# Regulation 19 (Health, Welfare and Development of Child) — non-compliances in Meath > What inspectors found under Regulation 19 (Health, Welfare and Development of Child) at 7 early years services in Meath, with providers' responses. ## Regulation 19 in Meath Health, Welfare and Development of Child: **7** 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). 13 May 2026 ##### [Tigers Childcare](/creche/tigers-childcare-ashbourne.md), Ashbourne · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Basic needs: 1. The basic needs of children in the Discoverers room were not observed to be met on the day of inspection; • Children who could sit independently were observed strapped into low level chairs for prolonged periods outside of times for eating. Children who are confined in equipment for longer than 15 minutes have their need for freedom and mobility restricted impacting on their physical and emotional development • Children did not get outdoors during the afternoon. After the prolonged period of sitting, children were advised they were going outdoors for some play. The weather had not been considered, upon transitioning outdoors it began to rain. Children who had stepped outside were promptly ushered back inside the room and became audibly upset. Wet gear was available to the children. The children required an opportunity to play outdoors to ensure their physical and emotional needs were met. Physical and material environment 2. In the Active Cubs 1 room areas of interest were poorly developed with little supporting equipment and materials to enhance the themed areas and to ensure meaningful sustained play. For example. • The play kitchen was empty with materials. • Dress up area had no dress up items available to the children. • Shelves were minimally stocked. 3. The physical and material environment in the Discoverers room was insufficient to provide an adequate learning environment for the number of children present, for example: • There was limited opportunity for open-ended play due to a lack of materials, equipment and interest areas in the room, for example five library books were present for ten children, a wooden kitchen had limited supply of materials, one shelf was present with limited construction materials such as blocks present - The registered provider confirmed that staff meeting was held where the following topics were discussed and reviewed: Environments, Transitions Policy, Curriculum Policy, and Interactions & Pedagogy Policy, and Outdoor Policy. 1. Following a risk assessment, straps have been removed from all chairs in Junior discoverers room. Management will ensure and regularly review that outdoor play is facilitated in all weathers as per their policy. 2. Following the inspection additional play resources and materials were purchased. Management will oversee monthly room audits that will now take place, as well as an environment review annually, to identify any additional resources or materials required. 3. The quality support team have provided re-training on Curriculum and Transitions policies. This training is documented and reviewed. Management will oversee monthly room audits that will now take place 24 March 2026 ##### [Tigers Childcare](/creche/tigers-childcare-bettystown.md), Bettystown · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. The registered provider did not ensure that documented support plans were reviewed in conjunction with parents and that the review was documented. The inspector reviewed several detailed support plans, which were discreetly available in the rooms for staff. The support plans detailed the goals for different children and strategies described in the plans were reflective of those used by staff with children who were present on the day of inspection. However, each plan had a set of review dates, some from November and December 2025 and February 2026. These had not been completed to document that the reviews had taken place and that parents had been consulted to ensure children were provided with the most effective support - Corrective & Preventive Action 1. The registered provider stated that all children’s support plans were reviewed following the inspection to ensure that the review dates were updated and reviews completed within the timeframe set. The overdue reviews from November, December 2025 and Feb 2026 were completed retrospectively. Parents were consulted as part of the review. As a preventive action they have introduced a support plan response log to ensure all evidence of parental involvement is noted, and any updated support strategies are recorded 12 March 2026 ##### [Snugglemuffins Montessori LTD](/creche/snugglemuffins-montessori-ltd-navan.md), Navan · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. There was no care plan in place for a child who had additional needs and who was receiving supports from outside agencies. Care plans are needed to assess the progress of the chil d and to identify learning needs when working in partnership with outside agencies. 2. There were no observations conducted on 5 children to assess the progress of the children and to identify if additional supports were required. It was observed on the day of inspection that one of these children also required additional attention and supervision. These non -compliances were found on the last inspection on the 05/11/2025 . As part of the corrective and preventive action plan submitted, the registered provider gave assurances that care plans would be available to support children with additional needs and that observations would be conducted for each child on a regular basis. Evidence was not available to demonstrate that these actions were being implemented at this recent inspection and it was determined that the actions outlined by the registered provider were insufficient to prevent them from re-occurring - 1&2 A care plan is now in place and all observations up to date. Key