Inspection of 13 April 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1)(j) The medicine administration forms maintained in the service were not always complete and correct. For example: • There was no record of written parental consent obtained from the parents in advance of one child for whom medicine was administered to on the day of the inspection. • The paperwork did not include a section where a parent/guardian’s signature would confirm that the parent was informed at collection of the dosage and last time of administration
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action (1)(j) The medication policy has been updated. The Manager asks parents to bring in a written letter of permission to administer any medication their child needs which is obtained prior to giving any medication. This signed letter must provide the date, name of the medication and the child’s name. The letter is kept in the medication book where the parents sign daily. Staff to continue to document the administration of medication: Childs name, name of medication, dosage, time medication was administered and signed by two staff. Parents to sign the medication book daily. Preventive Action (1)(j) Staff to be reminded to document the administration of medication correctly. Parents to be reminded to provide the necessary letter prior to administering any medication. Management to do weekly checks on medication book and reiterate the policy to staff
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Basic needs: 1. Water was not provided to the children when they were playing in the outdoor play area. This prevented the children from taking a drink spontaneously whilst they were outside. Supporting relationships and interactions around children: 2. There were no family photographs displayed in either of the 2 preschool rooms on the first floor of the service. The family photographs that were on display in the Baby/Toddler room were positioned at too high a level for the children to see. This does not enable the children to develop a sense of belonging and connectedness in the service and to maintain links with family and home. Physical and material environment: 3. Some play materials were not visible and easily accessible to the children. Kitchen resources in the Home Corner area of the Baby/Toddler room were not easily accessible to children to play with. One child was observed to climb into a dolls cot whilst trying to access kitchen resources from the kitchen box. 4. There were 2 dolls houses in the Baby/Toddler room, neither of which had accompanying visible resources such as dolls or furniture to enhance children’s play. 5. In the Baby/Toddler room when children were observed to sit together to eat their meals together, one child was observed to be sitting in a chair that was not appropriate as the child’s feet could not touch the ground
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action Basic needs: 1. Staff to continue to offer water to children every 15 minutes and to encourage children to drink water. If children are going outside for longer than 15 mins they are encouraged to take their water bottles with them. Supporting relationships and interactions around children: 2. Family photographs have since been moved from the stairs area to the preschool room walls. Photograph albums have been bought for children to fill with family photographs and to look at when they wish. Physical and material environment: 3. Play materials have been made more easily accessible. More lower shelving has been bought, and the room has been rearranged to create different environments. 4. One doll house in the toddler room is used as a bookshelf, and the other doll house has furniture for it. More will be bought if necessary. 5. Smaller children will be placed in highchairs going forward. Preventive Action Basic needs: 1. Staff to remind children to take water bottles to the garden. Management to ensure that this occurs. Supporting relationships and interactions around children: 2. To encourage staff to think of other ways to help children to develop links between home and creche life and to develop a sense of belonging and connectedness. This will be ongoing and discussed at any meetings going forward. Physical and material environment: 3. Staff encouraged to link in together as much as possible to discuss the physical and material environment. If staff require materials to benefit the children’s development, this will be discussed with management. 4. Staff encouraged to link in together as much as possible to discuss the physical and material environment. If staff require materials to benefit the children’s development, this will be discussed with management. This will be discussed at any team meetings going forward. 5. To remind staff to make sure that smaller children are to be seated in highchairs
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. The play kitchen that was provided in the outdoor play area was in a poor state of repair with foam exposed beneath the damaged wooden exterior. This was a splinter risk for the children and unsuitable for them to play with. 2. The door on the play kitchen in the Baby/Toddler room was loose off the hinges. This posed a safety risk to the children. Infection Control: 3. The children attending the preschool rooms on the first floor of the service had their afternoon tea which they brought with them from home and contained meat and dairy produce stored on shelving in the Preschool room and not stored under refrigerated conditions. This increased the risk of bacteria multiplying to levels which could result in illness. 4. Infection control measures were not always followed. The possible risk of the spread of infection was increased due to the following: • In the Baby/Toddler room one child’s snack which consisted of crackers, cheese and strawberries was placed directly on the tray of the highchair. This posed an infection control risk. • The nappy changing mat in the Baby/Toddler nappy changing area was torn with foam exposed underneath. This posed an infection control risk as it could not be cleaned effectively. • Staff members were observed not to wash their hands after cleaning children’s noses. This posed an infection control risk. Administration of Medication: 5. The services administration of medication policy was observed not to be followed as evidenced by medication administration paperwork that were reviewed in the Baby/Toddler room: • The paperwork did not include a section where a parent/guardian’s signature would confirm that the parent was informed at collection of the dosage and last time of administration. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action General Safety: 1. Kitchen in the garden has been disposed of. 2. Doors have been taken off the kitchen due to a safety risk issue. Infection Control: 3. All the staff are aware of our infection control policy. Staff take out all the perishables from lunch boxes and place them in the fridges in the kitchen on a daily basis. Staff to be more vigilant when checking the lunch boxes to make sure nothing is missed that poses a risk to the children. 4. Plates to be used for any teatime that is not in lunch boxes. Highchairs continued to be wiped down after every use with disinfectant spray. Nappy changing mat was replaced. Staff reminded about the importance of handwashing policy for infection control. Administration of Medication: 5. All staff reminded about the medication policy. They are reminded to be extra vigilant when documenting child’s name, date, medication, dose, time and to ensure that two staff sign. The staff are reminded that a letter is needed before administering any medication. Staff must ask parents to sign at the book daily. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. Management to be more proactive in getting new equipment when necessary and getting rid of any damaged items as soon as possible. 2. All staff to be more observant and mindful of any safety risk issues and to report to management if necessary. Infection Control: 3. Staff to be more vigilant when checking the lunch boxes to make sure nothing is missed that poses a risk to the children. 4. All staff informed about using plates for teatime and not placing food directly on highchair trays. Changing mats to be replaced more frequently. If a rip occurs it will be changed immediately. All staff reminded about the importance of handwashing at team meeting. Management to continue to monitor handwashing and encourage staff to do so as much as possible. This is to be reiterated at every staff meeting. Administration of Medication: 5. Management to continue to remind staff about the medication policy and to ensure it is being followed correctly. This is to be reiterated at all staff meetings. Summary Comment The inspector has reviewed the actions and evidence submitted. The non-compliances under Regulation 23 have been addressed
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 24, 28.