# Regulation 11 (Staffing Levels) — non-compliances in Kildare

> What inspectors found under Regulation 11 (Staffing Levels) at 4 early years services in Kildare, with providers' responses.

## Regulation 11 in Kildare

Staffing Levels: **4** non-compliance(s) in the latest reports we read.

An inspection records what inspectors saw **on one day**; services respond with corrective actions — [how to read this](/methodology.md).

12 May 2026

##### [Cocoon Childcare- Celbridge](/creche/cocoon-childcare-celbridge-celbridge.md), Celbridge · Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

- An adequate number of adults were not working directly with the children attending the service during the inspection in the Wobbler 3, Junior Preschool and Preschool 3 rooms as outlined below
- The registered provider did not ensure that the minimum required ratio of adults to children was maintained at all times as follows. - In the Preschool 3 room from 11:30 to 12:30, there were 2 adults allocated to care for 18 children attending on a full day care basis aged 3 to 5 years. The minimum adult to child ratio for children in this age range is 1:8. Three adults were required at this time. - In the Junior Preschool room from 11.30 to 12.00, there were 2 adults allocated to care for 20 children attending on a full day care basis, 8 aged 2 years and 12 aged 3 years. The minimum adult to child ratio for children aged 2 years is 1:6 and the minimum adult to child ratio for children aged 3 years is 1:8. Three adults were required at this time. - In the Junior Preschool room from 12:00 to 12:46 there were 2 adults allocated to care for 16 children, 4 aged 2 years and 12 aged 3 years attending on a full day care basis. The minimum adult to child ratio for children aged 2 years is 1:6 and the minimum adult to child ratio for children aged 3 years is 1:8. Three adults were required at this time. Staff members and managers stated that they operate a 1:11 ratio for children attending on a full day care basis from 09:30 to 12:30. - In the Wobbler 3 room at 12:41 when children were sleeping, there was one adult allocated to care for 8 children, 2 aged 1 year and 6 aged 2 years. There was no one available to support this adult if they required assistance. They stated that they can call the managers if assistance is required. However, both managers were required in care rooms to maintain ratios and were working directly with children at this time

- (1)(2) An adequate number of adults were available on the day to meet the adult to child ratios in all care rooms, however, as children were settling in the centre that morning, the management team were required to offer additional support in the junior rooms, and this delayed the lunch cover schedule. There was also a team member on long term sick leave who has since returned and is available daily for staff break and lunch support from 9:30am - 2:30pm. Since the inspection took place, the Garda vetting has returned for a third part time member covering from 9am - 2pm daily. In the Preschool 3 room and Junior Preschool Room the children are availing of the ECCE programme which operates an adult to child ratio of 1:11 between the hours of 9:30am - 12:30pm which was in place on the day and facilitated the adult to child ratios being met. The Inspector informed the centre manager on the day of the inspection that whilst children in the service are availing of the ECCE scheme the service cannot avail of sessional adult to child ratio as the children remain in the centre beyond 12:30p.m. The centre has since recruited an additional part time staff member and will consider offering ecce places in the new term. An additional part time break/lunch support team member was recruited for the service but her start date was significantly delayed due to delays in processing garda vetting. This staff member has now commenced employment. A current employee has also returned from long term sick leave as staff break/lunch support

30 April 2026

##### [Maap Childcare Limited T/A Tots Creche and Daycare Nursery](/creche/maap-childcare-limited-t-a-tots-creche-and-daycare-nursery-maynooth.md), Maynooth · Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

- (1) The inspector observed there was an inadequate number of adults working directly with the children in the Pre-school 3 room. There was one adult allocated to work directly with nine children aged three years, between 9:30 and 12:30 on both days of the inspection. Regulations 19 (1)(b) and 23 were inspected in this room on Day 2 of the inspection. The inspector observed that a second adult was required to meet the needs of the children as outlined under regulation 19(1)(b) (non-compliance number 2) and regulation 23 (non-compliance number 2). (2) The minimum ratio requirement of adults to children was not maintained in the Pre-school 3 room between 9:30 and 12:30 on both days of the inspection. One adult was allocated to work directly with nine children aged three years who were attending on a full day care basis. Staff members and managers stated there can be one adult allocated to this room with up to 11 pre-school children attending on a full day care basis from 09:30 – 12:30. The minimum ratio requirement for children of this age attending on a full day care basis is one adult to eight children

- (1) & (2) We had a number of staff ring in sick this day and we had amalgamated rooms to maintain ratios and still run the operations of the service. The register for this care room reflects the children that usually attend this care room had been moved up the building due to a lack of staff due to illness. If staff ring in sick to a service the person in charge risk assesses the number of staff they have to adhere to adult:child ratio, checks sleep planning, completes a lunch list for the staff in attendance and will then communicate via management, the staff they require and for what hours they are required

29 April 2026

##### [Ardreigh Montessori and Child Care Centre](/creche/ardreigh-montessori-and-child-care-centre-athy.md), Athy · Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

- An adequate number of adults were not available to the children during the morning sessional service, which operates between 9.00am and 12.00pm, as two adults cared for a total of 26 children in the age range 18 months to 5 years. It is acknowledged that once the sessional service ended that the adult to child ratio was maintained. (2) The adult to child ratio was not maintained during the morning sessional service, as 2 staff members were caring for 26 children, 3 staff members were required

- As a corrective and preventive measure, the registered provider advised in the response to the inspection report that an additional staff member is now working in the service between 9.00am and 4.00pm daily

10 September 2025

##### [Hazelhatch Preschool and Afterschool](/creche/hazelhatch-preschool-and-afterschool-celbridge.md), Celbridge · Regulation 11 — Staffing levels

- (1)(2)(4) The registered provider did not ensure that an adequate number of qualified adults were working directly with the children attending the service on the day of inspection. The minimum ratio of adults to children was not maintained in the service at all times. An insufficient number of qualified adults were available to the children attending between 10:00 and 10:45. During this time there was one adult present with 16 children. Two adults were required

- (1)(2)(4) All staff is on ratio now and adhering to a calendar to get time off. Staff meeting organised to discuss the inspection, staff informed just one person at all times to be off and to inform management as soon as possible to ensure plenty of time to find staff cover. Calendar is provided for them to log any day or time off needed. Always to ensure staff is on ratio and always to ensure right cover for when any staff is off or sick

### Regulation 11 in other counties

- [Cavan](/regulation/11/cavan.md)
- [Cork](/regulation/11/cork.md)
- [Donegal](/regulation/11/donegal.md)
- [Dublin](/regulation/11/dublin.md)
- [Galway](/regulation/11/galway.md)
- [Kerry](/regulation/11/kerry.md)
- [Laois](/regulation/11/laois.md)
- [Louth](/regulation/11/louth.md)
- [Mayo](/regulation/11/mayo.md)
- [Meath](/regulation/11/meath.md)
- [Monaghan](/regulation/11/monaghan.md)
- [Offaly](/regulation/11/offaly.md)
- [Sligo](/regulation/11/sligo.md)
- [Tipperary](/regulation/11/tipperary.md)
- [Westmeath](/regulation/11/westmeath.md)
- [Wexford](/regulation/11/wexford.md)
- [Wicklow](/regulation/11/wicklow.md)

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Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/regulation/11/kildare/
Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate
Recolha: 2026-09-11
