Inspection of 18 September 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Basic Needs: 1. Two children in the Baby/Wobbler room were not facilitated by staff to sit at a table for lunch, they were instead fed their meal while sitting on the floor. This is at variance with the service policy on mealtimes and did not create a sociable and inclusive environment for the children. Physical Environment: 2. In the Baby/Wobbler room there were no additional resources such as play crockery and household items located alongside the home area for the children to extend their play and develop their skills
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. In response to the non-compliance the service has stated that training was completed with all staff to reiterate service policy and procedure regarding mealtimes to highlight that all children are to be seated at a table or low chair during all snack and mealtimes. This training occurred at a staff meeting on the 16/10/25 and policy on mealtime practices will be displayed in each care room and will appear on the agenda at each bimonthly staff meeting. 2. To address the non-compliance a wide variety of play crockery and household items have now been purchased and are in the home area. All room resources will be checked monthly by the room leader who will list if any additional resources are required in a copy book. Manager will check monthly and purchase if required
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. The service did not adhere to the re-vetting timeframes as outlined in the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice, requiring services to renew Garda vetting every three years for five staff employed. Infection Control: 2. Staff in the Toddler room were observed drying the hands of 11 children with a cloth towel. This is at variance with the service policy and increases the potential risk of cross infection. 3. It was observed that children from the Montessori 2 care room used the Baby/Wobbler care rooms as a walkway on their return to their care room from the garden. As a result, the 19 children walked on the soft matting, soft toys and floor coverings that the babies were observed lying and crawling on. This increased the potential risk of cross infection. Safe Sleep: 4. On review of previous sleep records completed by staff it was confirmed that the temperature of the sleep room used by children from Montessori 1 was not recorded to ensure it was maintained between 18-22°C while children slept. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. In response to the non-compliance the service has stated that Garda vetting has been applied for. Infection Control: 2. To address the non-compliance all staff have been reminded of the importance of children using the disposable blue hand towel or the hand dryers for drying hands and not a towel cloth. This was communicated to all staff on the 16/10/25 in a staff meeting. Signs will be placed over sinks in the care rooms with clear instructions on hand washing. 3. Children from other care rooms will no longer walk through the wobbler room after using the back garden. The Montessori classes will use the toddler room if accessible or during sleep times they will walk around the side of the building and in through the front door. New procedure communicated to all staff in staff meeting on 16/10/25 New shoe policy has been drawn up to prevent cross infection in our wobbler room Safe Sleep: 4. All staff reminded of the importance of recording the sleep room temperature in the Montessori sleep room on the sleep checklist in a staff meeting on 16/10/25. Manager to check weekly that room temperatures are recorded on sleep room checklist for Montessori 1
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 25, 26.