# Rainbow Childcare, Wexford — inspection reports and findings > Rainbow Childcare (Wexford, Co. Wexford): what Tusla inspections found — 1 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions. ## Rainbow Childcare Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Wexford, Wexford · Tusla ID **TU2015WX001** · 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 12 December 2024 — Inspection Report Full report (PDF, Tusla) ##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment - The registered provider did not demonstrate that they had taken measures to ensure that all employees were suitable and competent during the recruitment process for all staff members - Written and validated references were not on file for seven staff members. A number of references did not demonstrate evidence of validation. (d) Police vetting was not available on file for three staff that had lived outside the state for more than six consecutive months - There was no evidence available on file to demonstrate that three staff members who worked directly with children held qualifications to meet the requirements of the national qualification - The registered provider submitted the following response to address the non-compliances: Corrective and Preventive Action Where a staff member has only one reference on file, a second has been requested as a matter of urgency. All references have been validated. Police vetting has been requested, from all those who have lived outside the state. Those involved in staff recruitment have been instructed on the regulations regarding recruitment and are currently undertaking the Tusla eLearning module. There are certificates on file for all other members of staff working directly with children. The recruitment policy is displayed in the office and in our staff folder. Checklists are in place for all staff files to ensure that all required paperwork is in place and remains in date for the duration of each team members employment ##### Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials - The provision of an adequate material and physical environment for the care, learning and stimulation of the children attending parts of the service was insufficient. The wobbler room, toddler rooms, ECCE 2 and ECCE 3 rooms were limited in materials and resources, which did not provide opportunities for imaginative child-led play. For example: • There was no daily activities/curriculum plan observed in the rooms. • No invitations to play set up for the children. • Interest areas were sparsely resourced and lacked an enriching learning environment. • The play on the day was predominately adult led, with staff taking out the toys and equipment to direct tabletop activities and play. • Toys were predominantly plastic with no toys or materials such as open-ended and natural materials. • Books were observed to be torn and damaged throughout the service. • There was limited dress up and limited sensory or tactile opportunities. • Toys were observed with missing parts and broken parts. • Personalisation in the rooms such as birthday walls, and family photographs of the children were out of reach. Personalisation supports children’s identify and belonging within the service. • Children’s engagement with adult led activities disorganised. For example, staff member trying to read a story had to shout over the children to try to get them to listen. • Children were observed to fight over toys, throw toys around and not engage in meaningful play during free play - The registered provider submitted the following response to address the non-compliances: Corrective and Preventive Action The team are engaging with Better Start to help create a more enriching environment and holistic experience for the children in the service. Funds are now in place to purchase toys and equipment that may be recommended or suggested by the Better Start team. The team are also linking in with another local service that has recently gone through the better start experience to gain an insight into their approach to environments and resources. The Better Start project will be based on curriculum foundations and be carried out throughout the service and the team are looking forward to making improvements in all areas of the service ##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child - General Safety: 1. The service did not demonstrate compliance with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice requiring services to re-new Garda vetting every three years. Garda vetting was available for all staff members. However, three staff members vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence to the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting. 2. Prescription medication for a staff member who no longer worked in the service was left stored in the first aid box in the wobbler room. 3. The linoleum flooring in ECCE Room 2 was lifting, creating a trip hazard which posed a risk of injury to children and staff. 4. A small two step ladder was used in the toddler nappy changing room for children to reach the sink to wash their hands. On a number of occasions children were observed to almost fall from the steps as it was not steady and unsuitable for young children in a childcare facility. Infection Control: A number of practices observed during the inspection were at variance with the infection control policy in place in the service and the inspectors were not assured that consistent and effective infection control practices were in place throughout the service. The following was observed during the inspection: 1. Children’s hands were not consistently washed after their nappy changing in the baby and wobbler room. 2. Staff members in the baby room did not consistently wash their hands after nappy changes. 