Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of inspection in relation to concerns under
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. At dinner time, a child in the Toddler room was observed to ask the staff members for more food. Additional portions of dinner were not available to the child when requested. The inspector observed the staff members telling the child that there was no more food. Extra servings of food should be available to the children in the event that they are still hungry at mealtimes. 2. Resources in the Tweenie room were inaccessible to the children, limiting their choice and opportunities for play. Evidenced by the following: o A selection of books were stored on high level shelving and the windowsill in the care room. o A selection of soft, plush toys were stored in baskets, on top of a shelving unit. o Foam blocks used to develop gross motor skills were stacked on top of one another in the corner of the care room. 3. Children in the Tweenie room were observed to play in the big outdoor area on the morning of the inspection. During this time, the children did not have access to age and developmentally appropriate toys and equipment which were stored in the small garden to the rear of the premises
Provider's corrective action:
1. The chef has been instructed to prepare extra food, so additional portions are available if needed. Additional dry food is also available in case any child remains hungry after receiving extra portions. 2. Resources are available with visual markers to clearly indicate where each toy box belongs on the shelves at the children’s level. Management will regularly monitor the rooms to ensure this practice is being followed. 3. Children in the Tweenie room will use the small garden during the day. If the Tweenie room wishes to use the large garden, appropriate equipment and materials will be relocated to support their play
Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials
1. Practices that restricted opportunities for imaginative and spontaneous play experiences were observed as follows: o Supporting props and equipment for kitchens in the Tweenie and Toddler rooms were not available. o Supporting props and equipment for the kitchen and playhouse in the big outdoor play area were not available. o Chalk or mark making materials were not available for use with chalkboards in the big outdoor play area
Provider's corrective action:
1. Additional kitchen toys have been added to ensure children have materials for both indoor and outdoor play. Chalk is always available in the garden storage and is made accessible to the children during outdoor play. A box clearly labelled “kitchen toys” will be placed in the Tweenie room, Toddler room and Garden. Staff members will inform management when additional chalk is required
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The following was observed in the big garden on the day of inspection, which posed a potential risk pinch or injury to children: o A panel on the gate that formed part of the emergency evacuation route was observed to be broken. o Chalkboards with serrated edges were accessible to the children. Exposed screws were also accessible where pieces of the equipment had broken off. Infection Control: 2. A child from the Toddler room was observed to have their nappy changed on the floor of the sanitary accommodation and without a nappy changing mat. This does not support effective infection control and poses a potential risk of cross contamination. It is acknowledged that a nappy changing mat was available in the service but was not used in this instance. 3. Children were observed to use each other’s blankets during the transition to sleep time, while others were observed to fall asleep in the wrong beds, posing a potential risk of cross contamination. 4. A foot operated pedal bin was observed to be overflowing with contaminated material in the children’s sanitary accommodation opposite the staff room. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. All potential pinch or injury risk has been removed, and the broken gate panel has been repaired. Risk assessments are completed daily, and staff members report unsafe materials and equipment to management. Infection Control: 2. A changing mat is available and easily accessible for use and will be used to change the child on the floor when needed. 3. Children sleep on designated beds with corresponding sheets to prevent cross contamination. Staff members will ensure that beds are prepared properly, and correct sheets are used for each one. After use, the sheets are stored in clearly labelled containers. 4. The bins will be emptied twice daily or when they are full. Staff members will monitor bins when accompanying children to the toilet and empty them regularly to prevent overflow. Management to conduct spot checks
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) Documentary evidence was available to show that two adults held in date First Aid Responder (FAR) training certificates, however, no adult was immediately available to the children in the event of an emergency between 07:30am – 08:30am on the day of the inspection. This was evidenced in the scheduled attendance in the service’s staff roster and staff sign in record. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the service in respect of this non-compliance
Provider's corrective action:
(1) Management reviewed and amended the staff roster for the week to ensure that an adult was immediately available to the children at all times during the service’s operating hours. Management will ensure that there is an adult trained in FAR on the premises and immediately available to the children at all times during operating hours in the event of an emergency
