# Play & Learn Preschool, Broadford — inspection reports and findings > Play & Learn Preschool (Broadford, Co. Clare): what Tusla inspections found — 3 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Play & Learn Preschool Full Day · 2 - 6 Years · Broadford, Clare · Tusla ID **TU2021CE003** · Registered since 2 September 2024 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 24 March 2026 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - A written reference in respect of one adult was deemed unsuitable , as the employee had three past employer referees detailed on their employment history record and the available reference was not provided by any of the three identified referees - Upon being informed that the original written reference was not suitable, management immediately sought and obtained an additional written reference from a previous employee of the service provider, confirming the staff member’s employment history. This wa s then followed by a telephone validation of the reference to verify its authenticity and content. Copies of the written reference and record of the telephone validation are being submitted to Tusla. From now on, management will check all of the staff references before a file is marked complete, using a recruitment checklist to confirm that each reference meets Tusla requirements and has been validated where necessary. This check will be carried out immediately upon receipt of references and recorded on the staff file to prevent recurrence of the issue ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for ten adults employed by the service. However, one of the ten Garda vetting disclosures was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice. Infection Control: 2. The perishable food items belonging to the pre -school children attending on a sessional and full day care basis were not stored in the available refrigerators. The children’s perishable food items that included ham, cooked chicken, cheese and yoghurts were stored in the children’s bags in the care rooms and on top of the fridges. This posed a risk of food borne illness. The practice observed is at variance with the service’s healthy eating policy that references “ that staff will ensure that any perishable foodstuffs are refrigerated in a safe manner ”. The corrective and preventive actions provided by the registered provider following the last inspection 05 March 2026 had not been implemented. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - General Safety: 1. Upon identifying that one staff member’s Garda vetting had expired, management immediately checked the staff file and confirmed that the expiry date had been recorded incorrectly on the Garda vetting tracking record, with the date entered inversely. A new Garda vetting application was submitted without delay and has been with the National Vetting Bureau since 2 April 2026. Evidence of the garda vetting disclosure was submitted to Tusla as supporting documentation. Management has also reviewed the staff memb er’s file and Garda vetting records to ensure the current status is clearly documented pending receipt of the updated disclosure. With immediate effect, management will implement a double -check system for all Garda vetting dates entered on the tracking record. The expiry date on each disclosure will be verified against the original document by management before entry and again before the file is signed off as complete. The tracking file will also be reviewed monthly to identify vetting due to expire within the following 3 months, so that renewal applications can be made in advance and no vetting will lapse due to administrative error. Infection Control: 2. Following this inspection finding, the service immediately reviewed its lunch storage arrangements. While measures had been introduced after the previous inspection, these were not maintained in a way that ensured consistent ongoing compliance in practice. The service has now implemented a revised and more robust system. Access to the kitchen has been removed, the service has registered with Environmental Health, and the recommended catering pack has been purchased following Environmental Health guidance. In addition, two new fridges have been purchased and installed in the rooms so that children’s lunches can be stored safely at the correct temperature. Evidence of these actions is available and will be submitted in support of the response. With immediate effect, all lunches requiring chilled storage will be placed in the designated room fridge on arrival and stored in line with the service’s food safety procedures. Management will carry out daily checks on lunch storage arrangements to ensur e compliance is maintained. All staff are currently completing HACCP Level 2 training, and updated food storage and handling procedures will be reinforced through induction, supervision, and regular review. This revised system has been introduced to ensure that safe food storage arrangements are maintained consistently in practice at all times Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 19, 25, 26, 28. #### Inspection of 5 March 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - 1. Eight written references were not available in respect of four adults working in the service were available. 2. Two of the available written references were not validated by the registered provider. This posed a potential risk to the safety of children when vetting procedures are not completed prior to adults commencing in the service. (d) International police vetting was not available in respect of one adult working in the childcare facility, who had lived in another state for a period longer than six months. This posed a potential risk to the safety of children when vetting procedures are not completed prior to adults commencing in the service - One adult working directly with the preschool children did not have evidence of Early childhood Care and Education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent. This posed a potential risk to the safety of children when vetting procedures are not completed prior to adults commencing in the service - Corrective Actions - (a)All references are now on file. (b) References have been validated for all employees. (d) Person is no longer a member of staff and has been replaced. (4) Person is no longer a member of staff and has been replaced. Preventive Actions: A staff file will be completed before a staff member starts in the position including written references, verification of such and qualifications and police vetting where necessary ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - Infection Control: 1. The pedal on the nappy waste disposal system was broken and the adults ha d to touch the lid to open the bin. This posed a risk of cross infection. 2. The perishable food items were not stored in the available refrigerators, children’s perishable food was stored in the children’s bags. This posed a risk of food borne illness. Action submitted by the Registered Provider - Infection Control: 1. A new pedal operated nappy bin has been installed. 2. Food is now stored in the fridge. When the children arrive in each morning lunches are taken from the bags and put into the fridge on the way into the classroom ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - Evidence of up to date First Aid Responder (FAR) training was not available for the adults working directly with the children at all times . It acknowledged the registered provider had up to date First Aid Responder (FAR) training , however the registered provider is not present in the childcare facility at all times - Corrective and Preventive Action The new replacement staff member has a First Aid Responder (FAR) qualification. There are now two staff with FAR Training. Two additional staff members have been booked onto a FAR training course on the April 02, 03, 09 12 2025 ##### Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures - Up-to-date records of the maintenance service w as not available for the internal mains operated smoke alarm system - Corrective and Preventive Action The service record is in a specialised document holder provided by the Fire alarm company located with the fire alarm. A fire alarm logbook has also been started to ensure that details of service are readily available. A new contract was signed in February which provides for the service of the fire alarm once a quarter. A record of this will be stored in the specialised document holder. At the end of the year a full report of the services for the year is provided Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 28. #### Inspection of 2 September 2024 — Change in Circumstance Full report (PDF, Tusla) No non-compliance recorded in this report. ### Other services in Clare - [Polybus T/A Lyons Den Barefield National School](/creche/polybus-t-a-lyons-den-barefield-national-school-ennis.md) Ennis - [Realta Draiochta Pre-School (Ennis National Preschool)](/creche/realta-draiochta-pre-school-ennis-national-preschool-ennis.md) Ennis - [Redeemers Preschool](/creche/redeemers-preschool-ennis.md) Ennis - [Scribbles Preschool/Montessori](/creche/scribbles-preschool-montessori-ennis.md) Ennis - [Teach Spraoi Nature Kindergarden Ltd](/creche/teach-spraoi-nature-kindergarden-ltd-ennis.md) Ennis - [Burren Sonas](/creche/burren-sonas-kilfenora.md) Kilfenora - [Little Buds Pre-School](/creche/little-buds-pre-school-shannon.md) Shannon - [Dearcan Beaga Teoranta](/creche/dearcan-beaga-teoranta-shannon.md) Shannon - [Room to Bloom Kids Care](/creche/room-to-bloom-kids-care-ennis.md) Ennis - [Sunrise Childcare](/creche/sunrise-childcare-milltown-malbay.md) Milltown Malbay [Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md) --- Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/play-learn-preschool-broadford/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11