Creche Inspection Reports

The Apres School Club Ltd

Sessional · 2 - 6 Years · Killiney, Dublin · Tusla ID TU2015DR137 · 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
3non-compliances at latest report read
1immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 26 March 2026 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (a)(b) On the day of inspection, a second reference for one adult was unavailable. Two references for one adult had not been suitably validated. (d) Police vetting was unavailable for one member of staff who had lived outside of the State for a period of six months or more as an adult
  • The registered provider did not take appropriate measures to ensure that all employees were suitable to work in an early years’ service prior to their commencement date as outlined below: • The registered provider did not ensure that Garda vetting disclosures were received for two staff members prior to their start date of employment. One staff member commenced employment on 01 September 2025 with the Garda vetting disclosure dated 11 September 2025. The second staff member commenced employment on the 02 September 2025 with the Garda vetting disclosure dated 10 September 2025. This was non-compliant on the last inspection on 16 June 2025 and the corrective and preventive action submitted by the registered provider failed to prevent the non-compliance from re- occurring • It is acknowledged that four past employer references were available in respect of two adults, however, these references had been validated by the registered provider after both adults commenced employment in the service. One staff member commenced employment in the service on 01 September 2025 and the references were validated on 04 September 2025. The second adult commenced employment on the 02 September 2025 and the references were validated on 04 September 2025. This was non-compliant on the last inspection on 16 June 2025 and the corrective and preventive action submitted by the registered provider failed to prevent the non-compliance from re-occurring
Provider's corrective action:
  • A second reference has been received and validated and placed on the staff member’s file. Confirmation of validation of two references for one staff member has been documented on file. (d) Police vetting for one staff member is being actively sought and will be forwarded to the inspector once the service receives this from the adults previous employer To prevent a recurrence of non-compliance in the future, all new team members files will be completed before their commencement date. A new onboarding system is in place to ensure all documentation is obtained before a start date is issued and said team member is permitted on the premises
  • Garda vetting and references will be obtained before new team members begin working for the service as part of the new onboarding system. To ensure this non-compliance does not reoccur, all documentation related to new team members will be obtained before their contracted start date. A new onboarding system is in place to ensure that person(s) involved in the recruitment process follow each step to ensure any new team member has been onboarded correctly and all documentation is in order before commencement of work

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • On the day of inspection during snack time in the Orange room at 12:55, the adults were observed to offer the children cheese and crackers. For children who did not eat cheese, there was no alternative available at this time. For children who did seek extra portions, only crackers were available. One food group does not constitute a snack as this must be two or more. At this time, the snack was served directly on the table in front of each child, they were not offered a plate or napkin
Provider's corrective action:
  • The team have been informed that food must be provided on a plate or napkin to serve food in order to prevent/reduce chances of cross contamination. A new menu has been designed to incorporate a more varied menu of food for children’s snack time ensuring that there are suitable elements offered each time and to children who choose not to eat certain items of snack. Apres School Club have purchased new plastic plates for the children to eat snack from. The service has also designed a new menu and altered the shopping order to match the new menu ensuring that varied snacks are available to the children

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • Infection Control: 1. On their return indoors from playing in the outdoor play space, children were not supervised in handwashing, and the adults were not observed to wash their hands. The children were observed to access resources from the shelves to play with them. This poses a risk to staff and children in cross contamination and cross infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • Infection Control: The team have been informed of the importance of hand washing as per policies around infection control and will ensure that hand washing occurs at all appropriate times of the day. It was communicated that hand washing is necessary to prevent cross contamination of areas. The infection control policy was discussed at a weekly meeting highlighting the importance of following said policy for the safety of the children and to ensure the service are carrying out all possible measures to prevent cross contamination and spread of any possible infection

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 24, 25, 26.

Inspection of 16 June 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. Two Immediate Action Notices were issued on 16 June 2025 for non-compliance with regulation 23. The first was issued in relation to children attending the service who require emergency medication, whose medication had expired. The second Immediate Action Notice was issued as the main entrance door to the service was open on the inspectors’ arrival and on the afternoon of the inspection. A third Immediate Action Notice was issued on 17 June 2025 for non-compliance with regulation 9(2)(c). A mandatory Garda vetting disclosure was not available for one adult who had access to children contrary to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012. The registered provider submitted a response on 18 June 2025 which should address the risk identified on inspection.

