Inspection of 21 April 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- Two references from a past employer or a source other than a past employer were not available in respect of one adult. (d) See Statutory Notice section in relation to Immediate Action Notice IAN0181 served
- The vetting procedures outlined in paragraph (2) were not carried out prior to all adults commencing in the service. This posed a potential risk to the safety of children attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
- Two validated past employer references have been located and submitted. The verification of references took place at the time of employment; however the forms were missing from the employee file. They have been located and notes of verification are on the reference. (d) Police vetting documentation for both staff have been received
- The service will have tighter organisation of personnel information and filing
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for twenty-four adults employed by the service. However, one of the twenty- four Garda vetting disclosures was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice. Infection Control: 2. Children over the age of two from the Toddler room utilised a designated sleep area in close proximity to their primary room. Rest facilities consisted of mattresses positioned directly on the floor. Observations indicated that several mattresses were placed in immediate contact with one another, leaving no discernible gap between them. To mitigate the risk of cross-infection, a minimum distance of 50cm is required between all sleeping children. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: The renewal of Garda Vetting for one employee has been applied for, and the service is currently waiting for the certificate. The application in in progress. The service will ensure more vigilance around dates of Garda vetting for employees. Infection Control: To mitigate the risk of cross infection and to adhere to the minimum 50cm between sleeping children, the main Toddler room is now being used to facilitate sleeping children
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (c) The following area was not kept adequately heated; 1. The ambient temperature of the Sensory room was 16.6°Celsius which was below the optimum temperature range of 18 to 22°Celsius. (d) The following areas which were not adequately cleaned, maintained or repaired; 2. The radiator cover in the ECCE room was broken with the front part of the cover falling off. 3. Wall tiles in the Toddler room were broken with the edge trim extruding from the wall. 4. The lid on a waste disposal bin in the Toddler room was broken. 5. A large, upholstered sofa in the sensory room was stained and required cleaning. 6. Skirting boards were chipped and required repainting. 7. The wooden shelving unit in the Preschool room exhibited significant wear and chipped surfaces, hindering effective cleaning and sanitisation. 8. Following the removal of a large play gym, an indentation remained in the outdoor area, presenting a trip hazard in the vicinity of the swing and slide sets
Provider's corrective action:
- (c) 1. An air conditioning firm have been contacted, and an appointment has been made for Friday 12th June for them to look at the air conditioning unit in the room. The service contract has been changed to every 6 months to make sure this issue doesn't arise again. (d) 2. The radiator cover has been removed, and a new one is being made to order. Maintenance will resolve this issue within the next three weeks (due to holidays). 3. Broken tiles have been removed, and a wooden skirting board will be fitted in the next three weeks. 4. The bin has been replaced. 5. The sofa has been removed from the sensory room, and a chair has been put in place. 6. All skirting boards are going to be sanded and repainted within the next three weeks. 7. The shelving unit has been revamped with contact paper to allow for easier cleaning. 8. The indentation in the outdoor area has been filled in temporarily until maintenance can put a long-term solution in place within the next three weeks. The service will stay up to date with maintenance inspections
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19.