Regulation 22 in Sligo
Food and Drink: 3 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.
2 June 2026
Early years service TU2021SO001, Collooney · Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- On the day of inspection, the registered provider did not ensure the main meal provided, was adequate, suitable nutritious and varied food and drink was available to each preschool child. The inspectors observed the following practices: • In the ‘Countess Markievicz room’ at approximately 13:19, one child had finished his dinner and repeatedly requested ‘dinner…dinner’. Staff members responded, ‘You have finished’. The child continued to request ‘dinner…. dinner’ and picked up food from the floor to eat. This was despite a staff member entering the room asking if any one required extra portion. • In the ‘Seamus Heaney room’ children did not appear to have adequate time for the main meal. Dinner was served at 13.25. and cleaned up by 13:31. Children requested on three occasions that they would like an additional portion. No extra portions were offered. The main meal was observed to be rushed with no extra portions offered to children on request. • No drinking water was provided at dinner time in the ‘Seamus Heaney room’
Provider's corrective action:
- In a written response the registered provider stated: • A poster placed in both Seamus Heany and Countess Markievicz Room to serve as a reminder to staff to ensure extra portions are provided and requests from children are acknowledged and responded to. Staff have been retrained to recognise that one full dinner may not be satisfactory to every child. • One staff member completed training and has certificate achieved in ‘facilitating snack and mealtimes’, in addition to inhouse training to encourage a slower paced mealtime, creating a social “family-style” dining as modelled by senior staff. • Staff members have been instructed to hand out drinking water to the children at dinner time
17 February 2026
Little Pathways Creche & Montessori, Strandhill · Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- On discussion with staff working on the day of inspection, main meals include fish fingers, sausages, breaded chicken weekly. The service menu plan for the week evidenced the discussion with staff. This is in contradiction to the service healthy eating policy where it states that ‘processed meats or chicken products cannot be provided’
Provider's corrective action:
- In a written response the registered provider stated: In line with the Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Settings, we have updated our menus to include a wide variety of healthy suitable fresh food. We have educated all staff on the importance of serving less processed meats. We also have educated the children on healthy foods and importance of trying new foods. We have provided the HI Healthy Ireland – Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Settings is available for all staff and parents to read
22 October 2025
Mini Einsteins Montessori and After School, Rosses Point · Regulation 22 — Food and drink
- (1) On the day of inspection, it was observed that the service did not provide adequate and nutritious hot food for children attending on a full day care basis. Children were seen consuming snacks brought from home, and the service provided beans, toast, and oranges alongside with these snacks. A review of the rolling weekly menu indicated that hot meals consisted of soup with brown bread, beans on toast, warm wraps, sausage rolls, and ham and cheese toasties, accompanied by platters of fruit, cucumber, cheese, and crackers. While the service policy states that food is not provided, Regulations requires that children in full day care receive adequate and nutritious food
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) As regards to the food, due to the size and layout of our kitchen facilities, we are not in a position to safely prepare full hot meals on site. We do provide appropriate hot food options daily, alongside freshly prepared sandwiches and fruit, all in line with food safety guidelines. Our current food provision meets the children’s needs and is well received by parents and is kept under regular review