Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: (1) A single-user trampoline was observed in one of the care rooms; these are not permitted for use unless clinically prescribed. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: The single use trampoline was removed immediately on the day of the inspection and has been permanently removed from the service
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 19, 25, 26, 28.
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. During the inspection, it was noted that the bathroom facilities located between the wobbler and toddler rooms did not adequately support the privacy and dignity of the children using them. The toilet stalls in this area were not fitted with doors, resulting in children being visible to others while using the facilities. In addition, this layout allowed children entering the hallway or using adjacent toilets to observe those in the bathroom, which compromises the children's right to privacy during personal care routines. 2. On the day of inspection, children's sleep needs were not adequately met as observed when children who were sleeping on floor mats came into direct contact with the floor due to shifting during sleep. This arrangement poses a risk to children's comfort, positioning and overall welfare. 3. During the inspection, it was noted that a child with a known dietary-related health concern did not have an individual care plan in place. On discussion with both staff and the regiestered provider it was unclear whether the condition constituted an allergy or an intolerance. The lack of clarity presents a risk in the absence of a documented plan; staff may not be unable to respond appropriately in an emergency
Provider's corrective action:
(1) Toddler friendly stall doors have been added to the bathroom facilities. (1) It was discussed with the team and new signage with instructions was introduced as a reminder to ensure each child remain on their sleep mat fully during their nap. Reminders during staff meetings. (2) A new care plan was introduced, which will be completed by the parent to ensure we have a clear direction for staff to follow and also a doctor’s note to confirm it Ensure all children with dietary concerns as given the form to fill upon enrolment
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. During the inspection, wires connected to monitoring equipment were observed positioned above a cot where a child was sleeping. This setup may present a potential safety concern, as loose or exposed wires within reach of children could pose a risk. 2. During the inspection, it was noted that a prescribed inhaler for one child was not stored in the labelled box designated for it. Instead, the inhaler was found in a separate, unlabelled container. This could lead to confusion or delay in accessing the medication in the event of an emergency. Fire Safety: 3. During the inspection, fire doors within the service were observed to be propped open using wedges. This practice may compromise the intended function of fire doors, which are designed to prevent the spread of smoke and fire in the event of an emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
(1) The wires were high out of reach of children but are now placed in trunking to ensure they cannot be reached. (2) All inhalers are now placed in each room first aid box to ensure they are not displaced. Going forward during room and staff meetings with will be added to reminders Fire Safety: (3) The wedges have been discarded and no longer in use in the service to prop open the kitchen door behind the stair gate. The wedges have now been permanently removed
(2) (a) The second reference on file for two staff members was from a source other than one of their listed past employments. (4) It could not be determined from the information provided that one staff member had obtained a major award in Early childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent
1. Contrary to the services policy on supervision which states, ‘all staff members must have regular and consistent supervision’ , ‘all staff members are entitled to regular and uninterrupted supervision’ and ‘the following methods are used to support staff; one to one supervision’ both management and the staff members confirmed that one to one supervision meetings are not carried out in the service. 2. The services policy on supervision also states, ‘all new staff members should have an appraisal carried out before the end of their probationary period and annually thereafter’. There are 22 staff members currently employed in the service. A record of an appraisal was available for only four of the staff members, all of which were dated in 2023
Provider's corrective action:
(2) (a) The educators have updated their CVs to ensure they correspond with the references. We have updated our checklist to ensure all references must correspond with the CV. (4) The educator has completed their third year with ATU and we have a letter from ATU stating their current qualification, however we now also have a letter of qualification recognition from DCEDIY. We will ensure we get the letter from DCEDIY to validate qualifications. (7) 1. The reason supervision has not been formally documented to date is that it has been carried out informally through regular room chats and ongoing check-ins with the team. These informal discussions have allowed for consistent support and communication among staff. However, we acknowledge the importance of adhering to our supervision policy and maintaining clear documentation. Going forward, we will ensure that all supervision sessions are carried out in line with our policy and are fully documented to reflect professional practice and accountability. 2. At the time of inspection, the 2024 appraisals had not yet been completed. This was due to time constraints and our priority to ensure the continued smooth running of the service. We acknowledge the importance of timely appraisals and have since completed the outstanding 2024 reviews as a matter of priority. To ensure we remain up to date going forward, we have now implemented a new appraisal timeline, attached which will help us carry out all future staff appraisals within the expected timeframes
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
(3) The services child protection policy states ‘our policy is to suspend the member of staff on full pay for the duration of the investigation’ when an allegation has been made against a staff member. A concern was received by the Early Years Inspectorate and issued to the registered provider on 31 March 2025 which included allegations against a staff member. On the day of inspection, the registered provider confirmed that they had not informed the staff member of the concerns against them or carried out an investigation
Provider's corrective action:
(3) Following the initial concern, human resources were contacted for advice and guidance on appropriate next steps. In alignment with their recommendations, a series of investigation questions were drafted to support a thorough and fair inquiry. To ensure transparency and safeguard all involved, additional staff members were temporarily assigned to the room to enhance monitoring. Furthermore, relevant CCTV footage was reviewed as part of the investigative process. Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring that similar incidents do not occur again. As a result of this experience, we now have clearer protocols and a more structured approach in place, allowing us to gather the necessary information and carry out any future investigations more efficiently and promptly
Regulation 32 — Complaints
(1) (a) The procedure to be followed when making a complaint was not clear on the service policy as incorrect contact information was detailed within the policy. (2) (b) A concern received by the Early Years Inspectorate regarding the service was issued to the registered provider on 31 March 2025. The registered provider confirmed they had not carried out an investigation into the concern despite the services complaints policy stating that complaints will be ‘dealt with promptly’ and ‘in a timely manner’
Provider's corrective action:
(1) (a) The complaints policy is now updated and concerns the correct contact information. (2) (b) We have updated our policies to include clearer guidelines, ensuring that complaints are addressed and investigated more promptly. We have reviewed and strengthened or existing procedures and reassessed current policies to identify any gaps and ensure they clearly outline responsibilities and response protocols