room, the heater was cleaned of all the dust and dirt, and the maintenance personnel repaired it and it is now in good condition. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 5. In the Junior Montessori Room, all windows have been thoroughly dusted, cobwebs removed and thoroughly cleaned. The windowsills in the junior Montessori room were thoroughly freshly painted. The window in the junior Montessori is now fully closed and lock has been fixed. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 6. In the Junior Montessori Room, the crack on the wall beneath the window has been filled and repaired. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 7. The Junior Montessori Room was fully repainted. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 8. In the Junior Montessori Room, the pillar was repaired and fully repainted. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 9. The Senior Montessori Room was painted thoroughly, including ceiling. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 10. In the Senior Montessori Room, the vents covers have been replaced, covering the holes in the wall. The windowsills have been repaired and fully repainted. Windows in the Senior Montessori room were thoroughly dusted and washed. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises. 11. In the outdoor area outside the Junior Montessori room the artificial grass surface that was coming away from the wall has been fixed and glued back. The maintenance personnel will carry out monthly inspections to identify any issues on the premises

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 26.

#### Inspection of 29 January 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1.The inspector observed that there was inadequate planning for transitions at times in the PreMontessori room as demonstrated by the following examples: (a) Children returned to their care room after outdoor play at 11 am. Staff told children to sit down. A story was read but several children were not engaged in the story and were presenting as restless. On numerous occasions a staff member was heard telling children to ‘sit down’, ‘sit properly in your chair, dinner is coming’. It was thirty minutes before dinner arrived. Staff asked children not to start eating until all children had a meal placed in front of them. The first child served was hungry and unable to wait and started eating. It was about five minutes before all children were served. (b) Staff were observed to put the children’s sleep beds down at 11.05am and children did not go to bed until after 12.11pm. This practice curtailed the children’s movement in the room. 2. Drinking water was not freely available in the PreMontessori room and no water was provided at mealtime. It is acknowledged the manager brought water to the room 11.56am

- 1(b) 1. (a) The staff use a transition song to signal the end of outdoor play and we introduced a staggered entry system (2 smaller groups at a time). A staff member is assigned to supervise handwashing while the other two support children removing their coats. Children are encouraged to take their coats off, staff give them all the time they need to do this at their own pace. Staff have introduced a transition activity before meal - one group of children are engaged in storytime, a more interactive book is chosen so staff can ask children questions to maintain their interest. A second group of children that are not showing interest in story time have been offered colouring and or puzzles/jigsaws. When food is being brought to the room in a big tray, the children are encouraged to help the staff with serving the food, encouraging peer modelling, with the older children helping the younger ones. The children presenting as hungry can begin to eat as soon as they are served instead of waiting for everyone. Staff conducted training with an external training agency to help them during transition times. A staff meeting will take place whereby this training will be incorporated into our own service and how best to manage transitions within the complexities of the service we deliver. We will ensure meals arrive more promptly after children return from outdoor play to avoid wait times. Children can spend more time outdoor instead of returning to the classroom before the food is ready to be served. Staff will be provided with regular training on engaging children effectively and using positive reinforcement instead of repeated commands. Implement relaxing, calming techniques (e.g. deep breathing, stretching) before sitting down for a story to help children settle. (b) Staff were reminded of the appropriate timing for setting up the sleep beds, ensuring that children have enough space for movement and play before nap time. The manager provided training on best practice for managing nap transitions in a way that minimizes disruption while maintaining children's freedom of movement. 2. Water is available at all times for all the children in the pre-Montessori classroom. There is a jug filled with water and cups available for all children at the water station in the room. All staff have been reminded of the importance of always having the jugs filled with water available at all times throughout the day for the children in all rooms

##### Regulation 29 — Premises

- (d) The registered provider did not ensure that the premises was maintained and repaired as evidenced by; 1. The paint in the Junior Montessori room was chipped off the wall in several areas within the room. 2. In the Junior Montessori room part of a corner of a pillar was damaged exposing the wire mesh beneath. 3. In the Junior Montessori room there was a crack in the wall beneath the window. 4. In both the Junior and Senior Montessori room there were gaps on the wooden flooring. 5. In the Toddler room the paint was chipped on the dado panelling beneath the window and on the skirting boards

- (d) 1. Painter booked in over the Easter break. 2. The pillar has been repaired/fixed. 3. Crack in the wall beneath the window was fixed. 4. Both juniors and senior rooms, gaps on the wooden flooring will be repaired over the Easter break. 5. The paint on the skirting boards and on the dado panelling beneath the windows in the toddler room will be rectified over the Easter break. A maintenance checklist has been devised and put into place by the manager who will feedback this information to the registered provider and items will be actioned immediately

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 15, 16.

#### Inspection of 10 October 2023 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

- (a), (b) A second written reference for one staff member was unsuitable as it was not obtained from a past employer or from a source other than a past employer. (d) There was no Police vetting available for one adult who lived outside the state for a period of longer than six months as an adult. Police vetting available for six staff employed had not been translated and therefore could not be interpreted

- (a), (b) Going forward all references will be sought from the most recent employer or from a source other than a past employer. All references will be validated through the reference validation checklist form which has been sought from an external consultancy company. (d) Police Vetting has been translated for all 6 staff members. Police vetting has been applied for the staff member in requirement. Going forward we will ensure at the recruitment stage that all vetting is translated prior to appointment of staff. An external consultancy company has been hired to commence and complete half yearly audits of our files and practices to ensure sustained compliance under the regulations

##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

- (k) A sample of accident and incident forms were reviewed. It was noted all sections of the form had not been completed as required. Two forms had not been signed by parents to indicate they had been informed of the incident. This posed a potential safety risk

- All accident reports have been signed by parents. All staff are to be retrained in the procedure. Memo was sent to staff in relation to same and all accident report books will be checked weekly by senior management going forward to ensure sustained compliance

##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

- Infection Control: The covering on the sofa seating provided in the Toddler, Pre-Montessori and Senior Montessori rooms was torn and as a result it could not be cleaned effectively for infection control purposes. Action submitted by the Registered Provider

- Infection Control: The chairs have been removed from the care room due to the infection control hazard they pose. At the time of the inspection, it was outlined to the inspector that the chairs were out of stock. Going forward we will ensure we have alternatives ready prior to having to order new seating. Replacements are due to be ordered next week as I am informed, they are due back in stock then

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19.

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Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/ladybug-childcare-ltd-dublin-6/
Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate
Recolha: 2026-09-11