Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
Drinking water was not available to children in the Toddler room at all times. There was no water station in place and drinks were only observed to be offered to the children whilst in the dining room during mealtimes
Provider's corrective action:
A water station has been introduced into the Toddler room. This includes a jug, cups, a tray and wall signage Staff meeting is being held, and the introduction of the water station will be discussed
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. One child was observed to have whole grapes in their lunchbox and another child had popcorn during snack time in the Montessori room, both of which posed a choking risk. The staff member present removed the popcorn immediately, and the grapes were cut appropriately at the inspector’s request. Infection Control: 2. There was no waterproof covering in place on the cot mattresses in use for sleep time to prevent cross contamination. 3. 3. A swing lidded bin was observed to be in place in the Junior Preschool room for disposing of waste including used hand paper towels. Staff members were observed repeatedly touching the bin lid posing a risk of cross contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider submitted the following response:
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The healthy eating policy was updated to highlight a list of foods that should not be in a lunchbox. The service has also asked parents to prepare fruits appropriately such as grapes. These should be cut into quarters lengthwise. A message has been sent to parents. Staff were informed of this issue in the staff meeting. Infection Control: 2. On the day of the inspection there were no waterproof sheets on the cots. The service have these on site. A new set was purchased. A staff meeting was held, and this matter was discussed with staff, highlighting the infection control issue raised by the sheets not protecting the mattresses. 3. A new pedal bin was purchased. The Montessori staff will need to ensure the children can use the bin properly going forward. Spot-checks will be carried out on all pedal bins in the service monthly, and any issues will be reported to management
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
A review of attendance records and discussions with staff members evidenced that the minimum amount of clear floor space required for the number and age of the children attending the Toddler room was not available at all times as follows: • On the busiest day in the care room, three children aged 1 year and two children aged 2 years attending on a full day care basis requiring a minimum of 13.1square metres clear floor space when only 2.61square metres is available
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider submitted the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action Going forward on a day when there are more 1 year olds than 2 year olds, the group will be split between the toddler room and the sleep room. The sleep room will be set up as a care room/sleep room. Square footage of this room is 14sq meters. More consideration will be had when a new toddler is starting in the service. The service will need to take into consideration of the children already attending our service
Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the 4th July 2025 during the inspection in respect of Regulation 23, relating to first aid. A response was received from the service on the 4th July 2025 which sufficiently mitigated the risk identified. On the 1st September 2025 a regulatory compliance meeting was convened with the registered provider to discuss corrective and preventive actions submitted in response to non-compliant findings identified on inspection and outline outstanding non compliances which did not meet the requirements of regulation. The registered provider was afforded a further opportunity to provide a response to the outstanding non-compliant findings the details of which are outlined in the inspection report.
Immediate action notice. The inspection focused on an examination of compliance under regulations 9(2)(3)(4), 11(1)(2), 19(1)(b), 23, 25(1), and 28; however, on inspection additional non-compliance which posed a risk was identified under Regulations 24(3)(4), and 30(1)(2). These findings are outlined within the relevant regulation(s) within this report.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
The registered provider did not ensure that some adults employed and rostered to work in the service were suitable and competent prior to allowing them access to children as follows:
(a) (b) (c) (d) - There were no references available for one adult working with the children during the inspection. - There was no documentation available in the service pertaining to the requirements of regulation 9(2)(a)(b)(c)(d) for one adult who was rostered to commence work in the service on the afternoon of the inspection. The registered provider stated the adult would not be commencing employment as the inspection was taking place and the listed documentation was not in place. (3) Documentation reviewed evidenced that the procedures specified under Regulation 9(2) had not been carried out prior to one of the adult’s commencing employment in the service, as detailed above Under (2)(a)(b). (4) There was no evidence available to show that one of the adults employed to work directly with the children, and one adult rostered to commence employment on the day of inspection had attained at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and education at level 5 on the National Framework for Qualifications
Provider's corrective action:
A new staff member had joined our team on the 25th August 2025. All documents have been acquired and put on staff file. Copy of cv, identification, proof of address, 2 written references, certs from Level 5,6 & 7 in childcare and also Garda vetting have been obtained. New staff rota has been set up and put in practice. Service provider will be present more regularly to over practices. One staff member has agreed to up their hours to help cover before ECCE hours . More holiday time cover has been added. Some staff have agreed to cover over holiday periods. Holiday request form introduced where staff must have cover before leave is granted
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
An adequate number of adults were not working directly with the pre-school children attending the service during the inspection as the minimum ratio of adults to children was not maintained at all times as outlined below
