Regulation 19 in Wexford
Health, Welfare and Development of Child: 12 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
Askamore Childcare Centre CLG, Gorey · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- The privacy and dignity of children toileting in the toddler room was compromised. The inspector observed that both toilet cubicles had no doors and children could be seen by others in the classroom
Provider's corrective action:
- We have now had half doors installed in the two toilets in the toddler bathroom to correct the non-compliance
22 October 2025
Kinderland Montessori, Bunclody · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1(a) On the day of inspection, the following was observed and not in line with basic needs of the children during mealtimes: Staff did not sit with the children during the main meal Children were crowded together without adequate space to eat, Food was served from lunch boxes and not on plates, Lunch boxes and bags left in the middle of the table, There was a lack of opportunities to develop social skills during main meal as it was loud and busy
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider submitted the following response to address the non-compliance: Corrective and Preventive Action Staff have now allocated seating within the classrooms and are sitting with the children during mealtimes. Children have been separated into two downstairs classrooms, reducing the number of children in each room and providing more space for eating. The staff timetable has been adjusted to maintain appropriate ratios. Plates are now used in all classrooms during mealtimes. Slowing down the mealtime routine has created more opportunities for children to develop their social skills during main meals. Staff have all been advised on food practice going forward. All policies are being revised and updated
14 October 2025
Discoveryland Creche and Montessori, Wexford · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- (1)(b) This regulation was non-compliant following inspection on 29 and 30 April 2025. The corrective and preventive actions submitted by the registered provider failed to achieve or sustain compliance. 1. The insufficient number of adults in the service from 12.30pm to 2.05pm on the second day of inspection impacted the care which children received. The following was noted: a. At 1pm, there were 10 children aged 1 to 3 years in the Pre-Montessori room on sleep mats and low-level beds, lighting had been darkened. In discussion with the staff member, they outlined that while all of the children would be provided with an opportunity for sleep, a number of the children did not routinely sleep. Staff members outlined that the children who did not sleep would be brought outside when a staff member returned from their break. This could not be facilitated until 1.40pm, when the staff member returned and 4 of the 5 children who did not sleep were brought outdoors. This resulted in this group of children spending 40 minutes in a darkened room with no alternative activity provided. 2. In the Juniors room at 1.45 pm, there was one staff member present with 6 children aged 2 to 3 years. During this time, one child had just woken from sleep while the remaining 5 children were playing. The staff member was tidying away the sleep beds when two children became upset. One of the children remained upset at 1.55pm. While it is noted that the staff member attempted to comfort the child, an additional adult was required to provide support in the care room. In discussion with the staff member, they outlined that an additional adult was not available to provide support at this time, or to provide support with other care routines, such as nappy changes, until staff breaks were finished. This staffing allocation may impact on staff capacity to respond to children’s care needs each day between 12.30pm to 2.30pm. 3. Children’s individual need for comfort and reassurance was not consistently recognised or supported by staff. On day 1, at 11.51am during sleep time in the Junior room, a child aged 2, was sitting on a bed and appeared distressed. The child was crying and their face, hands and t-shirt were observed to be wet. The staff member was not observed to provide emotional support or attention to the child. A different staff member outlined to the inspector that this child ‘gets emotional every day.’ This practice was at variance of the service’s managing behaviour policy which outlined that staff respond in a timely and appropriate way when children cry or become upset. It also stated that children who show signs of social and emotional difficulties are given appropriate care and support. The child remained visibly distressed and crying until 12.15pm with no comfort provided. This practice demonstrated an overt disregard for the comfort needs of the child. 