# Regulation 19 (Health, Welfare and Development of Child) — non-compliances in Kildare

> What inspectors found under Regulation 19 (Health, Welfare and Development of Child) at 18 early years services in Kildare, with providers' responses.

## Regulation 19 in Kildare

Health, Welfare and Development of Child: **18** 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 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- The registered provider did not ensure that appropriate and suitable care practices were in place for all children in the service as follows. 1. Provision for children’s sleep requirements were inadequate to meet the needs of all children in the Wobbler 1 room and were contrary to the service policy on safe sleep. Three children, aged one year, were observed displaying signs of tiredness from 10:47, 10:49 and 11:05 respectively. The children were observed crying intermittently and then sitting on a staff member’s lap quietly. Staff acknowledged that one of these children was tired but stated that they were waiting for a staff member to complete nappy changes before they could bring the child to bed. One child was brought to the cot room at 11:15, while the two other children were observed to fall asleep on a staff member’s lap at 11:20. Children were not provided with the opportunity to sleep when they displayed signs of tiredness. The sleep practices observed during the inspection do not meet the basic care needs of all children and are not in line with suitable child centred care practices. 2. During the inspection, some children in the Wobbler 1 and Wobbler 2 rooms were observed to have a soother in their mouth in the care rooms. During these times children were engaged in play in the care rooms and were sitting at the table at dinnertime. This is at variance with the service’s policy on soother use which states that soother use is limited to sleep unless the child is upset. The children were not observed to be upset. Overuse of soothers may inhibit language and oral motor development and prevent children from interacting with their peers and is not in line with suitable child centred care practices

- 1. On the day of inspection, the Wobbler 1 room had some new children that were settling into the centre. Many of which co- sleep with parents at home and struggle with being placed to sleep in a cot as they seek the comfort of falling asleep in the staffs’ arms. The wobbler team staff have been working on supporting the children in integrating them into the cot room and learning their cues of tiredness and responding quickly. The staff have been supported by their operations manager and centre management team to establish an effective sleep routine and promote best practice with each child’s individual care plans. Staff members are also aware to call for additional support where required to facilitate cover when assisting a child to sleep. This allows the carer to follow the needs of the child and support sleep when required. The service management team will continue to actively monitor the sleep routine of the children and ensure that all sleep needs are being met daily to facilitate needs led sleep. 2. Team members were re-trained on the service soother policy and soother usage. Team members will be proactive in reducing the usage of soothers throughout the day and only offer to children when necessary. The service management team held a team meeting in response to the inspection which included re- training on soother usage. This will be actively monitored by the centre management team. A second Assistant Manager has been implemented to support staff mentoring and development

