Inspection of 11 February 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2)(a) The references for one staff member were not validated. This is a recurrent non-compliance and is at variance to the registered provider’s assurances that “all staff validation forms” would be accessible in staff files. (d) Following a review of the 3 new staff files presented on the day of inspection international police vetting was required for 2 staff members who had resided outside the jurisdiction for a period of greater than 6 months as an adult. While it is acknowledged that vetting disclosures were available there was no English translation available
Provider's corrective action:
- (2)(a) Reference check of the staff member has been completed and added to the file. A staff file check list has been created to ensure all required document are added to staff files pre- commencement of employment. (d) International police vetting for the two staff members has now been translated into English. A staff file checklist has been created to ensure all required document are added to staff files pre-commencement of employment
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (1) During the period of inspection there were not an adequate number of adults working directly with the children attending the pre-school service. (2) The following adult: child ratios which were observed in the Toddler Room during the inspection were incorrect: There were 7 preschool children (aged 2 years) attending this room with 1 staff. Two adults were required at all times to satisfy the requirement of this regulation
Provider's corrective action:
- (1)and(2) One Child has moved to the preschool room reducing the ratio in the toddler room to 1:6. The child fully transitioned to this room on Friday 13/03/2026 and the decision was made in partnership with the child’s parents, following careful consideration and review of the child’s stage of development. The ratio in the preschool room is now 22:2. The registered provider is continually striving to recruit new additional staff members. The service will reduce the number of childcare places for next year should it be unable to fill positions to ensure sufficient staffing levels are within compliance requirements to meet the needs of all children
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. Three children aged between 10 and 15 months from the Baby Room were observed to be fed lying back in bouncy chairs. This is an inappropriate practice for feeding children of this age. It was further noted that there were highchairs available for feeding the children in the service. 2. One child was observed to climb over the 3 bouncy chairs which were lined up at the wall denying access to the wall mounted caterpillar. The child was lifted away instead of the bouncy chairs being removed to allow the child access to their chosen activity
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider stated 1. Going forward all staff are to be made aware of children’s stage of development and to encourage and support children to move from highchairs to low chairs and tables for feeding. Bouncy chairs will only be used for comfort and relaxation . 2. The bouncy chairs have been removed to provide full access to the caterpillar. All staff members to ensure children have easy access to play equipment and that play items are not obstructed by chairs/furniture
Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- 1. There was no evidence of a varied and nutritious menu for those children attending the service on a full- time basis. It was reported by a staff member that the children in the Baby Room usually got the same dinner every day i.e. mash potatoes with soup made from frozen vegetables and packet soup mixes blended. It was stated they do get a change to a bolognaise dinner on the day that it is made for the rest of the children attending and it is served with potato. 2. Although it was verbally reported a weekly menu was available for the older children - which consisted of either, pasta and mince, potatoes, fish fingers and beans, soup and potatoes or sausages and potatoes, no menu was available for review. In addition these meal options offered lack protein and are high in salt content
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The menu has been updated to include different meals provided daily. All babies, toddlers , preschool and afterschool children have equal access to the dinner provided each day. Babies are provided with a variety of hot cooked nutritious dinners. All educators will monitor children’s food intake plus preference for meals and inform management so that menus can be adjusted and alternatives provided to ensure intake of all food groups. 2. The menu is now available and placed on the notice board where families can view it. The soup mix previously used has now been replaced with salt free stock to mix with vegetables. Management and cooking staff have reviewed the nutritional standards for Early Learning and Care Services to ensure they are followed
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- The Inspectorate is not assured that adequate steps have been taken by the registered provider and staff to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the pre-school children attending the service based on the following observations made during the inspection: General Safety: 1. There was a bottle of cough medicine sitting on top of the toy kitchen unit in the Preschool Room which was potentially accessible to the preschool children. This was a health and safety risk. 2. There was a staff handbag observed sitting on top of a box at a low level in the lobby of the sanitary accommodation off the Preschool Room. This was potentially accessible to any preschool child who accessed the toilets independently and therefore a health and safety risk. 3. In the Preschool and Toddler Rooms there were sharp unprotected corners on the low-level shelving units and on one of the tables used in the Preschool Room. 4. The large notice board on the wall in the Preschool Room was not adequately secured to the wall. Two children sitting underneath it for their lunch were observed to pull it out from the wall at the bottom. This was a potential impact and injury risk. Infection Control: 5. The following cross infection risks were observed in the Toddler Room during handwashing: • 7 children were observed to wash their hands in a communal basin of water. • A grey cloth towel was observed in use by the 7 children for hand-drying. 