Inspection of 12 January 2026 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. • Immediate Action Notice (IAN) was issued to the service on the 12 January 2026 in relation to Regulation 9- Management and Recruitment. On the 13 January 2026 the registered provider responded adequately to the IAN with the measures implemented within the service. Please see details in the body of the inspection report. • Following the inspection a referral was made to the Service Operating Outside of their Registered Status (SOORS) department of the inspectorate.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (c) A Garda vetting disclosure had not been obtained for one staff member employed in the service and working directly with the children. An Immediate Action Notice (IAN) was issued to the service on the 1 2 January 2026 in relation to Regulation 9- Management and Recruitment. (3) Documentary evidence was available to demonstrate that the procedures outlined in paragraph (2) had not been completed for one staff member prior to starting in the service and allowed access to the children. (4) One staff member who was working directly with the early years children did not have documentary evidence of at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed eligible by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Provider's corrective action:
- In response to the non-compliances identified under regulation 9 the registered provider has stated the following. (2)(c) Garda vetting disclosure was obtained. (3) The personnel files for the staff member have since been clearly organised to ensure that all recruitment documentation is readily identifiable and recorded in line with Regulation 9. To prevent re-occurrence, the following measures have been implemented: • A recruitment checklist is in place requiring all the required information is available prior to commencement of employment. • Management sign-off is required before any staff member starts work. • Recruitment procedures for all staff are applied consistently. • Regular audits of personnel files are carried out to ensure ongoing compliance. (4) In response to the non-compliance the registered provider has stated that the staff member works in a floating role and has never been left unsupervised with children and is not included in the minimum adult: child ratios. At all times, children’s safety and supervision were fully maintained, and the staff member was appropriately deployed in a supervised floating role. The following measures are in place: • Documentary evidence of qualifications, or current enrolment in an approved qualification, is obtained, verified, and retained on file for all staff. • Staff who are undertaking qualifications are deployed appropriately and are not left unsupervised with children or included in ratios until qualification requirements are met. • Management reviews and signs off on all qualification documentation prior to staff working directly with children. • Regular audits of personnel files are carried out to ensure ongoing compliance with qualification requirements
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (2) The minimum adult to child ratio was not maintained in the Senior room in the morning from 10.02-11.05am as there were 2 adults caring for 23 children aged from 4-5 years of age service attending the service on a sessional basis. Three adults were required for this number of children
Provider's corrective action:
- (2) In response the registered provider has stated that management reviewed the timeline of the incident with staff and reinforced the immediate escalation procedure to ensure ratio compliance is always maintained. Following the inspection the service completed a review and reinforced the service’s existing procedures with all staff to ensure that minimum adult to child ratios is always maintained. The ratio procedure and escalation steps are displayed in each classroom. Staff have been reminded that, where there is any risk of ratios not being maintained, the established procedure of temporarily accommodating a child in another classroom must be implemented immediately, including during unexpected events such as late arrivals or unplanned interruptions. This procedure is implemented in a calm and discreet manner, ensuring appropriate supervision, continuity of care, and the wellbeing of the child always. Management will continue to monitor staffing arrangements, room attendance, and ratio compliance throughout the session to ensure that regulatory requirements are consistently met. These measures will ensure that minimum adult to child ratios are maintained at all times and that the service remains fully compliant with the Preschool Regulations
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (e) The service is not currently equipped with an adequate number of sanitary facilities for 49 children aged from 2-6 years of age. The current facilities consist of two separate sanitary areas beside Junior 1 and Junior 2 rooms consisting of a toilet and wash hand basin, and a further three toilets and two wash hand basins beside the Senior room. The service requires an additional wash hand basin to meet the needs of the children in attendance on the day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- (e) In response the registered provider has stated that a review of the service sanitary facilities took place following the inspection finding. Attendance has since returned to and is maintained within the registered maximum of 44 children unless and until approval for any increase in numbers is granted by the Inspectorate. • Any proposed increase in registered numbers will be applied for and approved in advance, ensuring facilities and resources are reviewed and approved prior to implementation. • Management will continue to monitor attendance levels and the availability and visibility of sanitary facilities to ensure ongoing compliance with the Preschool Regulations. • Management is satisfied that this was an isolated occurrence, and appropriate systems are in place to ensure continued compliance
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
- (3) On the day of inspection there were 11 children aged between 2-3 years of age attending a sessional service in the Junior 1 room. However, on review of the children’s attendance records and on discussion with staff it was confirmed that 12 children are registered and have been in attendance in the care room. The care room is 19.6m 2 and only has adequate clear floor space for a maximum of 11 children attending a sessional service and 8 children on a full day care basis
Provider's corrective action:
- (3) In response the registered provider has stated that to ensure full clarity and absolute alignment between registration and room capacity, the registered number for the Junior 1 room has now been formally reduced to 11 children. All relevant records have been updated to reflect this. Management has reviewed and documented the maximum capacity for each room based on clear floor space requirements. Procedures have been strengthened to ensure that registration numbers do not exceed the approved room capacity. Management will continue to monitor registrations and attendance to ensure ongoing compliance. Management is committed to maintaining full compliance with the Regulations and to ensuring ongoing adherence to all regulatory requirements
Regulation not named in the report text
- (1) The registered provider did not notify the inspectorate of an increase in the number of children that were being accommodated in the service. The service is currently registered to have a maximum of 44 children aged from 2-6 years on a full day care basis. On the day of inspection there were 49 children present in the service aged from 2-6 years of age and 50 children registered
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) In response to the non-compliance the registered provider has stated that management immediately reviewed attendance and registration procedures and clarified with all staff that children must only attend the service in which they are registered and that the registered maximum number for each service must not be exceeded. Attendance records and procedures have been reviewed and reinforced. To prevent re-occurrence, the following measures have been implemented: • Attendance is maintained within the registration maximum of 44 children and will not be increased without prior approval from the Inspectorate. • Children will only attend the service in which they are registered. • The maximum number of children for each registered service will not be exceeded at any time. • A daily attendance monitoring system has been strengthened to ensure compliance. • Staff have received guidance regarding capacity requirements. • Management will oversee and monitor attendance daily to ensure ongoing compliance
Found compliant: Regulation 15, 19, 23, 25, 26.