# Linda's Creche & Montessori School, Donabate — inspection reports and findings > Linda's Creche & Montessori School (Donabate, Co. Dublin): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Linda's Creche & Montessori School Sessional · 1 - 6 Years · Donabate, Dublin · Tusla ID **TU2015FL144** · 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 16 September 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Physical and material environment: • Opportunities for sensory play were not provided in either the Wobbler room or Toddler room or in the specific outdoor play areas used by the children attending these 2 care rooms - Corrective Action Physical and material environment: • Registered Provider has introduced new sensory materials to the Wobbler and Toddler room. This equipment is easily accessible to the children and can be used at any time of the day. Preventive Action • Each month manager will assess the room and check that there is ample and diverse equipment to enhance the Childs holistic development. Staff will discuss equipment for each room at their monthly staff meetings ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. A Garda vetting disclosure that was available for 2 staff members was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. The wooden covering on the radiator cover in the Toddler room was damaged which posed a splinter risk to the children in attendance. Infection Control: 3. There was no system in place in the service for the hygienic storage of children’s soothers which were stored uncovered in children’s individual boxes. 4. The nappy changing mat was torn with the foam exposed which was an infection control hazard as the mat could not be cleaned effectively. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action General Safety: 1. Registered provider immediately applied for updated Garda vetting for both members of staff and they have the disclosures on each staff members files. 2. The broken wooden panel has been replaced. Infection Control: 3. All soothers are now placed in each Childs individual “soother Box” and placed in their own “Blanky Box “(individual box). 4. Immediately the nappy changing mat was replaced. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Registered provider has done a list of each staff member and when their Garda vetting renewal due date is. This is placed in a prominent position in the office. 2. Any broken material like this will be documented and signed by a staff member and management and a timeline of 24 max will be given to get it repaired (Broken equipment Form) When it is fixed both parties will sign off on the work. Infection Control: 3. Each Child has an individual blanket box and, in this box, contains their bed sheet, blanket, comforter/ teddy, soothers etc. The individual soother box will now become part of this blanket box routine. 4. This has been added to the daily checklist. Supporting documentation submitted Updated Garda vetting disclosure. Photographs of repairs completed to radiator cover. Photograph of individual soother storage boxes. New nappy changing mat. Summary Comment The evidence submitted by the registered provider in relation to regulation 23 - Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child has been reviewed and accepted Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 24, 25, 26, 28. #### Inspection of 13 September 2023 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (2)(a)&(b) 1. Two references available for 1 staff member had not been validated. 2. A second written and validated reference was not available for 1 staff member. (d) One staff member did not have international police vetting available from a country outside of the Irish jurisdiction that they had resided in as an adult for a period of longer than 6 consecutive months as documented in their curriculum vitae - 1. It was not evident in the documentation reviewed that the registered provider had ensured that all staff members were provided with relevant information and training when commencing employment in the service in relation to the service’s policies and procedures. This was evidenced in a number of incomplete induction records maintained for staff members. For example, one staff member documented on her induction record on 29/03/2019 that she had not read the service’s policies and procedures whilst there was no information recorded on the induction record template filed for another staff member apart from her name but neither of these documents had subsequently been updated. Furthermore, another staff member who had commenced employment in the service five days in advance of the inspection confirmed with the inspector that she had not been provided with the appropriate information including policies and procedures prior to working with the children. In the absence of induction, the staff member was reading a selection of policies for 1 hour each day. 2. When asked by the inspectors to detail how children were supported to regulate their emotions and their behavioural responses in the service, some staff members did not demonstrate sound knowledge of the strategies detailed in the service’s behaviour management policy which included six steps to conflict resolution. It is acknowledged that, prior to the inspection, the registered provider had made arrangements for an external specialist training company to provide further training entitled ‘positive behaviour’ for all staff in the service, scheduled to take place on 02/10/2023 - The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action (2)(a)&(b) 1. Two relevant references have been validated. 2. Second written and validated reference is now available. (d) A copy of the staff members international police vetting is now on file - 1. All staff have gone through the process of re-induction and it has been documented and placed on each of their files. 2. A course on behaviour management has been completed by each staff member. A review of all induction questions will be done at staff meetings every six months. Using the Inspectorate’s sample policy, the service policy has been changed to reflect and clarify "what would constitute dangerous/serious behaviour”. Preventive Action (2)(a)&(b) In future the validation of references will be done before staff commence work. (d) In future international police vetting will be sought and kept on staff file if its required - 1. If any of the answers are “No” on the re-induction forms, a follow up will be done in two weeks and repeated until form is complete. 