# Little People's Playworld Creche, Sligo — inspection reports and findings > Little People's Playworld Creche (Sligo, Co. Sligo): what Tusla inspections found — 4 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Little People's Playworld Creche Full Day · 0 - 6 Years · Sligo, Sligo · Tusla ID **TU2015SO037** · 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 20 June 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** Regulation 11- Staffing levels, Regulation19- Health welfare and development of the child. Regulation 23- Safety Regulation 32- Complaints However, on inspection additional non-compliance which posed a risk was identified under Regulation 27- supervision. These findings are outlined within the relevant regulations within this report. A sampling process was used to assess compliance under regulation: Regulation 10- Policies and Procedures, Regulation 16(k) - Records in Relation to preschool service (accident and incident) As a result, the scope of the inspection included Pandas vs Stich room and Toddlers. ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (9) (7)(a) • The service could not provide evidence of induction provided to a newly recruited member of staff. It is acknowledged that the staff member stated that an induction was provided and they were sent policies and procedures but could not provide evidence of same. • Written records of staff supervision occurring in the service over the past twelve months could not be provided on the day. The registered provider informed inspectors on the day that they do not document supervision meetings anymore, this is in contradiction to the service supervision policy as it states; ‘The supervision session is recorded by the supervisor and the record kept in accordance with good practice, legislation and regulation in the office…’ - In a written response the registered provider stated: (9) (7) (a) • Induction for new member of staff was located after the inspection. A refresh with the staff member was carried out. A staff discussion took place, and all staff were advised that supervision reports will be documented again ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (1) (k) A recent incident in was not documented in the accident and incident book. This is in contradiction to the service policy where it states that: ‘…records are kept of significant incidents to include, child’s name, time and location of incident, events leading up to the incident, nature of incident, others involved, witness, how the situation was handled, whether restraint was used, what form of restraint, consequences and parent /guardian’s signature…’ - In a written response the registered provider stated: (1) (k) The recent incident was recorded in the behaviour log and was updated to the accident and incident book after the inspection. A discussion with staff took place to remind them to record all incidents in the accident and incident book as outlined in the service policy ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - (19) (1) (b) • A log of behavioural incidents were maintained by the service and a sample of these were reviewed. A response to an incident logged was in contradiction to the service policy on managing behaviour where on a date noted food was withheld as a consequence for a child not listening to staff members. This is in contradiction the service behavioural management policy which states that prohibited practices include: ‘Children are never ignored, spoken to sarcastically, humiliated, segregated or have food withheld.’ • This inspection was triggered on information received to the inspectorate where a child placement was terminated due to ongoing concerns of the child’s behaviour. Evidence of an individualised behaviour support plan could not be sourced on the day. This is at variance with the services behaviour management policy where it outlines steps taken to support a child where ‘a child’s serious behaviour issues are causing disruption and problems for other children in the group’. This includes developing an ‘individualised plan that takes a positive learning approach’. • On discussion with staff members the support needs of another child attending the wobbler room was discussed, the staff members were knowledgeable about the needs required to support this child. However no formal support plan was in place to support this child, which is in contradiction to the services policy on managing behaviour. • A child receiving support under the access inclusion model (AIM) did not have the required inclusion plan in place. These plans are required to ensure the child’s safety, learning and development needs were provided for within the service - In a written response the registered provider stated: • A discussion with staff was held about with-holding food and snacks from children. Staff were reminded that our policies have been updated since the incident and what is expected of them going forward. All staff have completed behaviour management training. We will ensure all staff are aware of our policies and procedures. • Individualised support plans were printed off and introduced to all staff again. We will ensure all staff are aware of the behavioural support plans in place within the service. • A support plan to meet the child’s individual needs was reintroduced. Management will ensure that staff are aware of who has a support plan and where it is located. • An inclusion plan was located and management will ensure that any child receiving AIMS will have an Inclusion Plan implemented as early as possible and kept in the AIMS folder. Click or tap here to enter text ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. An exit door from the school aged care room was not secure on the 30th of May 2025, where one preschool child managed to open the door and exit to the car park. 2. The main door was open the day of inspection at the inspector’s unannounced arrival to the service and the inspectors gained access to the service. It is acknowledged all the children were in the outdoor play area at this time. 3. A tyre in the outdoor area was secured to the ground with concrete and not covered in a shock absorbing surface material to protect children from injury. 