4. The sleep practices in place within the Juniors and Pre Montessori rooms did not meet the needs of the children. This non-compliance was also identified on the previous inspection. The service’s sleep policy stated that children’s own choices and routine would dictate their sleep times. The following was observed: a. The registered provider stated through the CAPA response that children who required sleep would be accommodated, and that where children did not require sleep, they would be brought outside with the supervision of staff or to another age-appropriate room. • Through discussion with a staff member, it was confirmed that there was nowhere indoors for children who did not sleep in the Juniors room, and that they would remain within the darkened room for approximately 1.5 hours. • One child aged 3 years old was observed to remain awake in the darkened Pre- Montessori room from 1pm until 2.10pm on day 2. The child was observed to sit upright on the end of a sleep mat on which another child slept and look at the door for the duration of sleep time. Staff, when asked, did not provide a reasonable explanation for this. This practice is not child centred and negatively impacts the well-being of children. • On day 2, during sleep time in the Juniors room, there were 2 children aged 1 to 3 years who remained awake from 12pm to 1.09pm. These two children were not provided with an alternative and remained within the room. b. A child’s choice to sleep was not facilitated in the Pre-Montessori Room. On day 1, a three year old child expressed to the staff member that they were tired at 11.51am. The child was not afford an opportunity for sleep or rest. 5. During the previous inspection carried out in April 2025, the registered provider identified that a language barrier was a challenge in working in partnership with parents and ensuring that parents received key information about their children’s care. In discussion with staff members and the person in charge, it was confirmed that there were no new measures implemented within the service following the inspection to communicate effectively or build a partnership with parents
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider stated that: 1. Children who do not sleep go into the junior’s room with two staff and there is a member of staff rostered to cover lunch making sure there is full adult to child ratio cover. The registered provider has re-arranged the rota to ensure cover in all rooms and lunch cover. An add has been put on indeed and face book to get extra staff. 2. The service has rectified this. Lunch is only half hour, as requested by staff. Two members of staff are in this room and lunch cover has been added to the rota ensuring adult to child ratio is kept. The registered provider has rearranged rota to ensure all rooms are covered at all times. The registered provider is looking for an extra staff member. 3. Staff were spoken to about the need of an emotional child and discussed it at the meeting with all staff. The manager will include this in supervisory meetings and keep a visual check on how staff interact with a child. 4. In response to the finding regarding the needs of awake and sleeping children, the registered provider submitted the following actions: a. The junior room is now for children that do not require sleep and the pre-montessori is for the children that sleep, with two staff covering each. The children the sleep go into one room and the children that don’t sleep go into another room. The manager will keep check that this arrangement is suitable to all the children equally. b. This was discussed at the meeting 24/11/25 with all staff about picking up on the needs of the child, if a child needs to sleep outside the sleeping hours a bed will be provided and a quiet area to sleep. Manager will check with staff to ensure this practice is carried out. 5. The service use a translation app with parents and has two members of staff that speak multi languages if needed
27 June 2025
Teach Spraoi Community Preschool, Taghmon · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Children were observed drinking large quantities of juice on the day of inspection. This practice posed a risk of dental decay to the children and was contrary to the healthy eating policy of the service which states that juice is discouraged in the service and nutrition standards for preschool learning and care
- The hot meal was served to the children attending the service on a full day care basis on the afternoon of the inspection. There was one microwave used to heat up the meal. All children were seated at the table at 14:25. The last child did not get their meal until 14:50. All the other children had finished their meal before this child got their dinner. It is acknowledged the child was not distressed and the staff were constantly engaged and chatting to the children who were seated at the table. However, the inspector observed the child social needs would be better met by having their meal at the same time as their friends
Provider's corrective action:
- The healthy eating policy has been amended to advise parents that the service will provide water or milk to the children to drink going forward. This is to assist in the provision of healthy options for the children. Since the inspection the service is now in receipt of a grant to support them in providing additional nutritious food to the children attending the service
- An electrician has been employed to install a second microwave in the service. This measure is to ensure all the children receive their main meal promptly
19 June 2025
