Creche Inspection Reports

Wonderyears CS

Sessional · 0 - 6 Years · Letterkenny, Donegal · Tusla ID TU2023DL005 · Registered since 1 September 2026

An inspection records what inspectors saw on one day; services respond with corrective actions — how to read this.

2published inspections
3non-compliances at latest report read
0immediate action notices
0registration conditions

Inspection of 14 August 2025 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service

  • (1) (k) A sample of 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 one form. •The manager’s signature was omitted from six of the forms
Provider's corrective action:
  • The team has received updated guidance via email outlining the correct procedure for completing accident and incident forms. This step-by-step guide aims to ensure consistency and accuracy in documentation. A weekly review of the incident/accident report book has now been incorporated into our monitoring schedule and will be overseen by the manager

Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials

  • 1. The wooden seat pad of the outdoor see-saw was observed to be jagged in parts and required replacing. 2. Two damaged and broken scooters were observed by the inspector in the outdoor area; it is acknowledged these items were removed by staff when brought to their attention
Provider's corrective action:
  • 1. The damaged seat pad has been replaced. This update has been added to the risk assessment sheet and will be monitored weekly. 2. A full check of all toys and equipment was carried out by the maintenance team. All damaged items have been removed, and monitoring of playground toys and equipment has been added to the risk assessment

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • General Safety: 1. A blind cord was observed not to be secured in the Little Scholar’s room. The cord was out of reach of children; however, it could pose a risk should a child climb to reach it. 2. Several areas of the outdoor playground surface had contracted, creating gaps that could present as a tripping hazard. Infection Control: 3. On the day of inspection, after nappy changing, the hands of the babies and staff were observed not to be consistently washed, posing a risk of infection. 4. Mechanical ventilation units in the Little Stars sanitary area were observed to have visible dust accumulation, indicating they require cleaning to prevent potential airborne contamination and maintain appropriate infection control standards. Safe Sleep: 5. The Sleep room temperatures were recorded more than the acceptable ranges of 16 to 20°C for children under the age of 12 months. It is acknowledged when brought to the attention of management, air conditioning units were brought to the area which reduced the room temperature immediately. Fire Safety: 6. It was noted that children were at times difficult to account for during the day due to transitions between rooms, particularly following sleep times. This practice may compromise the accuracy of headcounts and cause delay posing as a potential risk in the event of a fire evacuation, or other emergency. 7. A fire door in the Junior Einsteins room was observed to be held open with a chair. An open fire door allows smoke and flames to travel freely, accelerating the spread of fire. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • General Safety: 1. The blind cord, previously positioned out of children’s reach, has now been securely fastened to the wall as an additional safety precaution. Any new blinds moving forward will be fitted with the safety attachments to the wall. 2. Areas of the soft pour surfacing that had lifted have since been securely re-adhered in place. This is part of the playground risk assessment and will be monitored and recorded weekly Infection Control: 3. Measures have been reinforced through the circulation of information on effective handwashing, with emphasis on nappy-changing procedures. This will be revisited during monthly team progression sessions. Preventative action has been noted, and closer monitoring will be implemented going forward. 4. The mechanical ventilation fans were on a weekly cleaning schedule this is now increased to twice per week. The housekeeping team has been informed, and the cleaning schedule will be adjusted and increased as necessary. Safe Sleep: 5. On the day of inspection, the sleep room temperature was noted to be above the acceptable range of 16– 20°C. Two new air conditioning units were purchased and installed immediately. All staff have been reminded of the safe sleep procedures and are actively monitoring room temperatures. Continued monitoring is in place to ensure compliance with safe sleep guidelines. Fire Safety: 6. It was observed during sleep time transitions that temporary room changes were not consistently recorded on sign-in charts. To address this, additional lines have been added to all charts to allow educators to record such movements. Evidence of this revised system was submitted, and its implementation is expected to resolve the issue. 7. On the day of inspection, it was noted that an internal fire door had been temporarily propped open with a chair to allow air circulation, as the room was warm. While the intention was to cool the room, this practice is not in line with fire safety requirements. All employees have since been reminded that fire doors must always remain closed and have been instructed to refrain from using this practice going forward. The registered provider as stated that they will continue to monitor and reinforce best practice

Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 25, 27.

