Regulation 19 in Kilkenny
Health, Welfare and Development of Child: 5 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.
27 November 2025
Little Shamrocks, Kilkenny · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- The equipment in the outdoor area was worn and needed to be replaced. For example:
- There was a large dolls house which was worn
- The large container which staff said usually contained sand for children to play with was empty
- The mud kitchen had a limited number of utensils for children to use to enjoy imaginative play in the area
Provider's corrective action:
- The dolls house has been removed
- The sand pit has been replenished. A back up supply of sand has been ordered to ensure there is a supply when the sand already in use needs to be replaced
- The mud kitchen has been updated to ensure existing utensils are accessible to the children
4 September 2025
Clever Cats Childcare, Inistioge · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- The children in the toddler room were put down to sleep on cot beds in the preschool room. They were provided with blankets but there were no sheets placed on the beds
Provider's corrective action:
- The service has purchased sheets for the beds in the toddler room. The beds will be set up with the sheets for the comfort of the sleeping children
14 April 2025
Little Mischief Day Nursery & Montessori Mooncoin, Mooncoin · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. The dinner time did not provide children in the Toddler group with an opportunity to refine their skills or experience a sense of achievement of self-feeding. While eating their dinner, a child aged 2 to 3 years spilled pasta and sauce on their jumper, on the table and on the floor. The staff member was observed to pull the child’s chair away from the table to clean their jumper, the table and the floor. When pushing the child’s chair back into the table, the staff member said, ‘be careful with your dinner’. This practice was at variance of the service’s healthy eating policy which outlined children are encouraged to feed themselves independently, according to their age and stage of development and that bibs are worn by the younger children or any child who needs it. Mealtimes should provide children with a relaxed atmosphere and provide a time for children to experience a sense of achievement in feeding themselves. 2. The table in the toddler room was too low for the children. The six children were unable to position their legs under the table. This was at variance of the service’s healthy eating policy which stated that tables are suitable for the age and stage of development of the children. (b) 3. Staff members did not provide adequate reassurance or comfort to a child who was upset on the morning of the inspection. A child aged 1 to 2 years in the Baby room was observed to be unsettled and distressed throughout the morning of the inspection. The child was visibly upset at various stages and overheard to ask for their parent on numerous occasions between 9.45am to 1pm. In discussion with staff members, it was outlined that the child was attending the service for a few months but had not settled. It is noted that the child was provided with reassurance on one occasion during snack time at 11am that their parent would be arriving shortly to collect them. The child was observed to settle, however, minutes later the child was removed from the low-level chair and was upset. The staff members were observed to continue to clean the area and put away the highchairs. This practice was at variance with the service’s managing behaviour policy which outlined that staff respond in a timely and appropriate way when children cry or become upset. The service’s settling in policy outlined that the service endeavoured to make the settling-in process a positive experience for children and would work closely in partnership with parents/guardians to ensure this is achieved. In discussion with staff members, it was confirmed that a transition plan or evidence of working closely with the child’s parents/guardians was not in place to support the child. 4. Staff members did not effectively communicate or support the children in the Baby room during times of transitions. The service’s policy outlines that children are given advance notice visually of changes to routines or planned changes within the schedule of activities which will affect them. The policy outlined that the service consider it important to recognise that some children need to be given more time, support and assistance to cope with changes in activity levels and/or types of activities. The following was observed; a. Before mealtimes, staff members were observed to lift and place the children into the highchairs and a low-level chair without providing an insight to the children as to what was going to happen next. Following mealtimes, staff members were observed to remove the children from the highchairs and place them onto the ground without any communication. During snack time, one child was observed be eating their crackers and the staff member lifted them from the highchair onto the ground. Children were observed to be upset when they were put into and removed from the high chairs. b. At 11.15am, a staff member placed two of the children aged 1 to 2 years into the double buggy in the outdoor area. The staff member was pushing the buggy in a rocking motion. Minutes later, the two children were removed from the buggy without explanation and the two children were observed to cry. c. At 12.35pm, during the transition from the outdoors to indoors, children from the Baby and Toddler room were not provided with insight or expectations on what was happening next. The staff members did not provide expectations for the children that they would be going indoors for their dinner. Two of the four children were observed to be crying and were placed into a high chair. Through providing children with an insight of what to expect supports the development of positive relationships as it develops a sense of trust and knowing for the child
