Regulation 9 in Offaly
Management and Recruitment: 11 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.
9 June 2026
Rainbowland Childcare Ltd, Edenderry · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- Evidence of a completed induction training sheet was not completed in respect of ten individual staff members. The document signed by staff in respect of reading and understanding the policies and procedure of the service was not dated and made no reference to the year or version of the policies and procedures reviewed. With the exception of some of the staff signing the policies and procedures for the service there was no evidence of service wide staff training undertaken in any specific service policies and procedures
- There was no evidence of service wide staff training undertaken in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016
Provider's corrective action:
- A review of all staff personnel files has been completed. Missing induction records for staff employed under previous management have now been completed retrospectively and clearly indicate that these were not completed by the previous manager and have been added to their files. In addition, the Policy and Procedure Sign-Off Sheet has been updated to include the date signed and the specific version of the Policies and Procedures Manual being acknowledged to ensure accurate record-keeping going forward. As above, paperwork has been updated and regular audits of personnel files will take place biannually
- All staff have been provided with the link to complete the Tusla Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF) eLearning Programme and issued with a deadline for completion. Certificates of completion are being collected and have been added to individual staff personnel files as evidence of compliance and ongoing professional development. Completion dates vary as we have full time and term time only staff on site. Management have updated paperwork and regular audits of personnel files will take place biannually
5 March 2026
Maria Montessori School, Tullamore · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a)(b) Six verified past employer references or references from a reputable source other than a past employer, were not available in respect of three adults employed whose staff files were reviewed. (d) Police vetting was not available for one adult who had resided outside the state for a period of longer than 6 consecutive months whose records were reviewed. (4) There was no documentary evidence available for one adult employed to work directly with children attending the service of at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or higher or a recognised equivalent qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications
Provider's corrective action:
- (a), (b), All verified references are now on file. (d), The third staff on the day is not employed in the service. (4) The third staff on the day is not employed in the service
5 March 2026
Mie World, Clara · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- 1. Two written references were not validated by the registered provider in respect of a staff member. 2. A second validated reference was not available in respect of a staff member
- The registered provider did not ensure all vetting procedures were in place prior to the employment of the staff members in the service as references were not validated in respect of the staff members
Provider's corrective action:
- All staff files were reviewed and updated. Missing references were obtained, validated and signed. A Staff File Checklist has been implemented. No staff member will commence employment without two validated references and Garda vetting. Quarterly checks will be completed by the Person in Charge
- Vetting was obtained by the registered provider. The registered provider has put a system in place to ensure that vetting is completed before the 3-year expiry date
19 February 2026
Skippy's Childcare Service Limited, Cloghan · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- Written and validated references were not available in respect of one staff member working in the service
- Records showed that the necessary vetting procedures were not conducted prior to the appointment of all staff members to work in the service as two validated written references were not available in respect of one staff member
Provider's corrective action:
- Two written and validated references from reputable sources were submitted by the registered provider in respect of one staff member on the 29 March 2026. As a preventive measure, a procedure has been put in place to ensure that all of the necessary procedures to complete vetting for all new staff will be completed before staff commence work in the service. As a further preventive measure, a copy of the excel sheet developed by the registered provider to record dates staff references were issued, validated and staff appointed to work in the service was submitted on 13 April 2026
- The registered provider advised in the response submitted on 29 March 2026 that a tick list has been put in place for each staff member to both record and to ensure that each step of the vetting process is carried out prior to the appointment of all new staff to work in the service and for existing staff in respect of renewal of Garda vetting disclosures
5 February 2026
Durrow Pre-School No 2, Tullamore · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a)(b) One written past employer reference and one written reference from a reputable source in the absence of a past employer reference, for one workplace student present in the service, had no documentary evidence they had been verified by the registered provider. (3) The procedures specified in paragraph (2) were not carried out in respect of one adult prior to the person being appointed, assigned or allowed access to or contact with a child attending the pre-school service as the documents for two references were not verified by the registered provider. (4) Four adults working directly with the children did not hold qualifications in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework. (6)(A) The registered provider did not ensure that the adult employed under AIMS funding had a qualification in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework
- (a) 1. There was no documentary evidence available that a system of regular structured team meetings was held with the staff. It is acknowledged that the staff members in the three care rooms had completed monthly meetings and there was a record of these meetings available. There was no evidence available of oversight by the Registered Provider of these meetings. 2. There was no evidence that individual staff supervision was completed between the registered provider and each staff member on a regular basis. 3. There was no documentary evidence available that service wide training had been undertaken in the policies and procedures for the service. 4. There was no documen tary evidence available that induction training was completed for new staff members commencing in the service. This did not align to the training policy which stated that Induction training would be provided to “all newly appointed staff/students/ volunteers”. This includes, “health and safety, Child Protection procedures, Policies and Procedures”. 5. There was no documentary evidence provided that the designated liaison person named in the service as the person to manage child safeguarding concerns had completed the necessary training for the role. (b), (c) 6. There was no evidence of service wide staff training undertaken in the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016
