Inspection of 4 November 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on 04th November 2025 under regulation 23 Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of children due to unsecure blind cords accessible to the children that was accessible to the preschool children. See related regulation for further information.
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) (k) A sample of 13 accident and incidents records involving a pre-school child were reviewed for this regulation. The following information had been omitted from the forms. • The signature of the parent was not present on two forms. • The second name of the child Was not present on four forms
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Accident records were reviewed, and any incomplete forms were followed up to ensure that required child information and parental signatures were obtained. Procedures for completing accident forms have been reinforced with staff to ensure all required sections, including child details and parental signatures, are completed in full at the time of the incident or collection. The person in charge will ensure that accident forms are fully completed with all relevant details recorded before signing off on the report. Any issues will be addressed immediately to support consistent practice
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. On the day of inspection, it was observed in the Navigators Room that the playroom lacked clearly defined interest areas and material’s, which resulted in a lack of structure for the children's play and learning activities. Furthermore, many of the electronic and battery-operated toys were non-functional as they did not contain batteries. This led to visible frustration among the children as they competed for the limited number of working toys. 2. The transition to rest time in the navigators Room was not managed effectively to meet the children's needs. On the day of inspection, the routine required the sole staff member to prepare the sleep area while simultaneously supervising the group, which resulted in a period of inadequate oversight. During this transition, the environment became unsafe as children were observed tilting and pulling at wooden bed bases, creating a risk of injury that required the inspector to intervene. 3. Furniture in the Navigators Room was found to be unsuitable for the age and developmental stage of the children. Specifically, the tables and chairs provided were of an inappropriate height, preventing children from resting their feet flat on the floor. This lack of necessary postural support negatively impacts the children's comfort and physical development during mealtimes and tabletop activities
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. An environment and resource check was introduced and implemented. The playroom was reviewed immediately, batteries were replaced, additional age-appropriate materials were introduced, and the room layout was reorganised to provide clearly defined areas of interest. The environment and resource Check is now completed on a regular basis to ensure resources remain in good working order and that adequate materials are available within each area of interest. The check includes a simple rating scale to identify where resources require review or replacement and provides space to document emerging interests, expansion of interest areas, introduction of new resources, and planned toy rotation. This supports a responsive, child-led learning environment in line with Aistear and Síolta. The environment and resource check is completed by the room lead, with management review. Actions identified are followed up and recorded as part of the service’s continuous quality improvement process. 2. The transition process to rest time in the Navigator room was reviewed immediately to ensure children’s safety during this period. Additional staffing support was deemed necessary to ensure children’s safety during this process. Management support has been introduced during rest-time transition to ensure appropriate supervision and safe practice. The additional support in the Navigator room for sleep transition is now planned for as part of daily staff planning including the organisation of staff breaks to ensure adequate staffing. This ensures that additional oversight is planned and an integral consideration in to staff daily plans and considered allocation of staff duties and rest breaks. 3. New table and chairs has been purchased and introduced to the room. The furniture is lower in height and more appropriate for the age and stage of development of the children using the room. Chairs with side supports have been selected to promote children’s safety, postural support and stability during seated activities. The suitability of furniture will continue to be considered as part of room set-up and reviewed in response to the changing needs of the children. This will be recorded during the environment and resource check with any issues identified addressed promptly to ensure continued appropriateness
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on 04th November 2025 for unsecure blind cord that was accessible to the preschool children in the discovers room. A response was received from the service on the 05th of November with photographic evidence of the unsecure blind cord removed. 2. Garda vetting was available for 1 staff member. However, this vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 3. The door of the kitchen with chemicals stored was not locked and children could potentially access the chemicals inside. 4. In the navigator’s room Children had access to pest control monitoring point in unlocked presses, material for baking and sensory play was also stored in the press, 5. Plastic storage boxes in the navigator room for storing toys were observed to be broken with sharp edges which posed a risk to the preschool children. 6. There was an exposed pipe in the sanitary accommodation area between Explorers and discoveries room posing a potential risk to children if they fell against it. This was observed on last inspection, and a wooden protective cover was put over it, however this was not securely attached to it, and the pipe was accessible to the preschool children. 7. In the sanitary area of adventure room 1, it was observed that a wall mirror was missing, leaving sharp tiles which could cause injury to the children. 8. A number of wooden items that the preschool children had access to in the outdoor play area were found to be in poor condition, this included the picnic table, the wooden border surrounding the mud kitchen and a wooden bracket fixed to the wall. Theres items showed visible deterioration including splintered wood which can cause injury to the children. In addition, weeds were significantly overgrown and encroaching from the neighbouring field into the children play area at the mud kitchen. Infection Control: 9. A child-sized couch in adventure room 1 was torn with foam exposed. This damage prevented the surface from being cleaned or disinfected effectively, posing an infection control risk. 10. Handwashing and personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols were inadequate to prevent the spread of infection. Staff did not routinely wash children’s hands following nappy changes. Additionally, staff were observed maintaining the same gloves and aprons throughout the entire process, including dressing the child and cleaning the changing area for the next child, rather than disposing of them and sanitizing between tasks. 