Rainbow Childcare, Wexford · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- (1) The lack of an enriched environment and appropriate staff engagement impacted the wellbeing and experiences of the children while attending the waddler room. The following observations were made over two days: (a) The waddler room required further development to meet the children’s learning, wellbeing and development through the provision of appropriate activities, materials and equipment. 1. The room was inadequately developed and sparsely equipped. Children were observed to fight over toys and climb on furniture. One child was observed to climb onto a table. The following examples were observed: • A number of the shelves were bare or had one to two toys on them. • Pictures in the room were placed high and out of eyeline vision of the children. • Interest areas were poorly resourced with limited natural or open-ended materials. • The inspector observed there to be three story books in the room. 2. There was a lack of invitations/experiences to play set up or freely available for the children between activities such as meals times, nappy changes and outdoor play. 3. Children were not provided with drinking water while in the outdoor play area. On the day of inspection, it was an extremely hot. 4. There was no adult chair/nurturing chair in the baby room for staff to sit, hold, feed and comfort young children as needed. (1)(b) A number of interactions between the staff and children were observed in the waddler room which were at variances with the service’s ethos. 5. The inspector observed and overheard a number of interactions between a staff member and children in the waddler room that were not in line with the service’s behaviour policy which promotes positive role modelling from staff in how they speak, interact and play with children. These included: “sit on the mat”, “stop shouting”, “you can’t say that”, “you can’t play that” and “don’t mess around”. 6. Staff did not sit at the tables with the children while eating. This practice does not promote social interactions between staff and children or support the development of independent feeding skills. A staff member was observed to clean the table around a child who was still seated eating their lunch. 7. Staff members in the waddler room were observed not picking up on children’s cues. For example, the following was observed: • Four children showed signs of tiredness, rubbing the eyes, lying down on mats, lying against a wall. Staff members were not observed to pick up these signs. When asked by the inspector if these children could rest/sleep, staff advised that they planned to take the children outside for a second time. • Staff members did not pick up on cues from a child who wanted their nappy changed. The child squatted and pulled at their clothing on a number of occasions while trying to gain the staff’s attention. The staff did not pick up on what may be happening with the child and told the child to pull up their pants. The inspector had to bring it to the staff attentions that the child was displaying cues that they wanted their nappy changed. • A second child tried to gain attention from staff to get help in putting on a sock and shoe by waving their sock at the staff. The staff had advised the children they were going to go outside, and the child was excited. A staff member was observed to give this child a soother and not pick up on the cues from the child that they wanted help. 8. There was limited engagement by staff with the children during transition periods. For example, children were observed to wander around the room after eating, after outdoor play and while nappies were being changed. It is acknowledged that one staff member was engaged in play with children and sat on a mat and read a book after dinner
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider submitted the following response: Corrective and Preventive Action
- 1. The team are purchasing further toys, books and resources for this room. Staff have been instructed not to store toys out of children’s reach or put them away in cupboards. The artwork and photos are to be displayed at lower levels, and the room is being completely redecorated to include a carpeted area for the cosy corner and areas of interest for the children. Staff in this room are receiving further mentoring and we are devising clear expectations for the room. 2. The centre manager carries out spot checks on each room to ensure they are creating a warm and inviting space for the children to learn, grow and enjoy their day in our early years setting. 3. Parents send in drinkers for their child, which will be refilled as needed and will be in the child’s reach whether inside or outdoors. Children are encouraged to take a drink throughout their day especially at mealtimes. 4. The nursing chair has been returned to the nursery room
- Our disciplinary process has been reissued to staff where necessary. Management have set out clear expectations for the room to be followed by each member of staff. Staff have been instructed how to speak to and engage with children. 6, 7, 8. Staff in this room are receiving further mentoring. Management have devised a clear set of expectations for each room, this includes details regarding: tone of voice when talking to children and peers, eating with children or sitting with them while they eat and encourage them to chat and socialise, being attentive to the needs and wants of the children at all times especially when it relates to nappy changing and the need of the child to sleep, to constantly engage with the children in a meaningful way, singing, reading stories, setting up opportunities for play and to manage transitions in a consistent manner
10 June 2025
