Creche Inspection Reports

Positive Ideas T/A Highcare Childcare

Full Day · 0 - 6 Years · Ballincollig, Cork · Tusla ID TU2015CC182 · Registered since 1 January 2026

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

2published inspections
3non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 18 May 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (d) See Statutory Notice section in relation to Immediate Action Notice IAN 1161 served and Improvement Notices IN 1162, IN 1163 and IN1164 served. (4) The registered provider did not ensure that each employee working directly with children held at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent. There was no evidence available to demonstrate that two employees working directly with children held the required qualifications or equivalent. Evidence of completion of a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent was on file for 24 staff members and one staff member held a letter of qualification recognition from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. Neither the registered provider nor the chef required a qualification
Provider's corrective action:
  • (4) In her written response, the registered provider stated that this staff member would no longer work with early years children and would work solely in the school aged service attached to this service. The provider stated that qualifications would be checked against the list available on the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) website

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. The doors of a storage unit in the outdoor play area were not secured to prevent children accessing items such as tins of paint and tools posing a risk of injury to children. 2. There were two allocated adult toilets that were unsecured and accessible to the children in the building with the Green and Red rooms were located. In one toilet, there was a bottle of cream cleanser on the floor and in the second toilet there were 2 containers of cleaning agents with pump action dispensers stored on the floor, all posing a risk of injury. 3. Staff bags were stored on the floor in the Green room posing a risk of injury to children. 4. The following were accessible to children posing a risk of injury: • Plastic bags and rolls of plastic aprons stored in an unsecured low- level press under the high-level sink in the Green room • a number of plastic bags that were hanging on the low-level individual coat hooks in the hall area located in the building where the Green and Red, Bue, Yellow and Purple rooms were located. 5. A tall open shelving unit was not anchored securely to the wall posing a risk of injury to children in the Green room. 6. The door on the cupboard of a wall mounted heating unit, associated pipes and cables in the children’s sanitary accommodation serving the Blue, Yellow and Purple playrooms was not secure, posing a risk of injury to children. 7. There were loose cables accessible to children in the Yellow room posing a risk of injury to children. 8. The office door in the building with the Blue, Yellow and Purple rooms was unsecured. There were items such as for example, broken toys, a printer and a wall mounted hoover with a loose cable attached posing a risk of injury to children. Infection Control: 9. The base of four of the six cots in the sleep rooms serving the Ladybirds room posing a risk of cross infection to children sleeping in the cots. 10. The surface of two low level tables used by the children on inspection, in the Yellow room were showing signs of wear and tear. This impacted on the ability to clean the surfaces adequately to reduce the risk of cross infection. 11. The pedal bin in the single children’s toilet in the building with the Blue, Yellow and Purple rooms was broken, posing a risk of cross infection. 12. There was a lidded bin non pedal operated bin observed in use in the children’s toilets serving the Red and Blue rooms, posing a risk of cross infection when the children touch the lid of the bin with each use. 13. The mechanical wall vent in the children’s toilets serving the Red and Blue rooms was dusty, posing a risk of poor ventilation posing a risk of cross infection. 14. The inspector observed a staff member cleaned a child’s nose whilst wearing disposable gloves. The used tissues and gloves were disposed of in the pedal bin provided, the staff member did not wash their hands after this posing a risk of cross infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. The existing shed was replaced with 2 new storage containers. There are daily, weekly and monthly checks of all areas of the setting 2. All the cleaning supplies have been removed and stored in a secured and locked cabinet. The cleaning agents will always be returned to a locked cabinet out of the reach of the children. 3. The bags have been removed from the room; a new storage unit has been placed in the hallway. The service will ensure that storage is always available for all staff belongings. 4. All plastic bags have been removed from the children’s hooks. Child safety locks have been installed on all cupboards in every room. The service will ensure that all staff are aware that any plastics need to be stored out of reach of the children or in a locked cupboard. No plastic bags will be used to store spare clothes. 5. The unit has been removed until a replacement is found, and it will be anchored securely to the wall. Checks on a daily, weekly and monthly basis of all areas in the setting will take place by management to ensure all units are anchored securely. 6. A child safety lock has been installed. 7. All the loose cables have been tidied and secured. The staff have been reminded to not have cables hand loose within the children’s reach. 8. A lock has been ordered for the door and the hazards have been removed. Infection Control: 9. All the cots have been cleaned and repainted. Management will conduct daily/weekly/monthly checks of all areas of the setting. 10. Replacement tables have been ordered. 11. A replacement pedal bin has been ordered. 12. A replacement pedal bin has been ordered. 13. The vent was removed and cleaned. These are now included on the monthly list for the cleaners. 14. The staff member was reminded of the hand hygiene protocol. Regular reminders with staff regarding hand hygiene will take place

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • (1). The registered provider had not ensured that an adult trained in first aid response (FAR) was accessible to the children at all times. There was one staff member with an expired FAR certificate and one staff member with an in date FAR certificate. As evidenced through discussion with staff and through examination of the staff roster, the person with the valid certification was not available for the duration of the opening hours of the service. This posed a risk to children who may require first aid treatment
Provider's corrective action:
  • In her written response, the registered provider stated that another staff member will complete FAR training in mid-July. The registered provider states that having two staff members trained will ensure a person trained in FAR will be available to the children at all times while the service is operational

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 29.

