# Little Meadows Nursery & Montessori, Grange — inspection reports and findings > Little Meadows Nursery & Montessori (Grange, Co. Sligo): what Tusla inspections found — 2 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Little Meadows Nursery & Montessori Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Grange, Sligo · Tusla ID **TU2015SO035** · 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 24 October 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: (1) In the fenced off swing area the wooden fence panels had exposed sharp edges and an exposed nail. This was accessible to the preschool children and may cause injury. (2) In the second outdoor area there was a damaged Wooden Bench. The bench has a hole and cracked wood, creating sharp edges and an exposed nail which may cause injury to a child.. (3) Broken decorative panel the yellow submarine-themed decorative board is chipped and broken at the edges, leaving sharp points that could cause injury to a children. Infection Control: (4) Children’s hands were not routinely washed after nappy changing, posing a risk of cross-infection, and staff were observed leaving aprons on after completing nappy changes, which could cause an infection control risk. Administration of Medication: (5) On discussion with staff, four children were identified to the inspector as requiring an individual care plan. It is acknowledged staff present were aware of each Childs requirements, however no documented care plans were available on the day of inspection. This could lead to risk of delay in appropriate medical treatment being given to a child. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety (1) Children’s access to the fenced-off swing area was restricted on identification of the hazard. Once the damaged fencing panels were replaced, the children regained access to the area. The damaged fence panels were replaced, and the outdoor risk assessment checklist was updated to include weekly inspection of all fencing to ensure early identification of hazards. All staff have been reminded to report any damage or safety concerns immediately to management. (2) The damaged wooden bench was removed from the second outdoor area. The area was checked for any loose nails or debris, and children regained access to the area once all was deemed safe. All staff have been reminded to report any sightings of damaged or broken equipment or outdoor furniture. The bench was removed from the area until the cracked wooden panel has been replaced. The outdoor risk assessment checklist has been updated to identify damage, wear and tear, or hazards such as cracks, splinters, and exposed fixings. In the staff meeting, staff were reminded to report any sightings of hazards immediately to management. Any equipment or furniture that appears to be damaged will be removed from use within the same day. (3) Upon identification of the hazard the play area was made inaccessible to the children, once the damaged yellow submarine-themed decorative panel was removed and the new fencing panels were fitted the children regained access to that section of the play area. The outdoor risk assessment checklist was updated to include the inspection of outdoor displays, fixtures, and decorative panels to identify signs of damage, chipping, or wear and tear. All staff have been informed to notify management of hazards identified, which will be responded to appropriately on the same working day. Infection Control: (4) Upon identification of the non-compliance, all staff were reminded of the service’s nappy changing procedure. Staff were made aware of the need to wash children’s hands with soap and warm water after each nappy change and were reminded to remove and dispose of aprons immediately after completing the nappy- changing process. The step-by-step nappy-changing procedure has been updated to highlight the need to wash children’s hands with soap and warm water after each nappy change and for staff to dispose of aprons after each nappy change. The updated step-by-step routine is now on display in the nappy changing area. Administration of Medication: (5) Following the inspection, individual care plans were completed and documented for all four identified children.Copies of each care plan were placed in the children’s individual files and placed on display in the communal.kitchen area where relevant medication is stored, and in the children’s individual care rooms. All staff were informed of the contents of each care plan, including medical needs, emergency procedures, and location of medication, during the staff meeting. Care plans will be reviewed at least every six months or immediately following any change in a child’s medical or care needs, as informed by parents. For all new children attending Little Meadows parents are asked to declare any medical or additional care needs on the child’s record form. This will trigger the need to complete an individual care plan before the child begins to attend the service ##### Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance - (1) On the day of inspection, the system for recording the arrival and departure of children was not maintained in real-time. At 1:42 p.m., the check-in-out log for the Busy Bees room indicated that three children were still on the premises, although they had departed at 12:30 p.m. Additionally, at 1:37 p.m. in the Montessori room, two children who had left for the day were not yet recorded as having checked out - (1) Upon identification of the issue, the attendance records for both the Busy Bees and Montessori rooms were immediately updated to accurately reflect the children’s departure times. On the day of the inspection all staff on duty were reminded of the requirement to record arrivals and departures in real-time and the importance of maintaining accurate attendance records to ensure children’s safety and supervision. At the staff meeting we reinforced the importance of following the correct sign-in/sign-out system that is inplace and that it’s the staff’s responsibility to maintain the system.The room leader in each room will now monitor attendance records throughout the day by checking them in 3 intervals throughout the day. Morning, mid-day and evening Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28. #### Inspection of 8 July 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (2) (a) (b) The two references on file for one staff member could not be accepted as they were from sources other than the listed past employers on the staff members employment record. (d) The employment history of one staff member was not dated therefore the requirement for international police vetting could not be determined. (4) It could not be determined from the information provided that one staff member had obtained a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Qualifications Framework - (2) (a) (b) The staff member was contacted immediately, and an additional reference was requested from their most recent employer, before starting at Little Meadows. When the reference was received, the authenticity of the new reference was verified by phone. The recruitment policy has been updated to clearly state that all references must come from the most recent past employers