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
(b) Documentary evidence was not available to demonstrate a maintenance check had been carried out on the smoke alarms in the previous twelve months
Provider's corrective action:
(b) A maintenance check was carried out on all smoke alarms and will be checked quarterly going forward
Regulation 27 — Supervision
The registered provider did not ensure that preschool children attending the service were supervised at all times. 1. Three children were observed to exit their care rooms, close the door behind them and proceed down the corridor to use the sanitary accommodations unsupervised by staff members. This was evidenced by the following: o One child from Montessori 1 was observed to be unsupervised by staff members for a period of 8 minutes before returning to their care room. o One child from Montessori 2 was observed to be unsupervised by staff members for a period of 2 minutes before returning to their care room. o One child from Montessori 2 was observed to be unsupervised by staff members for a period of 5 minutes before returning to their care room. This posed a potential risk to the children’s safety and welfare
Provider's corrective action:
All children are accompanied to the toilet by a member of staff, following our toileting policy. Management is available to accompany children to the toilet in the event that a member of staff is preoccupied
Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of inspection in relation to a non- compliance identified under
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. Battery operated toys in the Baby and Tweenie rooms were observed to not work for example 4 of 6 toys in the Tweenie room and 5 of 6 toys in the baby room were not working on the day of inspection. This diminishes the play value of the toys and does not support the children’s understanding of cause and effect. 2. Two children were observed to use soothers in the Tweenie room on the morning of inspection. The soothers were observed to be in their mouths for the duration of the morning while they played which may impact their speech development and limited opportunities to practice developing language skills. Staff advised they do not limit the use of soothers during the day. The service policy does not address the use of soothers in the service but states that they will support parents to limit the use of soothers to sleep time or when the child is upset and in need of comfort. 3. Chairs were not available for use between meals in the Tweenie room as they were stacked in the corner of the room. This impacted the play experience of a group of children who were playing in the home corner making dinner and were not able to mimic a normal dining experience as they had to stand at the table while pretending to eat the food they prepared. Chairs should be available for use as needed by the children. 4. Chairs and tables in the Montessori room were not an appropriate size to allow the children to engage in mealtimes and tabletop activities comfortably for example some chairs were too high and prevented the children pulling their chair under the table meaning they had to lean forward when using the table, other chairs were observed to be too low and resulted in the table being armpit height on the children. Chairs should be an appropriate size to allow children to sit comfortably with their feet on the floor while the tables should sit at waist height to allow then to comfortably engage in activities at the table
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective and Preventative Action (1) Replace batteries in all non-working toys promptly. Implement a regular maintenance schedule to ensure battery-operated toys are functioning properly and replace them for toys that don’t need batteries little by little. (2) Talk and encourage the parents to start reducing the soother at home and follow this practice in the Creche. When the children move to the Tweenie Room talk to the parents about reducing the soother use step by step. (3) The chairs are always in their place all the time. (4) One table and six chairs were bought for Montessori Classroom. Be sure that all the tables and chairs suit the age of the children
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
1. A range of toys and equipment was not provided for children to play outdoors in line with the service policy. The toys available to up to 21 children from the Montessori room who were observed using the large garden at one time included 5 ride on toys, 2 seesaws, 1 scooter, a large rotating seesaw, 1 slide, 1 small truck and a mud kitchen which had no props or supporting equipment available. Children were observed wandering in the garden during outdoor time. Children require an adequate number of toys to be provided to ensure varied and stimulating play experiences, support their learning and development and encourage and extend spontaneous play experiences. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in November 2023. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence
Provider's corrective action:
1. Additional toys were bought for the garden: Wooden House, motorbike, big blocks and real kitchen items. Make sure that the garden has toys to support play