The registered provider did not ensure that the minimum ratio of adults to children was maintained in the service at all times. An insufficient number of adults were available to the children attending on a full day care basis in the service throughout the day of inspection from 9:30am until 12:37pm when the registered provider arrived as follows: - At 9:20am, one adult was observed leaving the service and sitting in their car outside. The inspectors called into the service at 9:30am. One staff member was caring for eleven preschool children on the inspector’s arrival, two aged 1year, three aged 2years, and six aged 3 to 5years. A school aged child was also present being cared for by the adult. The second staff member arrived back into the service at 9:30am when the inspectors arrived into the service. - Throughout the inspection, one adult was observed caring for thirteen children, two aged 1year, three aged 2years, and seven aged 3 to 5 years whilst the second adult preformed cleaning tasks, prepared meals, and cared for individual children changing nappies, assisting with toileting, and preforming checks on a sleeping child. There were also two school aged children present being cared for by the adult during these times
The registered provider did not ensure that two adults were present in the service at all times on the day of inspection. From 9:20am on the day of inspection, one adult was alone in the service caring for caring for eleven preschool children and one school aged child as detailed above under 11(2)
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider submitted the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action (1)(2)(8)(a) - New Rosters have been introduced to cover non-term and term times. These insure adequate staff levels at all times. The service has introduced a system where, depending on ratios, a relief staff have been put in place to ensure adequate child to adult ratios at all times. - The service has introduced a holiday request system. This is to ensure that experienced, qualified staff are available to cover holiday leave going forward. Only one staff member can be away at a time. Cover needs to be arranged before holiday leave is granted. - A new staff member has been employed and will start employment on the 25th August
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. From 9:30am, one child was observed to have a soother in their mouth for prolonged periods of time throughout the inspection, removing it only for mealtimes, without any indication that they were upset and required it. This may inhibit language and oral motor development and prevent children from interacting with peers. The soother was taken from the child at 13:00pm by the registered provider who arrived at the service at 12:37pm. 2. Some practices observed in place in the service were not in line with the behaviour management policy in place in the service. A staff member was observed telling children to ‘stop’, ‘sit down’, ‘stop messing’, and lift a child to their chair and push it assertively into the table telling the child to eat their dinner. This was at variance with the positive behaviour management practices outlined in the service policy. 3. From 12:18pm to 12:59pm on the day of inspection, younger children were strapped into highchairs and older children were seated at tables in a confined space in the dining area, as noted in Regulation 30. During this time children were observed finishing their dinner and becoming restless getting up and down from their chairs. Staff members repeatedly told the children to sit back down during this time until the last child finished eating at 12:59pm
Provider's corrective action:
1. The service held a staff meeting which included a re-caping on the soother policy. 2. At our recent staff meeting the service went over our behaviour management policy. Staff members are currently undertaking courses relating to behaviour management to enhance practices. 3. Children will not be brought into the dining area until the dinner is ready to be placed on the table. As soon as a number of children are finished their food they will be removed from the area by one staff member either to the outside play area or to a care room
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The service did not adhere to the re-vetting timeframes as outlined in the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice, requiring services to renew Garda Vetting every three years for four adults employed. 2. There was no restrictor in place on the first-floor window Toddler room window. A radiator cover with a ledge was in place beneath the window. This posed a potential risk of harm and injury to a child should they climb to access the window. 3. The passageway from the dining area to the outdoor play area was adjacent to a cordoned off kitchen used to prepare children’s food. A kettle was in reach of the children on the counter beside the door to the outdoor play area which posed a risk of injury to a child. 4. A box of plastic connector cubes, which the manufacturers guidelines state are suitable for use with children aged 36months and over, were in use in the Toddler room during the inspection for children aged 13months and over. This posed a potential choking hazard to a child if ingested. 5. Electrical cables from a stereo, a phone, and a dishwasher were hanging in reach of the children in the dining area and posed a risk of injury to a child. Infection Control: A number of practices were observed which were at variance with the infection control policy in place in the service and posed a risk of cross contamination as follows: 6. Children did not wash their hands at appropriate intervals throughout the inspection. There was no handwashing observed after outdoor play, after nappy changing, or before meals. 7. Sone of the nappy changing practices in place were ineffective for infection control and posed a risk of cross contamination: - Staff members did not routinely wash hands after nappy changing. One staff member was observed changing a child’s nappy with no handwashing afterwards and then proceeded to assist another child with toileting. - The nappy changing mat in use was torn exposing internal foam which could not be effectively cleaned. The mat was not cleaned following a nappy change and had a build up of dirt and debris in the crevices. - The strap on the upstairs nappy changing table was heavily soiled and stained and required a deep clean. - A child’s nappy was observed being changed in the dedicated sleep room after sleep. A nappy changing unit was in place in the sleep room situated beside an office cabinet. The soiled nappy was placed in a nappy bag on the floor of the sleep room after the change whilst the staff member was tending to another child. 8. Fridges used to store children’s lunches in the Playschool room and the kitchen area were soiled with staining and food debris and residue and required a deep clean. 9. The drawer in the kitchen used to store children’s cutlery used to eat meals had a build-up of dirt and debris and required a deep clean. Administration of Medication: The practices surrounding the administration of medication and the medication records reviewed on the day of inspection were incomplete and posed a risk of harm or overdose to the children receiving the medication as follows: 10. There was no evidence that written consent had been obtained for the administration of prescribed medications to children in the service. During discussions with the inspectors, staff members stated that they complete the pre-consent section of the administration form, and that parents do not sign the records until the evening after the medication has been given. 