Regulation 30 — Minimum Space Requirements

33 non-compliance(s) at 32 services, in the latest reports we read.

By county

25 February 2026

On the 25 February 2026 adequate space was not provided for the children in attendance in the Pre-school (Space) room. The following table illustrates non-compliance relating to space requirements: Room Name: Number of Children and Age Range: Type of Service Required: Space Required Per Child Space Available Space Require Pre-school Room 1 (2-3 Years) 19 (3-5 Years) FDC 2.3 m 2.35 m 38.19 m2 46m2

Provider's corrective action:

After the ECCE session four children have been tr ansferred to the senior toddler room where age -appropriate equipment has been provided in the room for the children. From June onwards the service will only be taking 17 ECCE Full Daycare and only 5 ECCE children

24 February 2026

1. Following review of the attendance record for the Pre-School room, it was noted that 11 children aged 2 years 8 months are enrolled for an ECCE service from 12:30 hours – 15:30 hours and are accommodated in the Pre- school room. This is in addition to 20 children aged 3-6 years enrolled for full day care and accommodated also in the Pre-school room. A maximum of 22 children attending on a sessional basis or 19 children attending on a full day care basis can only be accommodated in this room

Provider's corrective action:

1. A new checklist was implemented and created by the service manager to be completed by the ECCE room leader each day to check daily numbers. All staff have been trained in completing the new template for ECCE daily numbers. The ECCE room leader has to make sure that the new checklist is complete each day. All staff have been retrained in maintaining the adult: child ratio in the ECCE room am, pm and Full Daycare. This has been signed off by our service manager

15 January 2026

There was insufficient floor space provided for the children in attendance in the Toddler, Tweenies and Playschool play rooms on the day of inspection. The minimum floor space required in line with regulations for the children in attendance in correspondence with their age and length of time in the service. Name of Room Age range of Children Type of care No of children in attendance Required clear Available floor space No of children Room can floor space adequately support. Tweenies 2 years to 3 years of age. Full day Care 18 2.35m² Total required = 42.3m² 31.95m² 13 Toddlers 1 year to 3 years of age. (8 children aged 1-2 years, 6 children aged 2-3 years) Full day care 14 2.35m² Total required= 36.8m² 31.31m² 13 Playschool 3 years to 4 years Full day care 18 2.3m² Total Required =41.4m² 33.742m² 14Children FDC This noncompliance was identified on the most recent inspection on the 25 February 2025 and actions taken by the registered provider failed to prevent this non-compliance reoccurring

Provider's corrective action:

In a written response the registered provider stated: Toddler Room: The toddler room was temporarily over the required capacity as we accommodated one additional child due to a family emergency. Measures have been put in place to ensure it will not exceed capacity again. Tweenie Room: The tweenie children have been split into groups of six and are utilising the physical room and the outdoor area. This will avoid congestion in their room. The service are currently restructuring the age range of children they cater for and so this will be a temporary measure until June 2026. This measure will be strictly enforced in the intervening time, and it will no longer be an issue from June 2026. Playschool Room: The response does not address the non-compliance found on inspection

17 June 2026

(1) There was insufficient clear floor space for the children in the Rocky Racoons room at times. The staff members explained that this care room was divided by a curtain each day between 12 to 2pm to facilitate the children to sleep. On day 2 at 1.50pm, there was 16 children aged 2-3 awake in the care room. Based on the age of the children, 37.6m2 clear floor space was required, however, only 32.07 m2 was available

Provider's corrective action:

The registered provider has stated that the internal room has been removed and this space in the Rocky Racoons room is now a dedicated sleep area to accommodate children’s sleep needs

17 July 2024

(1) and (2) On the day of the inspection at times there were 23 children attending parttime/full day care services being cared for in the Preschool 1 playroom. 5 of these children were aged 2 years and required 2.35 square metres of clear floor space and 18 of the children were aged over 3 years of age and each required 2.3 square metres of clear floor space. A total of 53.15 square metres of clear floor space was required for the children in attendance however there was only 51.37 square metres of clear floor space in this playroom

Provider's corrective action:

The service advised in a written response that: (1) and (2) Corrective and Preventive Action Going forward the service will ensure to only care for 22 children in Preschool 1 playroom

8 June 2026

• Adequate floor space was not provided for children’s free movement and play in the Catkins room in the afternoon. • There were 17 children ranging in age from 2 years to 5 years attending the service on a part-time and full day care basis. Some of the children present had moved from the Acorns room. For the 17 children present in the room, the total floor space required at any one time is 39.95 square metres for children’s fee movement and play. • The room measurements on file were 30.7 square metres. Allowing 2.35 square metres free floor space for children aged 2 years to 5 years on a full day care basis, the room can accommodate 13 children

Provider's corrective action:

A staff ratio and room spacing calculator was completed and templates completed to ensure that the service adheres to the room space requirements and staff ratios at all times throughout the day