1. In the morning the minimum ratio of adults to children was not maintained during the inspection in room one where two adults were required to care for the seven children in attendance. 2. In the morning the minimum ratio of adults to children was not maintained during the inspection in the Montessori room where two adults were required to care for the twelve children in attendance. See table below. Pre-School Rooms Pre-School Rooms Number of staff present Number of staff required Number of Children - 29 Room 1 1 2 7 children: 5 aged 1-2 years attending on a PT/FDC basis. 2 aged 2-3 years attending on a PT/FDC basis. Montessori room 1 2 12 children: 7 aged 3-6 years attending on a PT/FDC basis. 5 aged 3-6 years attending on a sessional basis
The minimum ratio of adults to children was not maintained at all times during the inspection. There were twenty-nine children attending the service in the morning being supervised directly by one of the two registered providers and two other adults. The second registered provider present in the service was unable to act as a required staff member to meet the adult : child ratios in the service as she carried out roles relating to the preparation and serving of all meals and snacks, room cover for nappy changing, answering the front door and telephone, supervision of children using the toilet independently, carrying out physical checks on sleeping children and nappy changing for all other rooms. These non-compliances were observed on a previous inspection 02 August 2023. The preventive action following this inspection failed to prevent recurrence of these non-compliances
Provider's corrective action:
The registered providers stated in the response that on the day of inspection they did not have cover so divided the groups so all children would be supervised. We were over our adult: child ratio and we will ensure this does not happen again. We have two new qualified staff members who commenced employment in May 2026. We will seek extra cover to prevent this non-compliance reoccurring in the future and if we do not have adequate numbers of staff to child ratio, we will close off that room for the day to avoid this happening again. (Staff roster, breakdown of adult: child ratio and cover included)
The registered providers stated in the response that two new qualified staff members have commenced employment in May 2026 to ensure that the adult: child ratio is maintained. (Staff roster, breakdown of adult: child ratio and cover included). Additionally, the service is committed to investigate the employment of a cook/floating member of staff should the service lose staff as at least both registered providers can work directly with the children instead of one of them acting as a floating member of staff. Summary Comment In respect of the corrective actions taken documentary evidence was submitted to the office of the Early Years Inspectorate, reviewed by the Early Years Inspector and deemed to meet the regulatory requirement
In respect of the behaviour management, complaints, staff training and supervision of staff policies reviewed there was no evidence to show that staff had reviewed the policies and agreed to their implementation. The policy documents were dated 2018. There was no evidence available in the policy documents to indicate that staff had read and understood the forty- eight policies and procedures of the service. This was at variance with policy number eight entitled “staff training” detailed on page 44 of the policy documents which stated that “each staff member has been provided with a full set of childcare polices and the record of receipt of policies by staff members is contained in appendix “S”
In respect of six files reviewed there was no evidence of training undertaken in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016
Provider's corrective action:
7(a) The registered providers stated in the response that that service policies are currently being revised. Once the new policies are complete all staff will be furnished with a copy and will sign off on them once they have read and made themselves familiar with the content of the policies . A record of this will be kept with the polic y documents. The revised named policies will be submitted to the Early Years Inspectorate upon completion in November 2024. Thereafter there will be an annual review of the policies by management and a check to ensure that all staff have a copy of the policies and are familiar with the content. 7(b)(c) The registered providers stated in the response that a meeting was held on Friday 6th September with all staff. The management requested that all staff complete training in respect of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991. All staff have completed all modules of Tusla Quality and Regulatory Framework eLearning programme (certificates included). On commencement of employment in the service staff will be asked to complete the Tusla Quality and Regulatory e Learning programme. The certificate will form part of their staff training profile. Summary Comment 7(a) The corrective action should meet the regulatory requirement. The registered providers will submit the evidence to the Early Years Inspector of the revised policy documents upon completion. The regulatory requirement will be met when the registered providers submit the evidence. 7(b)(c) In respect of the corrective action taken documentary evidence was submitted to the office of the Early Years Inspectorate, reviewed by the Early Years Inspector and deemed to meet the regulatory requirement
Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service
The following policies presented by the registered providers were found not to be in keeping with the requirements of Regulation 10. The behaviour management policy did not state that the procedures for the protection and welfare of children are managed in line with the services safeguarding statement. The behaviour management policy did not provide information on any supports offered to staff on how to support children’s behavioural and emotional needs beyond the statement that “training will be provided for staff when necessary”. The staff training policy did not provide a description of induction training in the service. The staff training policy did not provide information regarding the availability of ongoing training and professional development or how staff training needs are identified and addressed beyond the statement that “the service will identify training needs and organise training for each employee”. The supervision of staff policy did not state the records that will be kept for supervision, where records will be stored and how long they will be kept for
Provider's corrective action:
Behaviour Management Policy: The registered providers stated in the response that management are in the process of developing a new behaviour management policy for the service, once we have it complete all staff will be issued with a copy of it and will be asked to sign off on receiving the policy and understanding it. During the recent staff meeting we also spoke about training courses that would be very helpful in this area, such as promoting positive behaviour in children. All staff agreed to complete these courses. Management will review the behaviour policy on a regular basis and during staff meetings discuss any issues that may arise in the different care groups relating to positive behaviour management. The revised policy will be submitted to the Early Years Inspectorate upon completion in November 2024. Staff Training Policy: The registered providers stated in the response that all staff are trained in the areas they are working in and going forward the service will provide and encourage the use of many e-learning courses to further staff training and development. A log will be kept of all the training that is completed. Following our staff meeting on this topic some staff completed some online training. During staff meetings management will remind everyone of the importance of constant upskilling and training. The staff training policy is being updated. The revised policy will be submitted to the Early Years Inspectorate upon completion in November 2024. Supervision of Staff Policy: The registered providers stated in the response that the staff supervision policy is being updated and a new log sheet for recording staff supervision will be available for inspection. The revised policy will be submitted to the Early Years Inspectorate upon completion in November 2024. Summary Comment The corrective action should meet the regulatory requirement. The registered providers will submit the evidence to the Early Years Inspector of the revised policy documents upon completion. The regulatory requirement will be met when the registered providers submit the evidence
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A child was observed wearing hooped earrings which posed a potential injury risk if the earrings got caught or pulled. Infection Control: 1. The nappy changing mat was ripped with exposed foam noted which posed a potential infection control risk. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: The registered providers stated in the response that the parent of the child in question was asked to remove the hooped earrings from the child’s ears and not to send the child in wearing them again. A regular check will be kept within all rooms that no earrings will be worn as they present a potential safety risk. Infection Control: The registered providers stated in the response that the nappy changing mat has been removed and a new one is now in place (photograph included). Staff will make a regular check on the condition of the changing mat and spare nappy changing mats are now available in the service. Summary Comment In respect of the corrective action taken photographic evidence was submitted to the office of the Early Years Inspectorate, reviewed by the Early Years Inspector and deemed to meet the regulatory requirement
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 19, 27, 28, 32, 33.