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A bottle of laundry detergent was accessible on a low shelf to children in the Montessori room posing a potential risk to the children who could access it. Infection Control: 2. Children were observed to open a pedal operated bin using their hand in the Montessori room. Staff did not support children to correctly use the bin which posed a potential infection control risk. 3. Handwashing was not in line with the service policy or best practice guidelines. The following was observed; • Staff members did not was their hands after helping children with nose wiping in the Baby room and Montessori room. • Staff and children from the Toddler room were observed to leave the sanitary facilities and proceed to another sanitary area down the hall to wash their hands. This posed and infection control risk. 4. Handtowels and tissue were not hygienically dispensed in the Sanitary area adjacent to the staff toilet and in the Montessori room. This posed a potential cross contamination risk. Fire Safety: 5. A gate in the garden which forms part of the fire evacuation route was difficult to open as it was wedged against the wall. This may impede the safe evacuation of children in the event of a fire emergency. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of the inspection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Removed the laundry detergent bottle and stored securely. Daily checks to prevent presence of hazards in the classroom. Infection Control: 2. Visual reminder placed on bin to remind children to use the pedal. When the school year starts time will be dedicated to explaining how the room works and the rules. This will be done during the year for new children. 3. Staff were reminded at staff meeting of hygienic practice to avoid the risk of contamination. A step has been provided to help children reach the hand towel dispenser in the sanitary area, so they do not have to leave to wash their hands. Regular meeting with the staff regarding our policies and ongoing encouragement of children. 4. Paper hand towel dispenser installed. Photographic evidence submitted on the 15/04/2024. Fire Safety: 5. The gate has been fixed and a wheel applied to assist with opening. Regularly checks of the gate will be completed. Summary Comment The corrective and preventive actions taken by the registered provider have addressed the non-compliances identified under Regulation 23
Regulation 29 — Premises
(e) A children’s sanitary area located in the main corridor was not adequately enclosed as it was fitted with low level saloon style doors which opened directly onto the corridor. This is contrary to HPSC infection control guidance for sanitary accommodation. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022 and November 2023
Provider's corrective action:
(e) The toilet has been fitted with a door to seal it off from the corridor. Regularly checks will be carried out on the material and construction in the Creche
Regulation not named in the report text
(1) The registered provider did not notify the agency of a change of person in charge which came into effect in December 2023 and was known about prior to this as discussed during the previous inspection in November 2023
Provider's corrective action:
Acknowledgments The inspectors wish to acknowledge the cooperation of the person in charge, operations manager, staff and children who were present on the day of the inspection
Immediate action notice. However, on inspection additional non-compliances which posed a risk was identified under;
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
(2)(b) Evidence of verification of one written reference from a source other than a past employer was not available for review. (d) An international child protection certificate (ICPC) was not available in relation to one staff member who previously lived in the UK for a period of more than 6 months. It is acknowledged however that a standard police check record was held on file. (3) The records showed that the procedures specified in (2) were not carried out before the start date of staff who had commenced employment since the last inspection in October 2022
Provider's corrective action:
(2)(b) The reference was checked on 22/11/2023. New employee’s reference checks will be carried out by HR Manager or Operation Manager prior to starting date of new employee, as per company’s recruitment policy. (d) The documentation was applied for on 19th January 2024. All candidates who have lived for more than 6 months and left UK after 2012 will be required to provide ICPC. This requirement updated in company’s recruitment policy. (3) New employee’s reference checks will be carried out by HR Manager or Operation Manager prior to starting date of new employee, as per company’s recruitment policy
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
(1) The registered provider did not ensure an adequate number of adults were working directly with the children at all times throughout the day. The following was observed; • Between 10:38-11:06am while nappy changing was ongoing in the Tweenie room there was insufficient adults present to meet the needs of the children. For example, one staff member was caring for 8 children aged 1-2 years old. One child was observed to cry consistently while other children were observed to not be engaged in any activities and a number of physical altercations were observed to occur. While the staff member attempted to comfort the crying child and separate children involved in disputes an additional staff member was required to meet the needs of the children present. • Insufficient adults were available to care for the children during the period 12:18pm- 2:30pm while staff lunchbreaks were in progress. The following was observed. o Between 12:18pm-12:20pm seven staff were available to care for the children. Eight staff were required based on the ages of induvial