Creche Inspection Reports

The Children's Village

Full Day · 1 - 6 Years · Balbriggan, Dublin · Tusla ID TU2015FL299 · 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
5non-compliances at latest report read
1immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 14 May 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (d) International police vetting was not available for 3 adults who had lived outside the State as adults for more than 6 consecutive months
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action (d) Two of the three international police vetting obtained. The third staff member has since returned to their home country so no longer required. Preventive Action (d) All staff will have to provide these police vetting before starting with the service, if not originally from Ireland. Management will cross-check each staff file’s work and maintain a high standard of documentation

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • Physical and material environment: 1. There was no supportive equipment available at the play kitchens in the outdoor play areas at both sides of the service to enable the children to extend their play. 2. In Bright Spark 2 room a shelving unit was observed to be turned away from the children and stored against the wall after 12pm which prevented the children from accessing the play resources contained within, which included Montessori materials. This practice restricts children’s freely chosen play through reducing their access to play materials and resources. 3. There were no family wall photographs displayed in Bright Sparks 2 room or Treasure Island room. This prevented children from using family wall photographs as a means of maintaining links with and bridging the gap between the service and home
Provider's corrective action:
  • Physical and material environment: Corrective Action 1. They have placed an order for outdoor equipment. They have hired maintenance man to build a sensory wall alongside their outdoor kitchen area. This will be completed over the summer months. The gardener has ordered soil to re-plan the garden / soil areas for children to be able to engage in messy outdoor play. 2. They have addressed this matter with all staff. They have highlighted the importance of freedom of choice. they have been resourcing courses/ workshops for staff to complete over the super to refresh training skills, importance of play. staff completing the new training also provided by the local Childcare Committee. 3. They have arranged for parents to provide family pictures on their parent’s day. This will take place in the first week of July when families meet teacher and class. They fill out the necessary document and all about me form and provide pics for staff to have ready on the first week of term. Preventive Action 1. Management will regularly walk the outdoor area to assess what maintenance is required and place an order at the end of each term, they also have discussed with staff the children’s interests and needs and reached out to them for feedback on what they feel would be beneficial. They will do a survey each term going forward and have set a budget to spend. 2. The management team will do unscheduled classroom checks to observe the layout of rooms, equipment being used, spot checks of cleanliness and documentation. 3. All staff will have this set up on first week of term. Staff have been reminded of the importance and benefits. For families that can not print staff has asked them to email, and they will provide the printing service. They understand the importance of having it at child level and all staff have been instructed to have it displayed in a clear space for all children to see throughout the day. Management will also check this at the start of each year and watch to make sure it maintained

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. A Garda vetting disclosure that was available for 1 staff member was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Infection Control: 2. The children attending the Little folks’ room did not have their hands washed after they had their nappies changed, this is an infection control risk. 3. The children attending the Bright Sparks 1 room had their afternoon snack placed directly onto the table, children’s food and snacks should be placed in a bowl or on a plate. 4. The children’s snacks in Bright Sparks 2 room which contained perishable items were not refrigerated and were observed to be kept in children’s lunch boxes on top of a shelving unit in the room. This increased the risk of bacteria multiplying to levels which could result in food poisoning. 5. At times during the inspection children attending the Little folks room and the Little Sunflowers Room were observed to be brought to the nappy changing area in pairs and small groups, while the staff member was changing a nappy, the other child was waiting in the space. On one occasion there were three children in the nappy changing room, with two additional children using potties. This practice does not support effective infection control practice
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action General Safety: 1. The staff members Garda vetting application was submitted the week of the inspection. We are still awaiting the review and also are checking the portal regularly Infection Control: 2. The babies have been practicing washing hands before and after meals. They use a step in class and sink area to wash hands. They also complete this activity after nappies and outdoor play time. They have placed hand washing posters in the rooms also. 3. Plates have been provided for all classrooms. children always eat snack on a plate. Staff have been reminded of the importance of this step in your daily routine. 4. The Room has a box, clearly labelled. Each day the children place their snack in the box and one staff member from the room place it in the dining room fridge. 5. Nappy changing policy reviewed. Staff rostered on - person doing breaks will now relieve baby room staff to allow them to have one baby at a time. This will be best practice going forward. Toddlers and baby rooms do not mix nappy changing times. Scheduled times have been rostered unless it’s an emergency. Preventive Action General Safety: 1. A chart has been displayed in the office with review dates. Management will check all staff files and make sure all necessary documentation is in place. Infection Control: 2. Review hand washing policy / infection control. Provided to all staff to make sure they refreshed the steps. Management will do spot checks on daily routines. 3. Each day staff will collect plates from the kitchen. Staff have been trained or have been booked in for basic food safety training. Again, management will carefully observe and do routine spot check. 4. Staff have been reminded of the importance of food safety. All staff will be trained in food safety. 5. Scheduled nappy changing times more. Staff rostered to allow nappy changing times

Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance

  • (1) The children’s attendance records were not accurately maintained as evidenced by the following: • A child attending the Little folks room was present in the service from 1:05 pm but was not signed into the register at 3.00pm. • A child attending the Bright Sparks 2 room who was collected at 12.00pm was not marked absent from the register until 1.00pm. It is acknowledged that this was rectified when the inspector brought this to the attention of staff
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Action (1) Staff have been addressed about the importance and had to recap on the sign-in and out policy to follow each day. Management have been checking role, books daily to correspond with room number. Preventive Action (1) Management has a checklist which they will use to run routine spot checks around each room. Checking numbers, ratios, sign/ in and out etc. will be on that list. They have also signed up to introduce using an app and digitally record children’s attendance etc. Summary Comment The evidence submitted by the registered provider in relation to regulation 24 - checking in and out and record of attendance has been reviewed and accepted

Regulation 29 — Premises

  • The ambient temperatures in the Little Folks room were not maintained of 18-22°C for children aged 1 year and older, as detailed in table 1.1 below. These temperatures posed a risk to the safety and comfort of the children in attendance. It is acknowledged that, when asked by the inspectors, the staff member accurately described the safe air temperature range and had already implemented and continued to implement control measures seeking to achieve this through opening windows and doors to enhance ventilation in the room, additionally the staff member brought the children to the garden while the room was cooling. However, although partially effective as evidenced in the temperatures recorded during the afternoon, these measures did not prevent the room temperatures from remaining high on the 13/05/2025. Date Location Air temperature Time recorded 13/05/2025 Little Folks room 25.8°C 09:55am 26.4°C 12:25pm 23.0°C 2:30pm 23.9°C 4:45pm 14/05/2025 Little Folks room 22.7°C 09:55am 22.5°C 1:50pm (d) The service was not maintained in a proper state of repair as demonstrated by the following: • The paint on the wall on the wall adjacent to the rest area in the Little Folks room was peeling with plaster exposed underneath. • The paint on the wall beside the door to outdoor area in Bright Sparks 2 room was peeling with plaster exposed underneath
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective Preventive (d) A digital room thermometer is placed in the room each morning at the opening and set up. The temperature is checked by staff and documented. This happens in the baby room / toddler room and cot room daily. When the room reaches elevated temperatures there is a protocol in place which includes introduction of a fan, open windows, remove children where possible. Preventive Action (d) Staff know the protocol to follow. Room thermometers provided in rooms to indicate rising temperatures. Management will also spot check this to maintain the correct room temperature

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 26.

Inspection of 7 May 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of inspection for excessive room temperatures in the sleep room. Within 24 hours of the notice being issued the registered provider responded to the inspectorate with written assurances of appropriate actions being implemented in the service to reduce the likelihood of excessive room temperatures in the sleep room and an action plan in the event the temperature begins to rise above the normal range of 22°C.

Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

  • 1. There was no supportive equipment available at the play kitchens in any of the 3 outdoor play areas to enable the children to extend their play. 2. The Little Folks room lacked identifiable interest areas and the selection of materials available were limited in range, variety, and sensory experiences. In light of this, the children’s opportunities to engage in self-directed and interesting play experiences were impacted. It was noted that the practitioner made efforts to engage children in an activity but, when an activity was not adult led the children were observed to wander in the room
Provider's corrective action:
  • Corrective actions: 1. Outdoor play equipment for each play area has been purchased and all sand pits and gardening areas have been updated. Role play equipment for play kitchen is provided each day and removed from shed. 2. Management inspected the room and children’s interests were noted. New equipment was provided and set up. Sensory play is incorporated daily both inside and outside. Age-appropriate books were updated. Variety of real-life equipment was placed in the home corner, role play areas. Preventative actions: 1. Staff will set up the garden each morning before the children access the garden and the deputy manger will monitor the play area and equipment to see for regular updates. Staff have been encouraged to extend curriculum plans for outside. 2. Staff engaged in training workshop for guidance on environments for this age group. Going forward management will do regular checks of equipment and carry out regular updates. Parents are sent documentation and updates of the new sensory activities their children are doing