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 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. The inspectors observed that the service sleep practices did not adequately support the individual needs of children as outlined. a) Children in the Wobbler room were not provided with an opportunity to sleep outside of the designated sleep period. There were 15 children aged one and two years present in the Wobbler room on Day 2 of the inspection. The inspector observed two children showing signs of tiredness from 09:57. This included crying intermittently, rubbing their eyes and one child resting their head on the table. The children were not facilitated to sleep until the room was prepared for sleep at 12:50. A separate cot room was available; however this was not used during the inspection. Both children who were showing signs of overtiredness subsequently had accidents. The first child fell at 11:37 when despite showing signs of tiredness, staff removed the child’s shoes in preparation for sleep but then encouraged the child to dance. This resulted in the child falling backwards and banging their head. The second child fell at 11:57 when the beds were being laid out and fell again (off the bed) at 13:01 banging their head. Further information relating to these incidents is documented under regulation 16 (1) (k). Failure to facilitate children to sleep according to their needs can lead to increased risk of accidents and can impact negatively on their emotional and physical development b) The inspectors observed inadequate planning for the children’s transitions to sleep. Loud, fast-paced music was played as children were being guided to their beds in the Wobbler room on day 1 of the inspection. Children were not provided with blankets until 30 minutes into their sleep time in the Toddler room on Day 1 of the inspection and children were observed sleeping in the Wobbler room on Day 2 of the inspection with no blankets. These practices did not provide for a calm and restful environment or support the children’s comfort and ability to rest appropriately. 2. The inspector observed that children in the Pre-school 3 room were not facilitated to use the toilet in a timely manner. There was one adult caring for nine children aged three years when the inspector observed them arriving back from the outdoor area at 12:13 on Day 2 of the inspection. Two of the children were telling the adult repeatedly that they needed to use the toilet whilst pulling at the groin area of their trousers. The adult called for assistance but there was nobody available. The adult told the children that they would have to wait until another adult was available. One of the children kept repeating “I can’t wait that long teacher” and kept approaching the inspector for assistance. The children waited 15 minutes from the time the inspector heard the first request until the children were brought to the toilet. This practice increases the risk of toileting accidents and can impact on the children’s dignity and wellbeing. 3. The inspectors observed that appropriate practices were not in place at mealtimes to support the individual needs of children as outlined. a) On Day 1 of the inspection one of the managers reported they would arrange an alternative meal for a child in the Toddler room who they knew from experience would not eat the meal on the menu due to sensory issues. No alternative was provided. b) On Day 1 of the inspection a second child in the Toddler room refused to eat the meal that was offered. The child was not offered any alternative. Staff reported the child had also not eaten anything during the morning snack. The communication record shared with parents documented that this child had eaten all their meal and the morning snack. c) On Day 2 of the inspection a child in the Pre-school 3 room was upset when the main meal was served and did not come to the table initially. When the child did come to the table, they were given only potato and vegetables as their meal had been given to another child as a second portion. Failure to provide for the individual needs of children or communicate accurately with parents in relation to food may pose a risk to children’s health and wellbeing as their nutritional needs may not be met. 4. The inspectors observed that there were inadequate practices in place to support children’s hygiene as follows: a) On Day 1 of the inspection, the inspector observed an adult remove a wet nappy from a child who attended the Toddler room and replace it with a dry nappy. The adult did not clean the child before putting on the dry nappy. This practice can result in skin irritation, soreness and discomfort and does not support infection control. b) On both days of inspection, the inspectors observed adults interacting with children who had soiling and mucous on their faces for extended periods of time in the Wobbler, Toddler and Pre-school 3 rooms without taking measures to clean them. Failure to assist young children to clean their noses and faces can impact on their comfort and dignity and poses a risk to infection control

- a) The staff on the day of the inspection were following the children’s sleep plans and when the children were tired the staff did not communicate with the manager or assistant manager that children needed to go to bed at a different time than they normally sleep. The children’s individual sleep plans state that the children sleep on floor beds or stackable beds. A staff meeting was held on 13 May 2026 going through all non-compliances and how to recognise a tired child and what to do when the staff recognise this. The manager of the service has put in place that when a child is tired outside of their normal routine, the staff are to notify the manager or assistant manager who will ensure they are put into bed, either in a cot in the nursery, or on a floor bed or a stackable bed in the care room. b) Soft music should be played as an indicator that it is sleep time and that they are preparing to go to bed. This music will calm the children while the children are getting shoes off and being handed their soothers for bed. 2. When staff ring in sick it puts pressure on a building. The manager should take this into account when assessing their building and asking for extra staff if staff ring in sick or they have staff on annual leave
- a) An alternative meal is provided to all children that do not eat their dinner or require different food due to sensory issues. Giving the kitchen staff the information regarding the children in attendance needing alternative food is important to ensure all children get a good balanced diet and we meet their nutritional needs. b) Alternative food is prepared for children when they refuse to eat their dinner. It is important to maintain a healthy and nutritious alternative, so children are not hungry when they refuse to eat. This was communicated at the staff meeting on 13 May 2026. c) Extra meals are kept in the kitchen and if children ask for more or one falls or a child falls asleep there are extra dinners on hand and staff just ring the kitchen to request what they need. We will be checking this daily to ensure our healthy eating policy is being adhered to
- a) & b) We have completed spot checks throughout our nappy changes, cleanliness, nose wiping by observing the staff and children in care rooms and in nappy changing rooms. If a staff member does not adhere to policies and procedures, we get them to read relevant policies and redo the nappy change or observe them in practice again so we can ensure they are adhering to correct procedures. This will give us an idea on what supports staff require and what training they may need. We have mirrors in all care rooms and have placed tissues at close range to these mirrors and ask the children to look in the mirrors and wipe their noses and wash their faces as a part of our daily routine

21 April 2026

##### [Bright Sparks Childcare Centre](/creche/bright-sparks-childcare-centre-naas.md), Naas · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. The registered provider did not take all required measures to ensure that drinking water was accessible at all times to children in the Toddler room. It is acknowledged that there was a water station in the care room, however, this was out of reach of children. Water was not offered to the children from 10.22am to 2.11pm when the children were having their dinner. Allowing children to drink water as needed maintains hydration, aids digestion, prevents constipation, and regulates body temperature

