Inspection of 7 November 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (1) There was one staff member who did not have evidence of a qualification in Early Childhood Care and Education at level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualification or a qualification deemed by the minister to be equivalent. Not having suitably qualified staff, may compromise the safety of the children
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider: Corrective and Preventive Action The staff member will not be included in ratio numbers and will not be involved in the care of children until her qualification has been received. Future staff will be employed after qualifications are on file
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (i) (1) On the day of inspection, the staff roster did not reflect the staff on duty; one staff member present in the Dancing Daisies care room was not recorded on the staff roster. In conversation, the registered provider was unaware that the staff member’s details were not included on the roster
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. A staff roster has now been put in place in the service. All staff will be listed on the roster in the future
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- BASIC NEEDS: (1) The inspector observed that drinks were not available to the children in Dancing Daisies room outside of mealtimes. On the day of inspection. the children were seen to place their bottles outside a locked door after mealtimes. In conversation with staff, bottles and lunch bags are stored in the hallway. This reduces the chance of adequate hydration for the children. (2) Contrary to the services healthy eating policy which stated that spare lunches would be kept on the premises at all times, the inspector observed that no additional food was available in the service in the event a child forgot their snack or were hungry. In discussion, the registered provider stated that they do not keep additional food in the service. PHYSICAL AND MATERIAL ENVIRONMENT (3) There was no seating area or soft furnishings provided for the children to rest or relax in the Dancing Daisies care room where the children remained in until 2.15pm daily. The lack of a rest area prevented the children from having an area to relax or opt out when they required to do so
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statements were made by the registered provider: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. Children now have access to water throughout the day and drinks will be stored in the care room in the future. 2. Food has been purchased to ensure that it is available on the premises at all times. 2. 3.Soft furnishings have been added to the rest area and will remain in the room in the future
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: (1) Garda vetting was available for five staff members. However, two vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12. Renewal of Garda vetting’. (2) The main entrance door was unsecured when the inspectors arrived at 9:40 am, posing a safety risk, as unauthorised adults could gain entry to the service. In discussion, the registered provider stated that the door is left open between 9:00 and 9:30 to facilitate parents/guardians and this was an oversight. (3) There was a large, unanchored, shelving unit stored on the windowsill in the Shining Sunflowers care room. This was accessible to the children and was unsteady to touch, posing a safety risk to the children should it fall over on top of a child. (4) Staff handbags were seen to be stored in a sink in the dancing daises room. The handbags were accessible to the children which posed a risk to a child removing unknown personal items from staff’s bags. (5) A trampoline was visible in the outdoor area, posting a potential risk of accident or injury to the children. Infection Control: (6) A nappy changing unit was observed in use in a storage room that also housed a fridge, toaster, kettle, slow cooker and microwave. In conversation, the registered provider stated that there was no room to store the unit elsewhere in the service. Changing nappies in the same area where food is prepared poses a risk of cross contamination and foodborne illness. (7) The wash hand basin observed in the nappy changing area was being used for washing play equipment in use by the children, posing a risk of cross contamination. (8) Perishable food of children in both care rooms was observed to be stored in the children’s bags, located outside the door of each care room, posing a risk of the perishable food spoiling which may lead to illness. (9) A changing mat in use on the nappy changing unit in the storage area was split at the top and the foam was exposed, posing a risk of cross contamination as it could not be cleaned effectively. (10) Bins in the service were noted to not be pedal operated in both Dancing Daisies and Shining Sunflower care rooms. In addition, the pedal operated bin in Dancing Daisies sanitary area was broken. This poses a risk of cross infection for the children placing their hands on the bins. (11) The mat under the outdoor slide was torn with inner material exposed. This made it difficult to clean adequately and posed a risk of infection to the children. Fire Safety: (12) A labelled fire exit door in Dancing Daisies, which staff informed the inspector was used as a fire exit, led down a path past paint brushes in blue liquid, a broken mop head and pieces of timber. These obstacles had the potential to impede the safe evacuation of the children and adults in the event of an emergency or fire. (13) The registered provider informed the inspector at the closing meeting that this fire exit is not in use, although it was signposted as such, and staff stated it was a fire exit. Staff and management not being clear on which door is the fire exit could lead to confusion during an emergency evacuation, posing a risk to all in the service. (14) The fire exit door in Shining Sunflowers had no fire exit sign and had a key lock. This posed a risk to the staff and children in the event of a quick evacuation. Outing: (15) Staff informed the inspector that they take weekly outings from the service and walk to local areas of interest. On discussion with staff in Shining Sunflowers care room and the register provider, no written risk assessment was performed for outings in the service. This is contrary to the service’s outing policy which stated a risk assessment is carried out on the proposed outing location prior to the outing itself. This poses a risk to the safety of the children. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The following statements were made by the registered provider:
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting disclosures were applied for two staff members and received back from the Garda vetting bureau. Garda vetting will be renewed every three years to ensure compliance. 2. Staff were reminded that the main door must be secured, and this will be checked daily. 3. The shelf has been removed. Heavy equipment and furniture will not be placed on the window cill in the future. 4. Staff handbags were removed from the sink and will be stored out of reach of the children. 5. The trampoline was removed from the outdoor play area. No further trampolines will be purchased for the service. Infection Control: 6. All Kitchen items have been removed and the area will be used solely for nappy changing in the future. 7. Play equipment items are removed from the sink and the sink will be solely used for hand washing for nappy changing. 8. Two fridges have been purchased. All perishable foods will be stored in the fridge in the care rooms. 9. The torn changing mat has been removed and replaced. 10. New pedal operated bins have been purchased for Dancing Daisies and Shining Sunflowers care rooms. All bins in the service will be pedal operated in the future. 11.The mat is now removed. Staff will ensure resources are checked prior to going out to play. Fire Safety: 12. All items have been removed from the fire exit route and the pathway will remain clear. 13. Management and staff have agreed on the alternative fire exit door on the ground floor. 14. A thumb twist lock has been fitted on the Shining Sunflowers fire exit door. All fire doors will have a thumb twist lock going forward. Outing: 15. A risk assessment will be completed and further for any outings going forward
Regulation 29 — Premises
- 29(d) 1. There was a broken, plastic waste pipe receptor, accessible to the children, below the storage room window in the outdoor play area posing a risk to the children from the broken sharp edges. 2. An air vent on the outside wall of the storage room, which was accessible to the children, was broken and the remaining pieces had sharp edges. In conversation, the registered provider was unaware of the broken vent. 3. The inspector noted the outdoor tables to be covered in sand. On discussion with the registered provider, there was no cleaning schedule for the outdoor area. This posed a risk of cross infection for the children
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. A new waste pipe has been fitted. Staff will regularly check to ensure there is no broken sharp edges evident. 2. The Air vent has been replaced and staff will monitor this in the future. 3. A new cleaning record is now in place and staff will ensure this is used
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 25, 26, 28.