children. o Between 12:20pm-12:40pm six staff were available to care for the children. Eight staff were required based on the ages of induvial children. o Between 12:40pm-2:15pm five staff were available to care for the children. Eight staff were required based on the ages of induvial children. o Between 2:15pm-2:18pm six staff were available to care for the children. Eight staff were required based on the ages of induvial children. o Between 2:18pm-2:30pm seven staff were available to care for the children. Eight staff were required based on the ages of induvial children. (2) The registered provider did not ensure that ratios were maintained in the service throughout the day. The following was observed; • Between 11:40am-2:40pm the ECCE and Montessori groups were combined to facilitate breaktimes. From 11:40am-12:15pm two staff were observed to care for 23 children; 6 of whom were aged 2 years old and 17 of whom were aged 3 years old. Then from 12:15pm-2:40pm two staff were observed to care for 22 children 6 of whom were aged 2 years old and 16 of whom were aged 3 years old. Three staff were required. • Between 12:40pm -2:30pm one staff member was caring for 9 children aged 2-3years from the Toddler room. Two staff were required. • Between 12:18am-12:29am one staff member was caring for 7 children aged 8-14 months old. Two staff were required
Provider's corrective action:
(1)(2)A new staff member is effective from December 2023, contracted as an Assistant Manager. Since December, we have three staff members to cover lunch, nappy changes and times when the room is outside of the required ratio: a part-time staff member, an assistant manager, and a manager. We have established emergency procedures which may include the assignment of staff from other branches or reducing opening hours to ensure the safety and well-being of children
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. Drinks were not observed to be provided to children with their meals in the Baby room and Montessori room. It is acknowledged that the drinks in the montessori room were available on a low-level shelf however some drinks had spilled into the tray and the beakers were lying in the spilled water. Children need access to water throughout the day to maintain hydration. This is especially important for younger children who are non-verbal and may not be able to communicate thirst. when children are too young to access drinks themselves. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. 2. Transitions in the service were observed to be unstructured and lengthy in some cases. The following was observed; o At 10:14am the Toddler and Tweenie groups were in the garden. One staff member advised the children they were going in and the children started moving toward the door. Once the children were at the door and proceeding inside the staff member advised that the Toddlers were going in first and the Tweenies had to wait. The staff began bringing the Tweenies back out to the garden and preventing them going through the door telling them they have to wait. The children became upset and were observed crying, the staff member then advised that they could go in and they were allowed to proceed through the door. o Following naptime, the children from the Tweenie room were brought back to their care room while the Toddlers were still present, and the beds were being cleaned away following naptime. Children from both rooms were observed wandering around the room while staff cleaned up with no toys or activities to engage them, a number of children were observed crying during this transition. o The transition to snack time was observed to take an extended period of time in the Montessori room which resulted in the children engaging in negative behaviour. The children began to prepare for snack time at 10:22am by washing hands and sitting at the table. Children are observed shouting, laying across the tables and pulling at each other until 10:43am when two children helped the staff give out the snack bowls. Children were encouraged to wait until their peers returned from the toilet before eating. At 10:50am children were allowed to eat their snack. 3. The programme of activities observed on the day was limited across the care rooms and did not include planned or spontaneous activities to extend children’s interests and learning opportunities. The daily routine displayed outlined times for mealtimes, nappy changing, and designated outdoor times however a variety of activities to engage the children were not observed. For example, the children in the Tweenie room were observed to play with a small number of blocks and cars before snack from 10:20am-10:30am and following snack from 10:38am and 11:06am when circle time started. During this time children were observed to interact with each other negatively, pulling toys and hitting while others wandered around the room. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. 4. Staff did not respond appropriately to children’s hunger ques. In the Baby room children aged 1 -2 years old from the Tweenie room who were present in the room because their care room was being used as a sleep room for children from the Toddler room were observed to be told they would have to wait to go back to their room when they gestured to the staff for food while children from the baby room ate afternoon snack. The children were observed crying when told to wait. One child was observed picking up pieces of snack that had dropped into an empty highchair and onto the floor. A child from the baby room who indicated they would like more food was removed from the highchair and brought to the cot room for a nap without being given more food. 5. An alternative meal was not offered to two children aged 3 years who refused dinner and staff advised no alternative is offered and that the children will receive tea at 2:30pm. Children in Full Day Care should have at least two meals and two snacks offered to them, one of which is a hot meal. If a child does not want the food offered for any reason, a healthy alternative should be offered. 