Regulation 16 in Donegal
Record in Relation to Pre-School Service: 11 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.
22 April 2026
Little Acorns Montessori Playschool, Carndonagh · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- 16 (1) (J) A sample of accident and incident forms were reviewed since the last inspection. Fifteen incident and accident forms were not signed by parents/ guardians. Three forms were not signed by staff in the service. (k) A sample of medication administration forms were reviewed since the last inspection. One medication administration form had no parent/ guardian signature
Provider's corrective action:
- Reg 16(1) (J) The registered provider has instructed the staff to ensure that all accident/incident forms are signed by the parents. Along with making sure that the parent is notified via text message with a photograph of the injury. The registered provider has instructed all the staff, during staff meetings, on how to complete an accident/incident form and highlighted the importance of following the services policies and procedures. Following inspection, the service has updated their policy to require that, in all cases, parents or guardians must attend in person to review and sign their child's accident/incident forms. Room leaders are responsible for ensuring that their accident/incident forms are signed. Reg 16 (K) The service has instructed the staff to ensure that all medication forms are signed by the parents. Along with making sure that the parent is notified via text message when their child receives medication. The service has instructed all the staff during staff meetings, how to complete a medication form and highlighted the importance of following policies and procedures. Room leaders are responsible for ensuring that there medication forms are signed. The service is currently reviewing staff induction checklists. Currently it includes an information video on recording accidents and incidents. However, the service intends to produce an information guidance video on how to correctly complete a medication booklet. The service will also update the current video that is used during the staff induction
21 April 2026
Bomany Nursery & Montessori School, Letterkenny · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- A sample of twelve records of medication administration in one care room that had occurred since January 2026 were reviewed: • Contrary to service policy on medication administration a record was not maintained of the outcome of temperature reducing medication in a review of five administration records between 11 December 2025 to 21 April 2026. • One record of the administration of a temperature reducing medication did not evidence that a parent or guardian was informed of administration which poses a risk of overdose. This was identified on a previous inspection on the 11 December 2025 and actions put in place by the registered provider failed to prevent a reoccurrence
- A sample review of 25 accidents and incidents which had occurred in the service since the last date of inspection on the 11 December 2026 were reviewed. • One of the records did not contain evidence that parents/guardians had been informed of the accident/incident that had occurred which is at variance with the accident and incident policy in place in the service. This was identified on a previous inspection on the 24 September 2025 and actions submitted by the registered provider failed to prevent a reoccurrence. • Incidents of biting occurred within the service with no documented plan of how to manage this behaviour and support the needs of the child. A submission to the National Regulation and Enforcement Panel by the Registered provider in February 2026, outlined measures which the service would undertake to ensure compliance with regulation 16 which included ‘documented oversight procedures.’. There was no evidence of such oversight procedures on the day of inspection, and the registered provider failed to provide evidence of these procedures. It is acknowledged an external audit was undertaken which identified non compliances with Regulation 16 however evidence of actions to address the identified non compliances was not available
Provider's corrective action:
- In a written response the Registered provider stated:
- Training has been provided to staff to include a step-by-step guide for completing medication administration records. The registered provider is reviewing all forms themselves during their monthly checks and reviewed as part of external compliance audit. A senior staff member has been assigned to review these documents daily, and the service owners are reviewing daily before signing. We will evidence this more clearly by calling the parent recording the time and date of the call on the form, and if needed following up with an email and printing and attaching to the form
- Accidents and incidents are treated similarly, and parents are informed but we have received the signature of parents now on the form mentioned. We have reminded staff to ensure parent signatures are sought asap on all forms. Registered provider/ staff supervisor is reviewing all forms themselves during their monthly checks, and externally, monthly with monthly compliance audit. A new biting policy has been developed and will be followed. A biting care plan has been implemented by the service; the service will monitor the situation and inform parents of these issues
26 February 2026
Cara Children's Centre, Letterkenny · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- 1. Details were not sufficiently recorded for accidents, injuries or incidents involving preschool children attending the service. Signatures from either staff members completing the incident reports or parents/ guardians, were missing from several incident reports reviewed on the day of inspection. 2. The Inspectorate must be notified of a diagnosis of an infectious disease in a child attending the service, or the diagnosis of an infectious disease in an employee, an unpaid worker, a contractor, or any other person working in the service. One case regarding a diagnosis of strep throat was not notified to the inspectorate. It is acknowledged that following inspection, it was subsequently notified to the inspectorate on 27th of February 2026