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • There was no second written and validated reference available in respect to one adult
  • A mandatory Garda vetting disclosure was not available for one adult who was present in the service on the 16 June 2025, contrary to the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on the 17 June 2025. The registered provider submitted a response on the 18 June 2025 outlining the actions being taken to address this non-compliance
  • The registered provider did not take appropriate measures to ensure that all employees were suitable to work in an early years’ service prior to their commencement date as outlined below: • It is acknowledged that two past employer references were available in respect of one adult, however, these references had been validated by the registered provider after the adult commenced employment in the service. The staff member commenced employment in the service in August 2023 and the references were validated on 29 September 2023 and 10 October 2023 respectively. • The registered provider did not ensure that Garda vetting disclosures were received for two staff members prior to their start date of employment. One staff member commenced employment on 10 July 2023 with the Garda vetting disclosure dated 12 July 2023. The second staff member commenced employment on the 04 December 2024 with the Garda vetting disclosure dated 09 December 2024
Provider's corrective action:
  • Garda Vetting has been obtained for the person in question. A second reference has been obtained for the individual and validation has been sought in the form of an email as there was no one available to speak with when contacted. The assistant manager is now responsible for all staff files ensuring that vetting has been obtained for all staff before commencement of work with our service and the three yearly renewals for all staff. They will also ensure that two validated references are filed before commencement of employment for new staff

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the service on the day of inspection, 16 June 2025 in relation to the entrance door leading into the service being open on the afternoon of inspection. This poses a risk to the safety of children as in not being appropriately secured it fails to prevent children from exiting unsupervised and to restrict unauthorised persons from gaining access to the premises. 2. During snack time in the garden, the inspector observed that a child had whole grapes in their lunchbox. It is acknowledged that the staff member cut these for the child when it was brought to their attention by the inspector. Infection Control: 3. In the sanitary adjacent to the Baking room there was no pedal bin available for disposal of paper towels, instead a swing lidded bin was in place. This poses a risk of cross infection and contamination for staff and children. 4. On return indoors from the outdoor play area, children in the Baking room did not wash hands. Administration of Medication: 5. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of inspection 16 June 2025 in relation to dates of emergency mediation required for two children having expired. This poses a risk to the health and safety of the children concerned. 6. While it is acknowledged that care plans were available for a number of children in the service, these plans require greater detail specifically for those children who may require emergency medical intervention. Care plans for one child evidenced the fact that vital information relating to the child’s medical care needs was not located centrally within the care room. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. Since the date of inspection, the front door has been bolted from the inside and the gym door is closed when unattended. When attended the front door is unbolted but closed and the gym door is open. The front is now a ‘No Go Area’ for children and all children use the back stairs whenever possible to enforce the new rule of the front area being a ‘No Go Area’. There is daily re-enforcing the new rule and following through by all members of the team. The registered provider submitted this response on 18 June 2025 which should address the risk identified on inspection. 2. Parents are reminded to cut grapes in half if including them in a child’s lunchbox. All staff are reminded to keep an eye on children’s lunchboxes and to be on the lookout for whole grapes and or popcorn. Staff should cut grapes if they come across whole grapes but also should remind parents not to include whole grapes in the future. Infection Control: 3. A pedal bin is now in place in the sanitary area next to the Baking Room. Staff are aware that this bin should always remain in situ. 4. Children are always reminded to wash their hands. Washing of hands is the first thing all children do when coming in from outside. Administration of Medication: 5. In date emergency medication was received immediately. Emergency medication is clearly labelled with the expiry date on the outside of the boxes and monitoring of all medication is now under the supervision of the assistant manager to prevent this issue from reoccurring in the future. 6. Further details in relation to medical needs have been included on care plans and these have been copied and placed with all emergency medications and is now the responsibility of management in the future

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • (d) 1. On the day of inspection, in the outdoor area, the wire fencing on the tarmacadam court area was observed to be damaged in places with sharp metal wire exposed in places posing a risk of injury to children. Staff stated that the children use this area during outdoor play. On inspection of this area, it was observed that wiring on the perimeter of the fence was in disrepair with jagged edges protruding on the ground and further evidenced in numerous holes that were visible. This compromises the fences’ purpose and poses a risk to the health and safety of children. 2. The tarmacadam surface of the court had several holes around the perimeter, and these pose a trip hazard to staff and children using this area
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. The wiring on the fence has been tightened until such time as the builders are free to carry out further repairs. There is no estimated date for completion of the work. The children are reminded not to lean on the fence surrounding the court as this is the reason why this fence is so loose. 2. The holes on the tarmacadam surface have been repaired and refilled. It is impossible to prevent this, but the registered provider will keep a close eye on it ensuring that should any new holes appear that they are filled promptly

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 16, 19, 25, 28.

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