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. It was observed that one child in each of the following rooms, Little Folks, Busy Bees and Bright Sparks, were served whole grapes from their lunchboxes to eat in the service. The grapes were not cut in half until the inspectors requested the staff members to do so. Whole grapes should be halved or quartered to reduce the risk of food related choking incidents. 2. At 10.25am a safety risk was identified during nappy changing. The 4 children from the Little Folks room were brought to the nappy changing room which was located in the corridor between the Little Folks and Little Sunflowers room. While the staff member was changing a nappy, the 3 other young children were waiting in the space. The inspector observed the children wandering in the changing room, with 1 child repeatedly climbing on steps and holding onto the wash hand basin. The staff member was unable to ensure the child’s safety while also changing a nappy. A staff member from the Little Sunflower room was also present in the nappy changing room with 2 children using potties. This further reduced the amount of space in the room, increasing the risk of falls or accidents. The staff member returned the 2 older children to the Little Sunflower room leaving behind one staff member, 4 young children and a used potty. The 2nd staff member returned to empty the potty, and upon opening the door 1 of the 4 children ran from the changing room and had to be returned twice. When the 4 children and their caregiver left the changing room, 2 of the children ran ahead with 1 pushing the door in the corridor open and briefly catching a finger in the door. This practice was unsuitable and resulted in several health and safety risks. Infection Control: 3. The children and staff member in the Little Folks room did not wash their hands before handling and eating of their morning snack. Safe Sleep: 4. On the inspector’s arrival to the sleep room at 9.35am the temperature was found to be slightly above the temperature range of 18°C – 22°C as per the safe sleep guidelines, reading 22.4°C on the inspectors thermometer. Although the windows were open, the room temperature continued to increase throughout the morning and the following is an account of the inspector’s temperature recordings and events. o At 10.35am the room temperature of the sleep room was 23.3°C. The sleep room was not in use at this time. o At 10.55am the room temperature of the sleep room was 23.4°C. Children from the Little Folks room were being prepared to be placed in the cots. The inspector informed the service manager of the exceeding room temperature that the children would be sleeping in. o At 11.50am the area of the sleep room (closest to the door to Little Folks room) where 3 children were sleeping was recorded to have reached 25.4°C. o At 1.25pm the room temperature of the sleep room was recorded to have reached 25.7°C. Two children were sleeping in the room at this time. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider onsite as the elevated and excessive room temperatures pose a health and safety risk to sleeping children as stated in safe sleep guidelines. The service also had signage on the sleep room doors that staff should not allow room temperatures to go above 20°C. Therefore, the practice was also at variance with the services internal policy. 5. Insufficient equipment was used to record sleep room temperatures. On review of the services sleep check forms, it was observed that the staff members had been recording the sleep room temperature to be 20°C. The sleep room had a wall mounted mercury thermometer installed at each door of the sleep room. The readings on both were at variance to the inspectors calibrated thermometers. These mercury thermometers were being used by staff and management to determine room temperature but were inaccurate. These thermometers only serve as a guide to temperature ranges and not accurate readings
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: Corrective action 1. All staff were advised in relation to the health and safety of food prep during snack time. All parents were once again advised about sending fruit in chopped. 2. Nappy changing times and practices for Little Folks and Little Sunflower rooms have been revised. Staff will take children to the changing room individually while the remaining children are supervised. Allocated times for nappy changing have been agreed to avoid sharing the space. In case of emergency, staff will check that the space is available. Preventive actions: 1. Snacks will be checked before children access them. Regular emails/texts are sent to parents about chopped fruits/vegetables. 2. Timetable created for supervised nappy changing. Infection Control: Corrective action: 3. Staff advised and reminded on importance of handwashing for health and safety. Children have completed a refresher lesson on how and when we wash our hands in all classrooms. Preventative actions: 3. Handwashing posters provided at children’s level. Staff will be trained appropriately throughout the year on health and safety measures within the service. Safe Sleep: Corrective action: 4. Responded to immediate action notice immediately. A risk assessment and response plan was created and new signs about room temperatures on display and room temperatures are checked regularly during the day. 5. A new digital and electric thermometer was purchased. Mercury thermometers are no longer in use to determine room temperatures. Preventative actions: 4&5: All staff have been re-trained on safe sleep following risk assessment and response plan. Management will monitor actions and documentation. Ventilation and room temperatures monitored throughout the day

Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance

  • (1) A child who arrived at the Busy Bee room at 9.10am was not signed in to the daily attendance book when the inspector reviewed the record at 10.05am
Provider's corrective action:
  • (24)(1) All staff were reminded of importance of child sign-in. All roll books will be checked daily by manager or deputy manager. Headcounts will be done throughout the day and cross checked with the sign in book. Roll books will be brought to garden also and management will do spot checks to ensure this is the case

Regulation 25 — First aid

  • (1) According to the staff roster for the week of the 6th – 10th May a person with First Aid Response (FAR) training was not rostered to be on the premises between the hours 5.30pm – 6.30pm Monday to Friday. A person trained in FAR is required to be available on the premises at all times
Provider's corrective action:
  • (1) All staff rosters have been planned going forward with FAR trained staff opening and closing the service. More staff have been registered for FAR training courses

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 26.

Other services in Dublin

Alert me when a new report is published · Dated report on this service — €19