6. The behaviour management procedure implemented by staff was not in line with the service policy which promotes consistency and helping children to understand their own behaviour. Staff were observed to tell children aged 1-2 years old “no” when they hurt t heir friends, but no further support was offered to help the child understand or empathise with their peers while in another instance a child who was involved in an altercation was offered no comfort or reassurance following the instance. This was a non- compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. 7. Appropriate bed linen was not provided for children in the Toddler room who sleep on low level beds. During naptime the children were not provided with a sheet and were observed to sleep directly on the mesh surface of the low-level beds. This does not provide for the children’s comfort while sleeping. This was a non -compliance on the last inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action 1. A meeting held with the Baby Room teachers to ensure that water is offered to infants regularly and the montessori tray replaced by a flat one to prevent water storage. 2. The Tweenies and Toddler groups use different gardens, and there are schedules in place for each class to exclusively enjoy their respective garden. Changes have been made to the organization of the creche; rooms will be exclusively age-based. When the Tweenies wake up, they will go to their own classroom where they will be offered a snack. The Toddlers will sleep in the same room where they spend the day, so as they wake up, the snack can be served to them. Implementation of board games or stories during waiting periods in Montessori Room. 3. The curriculums have been reviewed and updated including planned and spontaneous activities. 4. When the Tweenies wake up, they will go to their own classroom where they will be offered a snack. The Toddlers will sleep in the same room where they spend the day, so as they wake up, the snack can be served to them. 5. Alternative food will be reserved, like an option for those children that refuse the food. 6. Individual Staff training sessions provided for staff to ensure that staff are well aware of behaviour management procedure and strategies in the service and best practices for childcare settings dealing with 1-2 years old challenging behaviour and that staff are familiar with company’s policies and procedures regarding that and are competent to follow them. Staff training was conducted on the Behaviour management and Interactions policies which included reading policies and procedures, answering key question on each topic, and manager’s feedback provided to summarise each session. Management will follow up to ensure the effectiveness of the training provided to certify: staff understands child behaviour and choose the most appropriate behaviour management strategies as well as creating strategies for helping them to understand their own behaviour. 7. Beds in toddler room are covered with bed protectors (material - cotton) for children to sleep on. Manager/ assistant manager will carry out spot checks, daily/ weekly checks to ensure appropriate linen is used when children are sleeping. Preventive Action Manager and Assistant manager are going they conduct meetings regular check to make sure staff is following procedures
Regulation 20 — Facilities for rest and play
(1)(a) The registered provider did not ensure there was adequate facilities for children to play both indoors and outdoors during the day. The following was observed; 1. The children were not provided with equipment to support a variety of enriched learning opportunities or spontaneous play experiences and empty shelves were observed in all care rooms on the day of inspection. • In the Tweenie room, 9 children aged 1-2 years were provided with the following equipment; A play kitchen with no supporting resources, a number of books which were torn, a shelving unit which contained one musical instrument. A limited selection of toys including 1 farm, 1 large car, 1 basket of animals, 2 musical drums, 1 musical spinning toy and a small box of blocks were available on a high self out of reach of the children. • In the Toddler /ECCE room, 9 children aged 2 -3 years were provided with the following for use between 9:15-12:15pm while the room is divided ; a play kitchen which the door were missing from with a small box of props, as shop unit which was inaccessible and had no props, a shelving unit containing a box of cars, small wooden blocks, 2 jigsaws, magnets, a tool box containing 2 hammers, a small box of miscellaneous toys and musical instruments . The children in the Toddler room do not have access to books during this time as the bookshelf is in the ECCE section of the room which the manager advised is maintained as a separate area in the morning. • The books available in the ECCE area of the Toddler/ECCE room were observed to be in a poor state of repair; torn with missing pages. This reduced their effectiveness in supporting early literacy experiences. • In the baby room items such as supporting equipment for the play kitchen, animals and blocks were stored out of reach of the children. • A range of toys and equipment was not provided for children to play outdoors in line with the service policy. The toys available to up to 23 children from the Montessori and ECCE groups who were observed using the large garden at one time included 2 seesaws, 1 bike, 1 scooter, 1 ride on toy, a large rotating seesaw, 2 push along toys, 3 balls and 1 mud kitchen which had no props or supporting equipment available. Throughout the day children were observed wandering in the care rooms and garden and a number of altercations were observed. Children require a variety of toys and equipment which are grouped thematically and easily accessible to support their learning and development, and encourage and extend spontaneous play experiences while a selection of books encourages the development of early literacy skills. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action • The Tweenies room has been re-equipped with various toys, including a kitchen, cooking utensils, food items, a construction area with Lego and soft blocks, a shape sorting box, farm animals, little people figure, musical instruments, soft toys, dolls and books, among other things. • The Toddlers will have a room exclusively for them where they can access all resources. • A total of 70 books have been ordered for all rooms. • Baby Room teachers have been reinforced in the way children interact with their environment and the importance of toy availability. • New equipment in the garden includes: a bike, a scooter, food utensils, a shopping cart, a lawnmower, two bouncing balls, and a slide, among other items. Preventive Action A monthly review of toys will be conducted, both inside and outside the rooms. The funds allocated monthly will be used to have replacements in case of damage. Lead educators will collaborate and inform the manager about the need to replace any materials
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A record of up-to-date risk assessments was not available for review in the service in line with the conditions on the service registration. While a risk assessment was available in the Tweenie room the date recorded was the week of the 6th of October. The person in charge advised that they do not have risk assessments for the service. Risk assessments are required to ensure the safety of the children both in the indoor and outdoor environments. 2. Two trailing flexes were observed in the Tweenie room in relation to two electrical appliances which were stored on the edge of the countertop. This posed a potential risk of injury to the children should they pull the flexes causing the equipment to fall from the counter. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. 3. A low-level chair was used by children in the montessori room to access the sink for handwashing. The chair did not provide a stable, suitable surface for the children to stand on and posed a risk of injury should it topple over. 4. Trip hazards were observed in the hallway of the service was used by the children frequently to access the toilets and garden for example coats were observed to be strewn across the floor. This posed a risk of injury and may also impede the evacuation in the event of an emergency. 5. The corner of the mat in the cosy corner of the baby room was observed to be curled which posed a trip hazard to children and adults but also posed an additional risk to the children in the room who are learning to walk and may be unsteady on their feet. 6. The sit in activity centre beside the window in the Baby room was observed to be loose where the arm of the unit met the base which made the activity centre unstable. Children from the Tweenie room were observed to use the activity centre on the day of inspection. This posed a potential risk of injury to the children using the activity centre. 7. A wicker basket in the Montessori room was observed to be in poor condition with pieces of wicker protruding. This posed a risk of injury to the children. Infection Control: 8. Handwashing was not in line with the service policy or best practice guidelines. The following was observed; • Neither the adult nor child’s hands were observed to be washed following nappy changing in the baby room. • Children’s hands were observed to be cleaned with baby wipes before meals in the baby room. Adequate handwashing with warm water and soap is required to prevent the spread of infection in the service. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. 9. The surface of the nappy changing unit adjacent to the staff toilet did not provide an easily wipeable surface due to exposed unfinished wood. This posed an infection control risk due to the nature of the area in which it was present. 10. Sandwiches which contained perishable items were not appropriately refrigerated to prevent spoiling of perishable fillings. At 12:55pm sandwiches were delivered to the baby room for afternoon tea for the children in the service. These were observed to remain on the counter until 2:24pm when they were delivered to the care rooms for consumption by the children. This posed a risk of bacteria developing prior to the children consuming the food. 11. Soft furnishings were observed to be visibly soiled for example blankets and cushions in the cosy corner of the Baby and Tweenie rooms were observed to have food and other debris stuck to them. Cleaning records were not available to show when the items had been washed. This posed an infection control risk. 12. Bedlinen and a mattress protector which were present on the cots used by children in the Baby and Tweenie rooms for naptime were observed to be visibly soiled some of which appeared to be from nasal discharge. This did not provide a hygienic sleep environment for the children and posed an infection control risk. 13. Sheets which were labelled for use by named children from the Tweenie room were observed to be present in the cots following the afternoon naptime of the children in the baby room. The correct labelled sheets were not used for sleep which posed an infection control risk and is not in line with the service policy. 