Regulation 11 in Westmeath
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.
16 February 2026
Mullingar Montessori & After School Care Ltd, Mullingar · Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (2) The minimum ratio of adults to children was not adhered to during the day as evidenced by the following observations: 1. At 10:25am ten children aged 2 -3 years and one child aged 3 -6 years in Room 1 were observed to supervised by one adult as the other adult was changing nappies. Two adults were required to maintain the minimum adult child ratio. 2. At 14:27 hours, five children aged 2-3 years were observed sitting alone unsupervised in Room 1 as the adult caring for them was in the sanitary area carrying out a nappy change. Two adults were required to ensure that the ratio was maintained during this time. This was a n area of non-compliance following an inspection conducted on 7 July 2025 . The corrective action submitted by the registered provider following the inspection failed to prevent recurrence of this non-compliance
Provider's corrective action:
- (2) A staff member has been allocated to the full time position of staff relief employee when changing nappies in Rooms 1 and 2
28 January 2026
Bright Star Academy, Mullingar · Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- 1. At 10:40 to 10:52, it was observed that a child was brought from the outdoor play area to be cared for, by the designated person in charge, into the Bumble Bee room. The other staff member was in the outdoor play area supervising 16 children which left the adult child ratio incorrect for that duration of time. 2. An adequate number of adults were not available at all times to care for the children attending the Bumble Bee room as an adult noted on the staff roster to work directly with the children on the day of the inspection was on leave. It is acknowledged that the registered provider was contacted by the designated person in charge to come to the service to provide relief cover
Provider's corrective action:
- 1 & 2 On the day of inspection, one full-time staff member was absent due to illness, which resulted in a temporary staffing shortfall. Immediately upon notification of the absence, the service contacted relief staff from the approved relief panel. A qualified relief staff member attended the creche the same morning to cover the kitchen duties and staff breaks, ensuring adult to child ratios were restored and maintained for the remainder of the day. To prevent a recurrence of staffing shortages due to unexpected staff illness, the service will source and contact qualified relief staff immediately when a full-time staff member is absent to ensure required adult to child ratios are maintained. When notified of any staff absence, the service will: review the daily roster, contact available relief staff the same day and arrange cover before ratios are impacted. This procedure is effective immediately from 28/01/2026 and will apply to all future unplanned absences. The service will monitor staffing levels daily to ensure compliance with Regulation 11(1)
30 July 2025
Chatterboxes Childcare Ltd, Athlone · Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- 1. It was observed that the number of adults present in the service were not managed appropriately to maintain the adult: child ratio during nappy changing for children attending the baby room. On 30 July 2025 there were eight children in the baby room; one child aged 0-1, six children aged 1-2 and one child age 0-3. Based on the number of children, their ages and attendance pattern on 30 July 2025, two adults were always required at all times to maintain the adult: child ratio in the baby room. Adults did not seek relief cover when carrying out nappy changing procedures during the inspection leaving a ratio of one adult to seven children while the second adult carried out nappy changing at 11:15 and again at 14:30
Provider's corrective action:
- Management have amended the roster to take account of nappy changes. Staff have also been asked to help out where necessary, as the service had enough staff on the day to help with nappy changes. Nappy changes have been added to the roster, to prevent this from re-occurring
20 May 2025
Dunaree Childcare & Pre-school LTD, Tyrellspass · Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (8)(a) There was no evidence available that two adults were on the premises between the hours of 7:00 – 7:30 am
Provider's corrective action:
- (8)(a) A proposed change in circumstance form has been submitted to the registration office to change the hours of opening from 8:00 am – 18:00 hours