4. The service safeguarding policy statement referenced a policy for ‘dealing with allegations of abuse or neglect against employees and the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers or volunteers of a child availing of the service’. However, this policy and procedure could not be sourced on the day posing a risk to the preschool child if the required safety procedures were not implemented. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: In a written response the registered provider stated: (1) The exit door was locked on the day of the incident. A fence has been erected to ensure nobody can exit the premises. Staff will ensure the door is locked appropriately. (2) Staff were reminded of the importance of ensuring the main door is locked at all times. (3) Shock absorbing mats were installed around the tyre. (4) The complaints policy was altered to match the child safeguarding statement. Going forward policies will be reviewed to ensure they correspond ##### Regulation 27 — Supervision - The service did not ensure that the preschool children attending the service were supervised at all times as follows: • At approximately 13:26, all children were bought into the panda’s vs stich room to have a snack. 15 children in the room were being supervised by four staff members, when the inspector observed one boy leaving the room unnoticed. The child remained in an adjacent room until 13:29 when the inspector checked on them. A staff member entered the room at 13:30 and brought the child back into the main care room and closed the door - In a written response the registered provider stated: • A discussion with staff took place and staff were reminded to ensure extra supervision as children are transitioning between rooms. Staff were reminded to close doors and observe in a case a child exits the room ##### Regulation 32 — Complaints - (2) (a) (b) The service did not demonstrate compliance with their complaints policy as follows: • The service policy stated that ‘All complaints both formal and informal will be recorded in detail……Records will be stored in a complaints file and retained for two years’. There was no complaints file available in the service on the day. Minutes of a meeting with a parent in December 2024 referenced two complaints. There was no record of these complaints or the investigation into these complaints. • A complaint received by the service verbally and submitted to the inspectorate was not recorded or investigated at the time of the inspection. (3) (a) (b) There was no written record of any complaint in the service for the previous two years available to the inspectors on the day. This is contrary to records of meetings reviewed on the day where concerns had been raised to the person in charge - In a written response the registered provide stated: (2) (a) (b) • The complaints folder was located following the inspection. The registered provider informed staff that any discussion based on issues arising and brought to her attention, even though spoken about will be documented and addressed. These will be stored in the complaints file. The correspondence from the incident was added to the folder where the investigation was still on-going • The complaint made verbally by parent was typed up post inspection. We will ensure that the complaints folder is easily located within the office and management know where to locate it. Any concerns/complaints from staff or parents will be documented and stored within the folder accordingly. (3) (a) (b) Any concerns/complaints from staff or parents will be documented and stored within the folder accordingly Found compliant: Regulation 10, 11. #### Inspection of 12 May 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 11 — Staffing levels - (2) The required adult to child ratios were not maintained in the care rooms at all times throughout the inspection as evidenced by the following. • From approximately 10.40am to 10.56am, one adult cared for 11 children in preschool 2 room. There were nine children aged 3 years and two of the children were aged 2 years. Two adults were required in the room during this time to maintain appropriate adult child ratios. • From 12.05pm until 13.33pm in the little dreamer’s room, one staff member was caring for seven children. Three children were aged 1-2 years, and four children were aged 2-3 years. Three children were in standard cots and four children on floor beds. Two adults were required to meet the adult child ratios of 1:5 for children aged 1-2 years of age and 1:6 for children aged 2-3 years of age - All staff were notified that normal ratios apply unless they’re registered under the ECCE scheme. Our sleep policy has been updated, and all staff have been made aware that ratios apply even during sleep time. Sleep rota and lunch rota has been amended to facilitate this, and a new member of staff have been employed to ensure that staff cover is available ##### Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child - (1) (h) The service did not have a record of immunisations if any received by a preschool child in the ten records sampled - Parents have been informed that when our new child records go out in August, they will now need to include child immunisations. Child record will contain childhood immunisation form ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - (1) (b) A various times throughout the inspection, one staff member was observed to engage in a manner that was not age appropriate, respectful, or encouraging for children. The staff member communicated with children only to correct their behaviour and there was no praise or encouragement for children who complied with the staff members instruction. The interactions observed did not promote the development of positive relationships between staff and children and the staff member missed valuable opportunities to engage in sustained, purposeful interactions with children - The RP met with the staff in question and is has been agreed the staff will undergo