Inspection of 29 January 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Some care practices observed on the day of inspection were not appropriate and suitable to the age and the needs of the children in attendance and may negatively affect the health and well being of a child as follows; 1. Children’s movement was restricted unnecessarily for prolonged periods of time in the Baby room leading into dinner time. For example, one child was observed seated strapped into a highchair from 11:04am to 11:59am. During this time, the child was displaying signs of tiredness yawning, becoming upset and rubbing their eyes. 2. Some children’s faces and noses were not appropriately cleaned throughout the inspection. For example, one child who had heavy nasal discharges did not have their face washed, despite staff members interacting directing with the child providing personal care. Although the child’s nose was wiped at times, the child was left with heavy accumulations of dried in mucus on their face
Provider's corrective action:
- 1 & 2 The use of highchairs was addressed immediately. Staff were reminded that highchairs are to be used strictly for active feeding purposes only and for the minimum time required. Children must not remain restrained outside mealtimes and must be returned to floor level promptly following meals. The Baby Room routine was reviewed to ensure that no child remains seated waiting in a highchair during transitions and that movement back to floor level occurs without delay. Expectations regarding responsive care were reinforced, including recognising and responding promptly to children’s signs of tiredness. The child’s transition to rest time was reviewed to ensure fatigue cues are acted upon without delay. Staff were reminded that children must be kept clean and comfortable throughout the day and that visible nasal discharge must be addressed promptly and consistently. Appropriate hygienic methods for cleaning children’s hands and faces were clarified. Staff were instructed that cleaning materials must not be reused in a manner that could present a risk of cross-contamination. Where required, clean disposable cotton or tissues with warm water may be used to ensure effective and hygienic cleaning. Disposable wipes are now readily available in the room to ensure prompt and hygienic response when required. A post-inspection review meeting was held with staff to formally revisit Regulation 19 requirements. Highchair use, freedom of movement principles, responsive care expectations and personal hygiene standards were reviewed collectively to ensure consistent understanding and implementation. Personal care standards, including prompt response to visible nasal discharge and maintaining children’s comfort and dignity throughout the day, have been reinforced. Practice in relation to freedom of movement and personal care has been incorporated into the weekly managerial monitoring process to ensure sustained compliance and prevent recurrence. Updated guidance applies to all relevant staff and will be reviewed with any staff member returning from absence
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Electrical cables were observed hanging in reach of the children in the Toddler room from a high-level wall socket posing a risk of harm to a child. Infection Control: Some practices observed were ineffective for infection control purposes, posed a risk of cross contamination, and were at variance with the infection control policy and associated procedures in place in the service as follows. 2. In the Baby room, individual face cloths were in use to clean children’s hands and faces. These face cloths were used throughout the day of inspection to clean the children’s hands, faces after eating, and noses when soiled. The cloths were placed in individual baskets between uses and were not cleaned. 3. Children’s hands were not effectively cleaned prior to eating in the Baby room. Children were observed having their hands washed with soiled fabric face clothes before eating which had been used to clean their noses, hands, and faces throughout the day of inspection. 4. One staff member was observed to change two children’s nappies with no handwashing after or in between the two changes. 5. A mattress provided for a child to sleep on during the inspection did not have a waterproof covering on it and was placed directly onto the floor in the care room for the child to sleep. 6. Four sheets in use in the Toddler room for children to sleep on were visibly stained and soiled and required cleaning. 7. The pedal operated bin in the Montessori room was broken during the inspection meaning the bin lid had to be handled for disposal of waste. Safe Sleep: 8. A child attending the Toddler room who was aged under 2 years was placed to sleep on a mattress on the floor where a standard cot or an approved floor bed are required. There was no sleep plan available for the child in the service or any of the children aged under two years. This is at variance with the safe sleep policy and associated procedures in place in the service. 9. Three children aged one year were observed sleeping with fleeced blankets in the service posing a risk of harm from overheating. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. This was addressed immediately on the day of inspection. The cable was repositioned to ensure it was no longer accessible to children. Infection Control: 2. The use of individual face cloths was addressed immediately and the correct procedure for safe storage, single use between laundering and separation of nose cleaning and hand hygiene was clarified with staff. All cloths in use were removed and laundered. 3. Effective hand hygiene prior to meals was reinforced and staff were instructed to ensure appropriate cleaning of children’s hands before eating. 4. The correct nappy changing procedure, including full handwashing between each individual change, was reviewed and reinforced with staff. 5. The mattress without a waterproof covering that had been placed directly on the floor was removed from use without delay and replaced with compliant sleep equipment. 6. The stained sheets identified in the Toddler Room were removed from use immediately and all bedding was reviewed. 7. The broken pedal-operated bin in the Montessori Room was removed and replaced to ensure hands-free waste disposal. Safe Sleep: Safe sleep (8-9): 8. & 9. The mattress was removed from use immediately. A compliant cot was introduced for all children under two years of age. Sleep environments across the service were reviewed to ensure alignment with the Safe Sleep Policy. Individual Sleep Plan documentation was implemented for all children under two years
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (c) Parts of the premises were not adequately heated. During the inspection, inspectors recorded room temperatures below the required range of 18-22o Celsius as outlined below; Montessori room 16.1° Celsius Children’s toilet & nappy changing room 13.6° Celsius The inspectors observed children to be inadequately clothed for the temperatures, wearing only light tops at times and whilst removing clothing to use the toilet or during nappy changes. (d) The inspectors observed that parts of the premises were not adequately cleaned and maintained as required, as evidenced by the following: - In the Toddler room, areas of the walls were heavily chipped, stained, and soiled, and had a sticky residue in parts. - In the Toddler room and the Baby room, areas of the flooring and skirtings had a build up of dirt, dust, and debris and needed a deep clean. - The play kitchen in use in the Baby room had a paper covering on it which was wearing away in parts exposing a sticky residue which could not be effectively cleaned. - The laminate covering on some shelves and room partitions in the service was worn away and chipped exposing a porous wooden surface beneath which could not be effectively cleaned
Provider's corrective action:
- (c) Heating settings were reviewed and adjusted immediately. Room temperatures were monitored following adjustment to ensure they reached the required range. The matter was addressed with staff on the day of inspection and expectations regarding maintaining appropriate room temperature were clarified. (d) Following inspection findings, the entire service was repainted to restore wall surfaces to an appropriate standard. A full deep clean of flooring and skirting boards was carried out in the Toddler and Baby Rooms to remove any build-up of dirt, dust and debris. The play kitchen in use in the Baby Room was repaired. The worn covering was removed and replaced with a washable surface to ensure effective cleanability. Laminate covering on shelving and room partitions that had worn away was removed and replaced to ensure that all surfaces can be effectively cleaned
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 30.