# Little Stars Childcare & Montessori, Dublin 7 — inspection reports and findings > Little Stars Childcare & Montessori (Dublin 7, Co. Dublin): what Tusla inspections found — 3 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Little Stars Childcare & Montessori Full Day · 1 - 6 Years · Dublin 7, Dublin · Tusla ID **TU2015DY126** · 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 27 April 2026 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - 1. One written and validated reference was not available for two adults. 2. Three written references from a past employer were not validated - (2)(a)(b) Required references were obtained and validated. Management will ensure two written references are provided by new employees and validated by Management before the start date of the employee ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (j) A review of ten medication administration records for thirteen administrations of medicine demonstrated that all the details were not completed on each record, as follows: o The signature of the second staff member was not recorded for three administrations of medicine - (j) The second staff member has been requested to sign the medication record book and a discussion with staff was completed about the importance of staff signatures for the staff member administrating the medication and for the staff member who witnessed the administration of the medication ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Physical and Material Environment: 1. The materials and equipment provided to the children in the Tadpole and Frog room did not support accessibility, the children’s initiation of play and the extension of their ideas and imagination. For example. o Toys and supporting materials were mixed up together in boxes and were not organised to promote child led play for example one box labelled blocks contained animals o Empty wooden jigsaw frames and the matching jigsaw pieces stored loose in a box did not promote accessibility or child led play. o Jigsaws and puzzles had pieces missing and a sorting blocks box had no pieces, which reduced the children enjoyment and sense of completion. o The play kitchen was empty and not supplied with suitable toys and props and the available equipment was stored out of reach of the children. o Doctors set contained one piece only - 1. Management informed staff of the importance of setting up interest areas and maintaining them throughout the day in the care rooms and introduced Aistear and Siolta self-evaluation tool: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments Birth to 6 years. Play equipment has been sorted and organised and new play equipment has been ordered. Management to monitor resources being put back in the correct places at the end of the day. Staff to inform management of missing pieces of play resources ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The daily attendance of children in the service was not accurately reflected in the service attendance records; in the Caterpillar room at 12.05pm, 9 children were present but only 8 children were marked in as present in the service, leading to a risk of safety in the event of an evacuation. Infection Control: 2. Infection control practices observed were at variance with the service policy and best practice guidelines. Leading to a risk of cross contamination or poor infection control, as follows: o In the Caterpillar room, the paper towels were not hygienically dispensed as they were placed beside the sink and were not in the dispensing unit and o In the sanitary facility beside the Caterpillar room, the toilet paper dispensing unit was observed to have no cover. o In the Caterpillar room, at 3.05pm for afternoon snack, raisins were poured directly onto the table, leading to a risk of poor infection control. o In the Tadpole room, the sink was blocked and stagnant water was present in the sink. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. Management to discuss the importance of signing in and out of the Premises in the services Attendance books. Management to regularly review staff to ensure they are signing children in and out of the attendance books accurately. Infection Control: 2. Management have completed the following: o Ordered new toilet tissue dispenser for toilet beside the Caterpillar room. o Ordered new hand towel key to open hand towel dispenser in Caterpillar Room. o Spoke with Kitchen staff and early years staff members that all snacks should be served in plates or bowls. o The appointed manager on site at 8am should ensure all sinks are not blocked before opening. o Management to monitor daily that tissue dispensers in all rooms are covered and not broken and that staff are regularly checking sanitary checklist Found compliant: Regulation 11, 26. #### Inspection of 5 March 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (j) On a review of eight medication administration records demonstrating 50 individual medicine administrations, four parent signatures for acknowledgement of four individual medicine administrations given, were missing from the record - (j) Management ensured that missing signatures from the individual child’s medicine administration book was signed by parents. Management had a meeting with the child’s key workers to discuss the importance of obtaining parent signatures for medical administration on a day-to-day basis ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. In the Caterpillar room, between 12.18pm and 1.04pm the transitions at sleep time and settling children to sleep was not observed to be timely, smooth and organised, for example, the following was observed: o Two children were observed to walk across and jump on prepared low beds with their shoes on. o Three children who were not going to sleep on the day of inspection were not provided with adequate activities to keep them occupied while staff supported children to sleep, for example they endeavoured to get activities for themselves by lifting down a box of jigsaws and endeavoured