11. It was observed that the walls behind the bins in the care rooms and sanitary areas were visibly dirty with a significant build-up of residue. As children have direct access to these spaces, this presents a risk of cross- contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. The blind cord was secured on the day of the inspection. A risk assessment was carried out that we could not satisfactorily prevent the cord from coming loose again. As a result, we determined the safest course of action was to remove the cord from the blind. Blind safety checks were conducted in all other rooms. All other cords were secured with no visible deterioration of means of security mechanisms. Blind cord safety has been reinforced with the staff team and is monitored as part of daily risk assessment of care rooms with any issues addressed immediately to maintain a safe environment. 2. A review of staff vetting records was undertaken. Re-vetting had already been applied for and has since been obtained for the relevant staff member. Records have been updated accordingly. A vetting and re- vetting tracking system has been introduced to ensure all staff vetting is monitored and renewed within required timeframes. Responsibility for oversight has been assigned to management, with vetting status reviewed as part of on-going staff record checks. Staff vetting records are scheduled to be reviewed by management on a quarterly basis, with upcoming re-vetting requirements identified in advance to support timely completion and continued compliance. 3. An adult-height safety latch was installed on the kitchen door to prevent unauthorised access by children. Clear signage was also put in place to remind staff that the door must be secured when the kitchen is not in use. Procedures for securing the kitchen door have been reinforced with staff and clarified via internal communication memo to ensure consistent use of the safety latch. Signage remains in place as a visual prompt, and responsibility for checking that the door is secured has been clarified to support safe practice. 4. The cabinet was secured using child-safe press locks to prevent access by children. Sensory play materials are no longer stored in the press. A supply of additional child-safe press locks has been purchased and is kept on site to allow for prompt replacement if locks become damaged. Cabinet security is monitored through daily risk assessments any issues identified reported to management and addressed promptly to ensure on-going child safety. 5. Broken storage toy boxes were removed from use and replaced to ensure safe and appropriate storage of play materials Staff have been reminded to visually check the condition of storage boxes as part of daily risk assessments. Broken boxes are to be immediately removed. A supply of spare storage boxes is now kept on site to allow for prompt replacement should damage occur in order to maintain child safety. 6. The pipe boxing was re-secured to the wall using fixings to strengthen its security in place, eliminating access to the exposed pipe. A daily check of the pipe boxing has been added to the sanitary area risk assessment to ensure any loosening or deterioration of the seal is identified promptly and addressed before the boxing becomes loose again. Any issues identified are reported to management and addressed promptly to maintain a safe environment. 7. Tile edging was fitted to cover the exposed sharp edge and eliminate the risk of injury. The condition of this tile edging has been included and is monitored through daily sanitary area risk assessments. Any issues identified addressed promptly to maintain a safe environment. A surplus of this edging strip is available to facilitate prompt replacement if needed in order to prevent the tile becoming exposed again. 8. The damaged wooden equipment was removed from the garden immediately to eliminate any risk to children. Overgrown weeds were trimmed back to ensure the outdoor area was safe and accessible for children. A system of regular outdoor risk assessment has been implemented, with room leaders assigned a designated day to check the garden environment. Any risks identified are documented and reported to management for review and action. With issues addressed promptly to ensure children’s safety. A hedge trimmer has been purchased to support prompt cutting back of future regrowth and prevent overgrowth. Any regrowth or overgrowth identified will be documented and reported as part of the garden risk assessment process. Infection Control: 9. The torn areas of the couch were initially repaired using waterproof vinyl patches to restore a wipe able surface and enable appropriate cleaning. However, after the patches were in place for some time the edges began to lift which impeded through cleaning. As a result, the couch has been removed and a new one ordered. Soft furnishings within playrooms are now checked as part of daily risk assessments to ensure surfaces remain intact, wipeable and suitable for effective cleaning. Any damage identified will be addressed promptly to maintain appropriate hygiene standards. 10. The service identified that although staff were familiar with the policy, there was insufficient visual guidance at the point of practice and a lack of structured monitoring to consistently verify implementation of the nappy-changing procedure across all rooms and staff. To address the non-compliance, a step-by- step nappy-changing procedure poster has been developed and displayed at all nappy-changing stations to support consistent practice. All staff involved in nappy changing have been re-briefed on the procedure, with emphasis on infection control, supervision, and maintaining children’s dignity. An internal communication memo circulated utilised to confirm staff understanding of and commitment to following the procedure. To ensure sustained compliance, an observation system has been implemented to monitor nappy-changing practice. Spot checks will be carried out on a regular and unannounced basis and reviewed by management to ensure sustained compliance, using a standardised observation form. Any issues identified will be addressed promptly through feedback, support, and additional training where required. Records of spot checks and actions taken will be retained as evidence of on-going management oversight and quality assurance. This area of non-compliance was also identified during the previous inspection. The service acknowledges that earlier actions were insufficient to fully embed consistent practice. The current measures strengthen governance through clear visual guidance, staff accountability, and structured management oversight. 11. The affected areas were initially cleaned; however, as this was not deemed sufficient, the walls were subsequently painted to restore an appropriate standard of cleanliness. A wipe-able protective wall coating has been applied behind bin areas to support effective cleaning and prevent future build-up, in line with manufacturer guidance for easy-clean, hygienic surfaces. Cleaning schedules have been updated to ensure these areas are included as part of routine environmental hygiene practices, and staff responsibilities have been clarified to support consistency
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (2) (a)(b) While first aid boxes were securely stored and clearly identifiable in each care room, a review of the contents revealed that the majority of items were past their expiration dates. Due to this the first aid supplies were insufficient and unsuitable to meet the needs of the children in the event of an incident
Provider's corrective action:
- A stock take of all first aid supplies was undertaken ensuring that all required items set out by the Health and Safety Guidelines first aid checklist were present in each box. Any out-of-date materials were removed and replacements ordered and the boxes replenished. First aid supplies will be checked every month including supply expiry dates. A log of checks has been created and is in a visible place in the office to serve as a visual reminder. Routine checks will ensure the required level of supplies are maintained and replenished in a timely manner. This will also ensure that stock expiry dates are anticipated and replenishments ordered in good time
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 26.