Creche Inspection Reports

Ratoath Childcare Limited

Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Ratoath, Meath · Tusla ID TU2015MH157 · Registered since 1 January 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

3published inspections
0non-compliances at latest report read
1immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 20 May 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

No non-compliance recorded in this report.

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 19, 23, 25, 28.

Inspection of 16 April 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider for excessively hot water at wash hand basins in the Waddler room and the Playschool room in the service. The registered provider provided the inspectorate with written assurances of appropriate preventive actions being implemented in the service to reduce the likelihood of the hot water temperature exceeding 43oC within 24 hours of the notice being issued.

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (4) Documentary evidence was not available to demonstrate that 1 staff member whose file was reviewed held an appropriate childcare qualification at Level 5 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed by the minister to be equivalent
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action (4) The staff member in question has applied to the DCEDIY to have their studies verified as equivalent to Level 5 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications. She has also provided a more detailed letter from her college confirming her attendance for 4 years studying her degree and that she has passed years 1, 2 and 3 and is awaiting results for year 4. Preventive Action (4) Check added to Tusla Staff File Requirements for letter of recognition

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • (1)(j) Documented parental consent was not always available to authorise staff members to administer temperature reducing medication to children attending the service. Records indicated that on 26/02/2024, 27/02/2025, 03/03/2025, 11/03/2025, 13/03/2025 and 19/03/2025 children who were present in the service received temperature-reducing medication in the absence of written parental consent. The inspector was informed that verbal consent for the administration of temperature-reducing medication was routinely sought from parents in the event that a child developed a high temperature whilst present in the service. (k)The records of accidents, injuries and incidents involving preschool children were not always completed in full as some records were not signed by the child’s parent or guardian on collection, to document that had been informed and were aware of the incidents. Examples of this practice included incidents that had occurred in the service on 14/11/2024, 17/01/2025, 28/01/2025, 27/02/2025 and 27/03/2025 which had not been signed by the parents
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action (1) (j) A permission letter has been generated for each family indicating Febrile Reducing Medication will be administered by Ratoath Childcare Ltd should it be deemed in the child’s best interest. This letter is being distributed to families over the course of the week and filed with the child’s record form. Since the inspection any medical forms without parent’s signatures have been corrected. (k) Any accident or injury forms not signed by parents have been corrected. Preventive Action (1)(j) Additional declarations have been added to the child record forms for new children joining the service that specifically states Febrile Reducing medication will be administered to a child should it be deemed necessary. They will continue with the practice of contacting parents before the administration of Febrile Reducing medication to receive verbal consent. At their most recent staff meeting (May 19th) as part of the agenda they reminded all staff of the importance of having all medical forms signed by parents upon collection. (k) The most recent staff meeting (May 19 th) reiterated the importance of accident forms being fully completed and signed by parents upon collection

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. The hot water supply provided at some wash hand basins in the service exceeded the maximum safe water temperature of 43oC and posed a risk of scalding as detailed in table 1.1 below Location Time recorded Water Temperature Waddler Room - nappy changing room 11.00am 53°C 2.00pm 55.2°C 4.35pm 57.3°C 11.00am 50.2°C Waddler Room - care room sink 2.00pm 51.2°C 4.35pm 54.7°C Playschool Room - nappy changing room 11.10am 55.1 – 55.8°C (both taps) 12.25pm 55.8 – 57.7°C (both taps) 4.25pm 55.6 – 56.4°C (both taps) Playschool Room - care room sink 11.00am 55.6°C 12.25pm 55.6°C 4.25pm 56.4°C Table 1.1 Water temperature readings recorded on the day of inspection. When identified, the inspectors informed the staff members caring for the children of this scalding risk and following this the children in these two care rooms were supported to wash their hands using cold water for the remainder of the inspection as a temporary control measure. An immediate action notice was issued to the to the registered provider in relation to these water temperatures. Infection Control: 2. The bin provided for the disposal of nappies in the nappy changing room adjoining Toddler room 1 was not pedal-operated. This increased the risk of cross contamination due to the numerous touch points required to dispose of a soiled nappy. Safe Sleep: 3. Inadequate space was left between some of the stackable beds in the sleep room adjacent to the kitchen on the ground floor of the premises. Spacing stackable beds at less than the recommended distance of at least 50cm apart increased the risk of cross infection and could potentially delay staff in accessing children in the event of an emergency. 4. A sleep plan incorporating a robust risk assessment w as not available for the child aged 1 year 10 months who slept on a standard sleep mat on the floor in the Waddler room to demonstrate the child ’s developmental readiness to move from a cot to floor mat. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action General Safety: 1. The landlord manually adjusted the thermal regulators under each sink to correct the temperature of the hot water. Infection Control: 2. A new nappy bin was ordered and delivered. The other bin was removed from the room. Safe Sleep: 3. The beds of the sleep room have been re-arranged to allow a minimum of 50cm between each bed. 4. A sleep needs plan has been filled out for the child in question and is kept on file in the waddler room. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Sporadic checks have been put in place to monitor the water temperature. Infection Control: 2. Upon delivery bins will be checked to ensure they are the correct type and foot operated. Safe Sleep: 3. Signage has been placed in the sleep room alerting all staff to the importance of maintaining this distance between each bed. 4. Staff of the waddler room have been provided with information relating to the filling out of the care plans and have blank copies on file for future use should they be needed. Supporting documentation submitted General Safety: 1. Evidence already submitted as response to IAN. Infection Control: 2. Photograph of the new bin. Safe Sleep: 3. Photo of room layout and signage reminding staff of minimum space between beds. 4. Copy of sleep needs plan. Summary Comment The inspectors have reviewed the actions and evidence submitted. The noncompliance identified under regulation 23 - Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child has been adequately addressed

