Inspection of 14 August 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2) (d) Police vetting was unavailable for one adult who had lived outside Ireland for a period of six consecutive months. (3) The procedures specified in paragraph (2) had not been completed prior to one person being appointed, assigned or allowed access to or contact with a child attending the pre-school service following review of the staff records on the day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- (2) (d) Police vetting has been applied for. (3) We will ensure to check all files before staff are employed to include police vetting from other countries
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Room temperatures within the Little Monkeys care room were not maintained at an ambient temperature of 18-22℃. At 10:47am, it was observed that temperatures within the Little Monkeys room were recorded at 24℃, which posed a potential risk of overheating to the children. This was at variance with the rooms temperature checklist as it was recorded at 21℃. It is acknowledged that upon speaking with the area manager and person in charge, corrective action was taken. At 11:43am an air-cooling system was brought into the Little Monkeys room to mitigate the high temperatures. Observation checks noted that the Little Monkeys room temperature reduced to a temperature of 22℃ for the remainder of the inspection. 2. Nine highchairs within the Little Monkey’s room were observed to be inadequately stacked at 10:25am. These were within reach of pre-walking children and posed a safety risk. Infection Control: 3. Two of the highchairs within the Little Monkey’s room were observed to be inadequately cleaned, with residual markings and food attached to both. 4. At 11:24 am it was observed that a child’s individual water bottle had been in use by another child and returned to the child by a staff member without adequate cleaning. This posed a cross-infection risk. Safe Sleep: 5. At 10:55am it was observed that an ambient temperature of 18-22℃ was not maintained within the adjacent sleep room while a child was sleeping. Temperatures were recorded at 24.1℃ and this posed a safety risk to the sleeping child. It Is acknowledged that the window of the cot room was opened at this time. At 12:36pm the temperature of the cot room was recorded at 22℃ degrees. This was at variance with the services safe sleep policy which states “room temperatures will be kept between 16-20℃ and a thermometer kept within the sleep room…recording and documenting room temperature during sleeps ensure babies are being cared for within recommended limits”. 6. There were inadequate records to show that sleeping children were checked at 10-minute intervals as required; A child was observed asleep in the cot room adjacent to the Little Monkeys care room at 10:55am however at 11:27am there was no record of sleep checks having been conducted. At 12:39pm a sleep check record was available having been filled in retrospectively. This posed a potential risk to the child and was at variance with the services safe sleep policy which states “The supervising staff member carries out and records physical sleep observations on sleeping infants and children at least every ten minutes…these checks are conducted, documented, and recoded in line with the services sleep policy” Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Room temperatures are taken by staff but double checked by management. The air-cooling system is always in place to regulate the temperature. We will ensure to keeping a record of temperatures and being checked by management. 2. Highchairs have been removed and stored in a small room off the Little Monkeys main room and out of reach of children Infection Control: 3. Highchairs have been disinfected to the highest standard. Staff were made aware of this, and management are to check this daily. 4. We spoke to the staff in question and made the aware of the cross-infection risk. Meeting with all staff to make them aware of infection control. Safe Sleep: 5. At the meeting, we made all staff aware of filling out temperature records, and that they should be recorded every 10 minutes. We have made signs, reminding the staff to physically check the children every 10minutes also. 6. We have given staff a copy of the Safe sleeping policy and we reminded all staff at the meeting of how the children should be checked. Spot checks to be done regularly by management, to ensure the safe sleeping is carried out
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25, 26, 28.