Creche Inspection Reports

Miniminds Preschool

Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Dundalk, Louth · Tusla ID TU2020LH002 · Registered since 2 September 2023

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

4published inspections
0non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 22 April 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

No non-compliance recorded in this report.

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 22, 23, 25, 26.

Inspection of 16 April 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • (g) The following policy was reviewed and was found not in keeping with the requirements of Regulation 10: The administration of medication policy currently in operation for the service is contradictory and does not provide clear guidelines for the administration of non-prescription medication and temperature reducing medication in the service should it be required in the event of an emergency. (k) An incident form was not completed for a child attending the Green Room who was observed to receive a slap on the face from another child and was visibly distressed after the incident. Additionally, at collection time the parent was not verbally informed about the incident even though the child was observed to point to their face and refer to the incident when the parent collected them
Provider's corrective action:
  • s (g)Staff have been updated on our new policy, which has been added to our policies folder for annual review (k)Staff in the green room have been given time to review our accident and incident reporting procedures We have reviewed the accident and incident reporting procedures. At our staff meeting, we discussed taking time to slow down and report important information during handover (Minutes attached)

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • The registered provider did not ensure that all reasonable measures were taken to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of a preschool child in relation to the following: General Safety: The following potential injury and safety risks were identified by the inspectors during the course of the inspection. When the inspectors reviewed the risk assessment documents for the each of the care rooms, these were found either not completed or did not identify the risks: 1. Garda vetting was available for 20 staff members including the registered provider. However, 1 of these vetting disclosures 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. The blind cords in the service were not appropriately restricted and were therefore potentially accessible to the children, e.g. In the Green room, and on the low-level windows on the stairway 3. A free-standing unsecured television was located on a low-level shelf in the Green Room. This is a potential impact or injury hazard if pushed or pulled by a child. 4. Electrical cords from an air conditioning unit in the Blue Room was not securely fixed to reduce the risk of injury to a child. 5. The sink in the play kitchen unit in the Orange Room was broken and had a sharp edge, posing a risk of injury to a child. 6. There was a sterilising solution in a cupboard under the sink in the Yellow Room, which poses a risk of harm to a child. A locking device was available but not in use. 7. The hot tap in the single toilet cubicle in the upstairs sanitary area was loose and poses difficulty to children to use. Infection Control: The following cross infection risks were observed: 8. Following a nappy changing procedure one staff member was observed wearing the ‘used’ gloves to clean down the mat after the procedure and also to assist the child with hand washing and to give them paper hand towels to dry their hands. 9. The children’s snacks which were provided by parents, contained perishable items and were inappropriately stored in the children’s bags in the hallway and not in a refrigerator at the recommended storage of 5°C or below. Administration of Medication: 10. Documented parental consent was not available for all children attending the service for the administration of temperature reducing medication should it be required in the event of an emergency. Safe Sleep: 11. A staff member was not present at all times in the Red Room to provide constant supervision, where three children were sleeping on a bed at sleep time
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective & Preventive Action 1. The staff members vetting has been renewed. (see attached) When staff move from permanent to relief, the registered provider will ensure they remain on our vetting renewal list. (renewal list attached, and a copy is placed on the wall beside the manager's desk) 2. All blind cords are now secure, Due to damage to some cords, a local company has been booked to have all cords replaced and secured in a more permanent way. 3. The TV has been placed on a bracket and fitted to the wall. (Photo attached Staff have been briefed on the importance of health and safety in the room. Daily risk assessment has been updated. 4. Air conditioning units are mobile. Cords have been secured with cable ties and moved the unit to an area where the cords are hidden. Staff have been briefed on the importance of health and safety in the room. Daily risk assessment has been updated to include Air conditioning units in all classrooms 5. The sink has been removed. Staff have been reminded of the importance of checking all toys and equipment during daily risk assessments 6. Staff have been asked to keep all cleaning materials in the storeroom located in the hallway, which children have no access to 7. Tap has been repaired. Weekly checks of all bathrooms sinks and taps have been added to our bathroom risk assessment 8. Our nappy changing policy was reviewed with each staff member (evidence attached). Each staff member signed off on our nappy changing policy and the required steps. Visual reminders have been updated and placed in a more prominent position above each changing station. 9. A fridge has been added to the green room for the children's lunches and a refrigeration policy for all perishables has been implemented. 10. A new medication policy has been implemented and includes the administration of temperature reducing medication. A medication consent has been requested from all parents via our parents' app. A new medication consent form has been added to our parent’s app, and this will automatically be issued to all new parents. 11. The service’s sleep policy has been updated to include supervision at all times. When children are asleep a staff member will remain in the room at all times. Staff have been updated on supervision during sleep time. This was addressed during a full staff meeting (attached)

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 20, 28.