to open the box making noise and then they were sitting on the floor in the corner of the room talking loudly while other children were trying to settle to sleep. o One child trying to settle to sleep was distracted by the three children not sleeping and was not able to settle and began walking around the room. o One child required a nappy change and the staff member was talking loudly across to the child to tell them not to fall asleep as their nappy needed to be changed and they had to wait for support staff to arrive - 1. Management have created a new policy in the Caterpillar Room. Staff will remove children’s shoes at dinner time 12pm. Sleep time is usually 12.20pm. One to One Record meetings with Staff were held to discuss the importance of offering interesting resources to children that do not sleep during sleep time in the Caterpillar Room. Management to ensure that three staff are covering in the Caterpillar Room from 12pm to 1pm. This provides cover if a child needs the toilet or requires a nappy change. Having three staff working in the Caterpillar Room at this time also ensures that one staff assist and supervise children that do not sleep. One to One Record meetings show the importance of creating a safe sleep environment by being calm and speaking in a low voice. Management to regularly monitor the Caterpillar Room to ensure staff are following Safe Sleep Policies and Procedures. Management will also observe each Staff’s strengths. Management will organise best suited staff that work well in the Caterpillar Room at Sleep Time from 12pm to 2pm ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. At 12.53pm, an unauthorised person was observed by the inspectors to enter the service reception front lobby through the electric gate which had not been closed following a staff members exit and then through the front door which was unlocked for staff to exit. It is acknowledged that two staff were present in the service reception lobby to help with the persons query and the person left immediately. However, this practice leads to a risk of unauthorised persons gaining access to the premises. 2. The radiator cover in the Caterpillar room, nearest the sink, was damaged with holes in the wire casing present behind the cut out designs of the wooden cover, leading to a risk of injury as low stackable beds were placed close to this radiator cover at sleep time. Infection Control: 3. Paper towel sheets were not hygienically dispensed, leading to a risk of cross-contamination, as follows: o In the Caterpillar room and in the Cocoon room sanitary facility, the paper towel dispensing units were observed to have no cover, and o In the Butterfly room, paper towels were placed on the sink. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The registered provider and management have reviewed the incident and note that the person was stopped at entrance to the crèche. Notwithstanding, going forward and as an additional safety measure, management will lock the door from inside the reception area, which will ensure that only management or staff can obtain access to the crèche. When someone rings the bell from the main entrance gate, if management is not at reception to observe on the CCTV, staff in the downstairs rooms will use our intercom system to speak with whoever is outside. Infection Control: 2. The service has purchased and installed new radiator mesh for radiator in the Caterpillar Room. Management will inform the registered provider of any future maintenance required to ensure same is carried out as soon as possible. The registered provider has supplied a tape which can be used as a temporary measure pending full repair, if required in future. Staff have been informed not to place canvas beds close to radiators. 3. New paper towel dispensers were purchased and installed. Management removed the tray of hand towels beside the sink in the Butterfly Room and informed staff that all handtowels were to be stored in the new hand-towel dispensers. Management to regularly carry out risk assessments across the crèche to identify any potential risks and ensure that repairs are carried out ##### Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures - (b) A recent record was not available of the number, type and maintenance of the firefighting equipment. Documentation available demonstrated fire extinguishers within the service were last serviced on the 29 August 2023 - (b) New fire extinguishers installed throughout the Crèche and maintenance contract renewed. Management to regularly monitor Fire extinguishers and when they need to be replaced Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 25, 27. #### Inspection of 24 September 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - (1)(c) The specific roles and responsibilities of four staff were not clearly identified, for example, the management structure chart on display in the reception of the service did not have a description of the specific roles and responsibilities of four staff to include two new staff and two longer serving staff. (7)(a) Documentary evidence was not available as follows: • to demonstrate that new staff working within the service had received induction training or had signed off on receiving induction training for example, no induction training records were available for five staff and no sign off sheet was available for confirmation of induction training on the service policies and procedures for eight staff. • to demonstrate all staff had received updated and ongoing training for example the last documented staff meeting was 5th March 2024 and no training records for staff were available. It is acknowledged a staff meeting was planned for the 24 September 2024. • to demonstrate completion of appraisals for staff by Management - (1) (c) Photos have been taken of staff (where profiles were missing at reception) and description of roles have been typed up. Photos of new staff will be taken during staff induction process along with management typing up role and description. New