Inspection of 7 January 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: Inappropriate storage of items in the all-weather sheltered area in the rear outdoor play area posed a potential risk of harm to the children. 1. A long heavy grey plinth of wood similar to a countertop (approx. 8- 10 feet long) was resting on two old wooden school benches. At approx. 10.45 one child was observed playing with toy cars on this countertop and one child was hiding under it. Following discussion with the person in charge she stated it belonged to the school and was waiting for it to be removed. This posed a serious risk of falling on to and causing harm to the preschool children. 2. An old broken green wooden school bench was stored in the all-weather sheltered area. This bench had no wooden back support and two metal fixtures were sticking up. The children were observed to play in this area which posed a serious risk of danger and harm. 3. An old blue wooden school desk with flaking rusted metal legs was stored in the sheltered play area where the children were observed playing hide and seek this posed a potential risk of danger to the children. 4. A tall clothes rack with pegs was in the sheltered outdoor play area. The children were observed playing in this area. The clothes rack posed a potential risk of danger if it fell on the children. 5. A large adult size table tennis table with pointed corners was situated in the sheltered outdoor play area, the children were observed to play hide and seek in this area which posed a risk of harm as the height of the table was at the Childrens level posing a risk of injury and harm. Action submitted by the Registered Provider On the 16/01/2025 the registered provider advised of the following
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: All the items listed in point 1-5 have been removed by community workers from the Men’s Shed and the sheltered outdoor play area is now safe and secure for the preschool children to play
Regulation 27 — Supervision
- On three occasions during the operation hours of the service on the 7/01/2026 the preschool children were not supervised by sight or sound. 1. On one occasion the person in charge had to leave the room at approximately 10.30 to go to the office to get the keys for the outdoor storage shed (to access toys and play equipment) during this time the children were left unsupervised. 2. On two occasions during the time the children were in the rear outdoor play area at approximately 10.40 and 10.55 two children were brought to the toilet while the remaining children were left unsupervised by sight or sound. Corrective Action & Preventive Action submitted by the Registered Provider On the 19/01/2026 the registered provider advised of the following. Corrective Action and Preventive Action 1. A set of spare keys have been cut for the storage shed in the outdoor play area to the rear of the premises. The spare keys were given to the person in charge of the pre-school playroom on the 19/01/2026, now there will be no need to go to the office for keys in the future. 2. The oifigeach forbartha with CNNG had a meeting with the staff and principal of the school. An arrangement has been made with the principal of the school who will provide assistance with toileting of the preschool children if required while they are in the outdoor play area on the two days the preschool person in charge is on her own. The staff will also ensure the children attend the toilet before they go outside to play in the future. Supporting Documents Submitted 1-2. Statements from the registered provider have been accepted. Nóta Tráchta Achomair • The inspector has reviewed the actions submitted. The non-compliance identified under Regulation 27 point 1-2 has been adequately addressed
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (b) The 2 wooden gates in the outdoor play area to the rear of the premises did not have an adequate secure system that was inaccessible to the preschool children. It was acknowledged that the 2 gates had a bolt but were accessible to the preschool children and to unsupervised adults. The present system posed a potential risk of entry by strangers and egress of a preschool child. (c) There was a very strong unpleasant sewage-like smell in the playroom on the 7/1/2026 despite 3 open windows in the playroom the smell persisted. This posed a potential risk of poor maintenance and a risk of harm to the children and staff. (d) The outdoor play area to the rear of the premises was unkept and not adequately maintained. There was a potential risk of illness or harm to the children playing in this area. 1. The boundary walls were stained black with mould and in need of power hose cleaning and painting. 2. The concrete ground surface was unkept and slippery with moss, additionally, there was a drainage area with a build-up of mud, the area needed cleaning and maintenance. 3. The walls in the sheltered area beside the black board were not adequately maintained with areas of no paint and rust marks were visible. This area needed painting and maintenance. 4. Weeds were visible along the boundary wall and trailing ivy was overhanging from the wall, this area needed a tidy up and maintenance 5. The sheltered area had leaves and foliage on the ground surface that required sweeping and maintenance. (e) There was no designated nappy changing area with a designated wash hand basin or any airtight foot pedalled nappy bin available in the preschool service. However, it was noted that a large nappy changing unit was inappropriately stored in the sanitary area within the preschool playroom. Following discussion and review of a nappy changing notebook, this changing unit has been used throughout the year until the last entry was noted in November 2025. It is recommended that for every 11 children in a nappy one wash hand basin and one designated nappy changing area is required
Provider's corrective action:
- On the 16/01/2026,19/01/2026 and 13/02/2026 the registered provider advised of the following. Corrective and Preventive Action (b) The gates have been secured with a new double system and an extra lock and key for the staff to maintain safety of the children while the children are playing in the outdoor play area. (c) A competent person has investigated the plumbing system in the preschool playroom and sanitary area. Further investigations are scheduled during the school holidays. -Additionally, the septic tank system has been cleaned on the 12/02/2026. (d) Point 1-5. A maintenance person was contacted and the cleaning, power hosing and maintenance of the outdoor play area to the rear of the premises was carried out. Painting of the walls is scheduled for the Springtime when the weather improves. (e) The nappy changing unit has been removed and no child is wearing a nappy in the service at present
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 19, 25, 26, 28.