workers are now assigned to children and a schedule in place for observations 11 March 2026 ##### [Sandys Creche and Montessori School](/creche/sandys-creche-and-montessori-school-dunshaughlin.md), Dunshaughlin · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Supporting relationships around children: 1. Staff were not observed to sit with children at dinner time in Junior Room 1. This did not support a relaxed atmosphere and social interaction among the children and adults at mealtimes. Physical and material environment: 2. There was minimal interest areas developed for the children to initiate or sustain child led play experiences in the Junior Room 1. There were a limited range of developmentally appropriate and challenging equipment and resources in the Junior Room 1. The dress up unit had no dress up clothes and instead had many items stored in the unit. There was no transportation toys stored beside the car mat to enhance children’s play. Due to the room layout, there was minimal opportunity for child-initiated activities and opportunities for children to engage with a range of materials in the environment based on children’s choices, interests and preferences. 3. There was a lack of sensory or wooden materials available for the children to use, there was no sand, water or other materials provided for the children to enjoy hands on sensory play experiences in the Junior Room 1 in the indoor or outdoor area of the service. Therefore, this did not provide opportunities for children to engage with materials that stimulated children’s senses and or to enhance children’s learning and development experiences. 4. The family photographs in Junior Room 1 were positioned out of the children’s line of vision. This reduced the opportunity for the children to see the photographs and use them to bridge the gap between the service and home. Programme of Activities and its Implementation: 5. In the Junior Room 1 the practice observed during both instances below demonstrated a lack of opportunities for child-led play and facilitation of children’s choices. • The television was put on for the children to watch from 12.20pm until 1.00pm before the children went to sleep. During this time children were taken out of the room in small groups for dinner to the kitchen and for nappy changing. Whilst watching the television children were observed to become restless, and the children were repeatedly told to sit down. Two children went into the home corner to play and were instructed to leave the home corner and to go and sit down to watch the television. Other children expressed their restlessness by placing themselves under the small sofa and by standing on the blinds. • During story time two children that became restless were repeatedly asked to sit down on the mat when they showed signs of wanting to move to another activity. This practice does not promote child led play and reduces the opportunity for children to follow their interests and preferences through play which may potentially impact on children’s development and well-being - Corrective Action Supporting relationships around children: 1. This was also discussed at the staff meeting, the importance of sitting down and having conversations with children and building relationship. Physical and material environment: 2. On the day of the inspection some of the dress up clothes had been put into be wash. This topic was also discussed at the staff meeting; that all staff present in any of the rooms should ensure before closing the room that’s all toys are put back in the correct boxes that are allocated for them. The lay out of the room has now been changed. 3. The layout of the room as now been changed to provide different types of sensory experience from a range of materials and from the natural environment. 4. The photographs have now been placed down to the children’s eye level. Programme of Activities and its Implementation: 5. During the dinner period, children are taken out in small groups whilst other staff members are outside with the remainder of the children and keeping within ratio. This happens until dinners and nappies are completed. After this the children get read a book of their choice. If at any point a child is restless the outdoor space provided will be available at all times. Preventive Action Supporting relationships around children: 1. Room leaders should ensure that this take places at every mealtime or any opportunity given and encourage staff who are not permanently in the room to build relationships with children. Physical and material environment: 2. A checklist will be placed in the room and every evening when the room is closed this check list will need to be completed. The room leader will ensure that this check is completed and signed off. If this is not done it will be brought to management. 3. Linking within the curriculum objects will be placed on the tuff table giving the children sensory experiences for all types of materials which will be safe and nontoxic. 4. Room leader will ensure this complies with every new group or child joining the room. Programme of Activities and its Implementation: 5. Room leader will ensure all staff comply 23 February 2026 ##### [Home from Home Daycare](/creche/home-from-home-daycare-ratoath.md), Ratoath · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - Basic needs: 1. In the Wobbler room 1 and Wobbler room 2 the children’s water bottles were not freely available to the children as they were stored in a box on a windowsill and on the radiator out of sight and reach of the children. This prevented the children from taking a drink spontaneously if they were thirsty during the day, without the assistance of a staff member. 