# The Kilns Creche & Montessori LTD, Portmarnock — inspection reports and findings

> The Kilns Creche & Montessori LTD (Portmarnock, Co. Dublin): what Tusla inspections found — 1 published inspection(s), non-compliances and the provider's corrective actions.

## The Kilns Creche & Montessori LTD

Full Day · 1 - 6 Years · Portmarnock, Dublin · Tusla ID **TU2015FL306** · Registered since 1 January 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md).

#### Inspection of 29 October 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

##### Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

- (2)(a) &(b) A second validated written reference was not available for 2 staff members. (d) International police vetting was not available for 3 staff members in respect of 4 countries they had resided in outside of the Irish jurisdiction for more than 6 consecutive months as adults. (4) Documentary evidence was not available to confirm that 2 staff members whose files were reviewed and who work directly with the children in the service did not hold an appropriate childcare qualification at Level 5 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification deemed by the minister to be equivalent

- Corrective Action (2)(a) &(b) Management have since requested the required references from staff members. (d) Management have since requested the required police vetting from staff members. (4) Staff member 1, has since graduated with level 8. Staff member 2, has been made a non-contact staff member until she has completed the last module of her level 5. Preventive Action (2)(a)(b)(d) Management will ensure that all staff have the appropriate documents before their employment commences. (4) Management will ensure all staff have documents available of their qualifications and ensure all staff members hold the minimum Level 5 certificate in full

##### Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- Physical and material environment: 1. The play kitchen in the Tweenie Room was insufficiently resourced to facilitate meaningful play as evidenced in the small amount of supportive play materials provided in the room, consisting mainly of plastic food, which were stored separately from the kitchen. There was a lack of real-life everyday objects such as food packaging to support the children to engage in role play. 2. There was a lack of natural and sensory materials in the Tweenie and Toddler room in order to facilitate sensorial play experiences or encourage the children’s creativity and imagination. For example, sensory type materials such as sand, water, rice or pasta trays were not available to the children to enjoy sensory experiences. 3. Family photographs were not displayed in the Tweenie room and the Toddler room. The lack of family photographs prevented children from using photographs as a means of maintaining links with and bridging the gap between the service and home

- Corrective Action Physical and material environment: 1. The service has since purchased more kitchen items and staff are working on creating a home corner with more meaningful materials and relatable materials to this area. 2. The service has since bought and introduced more sensory toys to the Tweenie room and a treasure basket also with lots of different textures and sensory items. Staff are working on introducing mini tuff trays to the shelves with rice, pasta, sand. And a rota has been set up to encourage more water play and messy play activities. Staff have also been encouraged to use the large tuff tray to introduce more sensory options to the children. 3. Staff have updated all family trees and have moved the Tweenie family tree into the room so they can see and make reference to their family. Staff are also compiling Toddler Room family tree is also. Staff have begun on working on children’s picture books for their library within the class, this is where the parents are encouraged to share photos from home, and these can be available to each child. Staff will also be beginning to create class photo albums within the class. Management has discussed the importance of inclusion and connection between family and service. Preventive Action 1. Management have discussed with all staff to review of all toys on a more regular basis will and any items broken or need of more supplies this will be rectified in a more timely manner, and notified to a member of management. Staff will work with their better start mentor to help support the team and improve in this area. 2. Staff have been notified to make management aware of the need of more craft, sensory or ingredient materials or supplies in a timely manner so that sensory play can still continue. Management will monitor and mentor the staff to ensure they are creating a rich environment for discovery and play for the children. Staff will work with their better start mentor to help support the team and improve in this area. 3. Management will discuss the importance of inclusion and the benefits it has. Management will follow up with staff to ensure all family trees are updated when needed and display is clear and displayed at a low level so children can access and observe

##### Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

- Infection Control: 1. The water at the taps in both the sanitary area and the care rooms was cold to touch. Cold water does not support effective hand hygiene practices. 2. The children attending the Tweenie room were not facilitated to wash their hands before they ate their dinner. 3. The children attending the Playschool room ate their morning snack directly off the table. 4. One of the cushions in the rest area in the Toddler room was not covered with a washable cover, this is an infection control risk. Safe Sleep: 5. Sleep plans incorporating robust risk assessments were not available for 3 children who were observed sleeping in cocoon beds, all of whom were aged less than 2 years, to demonstrate the children’s developmental readiness to move from a cot to floor bed. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action Infection Control: 1. Regarding the hot water on the day of inspection, manager had electrician come out after the inspection to check our water and there was a fault in the time clock to switch on the water as the clocks changed over the bank holiday, which has since been fixed and service had running hot water by the end of the day. 2. Manager has discussed their hand washing policy with all staff, she has introduced a step to help support the tweenies up to the sink area to wash their hands with a member of staff at all times, alternatively the children can also be brought out to our toilet area where their hands washed. 3. Management discussed with all staff the importance to give children their snack on plates provided. 4. New cushion covers are being sourced to help support the changeover and ensure all pillows have covers at all times. Safe Sleep: 5. All parents of the 3 children sleeping on floor beds have since completed the planning for sleep need of children in ELC services advised by Tusla’s guidance for the Early learning and Care sector. Preventive Action Infection Control: 1. Clocks and time clocks will be checked after time change throughout the year. 2. Review of handwashing policy more frequently, management will ensure all staff are up to date on this policy and all children in the service are washing their hands as to service’s policy. 3. Management will ensure all plates are accessible to staff for their snack times. 4. Should a cushion have no cover it will be removed from the room, management will ensure all covers are washed and available for change over. Safe Sleep: 5. Management will ensure that these forms are filled prior to children sleeping in the floor beds. Supporting documentation submitted Documented and photographic evidence was provided including copy of parental sleep documentation and sleep plans, copy of services handwashing policy, water maintenance tracker and a photograph of the rest area. Summary Comment The inspectors reviewed the corrective actions and evidence submitted by the registered provider after the inspection. The registered provider demonstrated that the non-compliance identified under Regulation 23 - Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child has been adequately addressed

##### Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures

- (1)(b) There was no up-to-date official maintenance record available for the smoke alarms on the premises

- Corrective Action (1)(b) Manager was speaking to our management company, they are waiting for an engineer to complete the smoke alarm tests. Preventive Action (1)(b) Manager will keep in contact with the management company to ensure these safety measures are carried out. Their other fire safety equipment has been certified

##### Regulation not named in the report text

- (1) The registered provider failed to notify the Early Years Inspectorate of a change in circumstances in relation to the following as per the schedule 4 Form for Notification of Change in Circumstances: • The designated person in charge of the service is at variance with the person listed on the national register

- Corrective Action (1) Manager has filled out and received confirmation of the name change of circumstance form to rectify this non- compliance. Preventive Action (1) All paperwork will be reviewed before staff take maternity leave and if other changes to their management team occur

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 24, 25.

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[Alert me when a new report is published](/help.md) · [Dated report on this service — €19](/report.md)

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Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/creche/the-kilns-creche-montessori-ltd-portmarnock/
Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate
Recolha: 2026-09-11