Creche Inspection Reports

Sonasámh Montessori Scoil

Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Baltinglass, Wicklow · Tusla ID TU2015WW112 · Registered since 1 January 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

2published inspections
4non-compliances at latest report read
1immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 4 March 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on the day of inspection 4 March 2026, under

Regulation 22 — Food and drink

  • High sugar snacks, such as chocolate spread, chocolate biscuits and crisps were observed in seven of the lunch boxes of the children in Joanne/Sophie’s room. This was not in line with the Healthy Eating policy of the service, which states that “we do not allow fizzy drinks, sweets, chocolate, crisps, nuts or nut spreads”. This was noted on the last inspection report 25 April 2024. The corrective and preventive actions submitted failed to prevent the non-compliance from re-occurring
Provider's corrective action:
  • More healthy eating signs on front door and anything unhealthy is sent back home in school bag and healthier option of food distributed by service if needed. Being more observant of what is contained in the children’s lunchbox, enforcing healthy eating topics at Circle Time and continuing with our partnership with parents re. healthy options for lunchboxes

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. The registered provider did not have in date emergency medication for a child in the Montessori who required it. There was no care plan in place for the child should an emergency arise. An immediate action notice was issued on the day of inspection and the registered provider responded the following day and this response was accepted by the inspectors. Infection Control: 2. There was no hot water and the tap could not be opened in the sanitary area of Joanne/Sophie’s room. Warm water is required to support effective handwashing. 3. Following a review of the nappy changing procedure, the correct time to remove soiled gloves was not noted. Removal and disposal of soiled gloves should follow cleaning of the child and bagging of the soiled nappy. The correct disposal of soiled gloves is an essential part of cross infection prevention. The practice observed during one nappy change on the day of inspection, was soiled gloves were not removed and disposed of until after the child had been redressed and the child’s hands were washed. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. The child with out-of-date medication- this was immediately corrected and evidence sent through to Tusla Inspectorate. A Monthly review is taken on children who use medication in the service. Date of expiry is noted. Infection Control: 2. A plumber came to fix the tap in the care room. We will keep on top of broken fixtures and fittings in the service as a matter of urgency. 3. Detailed step by step guide to Nappy Changing Procedure is hung on the wall over the nappy changing area

Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures

  • There was no in date maintenance record for the smoke detection system. This was noted on the last inspection report 25 April 2024. The corrective and preventive actions submitted failed to prevent the non-compliance from re-occurring
Provider's corrective action:
  • Hugh Fleming and sons issued the school with fire cert the next day as they had not issued it sooner. Notifying electricians quarterly about Cert to be issued

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (d) (1) The inspectors observed that parts of the service required maintenance such as the radiator, and a portion of the wall above the radiator in Joanne/Sophie’s room. There were also spots of rust along the bottom of the radiator. (2) The wooden boxes encasing the pipes in the sanitary area in Joanne/Sophie’s room needed repainting. (3) The laminate covering surrounding the sink in Laura/Bernie’s room was torn in several places and in need of replacing. (4) The plaster on the wall beside the exit door in Michelle/Jenny’s room was chipped and in need of repainting. (5) The permanent play structures in the outdoor areas needed repainting as there were large areas of chipped paint which needed maintenance
Provider's corrective action:
  • (d) 1-5 A painter is in working at the moment and has started on the outer building and will continue to re-paint other items. The painter is progressing with what is needed for the school and he is due back to finish the sink surround and play structures. New wooden play frames were purchased for the outdoors. We will keep more of an eye on equipment looking unkept. We have asked Staff to note any broken fixtures and have them fixed quickly

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 15, 16, 20.