2. Before dinner time in the Wobbler room 1 two children had their shoes and leggings removed before they ate their dinner, when asked the staff member stated that this was being done to speed up the process of placing the children to sleep after they ate. This practice does not support the dignity of the children. Supporting relationships around children: 3. The family photographs that were on display in the Wobbler room 1 and Wobbler room 2 were positioned at too high a level for the children to see. A child in the Wobbler room 2 climbed on a chair to try and retrieve the family photograph, the child was told to get down off the chair. The positioning of the photographs does not enable the children to develop a sense of belonging and connectedness in the service and to maintain links with family and home. Furthermore, this does not support conversation with the child and enhancement of the child’s language development. 4. Staff were not observed to sit with children at dinner time in the Toddler room. This did not support a relaxed atmosphere and social interaction among the children and adults at mealtimes. 5. In the Wobbler room 2, 3 children were observed to be playing at the water tray, the children showed signs of being engaged in their play, however the lid was put on the tray, and the children were taken over to the table to do another activity. This does not support the voice of the child or follow child’s interests by reading children’s cues. Physical and material environment: 6. There was no additional equipment readily available to the children in the Wobbler room 1 to use with the play kitchen. The play resources for use with the kitchen were stored on pull out shelves which the majority of children in the room were not developmentally able to retrieve - Corrective Action Basic needs: 1. Water bottles have been moved to a more reachable spot. Area was labelled with a large A4 page reading ‘Water Station’ with pictures of water bottles so the children know where their water is. This was applied to both rooms. 2. Staff have been advised that it is not best practice to remove children’s clothing while in the classroom and before meals. Children will only have clothing removed in the sleep room when going to sleep. Supporting relationships around children: 3. Family wall pictures are now moved lower down on the wall where children can see/reach. Families have been contacted and asked to create ‘Family Books’ so that children can have constant access to family pictures throughout the day. 4. Encourage staff to sit with children at the table where possible, have one staff member cleaning up and the other’s sitting with the children. 5. Staff have been given printed information on their Child-Lead curriculum to revisit. Physical and material environment: 6. Kitchen play toys are stored in and on the play kitchen and in open baskets beside it. Preventive Action Basic needs: 1. Water station set up has been added to staff’s daily checklist and added to new Room Standards policy. 2. Added to new Room Standards policy. Created posters for rooms RE ‘Comfort& Dignity” Supporting relationships around children: 3. Added ‘family wall/pictures accessible and low down’ to daily checklist for staff and new Room Standards Policy. 4. Create a room roster for the staff so they know who should clean and who should sit at the tables. 5. Ensure regular, on -going training regarding Child- Led curriculum and the importance of the children having their voices heard. Print outs for room as reminders. Physical and material environment: 6. Clearly labelled kitchen toy baskets and areas for storing said toys 8 July 2025 ##### [Scope to Grow](/creche/scope-to-grow-ratoath.md), Ratoath · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. There was a lack of natural and sensory materials in the Nursery room and the Toddler room in order to facilitate sensorial play experiences. For example, sensory type materials such as sand, rice or pasta trays were not available to the children in these care rooms. Furthermore, there were no sensory opportunities provided in the section of the outdoor area used by the children attending these care rooms on the day of inspection - Corrective Action 1. Sensory areas established: Dedicated sensory areas have been created in both the Nursery and Toddler rooms. These areas are stocked with a variety of materials and resources to ensure children have regular access to sensory experiences. Increased sensory activities: Educators have increased the frequency of sensory activities in both rooms. This ensures that children are consistently provided with opportunities for sensory exploration and development throughout the day. Preventive Action 1. Management will implement regular checks to ensure that a variety of sensory equipment and materials are available and accessible to children throughout the day 11 June 2024 ##### [Trim Community Childcare CLG](/creche/trim-community-childcare-clg-trim.md), Trim · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child - 1. In the Toddler room the children were stripped down to their tops/t-shirt and nappy when they returned from the outdoor area and prior to having their dinner. On discussion with staff this practice was carried out to speed the transition for the children from eating to going to sleep. This routine was carried out as a time saving exercise and was not child-centred practice - Corrective & Preventive Action This was addressed immediately, and the children no longer get ready for bed before dinner. They have their meal and then get ready (undressed to their vests) for bed. All staff are aware that this is the practice to be carried out Summary Comment The response from the registered provider has addressed the non compliance in Regulation 19 ### 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) - [Kildare](/regulation/19/kildare.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) - [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) --- Página: https://creche-inspection-reports.pages.dev/regulation/19/meath/ Fonte: Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Recolha: 2026-09-11