Inspection of 23 April 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (1) The minimum ratio of adults to children was not adhered to in Montessori 1, on 22 April 2026 between 12:15-12:27pm. One adult was working directly with nine children aged 3-5 years, during this time. The service was providing full day care to children. This care requires an adult child ratio of 1 adult to every 8 children. (2) The minimum ratio of adults to children was not adhered to in Montessori 1 room on 22 April 2026 between 12:15-12:27pm
Provider's corrective action:
- The manager did speak to the staff member reiterating the importance of notifying the manager by the internal phone if the ratios were incorrect. The service had a staff meeting regarding the safety of children in their care and to remind staff of the childcare regulations relating to this and also about the importance of using the internal phone system to notify or ask for assistance or anything related to the safety of the children in their care
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) (i) On both days of inspection, the staff roster did not accurately reflect who was present on the day. This was a non-compliance on the last inspection dated 17 September 2025, despite assurances from the registered provider during the corrective action and preventative action process
Provider's corrective action:
- The manager will from now on edit the roster in real time
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. See Statutory Notice section in relation to Improvement Notice IN 0123 served. 2. One child who attends on a full daycare basis and transitions from one room to another when the morning session is over was observed walking upstairs unsupervised. Access to both the staff bathroom and/or the main working kitchen were possible which both had numerous safety hazards. 3. One child who had been present in the service all morning was not recorded on the attendance records at 1:50pm on the first day of inspection. This posed a safety risk in the event of an emergency. 4. Four scooters in the garden area which were not age appropriate posed a safety risk to the younger children from the Toddler room when they were playing outdoors. 5. A bottle of disinfectant was in reach of the children in Montessori 1 while a bottle of alcohol hand sanitiser was in reach outside Montessori 2. These posed a risk of poisoning. 6. A curtain cable was observed hanging across the window, in reach of the children in the Náionra room. This posed a safety risk to the children. This was removed by staff immediately when brought to the attention by the inspector. Infection Control: 7. There was no system in place for cleaning beakers or toys after children put them into their mouths, despite the infection control policy stating mouthed toys will be cleaned on a daily basis with water and a sterilising fluid. 8. In the Toddler room, there were no mattress protectors on the mattresses the children were sleeping on. This posed a risk of cross contamination. 9. A large mat in the rest area in the Toddler room was torn in parts and could not be cleaned effectively for infection control purposes. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 2. The manager spoke to the staff member involved regarding the importance of child safety and that there is an internal phone where staff can contact the manager if needed or require assistance for the transition of one child from one room to another under no circumstances should a child be left unattended when changing rooms. The importance of child safety was discussed at the staff meeting all staff members were given a copy of the minutes of the meeting and have signed to say they understand the importance of child safely and will ensure in future that they will use the internal phone system when in need of assistance. 3. The manager spoke to the team leader and stressed how important it is to register each child in real time in case of an emergency. All children must be registered and accounted for. The manager held a staff meeting and went through the risk assessment and the safety procedure for children. 4. The scooters in the garden were for the afterschool children when it was pointed out that they were not age appropriate and posed a safety risk to the younger children the manager removed them from the garden and the premises. The manager held a staff meeting and went through the risk assessment and the safety procedure for children. 5. The hand sanitiser outside Montessori room two has been removed. The manager spoke to the staff member regarding the disinfectant that was in reach of the children and the danger of poisoning substances and the importance of storing them out of the children’s reach. The service discussed this issue with the staff at the staff meeting that they must be diligent with cleaning products and how they must be stored safely and away from children. 6. The curtain cable hanging across the window was discussed during the staff meeting and the importance of adhering to the risk assessment check list. Infection Control: 7. The beakers and toys which children put in their mouths are cleaned at the end of the day in a microwavable container. The service will continue to do this but will also sterilise the beakers and toys during the day to avoid cross contamination and infection. The service has introduced teething toys and sanitising containers with child proof lids. 8. The service has introduced mattress protectors which will be used going forward. 9. The mat has been replaced and the risk assessment and daily checklist now includes the rest area
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (d) 1. A visible build-up of dust and debris in crevices, toyboxes, on surfaces, flooring and shelving units throughout the premises was observed on the days of inspection. This is at variance with cleaning schedules which were completed for the days of inspection and previous days in Montessori 1 and the Toddler room. 2. A damp mark with evidence of mould spores was visible on the ceiling in the Náionra room. 3. Three toilet seats were missing and /or damaged in the two children’s sanitary areas. 4. A sink had become loose from the wall, upstairs in the children’s sanitary area. 5. Parts of the wood in the playhouse in the garden area appeared to be rotten. 6. Lino was worn with concrete exposed in the Montessori 1 room and the Toddler room. 7. Lacquered surfaces on a dolls house and on two shelving units in the Toddler and Montessori rooms were worn away. 8. One blind cord which was not in reach of the children was not secured in Montessori 1. 9. A lock on a small gate in the outdoor area which separates the different age groups of children was broken and in need of repair
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. All the skirting boards radiator covers and window sills have been freshly painted and the rooms have had a deep clean. The manager will review rooms on a monthly basis. 2. The service engaged a painter who treated this area and painted the entire ceiling. The manager will review rooms monthly and will organise maintenance where required. 3. Toilets seats are replaced. The manager will inspect toilets as part of their daily morning inspection risk assessment. 4. The sink is now secure. The manager will check toilets as part of the daily morning inspection. 5. The play house has been replaced with a heavy-duty plastic playhouse and the manager will inform the owner when items need to be replaced. 6. The lino has been replaced in Montessori room 1 with a wooden floor. Due to finances the Toddler room floor was not replaced but it was given a deep clean. The three toy units were replaced the service intends to replace this floor in October or sooner if finances allow. The owner will take monthly inspections of the rooms and premises. 7. Dolls houses have been replaced. This was discussed at the staff meeting regarding the risk assessment. 8. The cord has been fixed. This was discussed as part of the risk assessment checklist. 9. The lock on the gate has been repaired. Staff have been made aware the staff meeting if they see anything in the back garden that would be a risk to the children’s safety the staff sign an outdoor checklist
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
- Adequate clear floor space was not available for the work, play and movement of eight children attending the backroom between 2.30pm – 5pm, on the 22 April 2026. The children ranged in age from 3-5 years. This room measured 16.48 m². The minimum amount of clear floor space of 2.3 m² required for each child attending the service on a full day care was not available. The maximum number of children this room can cater for on a fulltime basis is seven children
Provider's corrective action:
- The service has reduced the number of children in this room to 7 . The manager will check that the correct floor space is adhered to
Regulation not named in the report text
- (1) The registered provider did not notify the Agency in writing of a change in the person in charge. The registered provider who is currently the person in charge confirmed to inspectors that they are rarely on the premises
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider has applied for a change in circumstance
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 15, 25, 26.