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Forks will be introduced at dinner time and bibs will be used for younger children. The children are encouraged to be independent during meal times but children meet their milestones at different levels and the 18 month old child is still only at the early stages of self-feeding but this will be encouraged everyday to keep our mealtimes a relaxed atmosphere. 2. The table was adjusted in toddler room to help children legs fit comfortably under the table. The service will adjust tables as needed
- 3. After discussions with the staff, a transition plan with the child and their parents has proved to be successful. The transition plan in place includes strategies to help a child move smoothly during activities and within the environment. This includes using verbal and nonverbal cues and visual schedules. 4. A new transition plan has been put in place to support children into what happens next. This support will give children advance notice during activities, meal times and play time. This is through using different bells, timers and music. A transition plan is now in place regarding feeding time and a better communication from staff when moving from highchair to floor play, A better understanding is in place, for example, the staff are aware if a child is not ready to move to next activity and are happy to continue to play where they are. Since implementing this new strategy, it has created a stable and supportive environment between staff and children. Summary Comment The non-compliances have been addressed by the actions submitted by the registered provider. The actions submitted for Regulation 19 Health, welfare and development of child will be assessed on the next inspection
27 January 2025
Croìa Childcare, Ballyragget · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1.While a variety of age-appropriate books were displayed on shelving on the wall there was no defined rest area for the children to sit and relax on occasions when they were tired or needed to rest. There was no clear area for sleep mats to be placed if a child attending the part-time service wished to nap during the day. 2. While the inspector acknowledges and commends the children’s freedom of choice, between outdoor and indoor play, there were occasions when the children wished to go outside and the door to the classroom remained open. The temperature in the classroom was recorded at 16 °C between 09:30 – 10:30 hours, at 11:20 hours the temperature dropped from 15.9 °C to 15.3°C. At 11:25 hours the temperature dropped to 14°C. The children inside could be observed to have cold pink hands. The door was eventually closed but the room remained cold
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider has submitted the following response. Corrective and Preventive Action 1.There is multiple equipment for the children to sit and relax, for example, vacuum sealed bags containing mats with blankets & bed linen and multiple soft cushions and mats. The team have made a cosy corner specifically for resting. The children can now take the mats into this specific corner. The team had originally taken out the soft couch as the younger children were jumping off it. It has been slowly reintroduced into the setting. Staff sit with the younger children to show them how to sit on the couch. The cosy corner is clearly marked for the children to come and sit there to relax. This corner has books, family photos and sensory toys on it. 2. The children are free to move indoor and outdoor as they wish. This was the first day the children were back after the storm. The children assisted an adult outside taking out the toys from storage, this may be why children presented with pink hands. Generally, the children will close the door behind them, however this was not the case on this morning, as they were helping. The heating was on, and temperature did rise after a period, it did take a little longer for the room to reach the adequate temperature as the door had remained open and it was colder outside. Staff have spoken with the children, and are observing the door to ensure it remains closed for the children who remain indoors. Staff will remind children to keep the door closed to ensure the temperature of the room remains at the appropriate temperature throughout the morning
28 February 2024
Ballyhale Montessori School, Ballyhale · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- The emphasis on outdoor play in the service needed to be developed to ensure children could access the area for longer periods. For example, children in the Mighty Shamrocks got wet while playing in the outdoor area and many had to change their wet clothes when they came inside. The provision of wet gear would ensure the children stayed warm and dry and could stay in the outdoor area for longer periods
- The mud kitchen in the outdoor area needed to be further developed. There were very few utensils present in the kitchen for children to play with. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- The service has rearranged garden times to consider equitable access for all groups attending the service. Staff have discussed the importance for all children to use the garden in the mornings and afternoons when attending the service. Wetsuits are available to the children when the weather is very wet
- Materials for the mud kitchen have been ordered online. 1