Inspection of 12 December 2023 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (2)(d)Police vetting was not on file for 2 adults in relation to periods of time exceeding 6 months that they had spent out of jurisdiction. Subsequent to the inspection on 14 December, the person in charge advised that the two staff had applied and were in the process of applying for the relevant police vetting
Provider's corrective action:
  • (2)(d) Police vetting has been applied for in respect of the 2 adults. All staff files have been checked and updated to ensure all vetting and clearance is up to date and filed, further checks will take place quarterly to update this, according to the response from the registered provider on 26 January 2024

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • Infection Control: 1. In the bumblebee sleep room, the cots were positioned close together, not allowing for 50cm of space between 5 of 7 cots may contribute to the spread of infection. 2. There was a nappy changing unit in the adult toilet off the sensory room. The unit was not in a clean and hygienic state of repair, the nappy changing mat was observed on the floor and the lid of the nappy disposal bin was observed to be opened. These issues with nappy changing may lead to the spread of infection. According to the person in charge, this nappy changing unit will be removed later in the week of inspection and this sanitary area will be for the sole use of staff. 3. The nappy changing mat off the butterfly room was observed to be torn and not in a clean and hygienic state of repair, which may lead to the spread of infection. 4. The nappy changing mat in the changing area for the bumblebee room was torn and the pull-down wall mounted unit was observed to be in a poor state of cleanliness. 5. Disinfectant spray was within reach of children stored on a windowsill beside the nappy changing of the bumblebee room. 6. There was 1 children’s toilet and sink off the bumble bee room, and there was no toilet seat on the toilet. This may lead to the spread of infection. 7. Storage of sweeping brushes was observed in the upstairs children’s/ adults toilets and in the Bumblebee toilet this room was used for the storage of a mop, bucket and sweeping brushes, in addition to nappy changing. This practice of storage in sanitary areas may lead to the spread of infection. 8. The stackable beds were stored openly in the sensory room, where children from the butterfly room had dinner and played. Children should not have access to stackable beds when stored for safety and infection control purposes. Safe Sleep: 9. On of the cots in the bumblebees sleep room had a sharp catch which may have the potential to cause an injury to a child. It is acknowledged that this was removed on subsequent to the inspection according to the person in charge. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • Infection Control: 1. The registered provider responded to state that 1 cot has been removed from the sleep room, allowing ample space between cots. The age group has been changed in the room there is no need for more cots in the sleep room going forward. The statement of the registered provider was submitted as evidence. 2. The nappy changing unit will be removed and replaced, with permanent flat countertops. The countertop will be easy to clean. There will be no joints or hinges to wear over time or be corroded by cleaning products. A quote for works to the nappy changing stations dated 11 January 2024 was submitted as evidence. 3. The torn nappy mats have been replaced and the pull-down units cleaned. Replacement changing mats are kept onsite and replaced when needed. A quote for works to the nappy changing stations dated 11 January 2024 was submitted as evidence. 4. The pull-down units have been steam cleaned; and will be replaced by flat built in structure. A quote for works to the nappy changing stations dated 11 January 2024 was submitted as evidence. 5. The changing areas were checked to ensure that no cleaning products are accessible. This statement from the registered provider was submitted as evidence. 6. The toilet seat will be replaced. This statement from the registered provider was submitted as evidence. 7. All sweeping brushes are now stored in cupboards. This statement from the registered provider was submitted as evidence. 8. Cupboards will be built in room to store stackable beds. This statement from the registered provider was submitted as evidence. Safe Sleep: 9. The registered provider advised that the damaged cot was removed and due to a change in age profile, this cot does not need to be replaced. A receipt for 2 stackable beds was submitted as evidence of the cot being replaced by these. Summary Comment The response from the registered provider was reviewed and accepted. Regulatory compliance will be assessed at the next inspection

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (e) An inadequate number of adult toilets were on the premises. The 1 to 8 ratio was not in place, there were 3 staff toilets and 28 staff, when 4 toilets and 4 sinks for staff were required. Staff upstairs 1 toilet & 1 sink Staff ECCE red/green room 1 toilet & 1 sink Staff downstairs (Off sensory room) 1 toilet & 1 sink (shared nappy unit to be removed as per PIC)
Provider's corrective action:
  • An additional toilet will need to be added and a quote has been received for this works to be completed in 12 to 16 weeks

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19.

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