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • (1) A person trained in first aid including first aid responder (FAR) training was not always immediately available to the children attending the pre-school service as evidenced in the staff roster and the in-date FAR certifications, one member of staff based in Building A and one staff member based in Building B had in date FAR training. However, given the distance between Building A and Building B a staff member is required at all times in each building, the staff roster confirmed that this is not the case
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action (1) Two additional staff have been booked for FAR training June 9th, 10th and 11th 2025. This will provide 2staff in Building A and B available at all times. Preventive Action (1) An excel spreadsheet has been compiled outlining each staff members certs relating to fire training, first aid, manual handling etc. This spreadsheet will allow management to periodically check for certificates about to expire and book training as needed

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 19, 21.

Inspection of 27 March 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (2) (a)&(b)Nine validated written references were not available either from a past employer or from a reputable source. (4) On 26/03/24, one staff member working in the Pre-school room did not have a complete childcare qualification
Provider's corrective action:
  • (2) (a)&(b) Written references verified and attached for staff. A check list has been added to each staff file to ensure all required documentation is available and reviewed on a regular basis. (4) This staff member is now rostered to work with the school aged children

Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials

  • Building B outdoor space for Montessori Room was poorly equipped. The mud kitchen was toppled over with limited play equipment to enhance the learning experience for a child. The partially sheltered space was used for storage of the plastic shapes and tyres. Outdoor areas should be stimulating, imaginative, energetic, and challenging
Provider's corrective action:
  • There are 3 playgrounds available to the Montessori class. The play area inspected is primarily used for school age children, and it is acknowledged work need to be completed on this area

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: The following safety measures were not in place on the day of inspection: 1. Garda vetting was available for 1 staff member. However, this vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. The following were trip hazards: • The steps leading down to the outdoor area in Building 2 did not have markers to identify each individual step. • A trailing flex from the speaker in the Playschool room was assessable to the pre-school children. Infection Control: 3. Warm water was not available in the wash hands basins for children in the sanitary accommodation on the first floor to promote effective handwashing. 4. In the nappy changing room off the Waddler room, a bin used for waste disposal was a swing bin. All bins used for waste disposal must have a non-touch mechanism. Fire Safety: 5. There was no fire assembly notice to indicate the fire assembly point
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective & Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Re-vetting has been received for the staff member. Date of re-vetting to be noted on file checklist and followed up regularly
  • • The steps have been re- sprayed. The spraying of the steps has been added to our annual Building work checklist. • Trailing flex from speaker has been secured to the wall. Positioning of flexes to be reviewed daily within the rooms. Infection Control: 3. The hot water issue in the upstairs wash hand basins has been resolved. 4. The swing bin was removed Day 1 of the inspection. Fire Safety: 5. A fire assembly notice is now in place on a fence in the outdoor space

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • (1) Only one staff member present between building A &B had an up to date First Aid Responders course(FAR). This is not adequate as this staff member is not always on duty and cannot be available to the 2 buildings at the same time
Provider's corrective action:
  • First Aid Responders course has been booked for two staff members to ensure there is adequate cover for both buildings. Another two members will be trained in June 2024. All staff have paediatric first aid training

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 20, 22, 26, 28.

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