Inspection of 8 July 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. There was a lack of natural and sensory materials in the Nursery room and the Toddler room in order to facilitate sensorial play experiences. For example, sensory type materials such as sand, rice or pasta trays were not available to the children in these care rooms. Furthermore, there were no sensory opportunities provided in the section of the outdoor area used by the children attending these care rooms on the day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action 1. Sensory areas established: Dedicated sensory areas have been created in both the Nursery and Toddler rooms. These areas are stocked with a variety of materials and resources to ensure children have regular access to sensory experiences. Increased sensory activities: Educators have increased the frequency of sensory activities in both rooms. This ensures that children are consistently provided with opportunities for sensory exploration and development throughout the day. Preventive Action 1. Management will implement regular checks to ensure that a variety of sensory equipment and materials are available and accessible to children throughout the day
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
- 1. In the Toddler room there were 3 children aged 22 to 23 months who were observed sleeping on stackable floor beds which is at variance to Tusla guidelines on safe sleep provisions for children under 24 months. There were sleep plans in place and available for 3 of these children, but these were completed for the use of cocoon beds only
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action
- • Equipment Update: new bed mattresses purchased, each measuring 7 cm in depth, which are available in the toddler room. This ensures that they not only meet, but exceed, the new policy requirement for all younger children. • Policy Review: Sleep policy has been updated to require that all mattresses for children under 24 months of age be at least 6 cm in depth. This updated policy has been shared with all families. All staff have received mandatory training on the updated policy to ensure full understanding and compliance. • Individual Risk Assessments and Permission Forms: Following the policy update, all individual risk assessments and parental permission forms have been revised to reflect the change in policy. Written permission from parents for their children to sleep in the toddler room on a mattress of 6cm in depth or greater, in line with our updated policy has been obtained. Preventive Action
- Any new bedding or sleep equipment purchased will be vetted by management against the current sleep policy requirements before being used in the care rooms. Management will ensure that the sleep policy is regularly reviewed for relevance and compliance with current best practice and regulatory standards. Management will ensure that all future parental permission forms reflect this updated in policy
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. A Garda vetting disclosure that was available for 1 staff member 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’. Infection Control: The following practices were observed on the day of inspection which increased the risk of cross contamination: 2. The children attending the Nursery room and the Toddler room did not have their hands washed after they had their nappies changed or before they ate. 3. Handwashing was not always carried out by staff in between nappy changing of children. 4. The nappy changing mat was not cleaned using disinfectant in between nappy changing of children. Safe Sleep: 5. Staff members in the Nursery room were observed conducting the children’s sleep checks at variance with the services safe sleep policy. Staff members stood at the sleep room door to conduct the sleep checks and viewed the children through the glass panel on the door. All sleeping children must be physically checked every 10 minutes to include checking the child’s colour, breathing and sleeping position. Fire Safety: 6. Two children’s tables and chairs in addition to play materials were stored in the corridor between the Nursery room and the Toddler room which could potentially impede staff and children’s exit from the service in the event of an emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action General Safety: 1. Upon inspection, the staff member, who has been employed for three years and was initially Garda vetted, had already submitted their Garda vetting renewal application. They are currently awaiting the updated vetting disclosure from the Garda Vetting Bureau. It has been advised by the Early Childhood Ireland Garda Vetting team that additional processing time is required for applicants who have lived in EU countries outside of Ireland (up to 10 extra working days) or the UK (up to 20 extra working days), which both are applicable to this staff member. Infection Control: 2. All staff have been retrained on the service's established handwashing and nappy changing policies and procedures. Signage has been posted in care rooms and staff have received additional training to reinforce the importance of proper handwashing for young children for effective hygiene practices and limit the spread of infection. 3. All staff have been retrained on the service's established handwashing and nappy changing policies and procedures. Signage has been posted in care rooms and staff have received additional training to reinforce the importance of proper handwashing for effective hygiene practices and limit the spread of infection. 4. All staff have been retrained on the service's established handwashing and nappy changing policies and procedures. Signage has been posted in care rooms and staff have received additional training to reinforce the importance of proper handwashing for staff, for effective hygiene practices and limit the spread of infection. Additionally, staff have been reminded of their responsibility to use the correct cleaning products on changing mats. Safe Sleep: 5. All staff members have received refresher training on the safe sleep policy. This training clarified the established procedure for safely monitoring children while they sleep, emphasising that staff are required to physically enter the sleep room during all sleep checks. Fire Safety: 6. The arrangement of chairs and outdoor play materials has been reorganised. These items are now stored in designated boxes within the hall. A risk assessment has confirmed that this new storage solution does not obstruct emergency exit routes for staff or children. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. To ensure a continuous record of Garda vetting for all staff, management has established a formal procedure for all future renewals. This will include implementing a tracking system to monitor staff vetting expiration dates and initiating the renewal process a minimum of two months in advance of the expiration date. This will allow for sufficient time to complete the process and prevent any lapse in vetting status. Infection Control: 2. Management will ensure staff members receive regular refresher training on the handwashing and nappy- changing policies. Management will monitor compliance and ensure the correct procedures are being consistently followed. 3. Management will ensure staff members receive regular refresher training on the handwashing and nappy- changing policies. Management will monitor compliance and ensure the correct procedures are being consistently followed. 4. Management will ensure staff members receive regular refresher training on the handwashing and nappy- changing policies. Management will monitor compliance and ensure the correct procedures are being consistently followed. Safe Sleep: 5. Management will ensure staff members receive regular refresher training on the service’s safe sleep policy. Management will monitor compliance and ensure the correct procedures are being consistently followed. Fire Safety: 6. Management will ensure that outdoor play materials are stored outside in the garden each day. Management will conduct regular risk assessments to ensure emergency exits are clear at all times. Supporting documentation submitted Confirmation of application for garda vetting. Photographic evidence. Copy of sleep policy. Summary Comment The evidence submitted by the registered provider has been reviewed. The non-compliance as stated in points 2-6 have been adequately addressed however as the renewed Garda vetting has not been received the regulatory requirement for noncompliance 1 under regulation 23 - Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child has not been addressed and remains outstanding
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 25, 26.