Inspection of 19 June 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- There was no evidence to demonstrate that two staff members who work directly with children held qualifications to meet the requirements of the national qualification framework
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider submitted the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action One staff member does not work directly with the early years children. The second staff member is not working in Rainbow Childcare while the team sort out issues with the qualification through the DCEDIY. The list of recognised qualifications from the DCEDIY will form part of the recruitment process going forward
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- (1) The lack of an enriched environment and appropriate staff engagement impacted the wellbeing and experiences of the children while attending the waddler room. The following observations were made over two days: (a) The waddler room required further development to meet the children’s learning, wellbeing and development through the provision of appropriate activities, materials and equipment. 1. The room was inadequately developed and sparsely equipped. Children were observed to fight over toys and climb on furniture. One child was observed to climb onto a table. The following examples were observed: • A number of the shelves were bare or had one to two toys on them. • Pictures in the room were placed high and out of eyeline vision of the children. • Interest areas were poorly resourced with limited natural or open-ended materials. • The inspector observed there to be three story books in the room. 2. There was a lack of invitations/experiences to play set up or freely available for the children between activities such as meals times, nappy changes and outdoor play. 3. Children were not provided with drinking water while in the outdoor play area. On the day of inspection, it was an extremely hot. 4. There was no adult chair/nurturing chair in the baby room for staff to sit, hold, feed and comfort young children as needed. (1)(b) A number of interactions between the staff and children were observed in the waddler room which were at variances with the service’s ethos. 5. The inspector observed and overheard a number of interactions between a staff member and children in the waddler room that were not in line with the service’s behaviour policy which promotes positive role modelling from staff in how they speak, interact and play with children. These included: “sit on the mat”, “stop shouting”, “you can’t say that”, “you can’t play that” and “don’t mess around”. 6. Staff did not sit at the tables with the children while eating. This practice does not promote social interactions between staff and children or support the development of independent feeding skills. A staff member was observed to clean the table around a child who was still seated eating their lunch. 7. Staff members in the waddler room were observed not picking up on children’s cues. For example, the following was observed: • Four children showed signs of tiredness, rubbing the eyes, lying down on mats, lying against a wall. Staff members were not observed to pick up these signs. When asked by the inspector if these children could rest/sleep, staff advised that they planned to take the children outside for a second time. • Staff members did not pick up on cues from a child who wanted their nappy changed. The child squatted and pulled at their clothing on a number of occasions while trying to gain the staff’s attention. The staff did not pick up on what may be happening with the child and told the child to pull up their pants. The inspector had to bring it to the staff attentions that the child was displaying cues that they wanted their nappy changed. • A second child tried to gain attention from staff to get help in putting on a sock and shoe by waving their sock at the staff. The staff had advised the children they were going to go outside, and the child was excited. A staff member was observed to give this child a soother and not pick up on the cues from the child that they wanted help. 8. There was limited engagement by staff with the children during transition periods. For example, children were observed to wander around the room after eating, after outdoor play and while nappies were being changed. It is acknowledged that one staff member was engaged in play with children and sat on a mat and read a book after dinner
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider submitted the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action
- 1. The team are purchasing further toys, books and resources for this room. Staff have been instructed not to store toys out of children’s reach or put them away in cupboards. The artwork and photos are to be displayed at lower levels, and the room is being completely redecorated to include a carpeted area for the cosy corner and areas of interest for the children. Staff in this room are receiving further mentoring and we are devising clear expectations for the room. 2. The centre manager carries out spot checks on each room to ensure they are creating a warm and inviting space for the children to learn, grow and enjoy their day in our early years setting. 3. Parents send in drinkers for their child, which will be refilled as needed and will be in the child’s reach whether inside or outdoors. Children are encouraged to take a drink throughout their day especially at mealtimes. 4. The nursing chair has been returned to the nursery room
- Our disciplinary process has been reissued to staff where necessary. Management have set out clear expectations for the room to be followed by each member of staff. Staff have been instructed how to speak to and engage with children. 6, 7, 8. Staff in this room are receiving further mentoring. Management have devised a clear set of expectations for each room, this includes details regarding: tone of voice when talking to children and peers, eating with children or sitting with them while they eat and encourage them to chat and socialise, being attentive to the needs and wants of the children at all times especially when it relates to nappy changing and the need of the child to sleep, to constantly engage with the children in a meaningful way, singing, reading stories, setting up opportunities for play and to manage transitions in a consistent manner
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Room temperatures within the baby room and ECCE room were recorded as exceeding the recommended ambient room temperature of 18 to 22℃. The following room temperatures were recorded: In the baby room the temperature was 23.4℃. at 11:35. At 11:55 the temperature was 23.8℃. Two fans were present in the room. In the ECCE room the temperature was 25.1℃ at 12:50. 2. The service did not demonstrate compliance with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice requiring services to re-new Garda vetting every 3 years. There were Garda vetting disclosures on file for all staff members, however the vetting disclosures for two staff members were not dated within the previous 3 years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting. Infection Control: A number of practices observed during the inspection were at variance with the infection control policy and the inspector was not assured that consistent and effective infection control practices were in place throughout the service. The following was observed during the inspection: 3. Children’s hands were not consistently washed after nappy changing in the baby room and waddler room. 4. Staff in the baby room did not wash their hands before helping children with feeding. 5. Staff members in the waddler room did not consistently wash their hands after nappy changes. 6. Staff were observed not to wear aprons during nappy changes in the waddler room. 7. There was no hand soap in the hand dispenser in the waddler room nappy changing area on both days of inspection which impedes effective handwashing. 8. On day two of inspection, there was no hand towels in the nappy changing area of the waddler room which impedes effective handwashing. 9. Staff in the waddler room were observed to leave the nappy changing area still wearing gloves that were used to carry out nappy changing. 10. Toys were stored in the waddler room toilet which poses as risk of cross contamination. 11. Mats and soft toys in the waddler room were stained. 12. Staff were observed to stack chairs after eating. This practice posed an increased risk of injury to a child in the event that they attempted to climb or pull them down. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider submitted the following response:
Provider's corrective action:
- : General Safety: 1. Thermometers are located in the rooms. New black out blinds have been purchased. Fans are in place. Measures are taken when necessary to reduce the temperature. 2. Garda vetting disclosures are on file. Infection control: Staff have received further training regarding our infection control policy including hand washing and nappy changing procedures. A checklist has been drawn up for supplies of soap and paper handtowels available for use in each room to be checked and signed daily. Toys are no longer stored in any cupboard particularly in the nappy changing areas. A weekly rota has been drawn up for the washing of soft toys and mats. Staff have been instructed not to stack chairs with safety in mind
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- There was no notice of the procedures to be followed in the event of fire displayed in a conspicuous position in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- The signage is displayed throughout the building. Extra signage is on hand in the event that displays become faded or lost.]
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) 1. There were electrical flexes left exposed and unfinished in the baby room. It is acknowledged that they were out of reach of the children. 2. In the waddler nappy changing area, there was a hole in the wall beside the nappy changing unit. 3. The skirting boards throughout the service were not painted and scuffed in a number of places. Therefore, they could not be cleaned adequately. 4. In the baby room and waddler room paint on the walls was scuffed, marked and peeling off
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider submitted the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action The electrician has returned and tidied up all flexes. The painter is due to return to finish the skirting boards and doors at the earliest possible opportunity. The waddler room has been repainted. Staff have been asked to bring any defects in the building to my attention as they arise
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 28.