11. Records of medication which had been administered did not contain evidence that a second staff member was present to verify the administration of the correct medication or that parents had been informed that medication had been administered to their child. Safe Sleep: 12. Physical checks were not completed in timely manner on a child aged 13months who was sleeping in the designated sleep room on the morning on inspection which posed a risk of harm to the child as follows: - A child was placed to sleep at 9:48am on the morning of inspection. The child was not checked until 10:07 am and again at 10:23am. No sleep checks were completed or recorded during this time. A staff member was observed retrospectively completing a sleep check form at 10:24 am which indicated the child had been checked every ten minutes since 9:48am. The child was not checked again until 10:39am. Fire Safety: 13. The fire escape route from the first floor Toddler and Playschool rooms was partially blocked on the morning of inspection with boxes and toys which were at the top of the stairs on the evacuation route. This may impede the safe evacuation of children and staff in the event of an emergency. It is acknowledged that the registered provider cleared these items in the afternoon. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider submitted the following response:
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Updated Garda Vetting has been received for two staff members and applications have been submitted for the other two staff members. A form has been added to staff files and reminders set to ensure vetting documents do not expire. 2. A restrictor has been placed on the window. Window restrictors will be regularly checked by the registered provider. 3. The kettle socket has been moved to the other side of the kitchen and is no longer in reach of the children. 4. The connectors were removed from the Toddler room immediately. A risk assessment form has been introduced for the toys in all care rooms. 5. No corrective or preventive action submitted. Infection Control: 6. Handwashing has been added to the team meeting agenda and all staff have been made aware of the protocols around handwashing. New handwashing signs have been added to each bathroom. 7. Handwashing was added to the team meeting agenda. Nappy changing procedure has been altered to include cleaning the changing mat. A new changing mat has been purchased. A new nappy bin is in place. 8. All fridges have been thoroughly cleaned, and cleaning schedules are now in place for all fridges to be cleaned weekly. 9. The kitchen drawers were thoroughly cleaned, and the cleaning of these drawers has been added to the service kitchen cleaning schedule. Administration of Medication: 10. & 11. No prescribed medication, with the exception of inhalers, will be administered in the service. Antifebrile medication will be administered with telephone consent with parents signing mediation logbook on their arrival to collect their child. A medication administration book is in use to record administration which includes witness signatures. Antifebrile medication consent is on file for each child. Inhaler consent forms and asthma plans are available for each child where necessary and will be held on their file. Parents have been informed of the change in policy regarding prescribed medication, and antifebrile medication through a staff messaging group. Staff where informed at a staff meeting on the 8th of September. Safe Sleep: 12. Sleep checks were discussed at the team meeting, and a new timer has been placed at the sleep room to ensure checks are completed every ten minutes. Fire Safety: 13. These items were removed during the inspection. Items removed from care rooms will not be stored on evacuation routes. The fire drill form has been amended to include an assessment or the evacuati0on routes
Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance
(3)(a)(b)(4) There was no record available of any persons entering the service other than those specified above under (3)(a). The inspectors were not asked to sign in by the staff member present on arrival. During discussions with the inspectors staff members stated no such record is maintained in the service
Provider's corrective action:
A visitor’s section has been added into our staff sign in sheets at the entrance. Staff have been made aware that all visitors must sign in
Regulation 25 — First aid
There were no adults present in the service during the inspection with a first aid qualification until the registered provider arrived at 12:37am. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider at the close of inspection. The corrective and preventive actions submitted following the last inspection of the service on the 2nd May 2023 did not prevent the re-occurrence of the non-compliance. An immediate action notice was also issued to the registered provider on the last inspection of the service in relation to regulation 25(1)
Provider's corrective action:
All staff received paediatric first aid training on the 27th August. Two certified FAR trained staff members have been on site since the inspection. The provider has arranged that the remaining staff (5) will undertake the FAR first aid training and undergo the examination on 8th September
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
The minimum amount of clear floor space required for the number and age of the children attending the service was not available on the day of inspection as follows: • From 9:30am to 9:45am twelve children were present in the dining room, two aged 1year, three aged 2years, six aged 3 to 5years, and a school aged child. At 9:46am one further child aged 3years and another school aged child arrived to the service requiring a minimum of 28.75 square metres where only 12.1squared metres was available. The children were not eating in the dining area during this time. • From 12:18pm to 12:59pm on the day of inspection, two aged 1year, three aged 2years, seven aged 3 to 5 years, and two school aged children were seated in the above dining area following dinner time. • From 10:07 to 10:18am, one child aged 1year, three aged 2years, seven aged 3 to 5 years, and two school aged children were in the Playschool room engaged in activities requiring a minimum of 25.95 square metres where only 17.50 square metres was available. Regulation 30 was found to be non-compliant on the previous inspections of the service on the 2nd May 2023
Provider's corrective action:
New protocols have put in place for children to spend minimal time in the kitchen. Going forward the child will be greeted in the morning time at the entrance door and escorted to the upstairs care rooms. Toddlers to the toddler room and ECCE/SAC to the playschool room. This is until the children are split up to go to playschool/Montessori or school. Children will spend less time in the kitchen at mealtimes. Children will only be seated as the meal is being served and removed in small groups as they finish their food, either to the garden or the appropriate upstairs care room