additional training in positive behaviour management. The staff will also be supervised closely to ensure the interactions with the children are of a positive nature. Staff participated in a positive behaviour course on the 23rd June 2025. All staff will complete yearly training on positive behaviour management. The RP will monitor staff interactions to ensure these remain positive and give encouragement and direction when they are not ##### Regulation 22 — Food and drink - 1. The main meal served on the day of inspection was not nutritionally balanced and consisted of rice with a powdered curry sauce mix. Baskets containing mixed frozen vegetables were available and staff offered portions to children should they choose to take some. There was no protein source included in the meal. A review of the four-week menu plan for the service and the records completed by staff on children’s meals demonstrated an overreliance on high processed, convenience foods. This non-compliance was identified on previous inspections in 2021 and 2022 - We have met and discussed the inclusion of protein on a daily basis, and an overall change of the menus is in the works. The management structure will review the menus along with the Healthy Food Pyramid quarterly to ensure meals are sufficiently nutritious ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - Infection Control: (1) There was a sofa in the ‘big room’ which was torn exposing the fabric underneath which could not be adequately cleaned. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - Infection Control: 1. Couch in the big room was removed for alterations. Bean bags were sourced, and temporarily soft areas were put in place until suitable furniture can be sourced ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - (2) (b) The first aid box did not contain a sufficient quantity of in date recommended contents for the numbers of children registered to attend the service - The items that were found to be out of date were purchased within the next couple of days. Periodic checks will take place on the First Aid press to ensure equipment is within date ##### Regulation 27 — Supervision - 1. On numerous occasions throughout the inspection children were observed in the main corridor moving between rooms or using the toilet facilities without adult supervision. The exit point to the building was controlled by a magnetic locking mechanism on the door with a push button release in the main corridor. The push button was located at a height accessible to the older preschool children therefore posing the risk that, in times when children were unsupervised in the area, they could potentially use the push button to open the main door and exit the premises - 1. The push button system has been placed higher up to adult level Found compliant: Regulation 9, 26, 28. #### Inspection of 30 May 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) **Immediate action notice.** An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the 31st of May in relation to a safety concern under Regulation 23. The registered provider issued a response on the 31st of May to address this concern. ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. In the outdoor area a sand box was observed to have a large accumulation of stagnant water which could pose a risk of safety to the preschool child. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: The registered provider in a written response stated: 1. The outdoor sand-tray has been removed from the setting. A discussion took place with staff where it was agreed that any future sand trays for the outdoor area will be stored in the shed when not in use ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - On the day of inspection, the service could not provide certified evidence that any staff member on duty had completed First Aid Responder training. An Immediate action notice under regulation 23 was issued in relation to this issue on the 30th of May 2024. Information received on the 31st of May from the registered provider stated that 3 staff had completed a basic first aid course on line and all staff were enrolled to completed First Aid Responder training on the 22nd of June 2024 and would submit evidence to the inspectorate once completed - In a written response the registered provider stated: All staff working in Little People’s have completed 3 days of FAR training on the 22nd June, 28th June and 29th June. The training officer will source a refresher in adequate time to ensure there is no lapse in training. The service aims to source a refresher FAR by May 2026 ##### Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures - (1) (a) The most recent fire evacuation drill was recorded as the 22nd of February 2024. This is not in line with the requirement of monthly evacuation drills in a preschool service - In a written response the registered provider stated: The paperwork for fire-drills that were carried out were misplaced and have now been located and placed into the correct folder. A discussion took place with the fire-officer and all staff members about ensuring records are stored in the correct place at all times Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 20. ### Earlier inspections - 21 November 2023 — Inspection Report · PDF ### Other services in Sligo - [Little VIPs Playschool](/creche/little-vips-playschool-ballymote.md) Ballymote - [Lollipop Lane Creche, Montessori and Afterschool](/creche/lollipop-lane-creche-montessori-and-afterschool-tubbercurry.md) Tubbercurry - [Magic Moments](/creche/magic-moments-ballisodare.md) Ballisodare - [Réalta Beaga Pre-School](/creche/realta-beaga-pre-school-coolaney.md) Coolaney - [Teesan Playgroup](/creche/teesan-playgroup-teesan.md) Teesan - [Dreamchasers Childcare Services](/creche/dreamchasers-childcare-services-sligo.md) Sligo - [Tir na nOg](/creche/tir-na-nog-collooney.md) Collooney - [First Friends Playgroup](/creche/first-friends-playgroup-geevagh.md) Geevagh [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-people-s-playworld-creche-sligo/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11