Inspection of 20 May 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2) (a)(b) 1. Nine references from either past employers or from a source other than a past employers where not on file for four adults. 2. A total of 26 references reviewed had not been validated by the registered provider. (4) The registered provider did not ensure that each employee working directly with children held at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent. On the day of inspection, one adult did not have the required certification that they held at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent. It is acknowledged that statement of results was provided
Provider's corrective action:
- (2) (a)(b) All references have been rechecked and verified where needed. A check list has been put on file of all documents required for inspection. (4) Staff qualification is now on file. Regular checks will be done to ensure all documents needed are on file for each staff and new staff when they commence employment
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. The environment in the Butterfly Room did not support the pre-school children in initiating and sustaining play activities. The room layout failed to adequately meet the needs of the children present due to a lack of clearly defined interest areas and insufficient play materials. Observations indicated that the layout heavily restricted child-initiated activity, resulting in mainly adult-led tasks. Management acknowledged this issue when it was brought to their attention and confirmed they have already sought external advice. 2. Staff members missed valuable opportunities to engage in purposeful interactions, language development, and social development. This was evident when staff did not sit and engage with the children during mealtimes. Instead, staff were observed preparing the room for sleep time, which detracted from sustained and purposeful interactions with the children
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The service is now working with “Betterstart” to provide an enriching environment for the children in the Butterflies Room. They have focused on providing defined areas for the children to enjoy. The focus has been on providing a home corner, construction corner and a cosy area. Management will ensure that all rooms have defined areas to enhance children’s learning. Management will ensure there are enough resources available in each room. 2. Additional staff will be available at snack time to help set up for sleep. This will allow the core staff to sit and engage with children whilst they are eating. The service has separated two playrooms to create a more natural flow from snack to sleep time. The children will have meals in one room and can transition to their beds which will be set up in the other room when they have finished eating. When children wake up from their sleep the other room will be set up for them to play or do activities. Management will ensure that room leaders and staff know that they need to engage with the children during mealtimes. Room leaders will delegate to others to set up for sleep allowing the core staff to interact with the children
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting disclosures had been obtained for 24 adults. However, the service did not adhere to the re- vetting timeframes for two adults as outlined in the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice, requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years 2. The person in charges signature was missing from 5 out of 10 incident and accident forms reviewed in the Giraffe room. The person in charges signatures was also missing from 2 out of 10 incident and accident forms reviewed in the bizzy bee’s room. Infection Control: 3. The foot operated bins in the Giraffe room and sanitary area were broken and needed to be replaced; children were seen lifting lids of bins with soiled paper towel disposal. 4. Children's hands were not observed to be washed after eating or before going down for a sleep, which creates a risk of cross-contamination
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was submitted to the inspectorate in relation to two adults. 2. All forms have now been signed by the person in charge. All staff have been made aware that it is their responsibility to get the person in charge to sign accident forms on the day they happen and before being presented to parent/s to sign. Management will check accident books regular to ensure they are being signed. Infection Control: 3. The bin in the Giraffe room has been replaced with a new foot operated bin. The bin in the EECE building has also been replaced. Management will do weekly checks of all foot operated bins in the rooms to ensure they are fit for purpose. Staff have been asked to report all broken equipment to management. Management will ensure all staff are made aware of the nappy changing policy and infection control policy. Policies have been handed out to all staff. 4. An Infection control policy and nappy changing policy was distributed to all staff members. Management will do regular checks to ensure handwashing is preformed after eating, and before going to sleep. Management will ensure all staff are made aware of the nappy changing policy and infection control policy. Policies have been circulated to all staff
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) In the main building, the downstairs playrooms walls where marked, chipped and required painting. These rooms included the Ladybug room, the Caterpillar room and the Butterfly room. (e) The service was not equipped with adequate nappy changing facilities to accommodate the number of children who were in nappies in the service on the day of inspection. There were two nappy changing rooms in the downstairs of the main building to cater for 30 children in nappies. Nappy changing facilities are required at a ratio of 1 to 11 children who require nappy changing, therefore an additional nappy changing unit was required. The service also needs to install an additional wash hand basin to cater for the numbers of children in nappies in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- (d) All walls have been washed, and visible marked walls have been covered over with pictures and white boards. Chipped walls will be painted before the new term. Management will do regular checks of the walls in each of the playrooms. (e) The service has arranged for works to put another nappy changing facility outside the baby room; this will be adjacent to the sink inside the baby room so the service can install a sink for handwashing. Currently the service has the requirement of 1:11 for nappy changing and hand hygiene (due to lower numbers attending for summer). The service will have an additional nappy changing facility ready in September 2026. Management will ensure that there are enough nappy changing facilities for the number of children in nappies attending
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 22, 28.