Inspection of 25 April 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • Written validated references were not available in respect of two adults in the service. This was noted on last inspection
  • There was no evidence available for one adult of having obtained a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education on the National Framework of Qualifications
Provider's corrective action:
  • Validated references were sought in respect of two adults in the service. All staff references and awards to be in Tusla folder for inspection and checked regularly
  • No written response

Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service

  • There were no clear guidelines for effective nappy changing available as a procedure within the Infection Control policy of the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • A new nappy changing procedure is now available. A nappy changing policy and procedure will be reviewed and changed if needed on a regular basis

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • There was no curriculum vitae available for one adult who was present in the service on the day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
  • The name, position, qualifications and experience of all employees to be kept on record at all times even the students who come in for work experience. To validate all CV’S and ensure they are evident for inspection

Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play

  • There were no rest facilities available to the children in the second area of the subdivided room (sessional room 2) for use during their day. This was noted on last inspection
Provider's corrective action:
  • Rest facilities were put back in place i.e. bean bags and soft matting for rest areas indoors, to ensure that rest facilities are provided indoors at all times

Regulation 22 — Food and drink

  • 1. High sugar snacks, such as chocolate spread, chocolate biscuits and jam sandwiches were observed in lunch boxes and eaten for lunch by a large number of children in the service. These snacks were supplied by parents. This is in direct contradiction of the Healthy Eating policy of the service. 2. There was also no extra food available in the service should a child forget their lunch or require additional food
Provider's corrective action:
  • (1) Parents are going to be more informed about our healthy eating policy and treats to be allowed only on a Friday. Food pyramid to be displayed in a more obvious position for parents. (2) Food will be supplied for those children who may need extra lunch and this will be kept in the food cupboard if and when needed

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. There was an open paint tin containing wet paint and a paint brush on a shelf in the sanitary area of larger subdivided room, that could have been accessed by children in the service. 2. Following a conversation with the registered provider, it was confirmed that fire drills were carried out on different days from individual rooms. This poses a general safety risk to both staff and children, as staff have no experience on how to manage the entire service needing to be evacuated, all at once, in an emergency. Infection Control: 1. The nappy changing procedure observed was not effective for infection prevention. The adult did not remove contaminated gloves before redressing the child and did not clean the changing mat between changes. This poses a risk of cross infection. 2. The nappy changing mat was torn in one corner and a large piece of the internal foam was exposed, meaning the mat could not be cleaned effectively between nappy changes. This poses a risk of cross infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: (1) The paint can was removed from sanitary area. Checking shelves for hazard materials will be checked as part of our risk assessment each morning. (2) Fire drills are going to be performed as a whole school going forward. Understanding that fire drills should be conducted as a whole school. Infection Control: (1) The staff were informed again of the appropriate procedure of nappy changing to prevent infection and contamination. The staff will be inspected on a regular basis around the whole area of nappy changing procedure and they were all given the policy and procedure to read and adhere to. (2) A new nappy changing mat was bought for the changing unit. The nappy changing mat will also be added to our morning risk assessment checklist to make sure it isn’t damaged, and staff will inform management of any tears etc

Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures

  • There was no current up to date record available of servicing for the smoke detection and fire alarm system. This is a potential risk to the safety of the children and adults attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
  • The company who installed the smoke alarms were contacted to administer the updated forms for the smoke detection and fire alarm. The company were informed that they have to give a yearly report on the fire alarm system as previously promised

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (c) While the room temperature in the small sessional room was maintained at 18°C throughout the morning, the large, subdivided care room’s ambient temperature did not reach above 16.2°C. The room temperature was recorded at 11.15am and 11.45am and the temperature remained the same. The recommended ambient temperature of a care room is 18°C to 22°C. This was noted on the last report. (d) Despite cleaning schedules being in place both pre-school rooms, there was marks and paint on the walls, the windowsills, skirting boards and floors. The paintwork on the walls, windowsills and skirting boards was visibly in need of up grading
Provider's corrective action:
  • (c) As the children are mostly in our outdoor classroom, the staff were advised to keep the external doors closed to maintain the required temperature in the sub-divided room indoors, this will also be our preventive action. (d) The school gets a refurbishment of paint every summer, so we are awaiting the painter to arrive this summer to upgrade the school. To be aware of keeping the school looking well and upgraded regularly

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 28.

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