14. The sofa in the Montessori room was observed to be heavily soiled and stained and was in need of cleaning. Cleaning checklists were not observed in the montessori room to indicate routine cleaning. This posed an infection control risk. 15. The straps of the highchairs in the Baby room were observed to be soiled. This posed an infection control risk. 16. The sofas and soft climbing blocks in the Baby, Tweenie and Toddler rooms were observed to be torn which prevented adequate cleaning and the foam was exposed which present a risk of choking to the children. Equipment should be maintained free from hazards and in a way that allows adequate cleaning. 17. The nappy changing mat located in the nappy changing area adjacent to the staff toilet was observed to be torn and the foam exposed. This posed an infection control risk, and a risk of choking should the children ingest the foam. 18. The sleeping bags used by children in the toddler room were observed to be stored together in a press in the hallway following naptime posing a risk of cross contamination. 19. Stagnant water was observed in an outdoor sandpit which was accessible to children in the walkway to the garden behind the kitchen area. Stagnant water may harbour bacteria which could pose a risk of illness to the children. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. Administration of Medication: 20. Staff in the Baby room were unsure whether a child who was noted as having an allergy required any medication in the event of an allergic reaction. Discussion with staff and the assistant manager showed that staff were unsure if it was an allergy or parental preference. This posed a risk that the child may not receive appropriate care in the event of an emergency. 21. Medication which was out of date and another which was not labelled with the name of the owner were present in the medication box in the Toddler room. One staff member was not aware of the owner of the unlabelled medication while discussion with another staff member and the assistant manager showed that the children involved have now left the service. A bottle of antibiotic which was also out of date was stored in the baby room. This is not in line with the service policy which stated that medication should be returned to the parents. Safe Sleep: 22. Sleep checks were not conducted for a period of 17 minutes while 4 children from the Tweenie room were sleeping in the cot room. Regular sleep checks every 10 minutes are required to ensure the safety of the children while they sleep. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. 23. Sleep checks were not recorded for 3 children from the Tweenie room when the inspector checked the records at 4:07pm. When queried the staff member advised they had not had time to complete them, but they would complete them retrospectively. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. Fire Safety: 24. Staff in the Tweenie room were unaware of how many children were in their care during garden time between 9:30am-10:20am. The inspector was repeatedly advised that 10 children were present on the day and the staff member advised that she was unsure of who was not present once a headcount had been completed which showed 9 children present. This posed the risk of incorrect information being provided to the fire services in the event of an emergency. 25. Attendance records were not accessible to staff while in the garden area and when reviewed were observed to be incomplete. The following was observed; o Staff in the Toddler room advised the inspector that their electronic device was lost, and they were sharing one with the other room to access a software application used for recording information about the children so they could only access it to update information sporadically throughout the day. o A review of the attendance records the inspector observed that the attendance of 16 children had not been recorded including; ▪ In the Tweenie room at 10:30am the attendance of 3 children who arrived between 9:10am-9:30am had not been recorded. ▪ In the Toddler/ ECCE room at 11:25am the attendance of 13 children who arrived before 9:30am had not been recorded. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022. The preventive action provided by the registered provider has not prevented recurrence. 26. One low level bed used by a child from the Toddler room was placed too close to the care room door and obstructed it’s opening for example when the inspector tried to open the door to enter the room the door touched off the corner of the bed meaning the door could only halfway. This may impede the evacuation of the care room in the event of a fire emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider Corrective Action General Safety: 1. A risk assessment form is now in use for the rooms, the garden, and the cot room. 2. Machines and cables have been removed from the room, and the plugs have been secured. 3. The chair has been replaced with a step stool, allowing for more accessibility, and made of wood for increased stability. 4. The hallway is kept clear. 5. The carpet in the Baby Room has been replaced. 6. The toy has been removed. 