3. The linoleum flooring in ECCE Room 2 was lifting, creating a trip hazard which posed a risk of injury to children and staff. 4. Staff and children in the ECCE room 3 were not observed to wash their hands before eating their afternoon snack. 5. A staff member in the baby room was observed during the nappy change to repeatedly open the pedal bin with their hand. This posed a risk of cross infection. 6. A staff member in the baby room was observed to redress a child wearing the same soiled glove from the nappy change. 7. One of the changing mats in the toddler room appeared to be stained and dirty. The mat could not be effectively cleaned posing as a risk of cross contamination. 8. Children’s hands in the baby room and wobbler room were not washed before dinner posing a risk of cross contamination. 9. Staff were observed at snack times handing food directly to children from the serving platter. The staff placed the food directly onto the table. The inspectors were not assured that the staff members had washed their hands or sanitised the tables prior to serving the food. 10. On the day of inspection in the baby and wobbler room, there was no system to manage the cleaning of mouthed toys and equipment. Children were observed repeatedly mouthing toys which were not removed for cleaning after use and subsequently mouthed by other children, posing a risk of cross contamination. 11. A child in the baby room was observed to have their soother attached to their bib. This was not removed when the child was crawling on the floor, dragging the soother along the floor. It was not removed to be sterilised although there is a sterilising facility for soothers in the room. 12. Bottle preparation practices observed on the day of inspection were not in line with safe food practices. Staff in both the baby and the wobbler room both in discussion with the inspector and on observation, heated children’s bottles in the microwave. This may cause a risk of burning to the child. 13. In the baby room, the adult chair used to comfort children was torn, exposing the inside material. This posed a risk of cross contamination as it can’t be adequately cleaned. 14. Toilets for use by children attending ECCE rooms 2 and 3 were not adequately supervised. Toilets were unflushed and toilet roll was not replaced for use by the children in the afternoon. Bins in the toilets were overflowing with used hand towels. 15. There was no warm water available in some of the sinks to support effective handwashing practices. 16. The steps in the toddler room nappy changing area were torn and beginning to collapse, therefore no longer suitable for use. 17. There was a foul smell in the toddler room toilet, the toilets were not flushed. 18. Aprons used for nappy changing were of poor quality and tore easily when staff put them on. 19. There was no soap, hand towels or warm water in the toilet in the ECCE 1 room. 20. The window in the baby sleep room was visibly dirty with black mould and dust. 21. There was no foot pedal bin in the toddler room nappy changing area. Safe Sleep: 1. The bulbs in the sleep rooms between the baby room and wobbler room were not working. This meant that staff could not effectively check the children as the only natural light to the room was blocked by a curtain. 2. Sleep room two was the only room of the sleep rooms to have a thermometer to monitor the temperature as children were sleeping. 3. There was loud music playing on the corridor of the sleep rooms. In discussion with staff they mentioned that this music is meant as white noise and to calm the children. In being so loud, this poses a risk to the staff being unable to hear a child in between sleep checks. 4. In the toddler sleep room, the curtains were too long and were draped over two sleep beds. Fire Safety: 1. A review of documentation evidenced that fire drills are not occurring monthly in the service. The last recorded fire drill was documented to have taken place on 30 August 2024. Not practising regular fire drills can hinder the safe evacuation of children and staff in the event of an emergency. 2. Two emergency exit doors from ECCE Room 1 were obstructed and congested with play equipment on the day of inspection leading to a risk of safety in the event of an emergency evacuation. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider submitted the following response to address the non-compliances: - General Safety: 1. In date Garda vetting is in place for all staff. 2. Staff medication is not to be stored in first aid boxes but rather in their own lockers which are in our staff room. 3. The linoleum flooring in room 2 is being replaced with carpet which will create a more homely environment for the children to play on. 4. A new step is in place in the toddler room sink. Infection Control: 1,2,3,7. The handwashing policy is now on display in all our childcare rooms. Management have brought staff attention to the policy and carry out regular spot checks to ensure that the policy is being adhered to. 4. The bin in the nappy change area has been replaced with a more sturdy pedal bin. 5. The nappy changing policy has been updated and is on display in all nappy changing areas. 6. There was no rip in the nappy changing mat, and it was sterilised between each use. 8. Staff now make a more social occasion of each meal time, creating a more homely environment, including using tableware at all mealtimes. 9. The mouthed toy policy has been updated, is on display in all rooms and staff have been reminded to keep all toys clean and sterilised. 