Maple Tree Nursery, New Ross · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- The inspectors noted improvements in the play facilities in the outdoor areas on both day of the inspection. However, the rooms in the service particularly the playgroup room, the junior ECCE room and the senior ECCE room needed further development to meet the children’s learning, wellbeing and development through the provision of appropriate activities, interactions, materials and equipment. Examples of these developments needed were as follows: Approaches to promoting positive behaviour management 1. The transitions between the daily activities were observed to be chaotic. For example, children were observed to ignore staff due to the noise level and activity in room. This resulted in incidents over sharing of toys and squabbling between children. Staff were heard to shout over the noise to gain the children’s attention. Physical and material environment: 2. In the nursery room there was insufficient seating to accommodate the feeding of young children. Staff were observed to feed young children who were sitting on the floor mats while being fed by staff. 3. Two children in the nursery room who were in the pre walker development stage had no equipment of furniture available to them to facilitate them to pull to stand. 4. Books in some rooms were torn and worn. 5. The dolls were soiled and worn with an absence of clothes for the children to dress them up. 6. The construction bench in the senior ECCE room was bare, with broken parts. 7. There was no evidence of curriculum planning in the preschool room, junior ECCE and senior room. There was an absence of evidence of prior planning to inform how the children’s day would flow. Staff were observed to react to events rather than facilitating planned enriching activities to engage the children’s imaginations. 8. The inspectors observed the lack of enriching environments contributed to the behaviours observed. For example, there were limited areas of interest. Toys were stored and presented in a disorganised fashion and not easily accessible to the children. It is acknowledged the service continues to engage with the service of the National Quality Development Organisation Better Start and the County Childcare Committee
Provider's corrective action:
- Approaches to promoting positive behaviour management 1. Routines and environments have been amended in the service. Large pieces of fitted furniture have been removed to make way for the development of areas of interest. Staff have been made aware of the need to manage transitions more effectively by talking to the children and letting them know in advance of the changes in their daily routine. Physical and material environment: 2. New highchairs have been purchased for the baby room. 3. Equipment for children to pull to stand are now in place in the baby room. 4. Worn books have been removed, and new books have been purchased for all rooms in the service. 5. The dolls clothes have been washed, and clothes reorganised to make them accessible to the children. 6. A new construction bench is in place and is now resourced with the required toys. 7. Aistear planning books are in place in all preschool rooms. Staff use these books to plan activities in the rooms. Parents are sent messages weekly on the emerging interests in the preschool rooms. 8.The environments in all preschool rooms will continue to be reviewed and updated in consultation with the staff
2 December 2024
Little Oaks Academy Limited, Gorey · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. Children did not go outside on the day of inspection. Outdoor play was not part of the daily routine
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider submitted the following response to address the non-compliance: Corrective and Preventive Action Children normally get out on a daily basis but did not go outside on the day of inspection due to the rain and cold on that particular day. Outdoor play is part of the daily routine. A team meeting was held to ensure all educators and children have appropriate outdoor clothing to ensure comfortable play outdoors
31 October 2024
Wonderland Childcare Centre FDYS, Enniscorthy · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- The outdoor play area to the front of the service needed to be further developed for the play and stimulation of the children attending. For example, there were limited areas of interest, ride on toys or open-ended toys to develop the free play and imagination of the children
- The inspector was concerned in relation to the use of screen time in the service during transitions. For example, after lunch the children were observed watching a cartoon and later again in the afternoon. The use of screen time in early years services is not encouraged as a behaviour management tool. Soothing and calming children is best achieved by a balance of listening to the child, helping them to communicate their needs and ensuring the service has provided the correct physical environment for the child
Provider's corrective action:
- The management of the service is in the process of reviewing the outdoor area to the front of the service
- Staff are now aware they are not to use screen time in managing behaviours in the service
16 September 2024
Daddy Daycare, Gorey · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Basic needs: The area designated for children to sleep/rest while attending the service was not suitable or conducive to sleep. It was located between two rooms, with a lot of movement of staff and children around the area. The area was not readily available or set up if a child wished to rest or sleep during the morning. Physical environment: There was a lack of an enriched learning environment within the individual rooms. Interest areas were not resourced or fully developed to meet the play and learning needs of all children. There was a lack of invitations to play to stimulate child led play and learning experiences. It is acknowledged the registered provider has engaged with Better Start (National Early Years Quality Development) programme