- The staff moved the drinking water tray back to its original location, allowing the children to access it whenever they want. This decision ensures that the children can stay hydrated while still maintaining a safe environment. Staff will request that parents provide non-spill cups for their children. The water station has been reinstated and will remain in place at all times throughout the day. This ensures that children have consistent access to drinking water while promoting hydration and safety. Before discussing this issue with the staff, the camera footage was reviewed to confirm that water was being offered to the children on previous days. It was observed that the staff were actively providing and offering water to the children during that time. However they were putting it back on the shelf due to concerns about slip hazards caused by a child pouring water on the floor. Staff were reminded that our policy and procedures require children to be offered water every 20 minutes throughout the day, as some children may need reminders to stay hydrated. This ensures that all children have regular access to water and helps promote their overall well-being. The kitchen staff were instructed to ensure that toddlers receive water at every meal, rather than relying solely on their own sippy cups

17 April 2026

##### [The Learning Tree Early Education Limited](/creche/the-learning-tree-early-education-limited-clane.md), Clane · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- Basic needs of children: 1. The staff members did not respond promptly to children displaying signs of sleep and put them in a cot for sleep as evidenced by the following observations: • A child was observed lying on the ground in the outdoor area with their eyes closed. The child was observed a little later lying across a swing seat. The Early Years Inspector requested that the child be provided with a cot for sleep. • A child was observed sleeping in a staff members arm with a soother and a comfort blanket. 2. There was no evidence of menu planning for the afternoon snack and evening meal for the children on a daily basis. 3. Milk was not offered to the children as a drink with meals. Physical and material environment: 4. In the Maple Tree room, a window blind was not in place on the single large, glazed panel window to support the regulation of the room light and temperature for the comfort of the children age 1- 2 years in attendance. 5. The physical and material environment in Cedar room was not constructively planned, considered or presented from a child’s perspective. The indoor environment did not have interesting play and learning spaces which provided developmentally appropriate, challenging, diverse, creative and enriching experiences that facilitated child led play. It is acknowledged that there was materials and resources present however they were on shelving out of reach of children or in protective covers / boxes. 6. The defined areas of interest were inadequately resourced and presented as evidenced by the following observations: • The home corner consisted of a wooden play kitchen unit placed against a wall on one side of an external door. There were five pieces of associative equipment on top of a resource unit on the other side of the external door, a buggy with a doll was located in another part of the room , there was no obvious dress up clothing, no real-life materials. The area was not an inviting space for the children to engage in child led play and limited their imaginative play. • The construction area consisted of a wooden unit against a wall . A wooden carry box and a toy drill were observed on the resource unit alongside the materials for the play kitchen. • There were five hardback books on the ground in the reading area some of which were ripped apart. • There was no sensorial area provided. Sensorial materials such as sand, water, shredded paper, rice/ pasta/ lentils mix were not available. A selection of coloured p laydough was observed in small containers stored on a shelf in a resource unit. • There was no evidence of natural, real life or open-ended materials available to the children for self-directed imaginative play opportunities 7. There was no evidence that a programme of activities had been developed by the staff members in Cedar room to support the children ’s learning and development . The transition following snack and after the children returned from outdoor play lacked planning and preparedness to ensure that the children were continuously engaged in their play . Activities were adult led and the children were managed as a group rather than play choices offered. Children were observed wandering , sometimes running around the room aimlessly, climbing on tables, two children were observed writing on the walls with colouring pencils. Some children interacted with the Early Years Inspector. This was a non-compliance following inspection conducted on 26 January 2026. The corrective action submitted by the registered provider following the inspection failed to prevent recurrence of this non-compliance