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The service went through all the accident books and dated and signed where possible. Any remaining gaps are from parents whose children have left the service. All staff have been informed that all sections of the accident forms must be completed in full. In addition, the Childcare Manager will double check this before she signs them. 2. The service notified the Inspectorate of the case of Strep Throat the day after our inspection. The service printed off the notifiable diseases from the HSE website. The service is now clear as to which diseases are required to be notified
29 January 2026
Kiddlywinks CC Limited, Ballintra · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) A sample of eight accidents and incidents forms were reviewed, the following information was omitted, • No parent or management signature on one accident form. • No manager signature on one accident form. • No parent signature on one accident form
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) We have changed out accident forms to the little vista app where all staff have received proper training on how to write and submit an accident incident form and share it with parents and get them to sign it, also to the manager By using the little vista we can share this document much better, as shown by this one ensuring the relevant staff and managers sign the forms
21 November 2025
Hilltop Academy, Buncrana · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (k) The accident and incident reports from September 2025 were reviewed. A total of two records were available and were found to contain the required information; however, one record was not signed by a parent, and another record was not signed by the service manager. The omission of these signatures could result in a lack of continuity of care for the child and acknowledgment of the incident
Provider's corrective action:
- The Accident and Incident Policy have been updated to strengthen how preventative actions are identified, measured and reviewed, and this updated policy will be discussed with all staff and implemented immediately in practice
4 November 2025
Little Rascals Community Playgroup CLG, Fanad · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) (a) There was no recruitment file available for the student, therefore it could not be determined if police vetting was required. Photographic identification was not on file for the student
Provider's corrective action:
- Garda vetting, photographic ID and CV were obtained for the student. Ensure that all staff, students and volunteers have the correct and relevant documents before starting in the setting. A checklist is now situated in the back of the policy folder
23 October 2025
Donegal Kiddies Corner Malin Community Playgroup, Malin · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- A sample of 10 accident and incident forms were reviewed on the day of inspection. There was inadequate information recorded on the forms as follows, • It was not always evident to the inspector if the parent had been informed of the incident as their signature was not present, or the parents copy of the form was still present. • The manager’s signature was not always present. • Date of births of the child was not always present. • It was not always clear that preventable actions had been considered or identified by the service
Provider's corrective action:
- A new incident report book has been purchased. A duplicate copy is now available so that every parent gets a copy. The new book will be inspected on a weekly basis to ensure that all incident reports are properly logged and dated with the child’s correct details. The reports will be signed off by the manager, and the parents will have a copy
21 October 2025
St. Oran's Community Pre-school, Buncrana · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (a) Employment records for one student were not available on file; therefore, it could not be determined if police vetting was required. (j) The person in charge and staff confirmed that there were no records of any medication administered to a child while attending the service, as they do not administer medication to children. This is contrary to the services policy on the administration of medication, which details the requirement for parental consent to administer prescription and anti-febrile medication and the procedure to follow in both instances, including the records required, storage and disposal of such medication. This is a recurring non-compliance which remained outstanding from the service's most recent inspection on 08 November 2022. The corrective and preventive response by the registered provider outlined “The service is waiting on a new policy to be drafted”. This non-compliance remained outstanding following the corrective and preventive submission and was subject to review on the next inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- (a) Employment record on file. Files will be updated annually to ensure correct information is provided. (j) Medication policy is now updated and emailed. It is updated on file for parents also. Will keep up to date with policy changes and amend
14 August 2025
Wonderyears CS, Letterkenny · 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
30 May 2025
Little Tobys Playschool, Muff · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) (k) Of the nine files reviewed, the registered provider did not ensure that the signature of the manager was present on five of the forms
Provider's corrective action:
- The Service has implemented new Accident/Incident forms which have a space for management signature as the forms that were in use at the time of the inspection did not allow space for this. Part of an ‘End of Day’ checklist to ensure all Accident/Incident forms filled out on a given day signed by Designated Person in Charge or Deputised Person and another Staff Member as a safeguard against this reoccurring
12 March 2025
Shelly's Childcare Service, Buncrana · Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) (i) It is acknowledged that records pertaining to a staff roster was held for adults working within the service, however details of break time and lunch time cover was not available within the roster
Provider's corrective action:
- The details are available on the back of the Rota. Breaks are always detailed on the Rota and on the white board at reception. Staff are always aware of what time their breaks are and who is covering