as stated on the candidates CV. A checklist has now been complied and attached to all staff files, to ensure all references meet the necessary criteria for employment. (d) The staff member was contacted immediately to obtain the missing dates for their employment history as listed on their CV. Once an updated CV was received, employment history was reviewed to determine if international police vetting was required. The staff member file has been updated with the new CV which clearly outlines the dates of their past employment. International police vetting was not required. The recruitment policy has been updated to clearly state: That the candidate's employment history must be dated chronologically. And an explanation would be sought for any gaps identified, to determine if international police vetting is required. (4) The staff member was contacted immediately and asked to contact ATU Sligo (formerly IT Sligo) to request confirmation on the completion of their Level 8 degree in Early Childhood Care & Education, as the name of the Level 8 degree achieved is not stated on the certificate. The recruitment policy has been updated to clearly state: qualification certificates will be checked, and they must clearly state the name of the relevant qualification, which will be verified against the National Qualification Framework ##### Regulation 22 — Food and drink - 1. The staff members confirmed that some children attending the service on a full day care basis did not eat a hot meal when present in the service. Staff informed the inspector that not all children bring a hot meal from home and during each mealtime, can choose to eat whatever they want from their lunchboxes. Some of the meals observed being eaten by the children for their main meal did not contain food from all four food groups. Children were observed eating crackers, small sandwiches, chopped fruit and vegetables while others enjoyed their hot meal provided from home. Children attending a service for the full day are required to have at least two meals and two snacks offered to them, one of which is a hot meal - An urgent communication letter was sent to all parents informing them of the requirement, that all children attending the service on a full-day basis must bring a hot meal from home, that is suitable for reheating. In this letter, it states the meals provided should be well-balanced and include all four of the food groups. The service’s healthy eating policy has been amended to state that ALL children who attend the service for full day care are now required to take in a hot meal that is nutritionally balanced, and suitable for reheating. The table which sets out the meal and snack requirements in the Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care settings has also been input to the service's healthy eating policy. This policy has been shared with all staff and parents via the app ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The practice observed at the swings in the outdoor area posed a risk of injury to children. The rope of the swings had been wrapped around the crossbar at the top increasing the height of the seat and as a result, large rubber tyres were placed under the seat for children to step up on to use the swing. The placement of the tyres caused a trip hazard for children when dismounting the swing. The wrapping of the rope around the top bar meant that the swing was not being used as per the manufacture’s guidance and children were swinging higher than the equipment was designed to go, posing a safety risk. 2. The door to the kitchen was opened throughout the inspection making the area accessible to children. As the kitchen houses potentially hazardous equipment for cooking and preparing meals, kitchens should be inaccessible to children. Infection Control: 3. The nappy changing procedure observed in the service did not adhere to required infection control practices as follows; • The staff member did not change their protective apron and gloves between each change. • The staff member did not wash their hands after each nappy change procedure. • The nappy changing mat was not cleaned or wiped down after each nappy change procedure. • The children’s hands were not washed after nappy changing. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The swings were immediately unwrapped from the crossbar and the tires were removed from the swing area after the inspector raised her concerns about this being a hazard. All staff were notified of this potential hazard immediately and a formal letter was sent to inform staff that swings must now be height adjusted by the adjustable rope on the swing, not by putting the swing over the crossbar, and to remove any tires as they can be a tripping hazard. Regular checks on the swing area are now in place, ensure the children have not brought the tires back into the swing area and that the rope is not over the cross bar. 2. This hazard was raised immediately, and staff were informed that the kitchen is out of bounds to children and the door must remain closed at all times. Once the door is closed children are unable to attain access into the kitchen area as the handle is out of reach of children. A letter has been shared with staff informing them, that the kitchen is out of bounds for all children and the door must remain closed. A sign has been put on the door as a constant reminder to staff to keep door closed. Infection Control: 3. Correct nappy-changing procedures have been demonstrated by management for staff, and the importance of infection control practices were emphasised. A detailed step-by-step guide on the correct procedure, including changing aprons and gloves, hand washing, cleaning the nappy mat, and washing of children's hands has been put on display in the nappy changing area. The service's nappy-changing policy has been updated to reflect correct nappy-changing procedures to ensure infection control practices are being adhered to. This policy has been shared with all staff and can be found in the policy and procedure handbook or in the policies section on the app which all staff members have access to. Also, the step-by- step guide is displayed in the nappy changing area, as a reminder of the correct procedure to follow to maintain infection control Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 28. ### Other services in Sligo - [Little Pathways Creche & Montessori](/creche/little-pathways-creche-montessori-strandhill.md) Strandhill - [Little People's Playworld Creche](/creche/little-people-s-playworld-creche-sligo.md) Sligo - [Lollipop Lane Ox Crescent](/creche/lollipop-lane-ox-crescent-tubbercurry.md) Tubbercurry - [Once Upon a Time Montessori](/creche/once-upon-a-time-montessori-ballinfull.md) Ballinfull - [St Molaise Preschool & Afterschool](/creche/st-molaise-preschool-afterschool-grange.md) Grange - [Culfadda Hall Company Ltd CLG](/creche/culfadda-hall-company-ltd-clg-ballymote.md) Ballymote - [Teesan Playgroup](/creche/teesan-playgroup-teesan.md) Teesan - [Dreamchasers Childcare Services](/creche/dreamchasers-childcare-services-sligo.md) Sligo [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-meadows-nursery-montessori-grange/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11