- Basic needs of children: 1. All staff members have been reminded of the importance of meeting each child’s individual sleep and rest needs and utilize our big sleep room. At the time of the inspection, the service was in the process of implementing a revised sleep routine. There were also a number of new children attending the service, each with different sleep needs. Since then, the new sleep routine has been successfully implemented and allows staff to better respond to the individual sleep and rest requirements of each child. Management has also reinforced that parents’ individual requests regarding sleep and rest should be considered and accommodated where appropriate . In addition, the main sleep room has been rearranged, and the new classrooms have been adjusted so that they can also be used appropriately during sleep and rest times. These changes will support a more flexible approach and help ensure that children’s individual sleep and rest needs are consistently met. 2. The service has created a weekly menu that clearly includes both the afternoon snack and the evening meal. The weekly menu is kept available in the Creche at all times. The service also ensures that sufficient food supplies are maintained on site to meet the children’s needs for the full week, in line with the weekly menu. 3. Children who can have milk are offered milk on a daily basis, particularly at breakfast time. All Educators have been informed that milk should be offered to children with all meals, where appropriate and in line with each child’s dietary requirements, allergies, and parental preferences. Physical and material environment: 4. The roller blinds were installed in the Maple and Cedar room. 5. We acknowledge that the organisation of this room required significant improvement at the time of the inspection. Some resources and toys were not being made sufficiently accessible to the children, which limited the quality of the learning environment and children’s opportunities for independent play and exploration. Since the inspection, the service has taken a number of corrective actions to improve the room environment. Additional toys, materials and learning resources have been purchased from a range of providers, with a significant investment made to support the d evelopment of the room. As a result, the classroom is now more inviting, better organised, and more suitable for supporting children’s play, learning and development. Roller blinds have also been installed in the room to improve the environment and support children’s comfort throughout the day. We also bought more play dough and sensory items like lava tiles. All Educators have been informed that children must have appropriate access to toys, resources and learning materials, and that these items should not be hidden or stored away from the children unless there is a specific safety reason. The service has also requested support from an external agency to support quality development. These measures will help ensure that the classroom remains well resourced, inviting, and appropriately organised for the children. 6. The service supported the Educator in reorganising the areas of interest within the room to make the learning environment more inviting, accessible and developmentally appropriate for the children. The following improvements have been made: • The home corner has been relocated to a more suitable area of the room and additional resources have been added to support imaginative and role-play activities. • A full-size dress-up area has been created and fully equipped with appropriate materials. • Real-life materials are now available in clearly accessible containers within the room. • The different areas of interest have been more clearly separated, making the room easier for children to navigate and encouraging more focused play. • The construction area has been placed separately and has been equipped with a wider range of new toys and resources, including interactive toys. • Additional books, including interactive books, have been added to the room to support language development and early literacy. • Natural materials have also been introduced to support sensory exploration and open-ended play. 7. The service has always supported Educators in obtaining materials and resources needed to arrange their classrooms effectively. However, we recognise that encouraging Educators to plan and provide interesting activities may not always be sufficient, and that external guidance may be required in some circumstances. For this reason, the service has sought external support from the County Childcare Committee and a quality improvement organisation. The newly appointed Educator has also created a programme of interesting and age-appropriate activities for the children. During April and May, the main topics included well-known painters and different artistic styles, including painting with geometric figures and creating portraits inspired by fruit and vegetables. Following the implementation of the above changes, children are now more actively engaged in meaningful play and planned activities

15 April 2026

##### [Giraffe Childcare Celbridge](/creche/giraffe-childcare-celbridge-celbridge.md), Celbridge · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- Inspectors observed that suitable care practices were not in place having regard to the number of children attending the service and the nature of their needs as follows. 1. The registered provider did not take all required measures to ensure that water was accessible at all times to children in the Wobbler Acacia room which was at variance with the healthy eating policy in place. It is acknowledged that there was a water station in the care room, however, this was out of reach of children. Staff were observed offering children a short drink before and after their dinner and tea, but water beakers were moved out of reach of children by staff during their meals. Allowing children to drink water as needed maintains hydration, aids digestion, prevents constipation, and regulates body temperature. 2. Mealtime practices observed in the Wobbler Acacia room were at variance with the healthy eating policy in place and did not provide the children with opportunities to develop independence or for social interaction and meaningful engagement. Opportunities for self-feeding at dinner were not provided to the children in the Wobbler Acacia room who were aged 11 months to 1 year and developmentally ready to attempt spoon-feeding. Staff were observed spoon-feeding children in turn during dinner time and teatime on the day of inspection. Not allowing children who are developmentally ready to attempt self- feeding can delay the development of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, independence, and healthy eating habits

