childcare inspection report on rompers day nursery 72 high … · 2017-10-29 · in the baby room,...

Childcare Inspection Report onRompers Day Nursery

72 High StreetGlynneath

NeathSA11 5EE

Date of Publication Monday, 27 March 2017

Welsh Government © Crown copyright 2017.You may use and re-use the information featured in this publication (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government License. You can view the Open Government License, on the National Archives website or you can write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] You must reproduce our material accurately and not use it in a misleading context.

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Description of the serviceRompers Day Nursery was registered in March 2003. Rompers Day Nursery provides full day care for a maximum of 19 children aged between 0-11 years of age. The responsible individual is Rhysian Pengilley and the person in charge is Amanda Davies. The day nursery is located on the first floor annex within Glynneath Training Centre. The nursery is open between the hours of 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Care is provided mainly through the English language and incidental Welsh is used.

Summary of our findings

1. Overall assessmentWe, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) found that children are generally happy at the nursery but safety is compromised at times. Action is needed in relation to a number of aspects of the practice at the nursery in order to improve children’s overall well-being and safety.

2. Improvements The service was non compliant with regulations regarding hazards and safety

because not all windows had minimser locks placed on them although the nursery is situated on the first floor. There was also a toy storage unit in front of the window which gave children access to reach the window. However during the course of the inspection we received photographic evidence showing minimiser locks had been placed on windows and the toy storage unit had been moved away from the window.

We also received an updated statement of purpose containing all of the information identified in national minimum standards and an action plan stating all proposed improvements in relation to issues raised during the course of the inspection.

3. Requirements and recommendations We found that the service was not compliant with the regulations relating to:

hazards and safety: general safety of the property. We gained unauthorised entrance to the centre through a fire exit door;

employment of staff: the responsible individual had not established a system for staff to receive regular supervisions and annual appraisals; We also found that staff recruitment procedures to ensure full suitability checks were not thorough and

suitability of staff: ensuring staff have the relevant training to work with children of all ages, for example providing appropriate care for babies and being aware of their developmental stage as well as their daily routine.

We made the following recommendations:

ensure that there is a contract in place for every child who attends the nursery;

ensure that fire drills are conducted on a regular basis and that a separate record is kept by the nursery itself. Details of time of drill along with number of staff and children present to be recorded;

obtain the views of people using the service and to include their feedback in the quality of care report; to provide us with a copy of the completed report;

keep actual attendance times of children and staff and ensure staff sign in and out when doing school runs;

offer the children a wide range of resources and activities;

ensure staff follow policies, for example nappy changing and medication policy;

improve opportunities for children to practise their independence at snack time;

provide appropriate cutlery to the children; keep a record of existing injuries; ensure all staff and children wash hands before handling and eating food; ensure staff wear an apron and gloves when changing nappies and to clean

changing mat and area after every use; use bottle warmer to warm babies bottles instead of the microwave; use highchairs when feeding the babies and ensure it’s a social aspect of the

day; amend the wording in the child protection policy stating the national minimum

standards are set by CSSIW. Amend the wording to set by Welsh Government;

amend the additional learning needs policy regarding the dietary requirements of a child. This is an individual need not an additional learning need and

create a weekly food menu that’s visible to parents, staff and children.

1. Well-being

Summary

Children have a voice to some extent and generally enjoy their play. However, some children do not always feel safe, happy and valued and do not interact consistently. Children over two have sufficient opportunities to be independent and develop their skills but there are not sufficient opportunities for younger children to practise their individual skills.

Our findings

1.1 To what extent do children have a voice?

Children make some decisions. Older children have opportunities to express themselves and generally their communication is valued. Younger children’s voices are not always listened to at the service.

Children had a choice of what they wanted to play with. Older children chose between play resources that were available to them. Children appeared happy and settled and were able to make choices, for example we saw a child holding onto her comforter throughout the inspection visit and this was granted. We also saw children making choices within activities, for example a child finished playing with the play dough and moved to another area of the room; then decided to return at a later time. However, during snack time, some children asked for milk but received water in their cups. After some more children voiced their wishes, they were offered milk. During the afterschool session, a child made pictures using glue, paper and glitter. The child was able to make choices whilst choosing materials and glitter.