staff profiles will be displayed at Reception. (7) (a) • Induction records have been completed for four staff. • Management to regularly review employees that have worked in the service for a number of years to ensure they have the correct training documents in their files. • Management to ensure that more staff meetings are done regularly along with documented one to one meeting. Staff and Supervision meetings to be carried out every 3 months. Service Provider and Management added to diary to hold staff meetings / and staff and supervision meeting at least every 3 months. • Yearly appraisals for all staff to be completed by management. Service Provider and management to ensure employee and management appraisals to be completed and recorded every year ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (k) On review of 14 accident and incident records available, the following information was not recorded: o The date of the accident / incident was not recorded on one form. o The date of birth of the child was not recorded on two forms. o The parent’s signature was not recorded on four forms. o The date of the parent’s signature was not recorded on five forms. o The date of staff’s signature was not recorded on two forms. o The managers signature and date of signature was not recorded on three forms - (k) All accident and incident records have been completed correctly. Management to review all incident and accident reports to ensure they are completed properly. Management discussed at staff meeting the importance of dates and signatures on accident and incident reports been included / and that all required information is completed on the relevant forms ##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Basic needs: 1. On Day 2, in the Caterpillar room, at 1.20pm, staff did not consider the basic care needs of a child in their care as the child was not facilitated to sleep as a sheet for their bed was not available. Children should be provided with the necessary equipment for rest and sleep. 2. On Day 1, in the Caterpillar room, between 12.19pm and 12.27pm, the transitions at sleep time were not smooth as staff where not familiar with the sleep time routine, for example, the following was observed: o one child was observed to be lying on their low bed with their shoes on o one child was observed to lie on a low bed with no sheet o one child was awoken to have their hair bobbins removed. o one child was observed to remove their own hair bobbins. Supporting relationships: 3. Communication with parents was not observed to be adequate for example: o In the Cater pillar room, parents were not provided with information regarding the staff present as there was no pictures of staff on the door of the care room, which was observed on the doors of the other four care rooms of the service. o Regular updates to parents via a monthly newsletter has not been provided since March 2024, this is at variance with the service policy on engagement with parents. Physical Environment and Materials: 4. In the Tadpole room, materials and equipment were not displayed and available to the children to enable them to explore and investigate their care room independently. For example. o Equipment stored in boxes with no labelling, did not allow for children to access independently. o One shelving unit was poorly resourced and toys were arranged in a mixed-up manner, not making the toys appealing to the children. o There was no supporting equipment for the play kitchen accessible to the children. o Supporting equipment for an activity boat was missing. o Some toys were broken with missing pieces. o One box contained books and were not independently accessible to the children. o Three books were torn and in poor condition o Two windowsills in the care room contained a mix of toys for example, cuddly toys, dolls, stacking cups, sorting toys, not accessible to the children. 5. Family walls were not visible to the children in the Tadpole, Frog and Caterpillar rooms as they were up high on the wall, reducing visibility to the children and their sense of identity and belonging. 6. When children sat at the tables in the Caterpillar room, the table were chest height and therefore were not of suitable height or appropriate for the age range of the children in the room. This was a non- compliance from the last inspection in May 2023, the corrective action has not been sustained - Basic Needs – 1. Staff to inform management, if any child does not have bed linen (supplied by parent) as early as possible, so that management can contact child’s parents to arrange for same. All staff to support and guide children in preparing for sleep time. Management has provided each sleep room with spare bed linen. Management to monitor that spare bed linen is being used if needed and washed and stored appropriately. Management to spot check that all children under 3 years of age are being offered a safe sleep. Supporting Relationships: 2. Management to ensure that staff are familiar with different sleep room routines and that staff are assisting all children preparing for sleep and rest. Photos of staff were taken and ordered to ensure that the right staff profiles will be displayed on all care room doors. Management to spot check daily that right staff profiles are displayed on all Care Room doors. 3. Management and Service Provider to ensure that monthly newsletter is completed and emailed to parents. Service Provider and Management to ensure time is given to Management to allow monthly newsletter to be completed. Management to meet with staff to create monthly newsletter. Physical Environment and Materials: 4. For the Tadpole Room, Management and key worker created a new Early Years Leaning environment by taking the following actions: o Cleared the windowsills of a mixture of toys. o Removed some plastic toys. o Removed any broken toys or books. o Created a treasure basket. o Purchased new wooden toys and books. o All boxes are now at accessible height for children. o Book station is kept on the floor in the cosy corner and key worker will rotate books. o Kitchen materials for play kitchen is displayed daily for children to play with. Regular staff and supervision meetings regarding layout of care rooms and strengthening early years environment. Management to monitor care rooms excess of clutter. Management to ensure that interest areas are inviting to children. 