Provider's corrective action:
- Basic needs: A new bed has been purchased for the children which is now available when needed, there are no children that nap now. The team also have a new sleep log in place. Physical environment: Better Start are commencing with the service starting the 30 September 2024, this will work to help to enrich the learning environment in Daddy Daycare
22 March 2024
Sugradh Childcare Centre, New Ross · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- The areas of interest in the playgroup and junior room needed to be developed for the stimulation of the children attending the service. For example, the home corner in the playgroup room consisted of a small kitchen with limited utensils for children to play with. The junior room was adequately resourced with play equipment but did not have any areas of interest developed in the room
Provider's corrective action:
- The areas of interest in the service have been developed further since the inspection. The service now has two additional staff members from the access and inclusion scheme to facilitate children with additional needs in the service. The service also has two new staff from a community employment scheme to assist the qualified staff in the preschool rooms. The additional staff can now facilitate a more stimulating environment in the service. The service continues to work with better start a quality development organisation which supports services in providing play-based equipment and facilities for preschool children
11 December 2023
Bright Beginnings, Castlebridge · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Basic needs of the children: Feeding practices in the baby room were not in line with good practice and the following was observed: 1. A child was left unattended during morning snack which posed a risk of aspiration. 2. A young child upturned their food while in the feeding chair and the food taken away by a staff member. The staff was not observed to pick up cues from the child who required help and did not offer any help with feeding to the child. 3. Staff were not observed to sit at the child’s height during feeding which was a missed opportunity for developing social and feeding skills. 4. There was insufficient seating available for feeding all children. A child was left waiting for food at dinner time and wandered around the room and missed out on eating with his peers. Outdoor play provision: 5. Babies in the Blue Butterflies room were not provided with opportunities for outdoor play. Staff stated they did not bring babies and young children outside. The age range catered for in the baby room was 6 months to 18 months
Provider's corrective action:
- : 1, 2, 3 and 5: The team engage in regular support and supervision and have never observed this practice before. On speaking with the staff at the time, there was extreme nerves on the day of inspection, and it wouldn’t reflect daily typical practice. Taking this on board we have implemented the following measures: • Provided in house training with a more experienced member of staff. • All staff have been re-issued with the following Policy and Procedures: Outdoor Policy and Healthy Eating and Eating Policy. • These are also now displayed within all the classrooms
- Small table and chair have been purchased and added to Blue Butterflies Room
30 November 2023
First Steps Ferns Childcare, Enniscorthy · Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Basis needs: 1. Children in the toddler room were observed to have soothers left in their months for long periods. For example, in the morning three children had soothers in their mouth for up to 2-hours, including when they went outside and during a tabletop activity. In the afternoon four children were observed with soothers in their mouths for long periods from sleep time till their afternoon snack. Using a soother for prolonger periods can hamper a child’s language skills and damage to oral development. 2. Transitions between activities on the day were disorganised and chaotic. For example, in the ECCE room, the morning snack routine was not calm. Children were observed wandering away from the tables after having their hands washed, pushing and pulling at plates and bottles put out on the table, returning to play with toys, not sitting down for their food and a number of children approaching the inspector to open their snacks. In the toddler room, the organised activity was not prepared fully before starting. Children were not properly set up; they were given paint before their aprons were put on and the staff weren’t ready to support the children with the painting activity. There was a lot of wandering and climbing observed in the room and children not engaged in listening
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The registered provider has spoken with staff around the use of soothers in the room. This will be discussed at the next staff meeting. Staff will work with children and provide toys and distraction while reducing the use of soothers. 2. Staff will work to ensure that activities were better planned, including meal times. A staff member has been delegated roles to support this practice