- 1. Immediate action was taken to ensure that drinking water is accessible to children at all times in the Wobbler Acacia room. Staff were reminded and re-trained on the importance of maintaining continuous access to water in line with the healthy eating policy. The water station was reviewed and repositioned to ensure it is within reach and consistently available throughout the day, including during meals and outdoor activities. 2. Staff have received further guidance to ensure that children are provided with appropriate opportunities to develop independence and self-feeding skills during meals. Spoon-feeding will only be used where developmentally appropriate, and children will be encouraged to self-feed in a supportive manner. Management will ensure that water is consistently available and easily accessible to children throughout the day, including during meals and outdoor activities and will ensure that staff support positive mealtime practices, encouraging children’s independence and self-feeding skills in an age-appropriate and supportive manner, in line with best practice

4 February 2026

##### [Little Harvard Childcare Ltd](/creche/little-harvard-childcare-ltd-maynooth.md), Maynooth · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. The inspector observed the front of a child’s trousers were wet in the Pre-school 3 room at 13:33 on day one of the inspection. The child appeared to be uncomfortable, pulling at the trousers and approached one of the adults. The adult pulled the child’s trousers up slightly and pulled their sweater down over the wet part. The child approached the adult a second time pulling at the trousers saying, “I’m wet”. The adult told the child “It’s just water”. The child ate dinner in the wet trousers and walked around the room pulling at the trousers after dinner. None of the adults present in the room offered to change the child until requested by the inspector at 14:02. 2. On day two of the inspection in Pre-school room 1, the inspectors observed two children pulling up their clothing in the classroom area after toileting independently. The children were visible to others in the classroom and from the corridor. The adults did not guide the children to return to the toilet area to maintain their privacy

- 1. All staff were reminded of the importance of maintaining children’s privacy, adhering to good toileting, and ensuring that children’s clothing is promptly changed in the event of spills or accidents. Staff were specifically briefed on the need to respond quickly to ensure children’s comfort and wellbeing. 2. To reinforce these practices, a training card was developed, and comprehensive training covering toileting, privacy, handwashing, and changing clothes after spills was delivered to all staff members. Relevant policies were also reissued to provide clear guidance. Local and Regional Management will carry out spot checks regularly to ensure compliance with all aspects of regulation 19

28 January 2026

##### [Maap Childcare Limited - Mullen Park](/creche/maap-childcare-limited-mullen-park-maynooth.md), Maynooth · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- The registered providers did not ensure that children attending the Cruiser room (aged 1-2 years) had appropriate access to drinks. The inspector observed nine children have snacks and dinner without receiving any drinks. At 10:21 an adult gave a beaker of water to a child who appeared to be indicating they wanted a drink. She then offered drinks to some of the other children who were playing nearby. Two children were not offered any. These children were placed to sleep at approximately 13:00. Failure to provide drinks to young children can place them at risk of dehydration

- Additional signage promoting water and healthy eating has been implemented in the specific classroom identified, as well as across all other rooms. A clearly designated water station has been introduced to reinforce visual prompts. The location of water has been moved to a more visible and easily accessible area to ensure children can access it at all times. Staff members in the Cruiser room were instructed to re-read the company’s policy and procedures in relation to daily food and water intake. Staff were reminded to offer water at multiple intervals throughout the day, including during mealtimes. It was reinforced that supervising water intake is more effective when children are seated together, allowing better monitoring of hydration. To prevent this from reoccurring we have added to our staff induction regarding hydration, dehydration and the responsibilities of all staff and management to provide drinks and not wait for children to seek refreshments. This has also been added to the list of responsibilities for managers and kitchen staff to monitor the refill of drinks containers throughout the day

27 January 2026

##### [Little Toppers](/creche/little-toppers-straffan.md), Straffan · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- (19)(1)(b) Two children in the Cubs room did not eat any of the dinner of pasta and tomato sauce with cheese. Staff stated that they didn’t like pasta. No alternative was offered to the children before they were put to bed at 12.00pm. It was noted that the children last ate at 10.00am. No further food was offered to them until the afternoon snack at 3.00pm

- We have revised our healthy eating policy, mealtimes practices section. This has been circulated to and explained to all staff members. We have an updated the food dislikes/preferences list in the kitchen for all rooms

26 January 2026

##### [Little Harvard Childcare Ltd](/creche/little-harvard-childcare-ltd-naas.md), Naas · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 19 (1)(b) The registered provider did not demonstrate an appropriate balance between service and child needs in relation to sleep. Sleep practices for children attending the Wobbler 3 room were observed on the first day of inspection. The inspector observed a staff member wake a child who was asleep in the cot room at 13:30. The staff member told the inspector that it is common practice to wake the children at 13:30 for dinner. After being woken, the child was brought back to the Wobbler 3 room. The child refused to eat and showed signs of tiredness including crying intermittently, rubbing their eyes and staring into space. Failure to facilitate children to sleep according to their needs can lead to increased irritability and can impact negatively on their emotional and physical development

