# Rachael's Room, Dundalk — inspection reports and findings > Rachael's Room (Dundalk, Co. Louth): what Tusla inspections found — 4 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Rachael's Room Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Dundalk, Louth · Tusla ID **TU2016LH002** · Registered since 1 January 2026 An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md). #### Inspection of 15 December 2025 — Change in Circumstance Full report (PDF, Tusla) No non-compliance recorded in this report. #### Inspection of 13 November 2025 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service - (h) When the inspector reviewed the children’s attendance records at 11:05 none of the arrival times for the 21 preschool children in attendance had been documented - Manager will sign off that staff member greeting children signs children in as the arrive and leave the service daily This will be checked twice daily to ensure it is completed correctly. Staff have been given refresher training in signing children in and out ##### Regulation 22 — Food and drink - The children attending the service for more than 5 hours did not have a hot meal provided in accordance with best practice nutritional guidelines - Any children who attend more than 5 hours will be offered a hot meal Hot Lunches will be provided for children attending more than 5 hours and menu has been emailed to parents ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - The Inspectorate is not assured that adequate steps have been taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the pre-school children attending the service based on the following observations made during the inspection: General Safety: 1. The registered provider did not adhere to the re-vetting timeframes for 1 staff member as outlined in the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice, requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years. 2. There was no safety impact surface underneath the castle climbing frame and slide in the outdoor area. This is a potential injury risk. 3. A pest control box which was tied on to the low-level sink in both toilets was accessible to the preschool children and is a potential safety risk. 4. A phone charger with lead was observed plugged into the electrical wall socket at a low level in the playroom and was therefore accessible to the preschool children. 5. There was no documentary evidence of risk assessments having been carried out in the service when documentation was requested by the inspector. Infection Control: The following infection control risks were observed during the inspection: 6. There was no running hot water in the staff toilet and in one of the preschool toilets when checked by the inspector at 11:55 and again at 13:40, which were both observed in use. It is acknowledged that one of the preschool toilets did have a constant supply of thermostatically controlled hot water. 7. There was inadequate handwashing in the service. The children’s hands were not observed being washed prior to snack time or after coming in from outdoor play. 8. Facilities for hand drying were inadequate as a brown cloth towel was observed hanging on the toilet door and used by the preschool children to dry hands. Additionally, at this time there were no single use paper towels available for use in the sanitary area until they were restocked by the registered provider after her arrival to the premises. Administration of Medication: 9. Temperature reducing medication was not administered in accordance with the services Administration of Medication Policy; for example, at 12:00 one child was reported feeling unwell and the staff member identified that the child had a raised temperature of 38.9 o C. No temperature reducing medication was administered by the staff present in the service while they were awaiting a parent to collect the child, even though the children’s records reviewed indicated that parents had given signed consent to administer this medication in emergency. The child was collected at 12:45. This is at variance with the services policy that states “temperature reducing medication is administered when the temperature exceeds 38 o C - Corrective & Preventive Actions 1.The garda vetting has been returned since and is on file. The manager will keep a closer check on garda Vetting to ensure it doesn’t lapse. 2. The climbing castle has been moved onto a grass area, which is acceptable under manufacturers requirements. Castle will be kept on grass area for future 3. We use Pest control service in order to ensure the best health and safety of the children. Our pest control company were contacted and returned and placed the locked bait boxes in a more suitable location. Pest control boxes are checked they are put of reach of children each morning and are listed on the risk assessment. 4. All cables are kept out of reach of children Risk assessment will be carried out each morning, so no cables are in reach of children. 5. Risk assessment will be carried out each morning. Although risk assessments are carried out daily by staff a new written record is kept and available for inspections. 6. Sign to remind staff to turn on hot water and it is also listed on daily risk assessment. remind staff to turn on hot water. 7. Children always wash hands before snacks and outside. Staff have received refresher training in infection control policy. 8. Paper hand towels are available and will be refilled as soon as empty. Towels available for spills are kept out of reach of children. 9. Staff have been reminded of our infection control policy and children with a high temperature are given anti febrile medication. Staff received refresher training in relation to our infection control policy and children with a high temperature are given medication in accordance with the policy ##### Regulation 29 — Premises - (d) 1. A large amount of equipment and toys were observed to be stored in the staff toilet e.g. toys, paper towels, outdoor clothes and mops and bucket. This does not provide for the hygienic storage of toys and equipment. 2. In one of the children’s toilets the cover of the ceiling mounted ventilation fan was covered in a thick layer of dirt and dust - Storage unit for wellies is no longer in staff toilet, and the toys have been removed. Toilets will be checked daily to ensure they are not used for storage and no toys are there. Fan was cleaned immediately after inspection. Fan is listed on toilet cleaning sheet to ensure it is not forgotten about ##### Regulation not named in the report text - (1) The registered provider did not notify the Inspectorate of a change in the type of service being offered. Following a review of documentation available during the inspection and a discussion with staff it was confirmed to the inspector that up to 8 preschool children attend the service on a full day care basis i.e. greater than 5 hours. This was also confirmed by the registered provider. This service is registered to operate as a part-time service. Inspection findings are documented in the inspection report which is first issued in draft format to the service with an opportunity to respond to any findings. Where statutory requirements are identified as not being met, the registered provider must demonstrate how they have rectified the non-compliance and will prevent any non - compliance from re occurring. The Corrective Action and Preventive Action plan (CAPA) will be used to inform decisions about compliance with regulatory requirements. Where the registered provider fails to meet the statutory requirements an escalation process may be commenced. The inspectorate reserves the right to edit responses received for reasons including clarity, completeness and compliance with administrative and legal processes. The contents of the report are compiled by the inspectorate body. Acknowledgments The inspector would like to acknowledge the cooperation of the registered provider, person in charge, staff and children who were present on the day of the inspection Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 20. #### Inspection of 4 September 2024 — Change in Circumstance Full report (PDF, Tusla) No non-compliance recorded in this report. ### Earlier inspections - 8 December 2023 — Inspection Report · PDF ### Other services in Louth - [Ready Steady Grow](/creche/ready-steady-grow-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Ready, Steady, Grow: Stonetown](/creche/ready-steady-grow-stonetown-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Respond Early Years Service, Tredagh Close](/creche/respond-early-years-service-tredagh-close-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [Spraoi Childcare](/creche/spraoi-childcare-collon.md) Collon - [The Wendy House](/creche/the-wendy-house-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Clever Clogs](/creche/clever-clogs-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [Peter Pan Crèche & Montessori](/creche/peter-pan-creche-montessori-drogheda-2.md) Drogheda - [Miniminds Preschool](/creche/miniminds-preschool-dundalk.md) Dundalk - [Jellytots Daycare Ltd](/creche/jellytots-daycare-ltd-drogheda.md) Drogheda - [The Holy Family Parish Community Creche](/creche/the-holy-family-parish-community-creche-dundalk.md) Dundalk [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/rachael-s-room-dundalk/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11