Inspection of 11 September 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (1) There were insufficient staff working directly with the children at times during the day when the ratios changed from sessional to part-time and when the care needs of the younger children required more staff, such as during nappy changing. (2) The adult to child ratio was not maintained when the service reverted to the required ratios for a part-time service, outside of the hours of the sessional service. The regulations require that there be at least 1 adult to 6 children aged between 2 and 3 years old and 1 adult to 8 children aged over 3 years old working directly with the children in a part-time service . Therefore, on the day of inspection a minimum of 3 staff were required in the service before 9.30am and after 12.30pm
Provider's corrective action:
- This service has now employed an employee to correct this non-compliance and will ensure that correct ratios are in place. Summary Comment All evidence submitted meets the requirements Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
- (1)(b) On the day of inspection there were six children aged between 2 and 3 years old attending the service on a part-time basis, for up to 5 hours per day. Several of these children required a sleep during the day, in accordance with their individual sleep and rest schedules. There was no rest area set up where these children could lie down to rest or sleep during the day. It is acknowledged that there were a number of fold-out sleep mats available that could be placed on the floor for the children to sleep on when needed, however, this was inadequate to meet the sleep and rest needs of the children present on the day of inspection. One of the youngest children was observed sleeping on a yoga mat in a narrow space between the tables and chairs and the open shelves, where he had laid down when he got tired
Provider's corrective action:
- The sleep/rest area has been moved away from the library. There is an area set aside where child/ren can rest. The sleep area will be kept in place where children can access it. Summary Comment All evidence submitted meets the requirements Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
- (2) and (4) The space requirements of the children increased outside of the hours of the sessional service. Children aged between 2 and 3 years old required 2.35m² per child, while children aged over 3 years old required 2.3m² per child. On the day of inspection, when the sessional service was over and the service reverted to the requirements for a part-time service the 6 children aged between 2 and 3 years old required 14.1m² and the 11 children aged over 3 years old required 25.3m². Therefore the 17 children present in the service after 12.30pm required 39.4m² of clear floor space, which was more space than was available in the room
Provider's corrective action:
- The service has secured the use of another room in the main school and will rotate children to this area for small group activities. Summary Comment All evidence submitted meets the requirements Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28.