Inspection of 19 November 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) (h) The details of attendance of each preschool child on the day of inspection were not appropriately recorded. 1. Two of the three care rooms attendance books did not record all the children in attendance on the day of inspection. Nine children were present in the Buttercup Room, with attendance recorded for two children completed. Eight children were present in the Snowdrop Room, the attendance records available demonstrated that no child had been signed in. When the inspector brought this to the attention of the staff in the care rooms, the attendance records where completed. 2. The attendance record in the Snowdrop room did not include one child who had recently started to attend the Snowdrop room. Staff advised the inspector that the child had recently moved over from another care room
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Child attendance books are now in each classroom and not kept with the manager. Staff have been made aware of the importance of signing each child in as they arrive. We have also added attendance book completed check to each class cleaning/check list chart. 2. The child in question has now been transferred from Room 508 attendance and been added to Snowdrop room attendance book. The manager will ensure all roll books are up to date and include all children from each room and their details
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for 6 staff members. However, three of these vetting disclosures were 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. Two children’s lunches were observed to contain whole grapes, and this went unnoticed by the staff present. Whole grapes for children pose a choking hazard. 3. A child in attendance in the Buttercup Room, which catered for children aged 1 to 3 years was observed to wear a teething necklace. Teething jewellery poses several serious risks including the risks of strangulation and choking/inhalation to babies and children under 3 years of age. Amber bead teething jewellery is prohibited for use in early years services for children under 3 years old. Infection Control: 4. Children’s snacks provided by the parents, some of which contained meat and dairy produce, were stored in the children’s school bags in the hallway at room temperature on the day of inspection, rather than in the fridge. This increased the risk of bacteria multiplying in the perishable food items. Safe Sleep: 5. The service is registered to care for children aged 1 to 6 years, however there is no sleep equipment available for children under 2 years. It is acknowledged that as advised by staff that the one child aged under 1 year 11 months in attendance does not currently sleep during their time in the service. A part time/full day care service must ensure there are adequate and suitable facilities for a pre-school child to rest during the day. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. All 3 staff members have applied for their renewed garda vetting. Once received, manager will email them to the inspector. The manager will do annual checks on all staff paperwork to ensure everything remains up to date. 2. A note has been sent to all parents regarding lunches and the importance of cutting up fruit. Staff have been informed of the importance of checking each lunch before the children eat, and this has been added to the rooms cleaning/check list. 3. The teething necklace was removed, and the parent were informed verbally and by letter that the teething necklace was not permitted in the service. Staff have been informed of the importance of checking each child to ensure they do not have anything on them that is considered a safety risk. It has also been added to the policies and procedures that no child will be allowed to attend the service while wearing teething beads/necklace. Infection Control: 4. A fridge has been purchased and all dairy/perishable lunch is now stored in the fridge. The staff have been informed of this requirement and it has been added to daily check/cleaning chart to ensure all lunches are put into the fridge on arrival. Safe Sleep: 5. The service purchased a cocoon bed for children under 2 years to have access to sleep/rest. A care plan will be put in place for any child under 2 years who sleeps in the service
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 26.