7. A shelf has been introduced to replace and organize the various resources that were inside the basket. Infection Control: 8. The Baby Room staff has undergone retraining in infection control, and images illustrating all the steps to follow during a nappy change have been placed. 9. The bathroom has been repainted. 10. The Chef will be responsible for ensuring that food is properly refrigerated; the Tweenies room will be used as they are sleeping. 11. The washing machine has been relocated within the creche, increasing its efficiency, and cleaning schedules have been established for each room. 12. The washing machine has been relocated within the creche, increasing its efficiency, and cleaning schedules have been established for each room. 13. The numbers and label in the cot room have been updated. The Baby Room staff will be responsible for changing the sheets. 14. The sofa has been replaced, and sanding has been removed. 15. A thorough cleaning of the chairs will be carried out weekly using toothbrushes and toothpicks to access difficult areas. 16. The sofa in the Toddler Room has been replaced. 17. New changing mat was purchased. Manager and Assistant Manager will be checking on a weekly basis if any equipment needs to be replaced. 18. Sleeping bags are stored in the closet, each in its corresponding box. 19. The sandbox has been removed. Administration of Medication: 20. The parents of all allergic children have filled out our Health Care Plan, and it is already in their profiles; the allergy list has been updated. 21. All medicines have been checked; those that were already expired and those belonging to children who are no longer in our service have been removed. Medications will be reviewed by the Lead Educators and checked monthly by the management. Safe Sleep: 22. Retraining of Safe Sleep policy has been conducted for the staff in the Baby Room, Tweenie Room, and Toddler Room. 23. Retraining of Safe Sleep policy has been conducted for the staff in the Baby Room, Tweenie Room, and Toddler Room. Fire Safety: 24. An attendance chart has been integrated as a parallel resource to the software application used. Teachers who may be pressed for time or face connectivity issues will still be able to manage attendance records. 25. An attendance chart has been integrated as a parallel resource to the software application used. Teachers who may be pressed for time or face connectivity issues will still be able to manage attendance records. 26. No corrective action provided. Preventive Action • The assistant manager or manager is responsible for training new staff and ensuring that policies are adhered to; infection control policies will be periodically reinforced. • The management will ensure that all reports are properly completed, cleaning schedules are adhered to, and provide additional training as needed. • At least once a year, the creche will be painted, with a focus on areas posing a risk of infection. • Examine the condition and maintenance of both toys and furniture within the rooms. These checks will be conducted monthly by the assistant manager and the manager, working collaboratively with the Lead Educators responsible for providing information. • Health Care Plan will be given to all children with any allergy, and it must be filled out in the weeks before admission; the allergy list will be reviewed and updated every three months (If we don’t have any new children). • Medications will be reviewed by the Lead Educators and checked monthly by the management. • Daily checks will be performed by management to ensure that Safe Sleep practices and Attendance are being carried out properly. Supporting documentation submitted Photographs have been reviewed. Summary Comment The registered provider has addressed the non-compliance points 1-25. No corrective action was provided for point 26. This remains outstanding and will be reviewed on the next inspection
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) The registered provider did not ensure that the premises was cleaned, maintained and repaired as required. The following was observed; • Paint was observed to be chipped and peeling on the walls throughout the service. • The walls and woodwork throughout the service appeared unclean for example in the Tweenie room crayon, food and black marks were observed on the walls, skirtings, and the white boxing along the wall. (e) A children’s sanitary area located in the main corridor was not adequately enclosed as it was fitted with low level saloon style doors which opened directly onto the corridor. This is contrary to HPSC infection control guidance for sanitary accommodation. This was a non-compliance on the previous inspection in October 2022
Provider's corrective action:
(d) The classrooms and bathrooms have been painted. The areas that need it will be painted at least once a year
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
(2) The registered provider did not ensure an adequate amount of floor space was available for the children in the baby room between 1:05pm-2:20pm as children from the Tweenie room were brought there from the cot room as they woke. The room provided clear floor space of 23.6m2 which, based on the individual ages of the children present allowed adequate space for the 7 children attending the baby room along with the first child who arrived from the cot room at 12:39pm. Additional children were brought into the room as they woke at 1:05pm, 1:43pm, and 2pm at which stage there were 14 children aged 8 months-23 months present in the room
Provider's corrective action:
The daily routine has been reorganised to allow the Tweenies to return to their room upon waking from their nap. They will no longer spend time in the baby room