Inspection of 9 September 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (2)(a)&(b) The registered provider did not ensure that appropriate vetting procedures had been completed for all staff. The following documents were not available and were not in place prior to the staff members commencing in the service; • Four students were attending the service, and the registered provider had not obtained the required 2 written and validated references for each person. • Two staff members did not have a 2nd written and validated reference available for inspection. • Four references available for 3 staff members, did not have evidence available to indicate that these had been validated by the registered provider. (d) • Documentary evidence of international police vetting was not available for 1 staff member who had resided outside the Irish jurisdiction for a period of 6 months or more as an adult. • An ‘English translation’ was not available for the international police vetting which were available for 3 students present in the service. These are recurring non-compliances from the previous inspection which was carried out on 03/10/2023. This is also at variance to the corrective and preventative actions previously submitted by the registered provider, to address similar non-compliances and which stated that “references and international vetting will be confirmed” before employees commence their positions within the service”. (3) Following a review of the staff files presented for inspection all staff members did not have vetting procedures carried out prior to being employed or having contact or access to the preschool children in the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • (2)(a)(b) &(d) • Student placements were immediately cancelled for the students in question. • Police vetting has been applied for and will be filed as soon as it is received. (see attached) • Both references are now on file and verified (see attached) • All references have been validated by the provider Going forward the registered provider will be responsible for completing vetting procedures. The registered provider has implemented a Garda vetting policy for all new staff and students. This will be given at employment offer outlining the required documentation before start date. The expiration date of all vetting for the next three years has been added to the online calendar. This will ensure renewals are not missed (see attached). For any new employees these expiry dates will be added once the initial vetting is cleared

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • (1)(a) A curriculum vitae was not available for inspection for 1 staff member and 4 students, to confirm the qualifications, experience or the requirement of international police vetting if applicable. (k)No accident and incidents were observed by the inspectors on the day of the inspection. However, in a sample of 12 accident and incident records reviewed, including the record for a recent incident that occurred in the service, seven out of 12 records did not include a parental signature or confirmation that the parents had been informed of the incident. This is at variance with the procedures outlined in the services Accident and Incident Policy. Additionally, while it is acknowledged that there was a Risk Management and Health and Safety policy in place for the service, it was found that aspects of policies were not being implemented in the service. For example; while the accident and incident forms reviewed included a staff signature, there was no documentary evidence available that the registered provider had investigated or reviewed previous incidents in accordance with the services Health and Safety Policy that states “…the safety officer to carry out the safety audits and to monitor adherence to the agreed safety policy on a day-to-day basis”
Provider's corrective action:
  • • C.V has been updated and added to staff file (see attached) • Student placements in question were immediately cancelled • Going forward the registered provider will be responsible for completing vetting procedures, and ensuring vetting policy is implemented • Staff meetings have been scheduled for the first Monday of each month. (see attached) • Staff support and supervision 1-1 meetings have been scheduled each month (see attached) (k) • A staff meeting was held to discuss accident reporting, staff have been informed that even though incidents are discussed at handover the reports must still be signed digitally. (see attached) The parent’s software Accident and incident reporting tool has been updated to ensure the manager is notified of all accident reports. A sign box has been added for the manager to sign off on accidents and incidents after investigation. This investigation will consist of speaking to staff and children to discuss, viewing CCTV if necessary and following up with parents. (see attached)

Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play

  • 1. A suitable sleep environment was not provided on the day of the inspection for children who were showing signs of tiredness and required a sleep time. For example: In the Blue Room one child who was showing signs of tiredness was sitting on a staff members knee. Thirteen other children were playing around the room. No sleep facilities were set up for the children to access for a rest
  • 2. In Outdoor areas 2 &4, the locks on the gates which access the roadway were at a low level and not appropriately secured to prevent a child gaining unsupervised access to the roadway directly on front of the premises. Furthermore, documentary evidence of a risk assessment that was carried out on the outdoor area on 01/08/2024 did not identify this issue as a potential risk
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. The registered provider has sleep mats available for the children which are stored in the upstairs store. Staff have been advised to bring these in so children can rest when they need to. Daily routines have been amended to ensure the upstairs classrooms all have outside time after lunch. 1pm – 2pm. This ensures the full day children have the opportunity to rest, read a book or go outside. Staff will take the beds into the blue room and any children wanting a rest or some calm time can do so here. If a child is unsettled or tired at any other time during the day the cosy corner is set up with soft seating, cushions and the egg chairs so they can be alone. Staff can also take the beds in and provide a quiet corner in this area if required
  • Area 2 is secured with a permanent lock which is only opened when large deliveries are arriving. Specific hooks have been added to the gate in area 4, and signs have been erected to remind parents and visitors to keep these closed and secure. The risk assessment has been updated to ensure gates are locked and secure each morning. The registered provider has also added a comment box so staff can highlight any issues noted during the daily risk assessment. (see attached)

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • The Inspectorate is not assured that adequate steps have been taken 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. Garda vetting was available for 25 staff members including the registered provider, 16 childcare staff, 3 ancillary staff, 1 staff member who works with the children attending the school aged service and 4 students. However, 3 of these vetting disclosures were 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. In the Red Room, the 2 red tables had sharp unprotected corners and were and injury hazard
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Of the three vetting renewals 2 had been completed but not added to the staff file (see attached) and the third relief staff member has since been applied for. The registered provider has noted expiry dates for all vetting in our online diary and set reminders to renew 3 months prior to expiry date. 2. Corner protectors have been added to these tables. (see attached) New tables have been ordered with rounded edges. (see attached) A daily risk assessment will be carried out on all sharp corners

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 27, 31.

Earlier inspections

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