Provider's corrective action:
- (2)(a), (b) Validated references for adult and student on file. (3) All reference to be verified before all staff/ student is accepted in service to work or training with the early years. (4) The service will not allow any staff to work with early year’s children unless they have a level 5 in childcare and education. (6)(A) Staff member with early years qualification now working in this role
- 1. The Registered Provider attended the room staff meetings held in February. Two staff with level 6 in childcare and over 16 years’ experience have been hired for morning and afternoon cover in the Toddler room. They will commence in the service when their vetting is completed. This will allow the Registered Provider to return back to management and oversight responsibilities throughout the service. Management will r emind the staff to keep their training up to date and if they need help/training in any of childcare management will seek to source it from O ffaly County Childcare Commi ttee or external training provider’s. Staff have attended training in managing behaviours organised by Offaly County Childcare Committee a nd facilitated by an external training provider. The staff members who are the designated liaison persons in the service have registered for DLP training on 6th June 2026. 2. One to one meeting’s to be held and recorded. 3. Sent staff update child protection and managing behaviour policies. All staff members have received the updated policies on Managing Behaviours and Accidents and Incidents, have read and understood them and signed to this effect. A copy is provided in each room of the service. When the service receives the updated set of policies and procedures for the service, all staff will receive them by email and as a team, we will go read and review each one at quarterly staff meetings going forward. 4. All staff will be provided with child protection procedures, policies and procedures and health and safety policies on induction and given training and asked to sign it to say they received it on induction. New update child protection policy, and Child Safeguarding Policy issued to staff by email and new one put up in entrance hall in the service. 5. eLearning in DLP completed and a date for full training by Offaly County Childcare Committee on the 6th of June received. (b), (c) 6. The Registered Provider has completed training in the Quality and Regulatory Framework eLearning programme. All staff have b een advised by email to complete this training and some of the staff members have started the training. A copy of the Child Care Act 1991 (early years’ service) regulations 2016 and Childcare Act 1991 (early years services) Amendment) regulations 2016 is available in the entrance hall to all staff. Offaly County Childcare Committee are arranging training in this area soon. All staff that are employed by the service will and must have a knowledge of The Child Care Act 1991 and Amendment regulations 2016
18 September 2025
Little Wishes Pre-School and Afterschool Service, Athlone · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- A second validated written reference was not available in respect of one staff member. Two written references in respect of a staff member were not validated by the registered provider
- Police vetting was not available in respect of one staff member who had lived outside the state for a period of longer than six consecutive months
Provider's corrective action:
- (9)(2)(a)(b) In respect of second reference not available for a staff member the manager has received this reference and it has been validated. This reference has been forwarded to The Tusla inspector via email. In respect of two written references not validated. These have now been validated by the manager. In future prior to hiring and allowing staff to start work we will make sure that all references have been received and validated as per regulation 9
- I have requested the staff member involved to apply for police clearance. The staff member has started the application process and has emailed me proof of this. The manager will ask whether a potential staff member has worked overseas for a period of 6 months or more will be a priority when hiring staff in the future
11 September 2025
Realtin Preschool, Tullamore · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (9) (2) (a) One written reference from a past employer was not validated in respect of one staff employed in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- Reference has been validated. All staff in the service will have two written validated references once they commence employment
3 July 2025
Daingean Community Childcare Services Ltd, Daingean · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- 2 (a)(b) 1. One written validated reference from a past employer or from a source other than a previous employer in respect of four staff were not available. 2. Two written references available for one staff member from past employers were not validated
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Written validated references from a past employer or from a source other than a previous employer in respect of four staff were provided. 2. Two written references available for one staff member from past employers have now been validated. Management will review all references in July of every year
11 June 2025
Stepping Stones Early Learning Centre, Ballinahown · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- 1. Three written references were not validated in respect of two staff members. 2. A second written reference was not available in respect of one staff member
Provider's corrective action:
- All references are now validated. Second written reference now located. It was on premises but not filed appropriately on day of inspection. All staff files have now been audited. Reference check template now in use to ensure future references are validated efficiently
29 May 2025
Lusmagh's Little Learners Montessori & Afterschool, Banagher · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2) (a)(b) With the exception of one reference, the registered provider had not validated nine written references available for the five staff members or the references for the student on placement
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider advised in the response to the inspection report that all current staff references have been validated. As a preventive measure the registered provider has advised that all references for both new staff and students on placement will be validated post recruitment. Summary Comment The measures taken by the registered provider have addressed the non-compliance identified under Regulation 9(2)(a)(b) and will be reviewed on the next inspection of the service
4 April 2025
Killeigh Preschol CLG, Tullamore · Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- The registered provider did not have 2 written and validated references from a previous employer or reputable source available for 1 staff member, and 1 written reference available for a staff member was not validated
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider stated in the response that two written validated references are now in place for each staff member. The service has implemented a template system to send to referees when employing new staff