Inspection of 6 November 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General safety: 1. In the Baby room, safe storage of chairs was not ensured. Six of the children’s low level feeding chairs were stacked on top of each other, beside a wall. This posed a risk of injury to a child, should the stack topple over, or be pulled down. It was acknowledged that when this was brought to the attention of the person in charge, the chair stack was removed. However, later in the morning, while the children were eating lunch, it was observed that chairs were stored on top of a nearby table. There was a risk that these chairs could fall from the table or be pulled down, while the children were present in the care room. Infection control: The following increased the risk of cross infection: 2. During four observed nappy changing procedures, the following practices were noted in one or more of the changes, which were not in line with the service’s nappy changing policy: - The child’s or adult’s hands were not washed after the nappy change. - A staff member touched the lid of the bin while wearing gloves and proceeded to continue with the nappy change with the same gloves in place. - The staff member redressed the child while still wearing the gloves. - The staff member retuned each child to the care room and came back with another child, while wearing the same gloves. 3. A distance of 50cm was not maintained between 2 of the cots. The space in between the cots was measured at 6cm. 4. One of the cots in use in the sleep room was not fitted with a waterproof mattress, or a waterproof mattress protector, as required to reduce the risk of cross infection. 5. The children’s sofa in the Toddler room was torn, and the inner foam was protruding. This impeded effective cleaning. Safe sleep: 6. During discussion, a staff member stated that some of the children who attended the Baby room slept on stackable beds. Subsequent to this, two children who attended this care room and were under the age of two, were observed to sleep on stackable beds. Tusla’s Guidance for the Early Learning and Care sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months states that stackable beds are not suitable for use by children aged under 24 months, as they are not sufficiently conducive to sleep for children in this age range. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General safety: 1. The written response outlined that following the inspection, a staff meeting was held. All staff working in the service now ensure that baby chairs are not stacked high and are kept at a low-level at all times. No furniture will be placed on the tables at any time during the day. The risk that this poses to the children has been clearly outlined to all staff members. As a preventive measure, a sign has been made for the classrooms, stating that no chairs are to be placed on the tables at any time. A notice, clearly stating the maximum stacking height for baby chairs, has also been displayed. Infection control: 2. To ensure infection control is adhered to at all times, a staff meeting was held to go through the correct process for hand washing and nappy changing. To prevent this from reoccurring, the policy on hand washing and nappy changing has been sent to all staff. Staff have also been asked to sign and return the policy, in order to ensure that they understand the importance of frequent handwashing. 3. In order to ensure that there is adequate space between the cots at sleep time, the service has developed a new sleep arrangement for the Wobbler room. The sleep room can fit three cots comfortably, allowing 50cm space between each cot. Two additional cots will be brought into the main care room and three floor beds will be used. All staff members will be notified of the new sleep arrangement and written information regarding the requirement for 50cm space between cots, will be clearly visible in the room. 4. A new waterproof mattress protector was purchased for the cot. As a preventive measure, all staff members do a daily check, to ensure that each cot has a waterproof mattress protector, before the cot is used. 5. The sofa in the Toddler room has been disposed of. To prevent this from reoccurring, management are now doing a weekly check of all furniture/soft play equipment, to ensure that it meets the required standards. All staff members have also been asked to inform management of any ripped or broken items. Safe sleep: 6. To ensure that all safe sleep guidelines are met, the service has purchased four floor beds and all staff have been informed that no child under the age of two years old can sleep on a stackable bed. The safe sleep policy has also been amended to meet this regulation. As a preventive measure, all staff members were trained on Tusla’s Guidance for the Early Learning and Care sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months. A printed copy of the safe sleep changes was posted in both rooms, for staff to familiarise themselves with and refer to, if needed
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) 1. A tap at one of the wash hand basins in the children’s sanitary facility was not maintained in proper working order and required repair. There was no running water available. 2. High water pressure was noted at one of the wash hand basins in the nappy changing facility. When the tap was turned on to test the water temperature, the force of the water caused it to spill out over the wash hand basin and onto the floor. The use of this tap therefore posed as a slip hazard
Provider's corrective action:
- (d) 1. The written reply stated that the tap in the children’s toilet facility has been fixed and now provides running water. In order to ensure that this does not happen again, management will ensure that any broken equipment will be attended to immediately. 2. The broken tap at the staff wash hand basin has been fixed. The water pressure has been reduced and it is flowing as normal. To prevent this from reoccurring, all equipment will be fixed immediately by the service’s plumber
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 15, 16, 19, 25, 26.