10. Children’s soothers are removed on arrival in the setting and are only used when needed. No child has a soother attached to their bib. 11. Bottle preparation and heating policy has been updated, and parents have been informed of the requirements. We have replaced the old bottle warmer, and the microwave has been removed from the waddler room. 12. A new chair has been purchased for nursing babies and young children. 13,16,18. A new checklist is in place and staff have been instructed to check for soap, hand towels and toilet paper supplies, the cleanliness, toilets being flushed and the bins empty, they now sign the checklist each hour. 14,18. The immersion heater has been checked, and warm water is readily available throughout the service. 15. New stairs are on order from WESCO to replace the old worn-out steps. 17. New supply of stronger plastic aprons is available for use when changing nappies. 19. The window in the sleep room has been thoroughly cleaned. 20. There was a sturdy foot pedal bin in the toddler room nappy changing room. Safe Sleep: The hallway between sleeping rooms is well lit to allow for proper checking of sleeping children, and each sleep room is dimly lit by the electric thermometers. 2. All sleep rooms now have electric thermometers, and the old wall mounded ones have been disposed of. 3. There is no music being played between the sleep areas. 4. The curtain in the toddler sleep room has been removed as a blind is in place. Fire Safety: 1. Fire drills had been carried out monthly until August, however, the fire officer did not carry out any in September as the service had a large number of new children, there was one in October that was not documented. The fire safety officer has been instructed to resume the monthly fire drills and checks on emergency exits. 2. The emergency exit door in ECCE 1 has been cleared and staff have been asked to ensure it remains clear at all times. Policies are on display throughout the creche regarding fire safety, safe sleep, infection control and general safety. Spot checks are carried out regularly. One member of staff responsible for ensuring all the cleaning is carried out thoroughly and regularly and the cleaner has been given a new updated list to be carried out each day. Staff have been informed that they must bring to the attention of management, any cleaning or maintenance issue that arises in the care, sleep or changing rooms ##### Regulation 25 — First aid - While it is acknowledged that the staff employed by the service have current paediatric first aid training, there was no record of any person having current First Aid Responder (FAR) training. The registered provider provided evidence on the day of inspection that one person will complete this training in January. Due to the number of children who attend the service and to ensure that first aid is available for children at all times, additional staff are required to ensure a staff member with FAR is available at all times to the children - The registered provider submitted the following response to address the non-compliances: Corrective and Preventive Action FAR training will be provided for three staff in our facility as a matter of urgency. Should any FAR trained staff leave another member will be trained ##### Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures - Staff when talking with the inspectors were not familiar with the requirement to carry out monthly fire drills. The last recorded fire drill was documented as having been carried out on 30 August 2024. Please refer to Regulation - (b) While it is acknowledged that fire detection system was serviced, there was no record of the maintenance of the fire extinguishers. The last recorded date on the tag on the pin of both extinguishers was dated October 2023 - Fire evacuation procedures were not displayed in the individual rooms. Staff when speaking with the inspectors were unsure of the evacuation plan in the event of a fire emergency and where their fire assembly points were located. While an evacuation notice is displayed on the noticeboard in the hallway, the details relating to this were faded and not legible - The registered provider submitted the following response to address the non-compliances: Corrective and Preventive Action Monthly fire drills have resumed. (b) The fire extinguishers are serviced annually - Staff have been reminded of the emergency exits throughout the building and a notice of procedures to be carried out along with a map of the building is on display in each room Found compliant: Regulation 11, 17, 20, 22, 28. ### Other services in Wexford - [Rainbow Childcare](/creche/rainbow-childcare-wexford-2.md) Wexford - [Rathnure Educare Pre-school and Daycare](/creche/rathnure-educare-pre-school-and-daycare-enniscorthy.md) Enniscorthy - [Scoil na nOg Naoinra](/creche/scoil-na-nog-naoinra-enniscorthy.md) Enniscorthy - [St.Brigid's Community Playgroup](/creche/st-brigid-s-community-playgroup-wexford.md) Wexford - [The Children’s Learning Garden](/creche/the-children-s-learning-garden-enniscorthy.md) Enniscorthy - [Ard Aoibhinn Services](/creche/ard-aoibhinn-services-wexford.md) Wexford - [Firstfriends Daycare](/creche/firstfriends-daycare-enniscorthy.md) Enniscorthy - [Amber Springs Kids Club](/creche/amber-springs-kids-club-gorey.md) Gorey - [Explore and Discover Childcare](/creche/explore-and-discover-childcare-tagoat.md) Tagoat - [1.2.3. Academy Pre-School & Montessori](/creche/1-2-3-academy-pre-school-montessori-gorey.md) Gorey [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/rainbow-childcare-wexford/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11