- All staff have been retrained in the service’s Safe Sleep policy, with specific emphasis on ensuring children are not woken from sleep unnecessarily and that sleep is facilitated in line with each child’s individual needs. Staff have also been reminded of the potential negative impact that disrupted sleep can have on children’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Ongoing monitoring will be carried out by local and regional management to ensure consistent adherence to appropriate sleep practices

8 December 2025

##### [Maap Childcare T/A Tots Creche and Day Care](/creche/maap-childcare-t-a-tots-creche-and-day-care-newbridge.md), Newbridge · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. Inappropriate care practices were observed by the inspector as follows: • Three children were observed to be crying in the garden, gathering at the door when the inspector arrived at the outdoor area. Staff were not responding to the children’s upset but were talking to each other, not comforting the children. The inspector comforted one of the children bringing them over to an activity whilst staff observed and remained engaged in conversation with their colleague. • A staff member in the Wobbler room was observed to take a child by the wrist insistently to the bathroom. The child refused to go but the staff member was insistent and brought them. 2. Positive behaviour management strategies were not observed in use by one staff member in the Wobbler room. For example, a child who was climbing on furniture in the care room was told ‘no’ and ‘don’t do that’ in a negative tone which is at variance with the behaviour management policy in place in the service. 3. Children in the Baby room were not given the opportunity to self-feed. Two staff members were observed to feed 4 children at the same time whilst they were sitting in highchairs with the bowls out of reach. At times some children appeared to be frustrated that the food was not coming quick enough. Two other children in the room were given an opportunity to self-feed with help from a staff member. The independence of the children was not supported. 4. Staff stated that children in the Baby room were never given the opportunity to go outside to the garden. This does not support the overall health and wellbeing of the children who attend the service on a full daycare basis

- 1-4 This was given to staff at the staff meeting/training night for all staff to read, sign and discuss at the training night. All staff understood regarding all languages and how to communicate more effectively for the children in their care and their colleagues in the service. The staff member was insistent on all children washing their hands before eating their meal, in line with our hand hygiene policy, Our staff were also given our Handling children policy and discussion regarding handling children took place at the staff meeting/training night. Continuous professional development training is given and will continue to be given to all staff in the company with regards to all requirements of their employment. Where English is not the first language of the staff employed by the company extra support and training will be given to assist these staff to carry out their job without the need for translation. Regular observation of these staff members care practices are maintained to make sure they are operating to our high standards of care at all times. Staff members have had training and understand that they must sit with children when they are eating, be attentive to the children at all times, encourage self-feeding at an appropriate age for their development

1 December 2025

##### [Tir na Nóg Early Years Care & Education Centre Ltd](/creche/tir-na-nog-early-years-care-education-centre-ltd-athy.md), Athy · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- The room temperatures recorded in the Caterpillar and sleep room were outside the required temperature range of 18 -22 degrees Celsius. The room temperature at 10.45am in the Caterpillar room was recorded at 16.6oC and at 11.34am prior to the children going to sleep, the sleep room was recorded at 16.1oC

- We will ensure temperatures are met by having the heating on earlier in the morning after the weekend. Extra sources of heat available to boost areas where needed. All staff review temperature regulations and sign off on them. Procedure to notify management immediately if temperatures drop-in the rooms. New sensitive thermometer purchased for precise temperature reading

21 October 2025

##### [Circle of Friends](/creche/circle-of-friends-kill.md), Kill · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- Not all children in the Wobbler room had an opportunity to self-feed during dinner time. A staff member was observed to feed two children at the same time whilst they were sitting in highchairs with the bowls out of reach. At times the children appeared to be frustrated that the food was not coming quick enough. Four other children in the room were given an opportunity to self-feed with help from a staff member. All children were between one and two years of age. The independence of all children was not supported

- All staff in the wobbler room were spoken to the importance of promoting the children’s independence during mealtimes was reiterated, with an emphasis on offering all children opportunities for age and developmentally appropriate self-feeding. Expectations regarding responsive and individual feeding have been clarified with the team and ongoing monitoring will take place to support consistent implementation. To prevent this issue from reoccurring, ongoing monitoring of mealtime practices will be embedded into the room’s daily routine. I will have regular discussions with the team to ensure consistent practice. The importance of supporting independence will be reinforced during team meetings