6. There was no system in place for the laundering and management of linen in the service for cots that are shared. For example: it was observed that no cot linen was changed in cots that were shared between children attending the Baby and Toddler Rooms. When questioned a staff member confirmed this and stated that “there was no spare linen available”. This is at variance with the services safe sleeping policy that states “children will have individual beds with their own blankets and sheets”. 7. The lobby of the sanitary accommodation off the Preschool Room was used for the storage of toys and equipment. This is an infection control and cross contamination risk. 8. The perishable lunches items brought in by the children were not removed from the children’s bags and stored appropriately in the fridge. This is an infection control risk. 9. The ‘lion’ flip lidded bin observed in use for the disposal of used hand towels in the nappy changing area was considered unsuitable. This required the staff and children using the bin to touch the lid multiple times which is a cross-infection risk. Safe Sleep: 10. In the Baby Room during sleep time, sleep observations were not always documented by the staff member carrying out the physical observation e.g. the registered provider who was present in the care room was observed to document the 10-minute physical sleep observations which was carried out by another staff member. 11. The room temperature was not documented as part of the 10-minute physical sleep observation. Additionally, the staff carrying out the sleep observations did not ‘check’ the room thermometer that was located on a high shelf
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. The bottle of cough medicine was removed and all medicines are clearly labelled with child’s name and stored in the medicine box in kitchen or on high shelf in care room. A staff meeting was held on the 10/03/2026 and the Administration of Medication Policy was reviewed with all staff members. 2. The staff members handbag was removed from the lobby area of sanitary accommodation off the Preschool Room. All staff notified that personal handbags and belongings must not be left in rooms or lobby areas accessible to children. 3. All sharp unprotected corners have now been covered with Safety Corner Guards in the toddler and preschool room. The risk assessment for both the toddler room and preschool room has been updated to include ‘All sharp Corners with edges covered’ to be checked daily and replaced as required. 4. The two large notice boards in the preschool room have now been fully secured to the wall. All staff have been reminded to continuously be aware of maintenance issues/hazards and report to the management immediately. Management will ensure maintenance issues are corrected in a timely manner. Infection Control: 5. All staff members were informed that children’s hands are to be washed at the sink and hands dried with their own individual disposable hand towel at all times, including after engaging in sensory play experiences. The hand-washing policy was reviewed and updated. A staff meeting was held on the 10/03/2026 and the Hand-Washing Policy was reviewed with all staff members. 6. All staff have been informed that there is always a sufficient stock of clean laundry in the hot press at all times. Children’s individual laundry boxes are clearly labelled where their individual bed-linen is stored. Safe sleep Policy was reviewed and updated . On the 10/03/2026 a staff meeting was held, where the Safe Sleep Policy and Infection Control Policy was reviewed with all staff members. 7. The lobby area of the sanitary accommodation off the preschool room has been fully cleared of equipment and toys. Staff have been informed that toys and equipment are no longer allowed in this lobby area. The Infection Control Policy was also reviewed with all staff on the 10/03/2026. 8. All perishable lunches brought in by the children are removed from their bags when they arrive in preschool. They are labelled with their name and stored in the fridge. All staff reviewed the health and safety policy on the 10/03/2026 to ensure that all staff follow correct procedures in relation to storage of food. 9. The flip-lidded bin has been removed from the bathroom. The registered provider has ensured that any bins bought for the preschool service in the future, will be a foot-operated pedal bin to prevent touching the lid of the bin and the risk of cross-infection. Safe Sleep: 10. The staff member who completes the 10-minute physical observation of children sleeping, documents details of their observation. The Safe Sleep Policy was updated and reviewed by all staff during a staff meeting held on the 10/03/2026 for the purpose of ensuring best practise going forward. 11. All staff now check and document the room temperature as part of the 10-minute physical sleep observation. The Safe Sleep Policy was updated and it was reviewed by all staff during the staff meeting on the 10/03/2026 to ensure best practise going forward
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d)There were 2 holes in the ceiling of the sanitary accommodation off the Preschool Room
Provider's corrective action:
- (d) The two holes in the sanitary accommodation in the pre-school bathroom have now been filled. All staff were reminded at the meeting on the 10/03/2026 that any hazards /and or maintenance issues are to be reported to senior management immediately
Found compliant: Regulation 15, 16, 26.