5. Family bottles are in the Tadpole, Frog and Caterpillar Room and were there on the day of inspection. Family trees have been placed lower on walls. Management to monitor height of family trees and ensure parents are supplying family bottles for each child. 6. New tables for Caterpillar Room have been purchased. Management to regularly monitor table height is appropriate for children age group ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. A Garda vetting disclosure that was available for one staff member was 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. Foam padding on poles in the outdoor area had loose tape which was accessible to children. This increased the potential risk of injury or choking. 3. A play kitchen in the outdoor area was water damaged with broken wood particles accessible to the children, leading to a risk of injury Infection Control: 4. Soothers were not stored or handled by staff to reduce cross infection, individual storage was not available for the storage of all soothers used by the children in the Tadpole and Frog rooms. Soothers were stored loose in wall hanging pouches in the Tadpole room and loose in a box in the Frog room. This increased the potential risk of cross infection. 5. A sofa used by the children in Cocoon room was observed to be damaged with exposed foam, leading to poor infection control as it could not be cleaned effectively. 6. The lidded pedal bins in the sanitary facilities were overflowing with used handtowels and aprons, leading to poor infection control. Safe Sleep: 7. In the Caterpillar room, on Day 1 and on Day 2, one child under two years of age was observed to be sleeping on a stackable low bed. The sleep plan available for this child stated that the child would be sleeping on a floor bed with a mattress. This is at variance with the best practise sleep guidelines issued to the sector in September 2023. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. The Garda vetting renewal was in process during the inspection and has since been successfully processed and is on file. The staff member is not qualified in Early Years Education and is never present on the premises during the day while children attend the Crèche. Also, the staff member is Garda vetted separately through their involvement in mentoring and managing underage football teams. Management to review service provider Staff Garda Vetting (every 3 years). 2. Padded pole holders have been purchased. 3. The play kitchen has been removed from the garden. Management to record outdoor risk assessments and monitor materials being used in garden. Infection Control: 4. Purchased soother storage. Separate sign off sheet for staff regarding soother storage hygiene. Management to regularly monitor soother storage and sterilization. 5. Damaged sofa has been removed from the cocoon room. Management and staff to ensure that damaged furniture is removed from the care rooms. 6. New recyclable bins for children’s toilets were purchased. Management to monitor daily, the bins in the sanitary facilities. Safe Sleep: 7. Staff are aware of the safe sleep regulations and the Tusla safe sleep guidance September 2023. Staff in all sleep rooms are familiar with each child’s safe sleep plan. Staff are to check daily children’s date of births and ensure that children under 2 years of age are sleeping in a cot or floor with mattress. Children sleeping on floor beds with a mattress have sleep plans requiring evidence of requirement to sleep on floor beds. Sleep plans are discussed with management and staff ##### Regulation 27 — Supervision - 1. A child was not supervised adequately while using the sanitary facilities. On Day 1 of the inspection at 10.37am a child was observed exiting the sanitary facility onto the main corridor in need of assistance with redressing. The deputy person in charge who was facilitating the inspection went to their aid and assisted them with dressing themselves. Children should be supervised at all times by staff to ensure their safety and dignity is maintained - 1. Staff meeting held on the 2 October 2024. Staff were informed by management to assist and help children in the Cocoon room when using the toilet. Younger children that have just started ECCE require assistance. Some older children in the Cocoon room may not require assistance when going to the toilet. This information should be handed over by Cocoon key workers to other staff when covering lunch’s, end of day etc. Management to monitor that children are not left unsupervised in the toilet when they require assistance. Regular one to one meetings with management and staff will be held Found compliant: Regulation 10, 11, 22, 29, 32. ### Other services in Dublin - [Little Stars Creche](/creche/little-stars-creche-dublin-7.md) Dublin 7 - [Little Stars Kids Club](/creche/little-stars-kids-club-tyrellstown.md) Tyrellstown - [Little Steps](/creche/little-steps-dublin-5.md) Dublin 5 - [Little Treasures Playschool](/creche/little-treasures-playschool-dublin-6.md) Dublin 6 - [Lovable Me Preschool](/creche/lovable-me-preschool-dublin-13.md) Dublin 13 - [Marlin Academy](/creche/marlin-academy-dun-laoghaire.md) Dun Laoghaire - [Naionra Lorcain](/creche/naionra-lorcain-baile-na-manach.md) Baile Na Manach - [Poppins Montessori](/creche/poppins-montessori-dublin-16.md) Dublin 16 - [Templeogue After school Academy](/creche/templeogue-after-school-academy-templeogue.md) Templeogue - [David Lloyd Leisure Creche](/creche/david-lloyd-leisure-creche-dublin-14.md) Dublin 14 [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-stars-childcare-montessori-dublin-7/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11