Creche Inspection Reports

Laois International School

Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Portlaoise, Laois · Tusla ID TU2015LS067 · Registered since 1 January 2026

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

2published inspections
5non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 14 July 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • The person in charge and deputy person in charge were not available in the service upon the inspectors’ arrival to the service at 10:20. The staff member indicated to the inspectors that she was unable to facilitate the inspection. The person in charge who is the registered provider and deputy person in charge were contacted by the staff member who later arrived at the service at 10:50. The staff roster indicated that the person in charge and deputy person in charge were to commence work at 08:00 on the day of the inspection
Provider's corrective action:
  • Provider will ensure to roster at least one deputy person in charge at any operating times. Any deputy person will be trained to facilitate the inspections. Please, see the attached updated roster, the top part with the deputy names provided. Provider will ensure the roster includes at least one person in charge at any time during operating hours

Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

  • The staff roster indicated that only one adult is on the premises from 17:30 to 18:00 during the hours of operation when two adults are required
Provider's corrective action:
  • Roster has been updated on the same day based on the summary of inspection. Roster will be updated in accordance to staff rotation and based on circumstances like out of term working hours

Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child

  • Child records reviewed did not have details of immunisations in respect of five children enrolled in the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • The checklist has been created to keep the record of remaining records not provided by parents. Please, see the attachment

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. Two children were observed to have whole grapes for their snack which posed a potential risk of choking. Upon request of the inspector a corrective action was taken, the staff member cut the grapes in half and returned them to the children. 2. Carbon monoxide alarms were not in place in the premises to give notice of any escaping gas in the environment. A gas boiler was located in the kitchen on the ground floor adjacent to the dining area and pre-school rooms. 3. A child was observed to wear hooped earrings which posed a potential risk of injury if the ear was pulled accidently by another child. Fire Safety: 1. The outdoor play area has been extended since the last inspection on the 2 October 2023. A new lock system was put in place on the perimeter gate at the fire assembly point. This consists of a sliding bolt on the inner part of the gate and a coded system is in place on the external part of the gate. Only the designated person in charge and deputy have knowledge of the code to unlock the external part of the gate. As both persons were not present in the service between the hours of 08:00 and 10:50 on the 14 July 2025 the gate could not be used during this time as an evacuation route from the building in the event of an emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. Parents and staff have been reminded to cut grapes in half. A letter to parents has been sent to remind them of such precautions. As a preventive action a letter will be sent to parents at the beginning of the school year and periodically resent as a reminder. Staff will be reminded to check lunchboxes and cut up fruit if it is not. 2. The Carbon Monoxide alarm is going to be installed on the premises to 31/08/2025 before the reopening after summer break. 3. A letter to parents has been sent to remind them of such precautions. Parents have also been reminded about the risk of hooped earrings which were removed and returned to parents in an envelope. The letter to parents reminding them of safety will be sent to them at the beginning of the school year and periodically resent as a reminder. Staff will also check and ask parents to remove unsuitable jewellery upon child’s arrival to the preschool. Fire Safety: The code to the gate has been shared with the staff verbally. The update on code will be provided verbally for the safety reasons to all the staff on the meeting before the reopening on 01/09/2025

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • The first aid boxes were not stocked in line with the Tusla, Quality Regulatory Framework (QRF) as there were no burns dressing available in the first aid boxes
Provider's corrective action:
  • The burn dressing has been located in the first aid box in the office. Monthly checklist of contents has been created to keep first aid box complaint with Tusla regulations

Found compliant: Regulation 19, 20, 21, 24, 26, 28.

Inspection of 2 October 2023 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play

  • Suitable cosy rest areas were not available in the pre-school rooms for children to rest and relax as required
Provider's corrective action:
  • The rooms have been equipped with suitable and cosy furniture. The service will ensure, when arranging the facilities, to select and provide the equipment in accordance with children’s needs and their developmental stage

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. A cable from a laptop was accessible to children in the Marching Ants room which posed a potential risk of injury to a child. This noncompliance was noted on the last inspection on 22 October 2022. The service stated in their Corrective and Preventive action response that ‘’daily and regular checks will be carried in all the rooms for the potential risk hazards like unprotected electric cables, plugs, etc.’’ There was no evidence of this action being carried out by the service on the day of the inspection. 2. A bean bag was noted in the Busy Little Bees room which was not suitable for children under 3 years of age due to the small particles inside the bag which posed a potential risk of injury to children. The age range of children attending the room was 2 to 2 ½ years of age. Infection Control: 3. The nappy changing procedure observed was ineffective for infection control purposes as the staff member re dressed the child using the gloves worn for changing a soiled nappy which posed a potential risk of cross contamination. 4. A foot operated tightly sealed pedal bin was not in place in the nappy changing area for the hygienic disposal of nappies. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1.The cable from the laptop has been placed in the cord cover. The Duty Manager will ensure and carry checks in all the rooms for the potential safety hazards before arrival of the children. 2.The bean bag has been removed from the room and replaced with the appropriate equipment. The service will ensure when selecting the materials, are they safe for the purpose and a given age group of the children. Infection Control: 3.The staff who performed the nappy changing procedure during the inspection was fully aware of their mistakes. To support staff daily and during the inspections, and to minimize the risks of the improperly performed procedure, staff as a team will create a poster with visuals and instructions of the nappy procedure step by step and display it at the nappy changing area. 4.The Service will ensure that all the provided equipment is in accordance with the infection control policy. Pedal bin for the nappy disposal has been provided for the nappy changing area

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28.

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