Inspection of 25 February 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. The registered provider had a Garda Vetting disclosure available for all staff members and the student. However, one of these disclosures did not meet compliance with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years. Administration of Medication: 2. A display available outlined that preschool children were recorded as having allergies or a specific dietary condition. The staff verbally outlined to the inspectors the children’s allergy/condition. However, no care plans were completed and signed by the children's parents to include signs, symptoms and procedures for what staff should do in the case of a reaction and or emergency. Safe Sleep: 3. Safe sleep practices were not always implemented in in-line with Tusla’s safe sleep guidelines; 4. A staff member did not remain in the sleep room adjoining the Toddler room when children were sleeping on stackable/floor beds. This posed a risk that children who were awake could leave their beds unsupervised and climb, trip, fall, disrupt the sleep of or cause harm to another child. In line with Tusla’s safe sleep guidance, children sleeping on stackable beds require direct supervision at all times. 5. On one occasion a staff member in the Toddler room was observed to look through the viewing panel from the care room to the sleep room and proceed to complete written sleep checks. On another occasion the staff member opened the door to the sleep room, stood at the door entrance and closed the door and proceed to complete written sleep checks on the sleeping children. Sleep checks must be carried out on sleeping children every 10-minute intervals by directly observing the sleeping children. A viewing panel or view from a distance does not provide assurances that the sleeping children have been directly observed in line with safe sleep practises. 6. The staff in ECCE room 1 advised the inspector that they recorded the time the children went to sleep and woke up at on their services digital application. They said they visually check the sleeping children on a regular interval but do not maintain records of the checks. Sleep checks at 10-minute intervals of children’s breathing pattern, skin colour and sleeping position are required in line with safe sleep practises for sleeping children
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. The updated Garda vetting disclosure was submitted and as a preventive action the registered provider has manually recorded expiry dates, these have been added to a digital calendar which will send a reminder two months prior to renewal date. Administration of Medication: 2. The registered provider stated that there are robust plans in place for children with severe allergies or medical conditions where medication is needed to prevent any serious health risks, however, this was not done for children who have allergies or illnesses requiring no medication. A review of all records has been carried out and after discussions with parents a plan is in place for all children should they be exposed to any allergens. This includes signs and symptoms, what to do in the case of exposure. These have been signed by parents and discussed with staff. A new template is in place, and any issues will be discussed with parents and plans drawn up at enrolment stage, these plans will be reviewed at various stages ie. transitions, new terms or should the condition change. Safe Sleep: 3. A staff member will remain with children while sleeping on stackable beds to ensure children are correctly supervised to avoid children leaving their beds. A review of the policy has taken place, and this has been communicated to all staff. 4. & 5. While all staff are aware of our sleep safe policy, they acknowledged on the day of inspection the correct procedure was not followed. A review of the policy has taken place to include the changes highlighted above and all staff have been made aware of the correct procedure to follow and its importance. Staff in the toddler room now remain in the sleep area for nap times, checks will be carried out and documented by this staff member. Spot checks from manager and senior staff will be carried out at sleep times to ensure staff remain vigilant with this procedure. 6. As children are offered rest in the ECCE room where they are in full view of staff, this document was not completed. The process or recording checks every 10 mins is now in place. All staff were updated of changes during a recent policy review
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (1) The registered provider had not ensured that a person trained in a First Aid Responder (FAR) course was available at all times when the children were in attendance. There were two staff members with current FAR certification. However, on the day of inspection neither of these staff members were on site between 8.00 and 9.00am. It is acknowledged that when this was discussed with the person in charge, whose FAR certification had expired, they were on site from 7.30am. The roster was amended and the two staff members were rostered on to cover the hours of the children’s attendance from the following day
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Two staff members attended and received FAR certification in March 2026 and two completed training in April 2026. This now means the rotas have reverted back to pre-inspection times with two staff trained arriving at 8am and two trained staff on duty until close at 6pm
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) • The child sized sofas in the Toddler room had torn edges on each piece of the sofa. • The water pressure from the taps in the ECCE room 2 preschool sanitary area was insufficient. One tap was a slow trickle and warm water was not available, the second tap pressure was too high and splashed around the sink and floor when turned to warm. It is acknowledged that the children used an alternative sink for handwashing on the day of inspection (low level sink in the ECCE 2 care room). (e) The water in Baby Room 2 handwash basin was not thermostatically controlled to a maximum 43°C. At 12.07pm the water in this sink was 46°C. It is acknowledged that this is a mixer tap and children cannot independently access the tap
Provider's corrective action:
- (d) The registered provider stated as discussed on inspection the service was in the process of purchasing new seating and had been awaiting samples, the new seating has been purchased for all rooms. The leather chairs have been replaced with removable fabric sofas which can be unzipped and washed. This has been added to the cleaning schedule. The pressure in the taps has been adjusted, and warm water is now available at all three sinks. Maintenance checks will be carried out in all rooms to ensure amenities are well maintained and in working order. Staff were remined to report any issues immediately. (e) A thermostat has been fitted to the baby room 2 sink and staff will monitor and report any issues
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 15, 26, 27.