Inspection of 20 March 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a)(b) One written and validated reference was not available for one student. (a) One written reference for one staff member was not validated. (3) Documentary evidence available to demonstrate that the procedures outlined in paragraph (2) (a)(b), had not been completed prior to staff and students starting in the service and allowed access to the children
Provider's corrective action:
- (2)(a)(b) Immediate corrective actions were taken in relation to non-compliance of Reg 9(2)(a) and (b). A checklist has been created for student file to ensure all relevant documents including two written verified reference letters are organised in the student file. A full audit of all existing staff files will be conducted on a monthly basis to ensure that staff files have all documents. For new staff, the service will ensure that all documents will be organised before the commencement of the employment of the staff. A checklist has been introduced for staff files. (3). The person in charge will ensure that students and staff are not permitted access to children until the regulatory requirements relating to verification of two written references are met. The person in charge will ensure evidence is documented by completing the student and staff file checklist
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (k) On review of ten accident and incident forms, information was missing as follows: o The parent’s signature was missing from two forms. o The date of the parent’s signature was missing from four forms. o The surname of the child was missing from one form
Provider's corrective action:
- (k) An audit of completed accident and incident reporting forms was immediately conducted, and the missing details were completed. Staff were provided refresher training on accurately completing the accident and incident reporting form. To prevent the non-compliance in the future, a separate accident and incident reporting book has been provided to both care rooms. The lead educators of both rooms have been assigned the responsibility. A member of the management team will regularly conduct an audit of accident and incident reporting book. Also, new staff members will be specifically trained on the completion of accident and incident form as a part of the induction process
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Basic Needs: 1. In the Bright moon room, the changeover of staff in the care room and lack of staff consistency led to lack of coordination of transitions and impacted the continuity of care for the children. This created an atmosphere of disorganisation and poor child engagement resulting in children becoming upset. It is acknowledged the room leader was absent during the 2 days of inspection. The following was observed: o At 12pm the children were instructed to sit at the table for dinner. Initially the children appeared happy and sang songs with a staff member. Dinner arrived at 12.22pm by which time the children were restless, had left the table and begun to argue and fight with each other. o The provision of food at lunch time was disorganised and unplanned. Initially the children were provided with potato, gravy and sliced cucumber and tomato at 12.22pm followed by fish fingers at 12.36pm. This created confusion for the children and did not create a relaxed and sociable atmosphere for dinner. Physical and Material Environment: 2. The layout and materials available in both care rooms did not promote a child led, inviting, engaging and explorative environment for the children. For example: • In the Bright Moon room: Areas of interest were not established; the home area was disorganised with dress up clothes in baskets , dolls with no clothes , no play kitchen; The art area was empty; The book area was poor with damaged and torn pages; farmhouses and trucks had missing pieces; battery toys were not working; family wall and artwork at a high level and not visible to children. • In the Shining Stars room: Boxes of equipment had an assortment of toys equipment and dolls. Labels on boxes or shelves did not match the contents of the boxes. Storage of jigsaws in a large box with loose jigsaw pieces. Two play kitchens were empty of play food and supporting equipment. Play food boxes contained other toys limiting the visibility of the contents of three boxes and where not directly accessible to the play kitchens. The art trolley contained a pile of soft toys and dolls with no clothes. Books were limited and damaged and four torn toy catalogues books blocked visibility of the books present. No family wall or family books were available to the children to provide comfort and a sense of identity for the children. 3. The fully enclosed outdoor area located to the side of the service was not adequately equipped with toys and materials to enable the children to enjoy the space throughout the year
Provider's corrective action:
- Basic Needs: 1. The person in charge of the service coordinated with the kitchen staff to make meal time a pleasant and uninterrupted experience. The mealtime routine was reviewed to ensure food is prepared and ready prior to children being seated. The kitchen staff was also instructed to serve the meal all at once rather than in separate stages. Management have reviewed staffing arrangements and room support procedures to ensure greater consistency of educators within the room during future staff absences. This will also support to maintain consistent routine, facilitate smooth transition and meaningful engagement of children in absence of the key educator of the classroom. To ensure smooth mealtime routine, staff will be provided refresher training on creating a positive and calm mealtime experience for children. Management will encourage daily communication between kitchen staff and classroom staff regarding meal readiness. For the future, the relief kitchen staff will be provided training on mealtime routine. Physical and Material Environment: 2. The learning environment of the Bright Stars classroom was reviewed, and clearly defined areas of interest and play are created. Additional resources have been added to the environments. To prevent the reoccurrence the person in charge will conduct a monthly environment and resource audit for both Bright Moon and Shining Stars rooms. Management will conduct spot checks to ensure that the classroom environments and resources are well maintained by the classroom staff. At future staff meetings, the team will review physical learning environments based on Aistear Siolta Practice Guide. Staff will undertake free e-learning training on the learning environment. The service has also applied to a Quality Development Service (QDS) for support in creating child centred and quality indoor and outdoor learning environment. 3. The outdoor play equipment and materials were reviewed, and additional resources have been added to support children’s exploratory play opportunities. The person in charge will conduct a monthly environment and resource audit for outdoor area. Management will conduct spot checks to ensure that the outdoor environment is well maintained by the staff. The service will continue to enhance the outdoor environment with open- ended materials, sensory resources and other play equipment
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Infection Control: 1. Poor infection control practices were observed in the service, leading to poor hygiene procedures and a risk of cross infection and were at variance with the service policy and best practice guidelines follows : o Thermostatically controlled water was not available in the wash hand basins in the Sanitary facility or in the sink in the corridor. o Handwashing was not completed after outdoor play or before mealtimes. o In the three toilets in the sanitary facility, the toilet paper was not hygienically dispensed from the holders available. No toilet paper was present in one toilet and in the remaining two toilets, the toilet paper was observed to be sitting on the back of two toilets, which was not accessible for the children to reach or use. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- Infection Control: 1. The person in charge undertook an immediate review of infection and control procedures. A mixing valve has been added to the water heating unit in children’s toilets to regulate the water temperature as per the regulations. Staff were reminded and re-instructed regarding hand washing routine before meals, after outdoor play and at other crucial times of the day. Toilet facilities were immediately restocked with toilet paper. New child friendly toilet paper dispensers have been added to replace the old ones. A member of the management team will conduct regular audits of sanitary facilities to ensure toilet papers are easily accessible to children and hygienically maintained
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 32.