12 August 2025

##### [Tigers Childcare](/creche/tigers-childcare-naas.md), Naas · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. The registered provider did not take all required measures to ensure that water was accessible at all times to children in the Explorers room on the day of inspection. The outdoor temperature on the day of inspection ranged between approximately 21°-27°C. The temperature of the Explorers care room ranged from 24.5°-26.9°C. Water and drinking cups were not available at all times at the water station in the care room or in the outdoor area and children were not offered a drink after playing outdoors on two occasions. The inspector brought the lack of available water to the attention of staff on two occasions. It is acknowledged that children in the Explorers room were given a drink with their meals. 2. All required measures to protect the children from the sun when in the outdoor area were not taken. The children did not wear sunhats despite these being available

- 1. A water station is in use each day at the child’s level with water in a jug at all times and cups available both indoor and outdoor. Children have been invited to bring in drinking bottles which are also stored at the child’s level on the water station. The Food, Nutrition & Health Promotion Policy was re-viewed by all colleagues. The importance of having water accessible at all times was discussed with all colleagues. Colleagues were reminded to be proactive in offering drinks to children particularly during warmer weather. Management will carry out checks in the morning and throughout the day to ensure water is always available to the children. 2. All colleagues were reminded at the staff meeting to ensure sun hats are to be worn by children if available and to communicate to parents that sun hats are required if not available already. Sun & Hot Weather Safety policy reviewed by all colleagues. The importance of sun protection was communicated to colleagues during our staff meeting on 28th August & 3rd September. Management will conduct spot checks in the garden to ensure all children have their sun hats on or available to them

29 May 2025

##### [Busy Fingers Creche](/creche/busy-fingers-creche-newbridge.md), Newbridge · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. During dinner time in the Toddler 2 room, children were not offered more food. Staff were observed giving an additional portion to one child who requested more, however a second child who requested more was told by staff that no more was available. Staff stated to the inspector when asked that there was no more available. 2. In Baby 4 room some children were not given the opportunity to self-feed. A staff member was observed to feed 4 children at the same time whilst they were sitting in highchairs with the bowls out of reach. At times some children appeared to be frustrated that the food was not coming quick enough. Three other children in the room were given an opportunity to self-feed with help from a staff member. All children were approaching 2 years of age. The independence of all children was not supported. 3. Staff did not wipe children’s noses in a timely manner in the Baby 1 room despite staff facing them and having them sit on their lap. The personal care needs of all children were not met in a timely manner

- 1. We wish to clarify that there is always sufficient food available on site, as our in-house kitchen can provide additional portions upon request. In this instance, staff should have contacted the kitchen to arrange for more food to be brought up. We have reminded staff of the correct procedure to ensure that all children’s needs are met promptly in the future. 2. We acknowledge the concern raised about children not being given the opportunity to self-feed, and the observation of a staff member feeding multiple children at once with bowls out of reach. We understand that this practice does not promote children’s ind ependence or support best practice in early years settings. We spoke with the staff on the importance of promoting self-feeding, offering support only as needed. Placing food and utensils within children’s reach so they can choose and try feeding themselves. Ensuring feeding is unhurried and responsive to each child’s pace and cues. Sitting with children at their level, engaging in positive social interactions during mealtimes. Our actions going forward will include reviewing and updating our mealtime policy to promote self -feeding opportunities for all children. Staff will receive refresher training on supporting children’s independence during meals, including how to balance supervision and encouragement. We will regularly monitor mealtime practices to ensure these standards are maintained. We are committed to creating a mealtime environment that supports children’s independence, choice, and social development. 3. All staff were reminded immediately following the inspection that children’s noses must be wiped promptly to maintain hygiene and comfort. The staff members involved have been individually spoken to about expectations for attentive supervision and responsive care. We have conducted a refresher training session for all staff on infection control and responsive care practices. A new hygiene monitoring checklist has been implemented to ensure staff regularly check and attend to children’s needs, including nose wiping. Management have started spot checks throughout the day to ensure standards are maintained consistently. This expectation will be added to our induction training for all new staff so they are aware of best practice. We are committed to continuous improvement and will ensure this issue does not recur

