Inspection of 9 April 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. On the day of inspection, the Playgroup room was not an inviting or engaging play space, materials were not displayed in a child centred manner. There were a limited number of age-appropriate toys available to the children in the room and props were missing from the activity table preventing the development of play. T he Big Monti room did not have clear areas of interest and equipment was not laid out to promote the emergent interests of the children. 2. The library area in the Big Monti room was insufficiently stocked with books for the number of children in the room. There were five books available , some of which were visibly damaged, for 20 children in the room. This limited the choice for children wishing to engage in reading books. 3. The Playgroup room did not have a suitable cosy area for the children to use, should they require a rest during their day
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The Playgroup room is now an inviting and engaging play space. There is a dress up area, home corner, construction area, puzzle shelves, music & imaginative play shelves, sensory table, small play area and art shelves. The Big Montessori room shelves are now open for the full 3 hours of the ECCE session. Montessori shelves will be left open when the children are having snack and preparing to go home i.e. for the full 3 hours. The Playgroup teacher will ensure that there are adequate materials and toys accessible to the children at all times. 2. The library in the Big Montessori room has been restocked with plenty of books. The library will be reviewed weekly to ensure enough books for all children. 3. The Playgroup room’s cosy area has added teddies and cushions and is located at our library for quiet time. The Playgroup teacher will ensure that there is always soft teddies and cushions in the cosy area
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Electrical wires in both the Playgroup room and Naionra room were not secured to the wall and were in easy reach of the children in the room. This posed an injury risk to children. 2. The right-hand side of the windowsill at the back of the Naionra room had a sharp edge which was at the head level of the children in the room. This posed a risk of injury to a child. 3. The storage area in the Naionra sanitary area was unlocked, posing a risk of unsecured items falling on children and causing an injury. 4. No written risk assessment was available in any care room on the day of inspection. Infection Control: 5. In the Big Monti sanitary area and the Naionra sanitary area the removable toilet inserts were being stored on the floor. Toilet inserts should be stored off the floor for infection control purposes. 6. On inspection of the nappy changing area, a large amount of debris was found underneath the changing mat. Nappy changing areas should be thoroughly cleaned daily for infection control purposes. 7. Tables and chairs were visibly chipped and worn, which prevented effective cleaning for infection control purposes. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Electrical wire in Playgroup has been secured and is out of reach of the children. All staff have been asked to thoroughly inspect the rooms regularly for any sharp edges and loose wires. The lights on the wall in the Naionra have been removed. 2. The windowsill in the Naionra has been sanded and is due to be painted in early July when the annual painting is done while the ECCE is closed for the Summer. 3. A lock has been added to the door in the sanitary area in the Naionra. All staff have been asked to ensure that all storage areas are kept locked. 4. Risk assessments were completed weekly prior to the inspection. but no risks detected on the preceding days hence why the forms were blank. Staff have been reminded to present the risk assessment folder from their rooms to Tusla upon inspection. Infection Control: 5. A shelf has been erected to the back walls in the Naionra and Big Montessori sanitary areas to store the removable toilet inserts. All staff have been asked to ensure that when the toilet inserts are not in use that they are placed on the upper shelves over the toilet. 6. The nappy changing area has been thoroughly cleaned. All staff have been reminded that they must ensure they thoroughly clean down the nappy changing area after each use. 7. The tables and chairs will all be painted in July when the annual painting is being done. The tables and chairs will be repainted every summer when the classes are not in use
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) 1. In all care rooms there was visible signs of wear and tear. In the Big Monti room, downstairs and in Playgroup and Naionra rooms upstairs, the children’s table and chairs were worn and chipped and some counter tops needed repainting. 2. The windowsills in all care rooms needed repainting. 3. The outdoor seating furniture located in the front outdoor area of the service and used by the children was in a poor state of repair. Several seats were cracked and one seat was being held together with tape. The picnic tables, also at the front of the service, needed painting as the paint was worn and chipped in places. 4. The painted stairs up to the Playgroup room and Naionra, and the hallway between both rooms was worn and in need of repainting or new floor covering. 5. The laminated floor covering in the Naionra room was showing visible signs of wear and was in need of replacement in certain areas. Furniture, environment and equipment need to be clean, repaired and maintained as required
Provider's corrective action:
- 1 & 2. All rooms, ceilings, walls, tables, chairs, counter tops, doors, windowsills etc will have their annual painting in July when the ECCE is closed and the rooms not in use. 3 The outdoor picnic tables have been repainted. Seats have been ordered from the UK to replace the cracked ones on the outdoor trestle table. 4. The stairs to the Playgroup and Naionra will have an annual painting in July when the classes are not in use. 5. The laminate floor in the Naionra has been it poses no risk to the children as there are no sharp edges or holes. We will replace the floors when funds become available
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 26, 27.