# Little Acorns, Tullamore — inspection reports and findings > Little Acorns (Tullamore, Co. Offaly): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Little Acorns Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Tullamore, Offaly · Tusla ID **TU2015OY010** · 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 November 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service - The policy on Accidents and Incidents did not outline the measures to be taken to prevent accidents and incidents from occurring - The registered provider has updated their Accidents and Incidents Policy for the service. The policy will be adhered to, reviewed and updated as needed ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - (e) Two of the twelve records did not have information for the authorisation for the collection of the child. (f) The registered provider did not ensure that a health care plan was available in writing in respect of two pre-school children who required the provision of special care and attention. (g) One record did not have information regarding the child’s medical practitioner - Children’s registration forms were reviewed and updated with any outstanding information. Any child requiring a health care plan now has one on file. Care plans will be asked to be provided by parents before children start preschool so that staff are aware of children’s needs and can provide this promptly. All children’s registration forms will be double checked to ensure that details are correct ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (1) (k) A sample of fifteen accident and incident records were reviewed. The registered provider did not ensure that accident and injury records were signed by parents following an incident. None of the fifteen records were signed by a parent to confirm that they had been advised of an accident or incident - Staff have been informed that Accident and Incident forms needs to be signed by a parent. The registered provider will ensure that parent’s get a signed copy of their child’s accident/incident report. Staff have also been made aware of this for future reference. Summary Comment The inspector has reviewed the corrective and preventive actions taken and evidence submitted. The non- compliance identified under Regulation 16 has been addressed ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. A child was observed to have whole grapes and popcorn for their lunch presenting a potential choking hazard. Staff did not take immediate action and cut the grapes in half and were notified by the inspector to cut the grapes. 2. Whole nuts were observed in a lunch box. This was at variance with the services policy on food which states that nuts are prohibited in the service. 3. Blind cords on all the windows in the preschool room were not secured. This presented a potential choking risk to a child. 4. One child was noted in their registration form to not like to sit while eating and was at risk of choking. There was no care plan or risk assessment available regarding actions put in place by the service to address this issue and keep the child safe. It is acknowledged that the child was observed sitting when eating on the day the inspection was held. Infection Control: 5. There was no fridge available in the preschool room for the storage of the children’s perishable food snacks such as yoghurts. 6. Handwashing practices were inadequate to control the spread of infection as children’s hands were not routinely washed. Children were not brought to wash their hands before eating meals and snacks. Administration of Medication: 7. An individual care plan was not available in respect of one child who carried emergency medication in their bag. This posed a risk of staff not being aware of the procedure to follow in the event that the medication was required to be administered and a medical emergency arose. The child’s bag was stored in the hallway, presenting a risk of other children gaining access to the medication during times of walking independently to the sanitary accommodation. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The updated Healthy Eating policy was provided to parents and also displayed at the entrance to the service. This policy informs parents which foods were not permitted in lunch boxes, including whole nuts, popcorn and whole uncut grapes. 2. Whole nuts are not permitted in the service; this has been reflected in the updated policy on healthy eating. 3. Blind cords have been secured. 4. Children’s lunch boxes will be checked for any choking hazard foods and whole grapes will be cut in half by a staff member. Foods that are not permitted such as popcorn and nuts, will be placed back in the child’s bag to be consumed at home. Staff sit with children when eating lunch. Care plans and/or risk assessments will be implemented for any child who commences in the service and requires a specific care plan. Infection Control: 5. Any perishable foods in children’s lunch boxes will be placed in the fridge in the kitchen. 6. Hand washing routines have been implemented. Administration of Medication: 7. An individual care plan has been put in place for the child requiring specific medication. Staff have been made aware of this care plan and the procedure to follow in the event that the medication is required to be administered. The child’s bag is now stored on a high shelf in the hallway, inaccessible to children ##### Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures - (1) (b) The smoke detection system had not been serviced within the required timeframe. The last recorded record of maintenance was dated 11 October 2023 - The smoke detection system was serviced on the 11 December 2025 Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 25, 28. #### Inspection of 16 January 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) No non-compliance recorded in this report. Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26, 28, 33. ### Other services in Offaly - [Little Angels Childcare Limited](/creche/little-angels-childcare-limited-edenderry.md) Edenderry - [Little Haven Education Centre](/creche/little-haven-education-centre-birr.md) Birr - [Little Scholars](/creche/little-scholars-tullamore.md) Tullamore - [M & A's Afterschool club @ Charleville Centre](/creche/m-a-s-afterschool-club-charleville-centre-tullamore.md) Tullamore - [Naíonra Nóiníní Beaga](/creche/naionra-noinini-beaga-birr.md) Birr - [Clara Montessori School](/creche/clara-montessori-school-clara.md) Clara - [Rainbowland Childcare Ltd](/creche/rainbowland-childcare-ltd-edenderry.md) Edenderry - [Cool for Afterschool](/creche/cool-for-afterschool-edenderry.md) Edenderry - [Stepping Stones Early Learning Centre](/creche/stepping-stones-early-learning-centre-ballinahown.md) Ballinahown - [Linda's Creche & Montessori](/creche/linda-s-creche-montessori-edenderry.md) Edenderry [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/little-acorns-tullamore/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11