2. The policy will be discussed in detail at next staff meeting. Staff input in polices is very important and any additional information will be added to the policy ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - (1) A registration form was not available for 1 child who was present in the service on the day of inspection. Therefore, the service did not have sufficient documented details available for this child including a record of the person(s) authorised to collect the child from the service, information as to whether the child had allergies or not or written parental consent for the child to avail of medical treatment in the event of an emergency - The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action (1) The child’s registration form is now on file. Preventive Action (1) Ensure that all child registration forms are on file two weeks before child commences in the crèche ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. A suitable comfortable rest area was not available in the Toddler Room should a child need to rest or take a break from activities during the day as there were no floor mats or cushions provided in this room. 2. A wooden play kitchen was available in the Toddler Room but there was no supportive play materials provided such as pots, pans, cutlery, crockery, play food or real life packaging. This did not support the children in initiating and sustaining meaningful role play activities - 3. In discussion with the inspectors some staff members reported that, in the event of conflict occurring between the children or if a child does not comply with a request from a staff member to cease an activity or behaviour, a child could be asked to sit on a chair in the care room to think about their actions, or until they were ready to say sorry. The service’s behaviour management policy stated that ‘if a child’s behaviour is considered dangerous to themselves or others a staff member will carefully remove either the child or the other children from the room. This is in order to protect everyone using the service. The child will be given time to become calm and a staff member will help guide them with their behaviour.’ Within the policy, there was no definition or explanation of what would constitute ‘dangerous behaviour’ on behalf of a pre-school child. These behaviour management strategies, not observed on the day of inspection, could be experienced as isolating and exclusionary for a pre-school child and are therefore not acceptable. It is acknowledged that the registered provider and all staff members were observed engaging positively and respectfully with the children in their care throughout the inspection - The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action - 1. A comfortable mat has been placed in the Toddler Room for the children to rest, relax and read. 2. The wooden kitchen area has now been furnished with pots, pans. cutlery, coffee pot, play food etc - 3. A course on behaviour management has been completed by each staff member. Using the Inspectorate’s sample policy, the registered provider changed the policy to reflect and clarify "what would constitute dangerous/serious behaviour". Preventive Action - 1. Ensure there is a comfortable area at all times for the children to rest throughout the day. 2. Ensure kitchen has equipment at all times. Do regular checks and replace and replenish when needed - 3. The policy will be discussed in detail at next staff meeting. Staff input in polices is very important and any additional information will be added to the policy. The policy will be reviewed every 6 months ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. A container with two effervescent multi-vitamin tablets and a cleaning spray were stored on shelving which was within the reach of children in the Montessori Room. This posed a risk that the children could ingest the tablets or gain access to the toxic cleaning materials. Infection Control: 2. The nappy changing mat had a cracked edge leaving foam exposed which was an infection control hazard as the mat could not be thoroughly cleaned. Safe Sleep: 3. A staff member did not remain in the sleep room at all times when children were sleeping on floor mats. This posed a risk that children who were awake could leave their mats unsupervised and climb, trip, fall, disrupt the sleep of or cause harm to another child. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action General Safety: 1. Both the effervescent multi-vitamin and cleaning spray were removed. An area out of reach of the children has been designated for cleaning materials. It was discussed with all the staff the importance of keeping all dangerous substances out of reach of children. Infection Control: 2. The nappy changing mat has been replaced. Safe Sleep: 3. All children on sleep mats are over the age of 2 years. A staff member remains in the room for the duration of sleep time. Staff have signed to confirm that they have received and understand the update. Also, normal physical checks are done and documented every 10 minutes on children’s colour, breathing and position. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Add ensuring that dangerous substances are kept out of children’s reach to daily checklist. Infection Control: 2. Regular checks of changing mat, add to daily check list. Safe Sleep: 3. This addition has been put in safe sleep policy. Supporting documentation submitted • Copy of the service’s revised daily checklist. • Photograph showing cleaning agents on high shelving out of children’s reach. • Photograph of a new nappy changing mat in the service. • Copy of the service’s revised safe sleep policy and staff signatures confirming they had read the document. Summary Comment The inspectors reviewed the corrective actions and supporting documentation submitted by the registered provider after the inspection. The registered provider demonstrated that the non-compliances identified under Regulation 23 have been adequately addressed ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: (d) A floor tile located in the doorway leading from the Wobbler Room to the adjoining corridor was broken leaving the underlying exposed concrete floor surface in a defective condition. This posed a trip hazard and also the area could not be properly cleaned - Corrective Action (d) The floor tile has been fixed. Preventive Action (d) Do general checks throughout the year Found compliant: Regulation 11, 32. ### Other services in Dublin - [Links Childcare](/creche/links-childcare-balbriggan.md) Balbriggan - [Links Childcare](/creche/links-childcare-blackrock.md) Blackrock - [Links Childcare](/creche/links-childcare-dublin-18.md) Dublin 18 - [Links Childcare](/creche/links-childcare-portmarnock.md) Portmarnock - [Little Bud's Montessori](/creche/little-bud-s-montessori-dublin-15.md) Dublin 15 - [Little Harvard Creche and Montessori](/creche/little-harvard-creche-and-montessori-fingal.md) Fingal - [Little Steps Montessori](/creche/little-steps-montessori-dublin-4.md) Dublin 4 - [Náionra Mológa Teo](/creche/naionra-mologa-teo-dublin-6w.md) Dublin 6W - [Silveracre](/creche/silveracre-dublin-16.md) Dublin 16 - [Castleknock Day Nursery](/creche/castleknock-day-nursery-dublin-15.md) Dublin 15 [Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md) --- Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/linda-s-creche-montessori-school-donabate/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11