29 April 2025

##### [Tots Creche & Daycare Nursery Limited](/creche/tots-creche-daycare-nursery-limited-prosperous.md), Prosperous · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. A child’s wet clothes were not changed prior to them going to sleep despite a staff member changing their nappy and bib. Their bottoms and top were wet when placed to sleep. 2. One child’s shoes and socks and another’s shoes were removed in the garden prior to being brought to sleep. The children walked along a concrete footpath with no protection on their feet. This poses a risk of their feet being hurt

- 1. Training has been carried out with the manager and staff on the basic care for a child prior to them going to sleep. A new sleep checklist sheet has been put in place to prevent steps of basic care from being missed or skipped in the future. 2. Training has been carried out with the manager and staff on the basic care for a child. Children do not have their shoes or socks removed until they are indoors and ready for bed. Children should not walk in their feet in the communal areas of the service. The operations manager, area managers and service managers will carry out unannounced inspections in between our internal monthly Inspections to make sure this is not happening

7 April 2025

##### [Cocoon Childcare- Naas](/creche/cocoon-childcare-naas-naas.md), Naas · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- One child in the Baby room, aged 1 year, was not provided with the opportunity to feed themselves during dinnertime. A staff member held the bowl away from the child and spoon-fed the child. The child was not provided with the opportunity to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills and to promote independence

- The centre management team have conducted training with the baby room staff team on promoting independence at mealtimes with particular emphasis on each child’s bowl being accessible to them. The Baby room team members also availed of external training focusing on effectively managing meal and snack times, whilst supporting children’s autonomy in self-feeding and strategies for providing a safe and comfortable feeding environment. The Centre Management team will continue to carry out regular observations at mealtimes

21 January 2025

##### [Tots Creche & Daycare Nursery Limited](/creche/tots-creche-daycare-nursery-limited-newbridge.md), Newbridge · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. Runny noses of children attending the Toddler room were not wiped in a timely manner. Children were observed using their sleeves to wipe their noses. 2. Children in the Toddler room were placed to sleep on a stackable bed but had no blanket for comfort or warmth. Staff stated they never use blankets with this age group

- 1. Staff Spot checks were carried out by the manager of the service at different times throughout the day whilst observing the staff using our spot checks sheet for compliance of Policies and Procedures. This ensures continuity of Policy and Procedures being implemented correctly. This will also highlight areas of non-compliance and gaps in compliance, re- training needs. Once a staff member is observed not to be following Policy and Procedure, they are instructed to read Policies and Procedures regarding the non- Compliance and will be observed further to make sure adequate training has been received and are being implemented. Carrying out Infection control measures within the service is the only way of preventing the spread of illness and infection. 2. All children have blankets whilst in a cot, floor bed or on a stack bed. All children must be provided with sheets and a cellular blanket for their sleep/rest period

8 January 2024

##### [Happy Years Childcare](/creche/happy-years-childcare-celbridge.md), Celbridge · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child

- 1. The physical and material environment in Room 1 required further development around presentation of the following interest area to promote child led play and choice of activity - the home corner; the construction area, a larger sand tray with plenty of sand available for the children and an art easel set up with paper, paint and protective clothing to enable the children to independently engage in art work

- 1. The physical and material environment in room 1 has been changed to promote more child led play, some more materials have been ordered

### Regulation 19 in other counties

- [Carlow](/regulation/19/carlow.md)
- [Cavan](/regulation/19/cavan.md)
- [Clare](/regulation/19/clare.md)
- [Cork](/regulation/19/cork.md)
- [Donegal](/regulation/19/donegal.md)
- [Dublin](/regulation/19/dublin.md)
- [Galway](/regulation/19/galway.md)
- [Kerry](/regulation/19/kerry.md)
- [Kilkenny](/regulation/19/kilkenny.md)
- [Laois](/regulation/19/laois.md)
- [Limerick](/regulation/19/limerick.md)
- [Longford](/regulation/19/longford.md)
- [Louth](/regulation/19/louth.md)
- [Mayo](/regulation/19/mayo.md)
- [Meath](/regulation/19/meath.md)
- [Monaghan](/regulation/19/monaghan.md)
- [Offaly](/regulation/19/offaly.md)
- [Sligo](/regulation/19/sligo.md)
- [Tipperary](/regulation/19/tipperary.md)
- [Waterford](/regulation/19/waterford.md)
- [Wexford](/regulation/19/wexford.md)
- [Wicklow](/regulation/19/wicklow.md)

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Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/regulation/19/kildare/
Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate
Recolha: 2026-09-11