Inspection of 19 September 2024 — Inspection Report

Full report (PDF, Tusla)

Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment

  • (2) (a) (b) There was no second reference on file for three adults working in the service as part of their educational placement. (d) Confirmation of appropriate international police vetting was not available in respect of two of the adults working in the service for whom documentation presented at inspection indicated that they had resided in another state for a period longer than six consecutive months as an adult. It is acknowledged that a copy of international police vetting documentation in respect of one of these adults was presented on the day of inspection, however this was unsuitable for the purposes of police vetting as an International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC) was required for this employee who was recruited after 2012 when the ICPC was introduced
Provider's corrective action:
  • (2) (a) (b) All students Files have been updated with an additional reference from a known and reputable source. Each Reference has been checked and validated. We have updated our students onboarding procedure to ensure references received are not generic. (d) We have updated the onboarding process to ensure all vetting and ICPC are received before commencement. All checks will be carried out, and appropriate paperwork will be received before offering the position

Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child

  • Safe Sleep: 1. The service did not adhere to the current Tusla ‘Guidance for Early Learning and Care Sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months’ as evidenced by the following; • There was no evidence of consultation with and permission from parents for three children aged under two years who were placed to sleep on stackable floor beds. • The floor beds used for sleeping children under two years did not meet the requirements as set out in the guidance document. • Supervision was not provided at all times when children were sleeping on floor beds. 2. Cardboard backed thermometers were used exclusively to measure the air temperature of the sleep rooms. When measured by the inspector, the air temperature on the cardboard backed thermometer was at variance with the reading on the digital air probe. A system of recording accurate room temperatures is required to ensure that room temperatures are maintained at safe levels for sleeping children. 3. With the exception of the morning risk assessment, there were no other documented readings of air temperature within the sleep rooms. Infection Control: 4. It could not be determined on inspection that adequate ventilation was provided in the sanitary accommodation serving the little scholar’s room. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
  • • The service had written permission on file; however, it did not meet the required Tusla guidelines. The service now uses the recommended template, and the three children in question have the updated consent form. • New floor beds are ordered to meet the needs of children under two in the event it is deemed unsafe for them to remain sleeping in a cot. • Children are now supervised in the sleep room when sleeping in beds. Amended forms are now in use, as per guidance. In the future, new beds are now available for children under two, where it is deemed unsafe to sleep in a cot. These beds meet the safe sleep requirements listed in the guidance document. 2. The service has purchased digital thermometers for all rooms, including sleep rooms. They are now in all rooms, and backup batteries are stored in the main office. 3. The safe sleep monitoring check charts have been updated to incorporate room temperature every ten minutes. These updated charts will ensure that temperatures are closely monitored. Infection Control: 4. There is an air vent in Little Scholars' sanitary room. There are provisions made to install Velux windows for extra ventilation. This should ensure better ventilation

Regulation not named in the report text

  • The service was found on inspection to be operating outside of their registration status with regards to the age range of children they can provide for. The service is registered to care for children aged over one year. There was one child in attendance on the day of inspection aged 11 months. Notification of the proposed change in age The inspection focused on an examination of compliance under regulations 9, 11, 19, and 23; however, on inspection additional non-compliance which posed a risk was identified under Regulation 8. These findings are outlined within the relevant regulation within this report. Inspection findings are documented in the inspection report which is first issued in draft format to the service with an opportunity to respond to any findings. Where statutory requirements are identified as not being met, the registered provider must demonstrate how they have rectified the non-compliance and will prevent any non - compliance from re occurring. The Corrective Action and Preventive Action plan (CAPA) will be used to inform decisions about compliance with regulatory requirements. Where the registered provider fails to meet the statutory requirements an escalation process may be commenced. The inspectorate reserves the right to edit responses received for reasons including clarity, completeness and compliance with administrative and legal processes. The contents of the report are compiled by the inspectorate body. Acknowledgments The inspector wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of the registered provider, person in charge, staff and children who were present on the day of the inspection

Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19.

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