Younger children generally do not have an appropriate voice but older children do have a sufficient voice.

1.2 To what extent do children feel safe, happy and valued?

Children generally cope with separation from their parents and form bonds of affection with the staff.

Most children were settled. Parents that we spoke with told us that their children were happy attending the service. Some children approached staff to show the staff what they had done and to play with them. We saw children laughing and smiling as they played with the staff in the baby room as well as the over two’s. We also heard a child confidently ask a member of staff if he could go and play after completing a craft task.

In the baby room, we saw a child sitting closely and placing her hands on the legs of the staff member for comfort as she was unsure of our presence. We saw a child return for the second time to complete a language programme with a member of staff as he had thoroughly enjoyed the task. We saw the child smiling and looking proud as he named the pictures on the flash cards.

Children generally feel safe, happy and valued.

1.3 How well do children interact?

Children are learning to express what they need and are learning to co-operate and to take turns.

Older children were comfortable and relaxed most of the time. We saw a child returning from a school run, she entered the room very enthusiastically and courteously showed her appreciation as she told the member of staff that she thought that the cook’s food was lovely. Children behaved appropriately throughout our visit. Some children said “please” for their food. Children played together appropriately and they were well behaved when sitting at the table at mealtimes. Children expressed what they needed and wanted, for instance, when a child wanted more paper to continue with her craft work, she confidently approached a member of staff with her request.

Children interact appropriately.

1.4 To what extent do children enjoy their play and learning?

Children are engaged in free play and are able to explore their environment freely.

Children were interested in their free play activities. Children generally sustained interest in the free play of their choice indoors. Examples of this included a child engaged in imaginative play with dolls, another child enjoying playing with play dough, and we saw children smiling when dancing to ‘Busy Feet’. On the day of the inspection, we did not see children using the small outdoor area.

Children generally enjoy their play and learning.

1.5 How well do children develop and become independent?

Children are able to follow their own interests and they have some opportunities to be independent.

Children confidently moved around the play areas and chose what they wanted to play with. Children did some things for themselves such dressing up in princess’ clothes.

Children sat at the table and ate their food in an appropriate manner using spoons and forks and were confident to ask members of staff for milk instead of water.

Children were confident in approaching us as they took part in role play and offered us various items of food whilst playing.

During the visit we saw children taking part in the nine week programme developed by Flying Start using visual flash cards to develop their vocabulary and language skills.

When given the opportunity, most children are developing and are becoming independent.

2. Care and Development

Summary

Some staff are nurturing and caring but some did not provide age appropriate childcare to some children. There are missed opportunities to develop children’s independent skills further.

Our findings

2.1 How well do practitioners keep children healthy and safe?

Staff have had the appropriate training to keep children safe and healthy. However, they are not following some health and safety policies and as a result some children are being put at risk.

Some staff supervised children well during school runs and ensured their safety. The temperature of the food was checked and recorded and this ensured that staff served food at the correct temperature. We saw poor practice in relation to the use and storage of medication. We saw six medication forms for 2016 but none for 2017. A member of staff confirmed that they hadn’t recorded any for 2017 as of yet. A parent had given a child’s medication to staff and this had been stored in the fridge. However the name and dosage details were not on the bottle. Staff and leaders confirmed that the medication had been administered to the child but no written record had been kept of the administration of the medication and no parental consent form had been completed. As a result, the service did not comply with regulation 26. Staff were not consistent in their practice of washing hands and wiping tables. On two occasions they did not wipe tables before serving food. One child sat at a table and was given a tangerine in a bowl but the table had not been wiped neither had the child’s hands or the member of staff’s hands been washed. The member of staff picked some of the tangerine and fed it with her unwashed hands to the child. We also saw a member of staff changing a child’s nappy with one glove on. She did not disinfect the nappy changing table after use nor wash her hands prior to opening the door and safety gate to take the child back to the playroom. Also, we saw powdered infant formula milk being warmed in a bottle in the microwave. A member of staff confirmed that it was normal practice at the service.

During our visit children were offered toast and fruit as well as vegetables with their lunch. The registered person told us that a local gardener supplied fresh vegetables from his allotment nearby to the nursery and as a result the menu changed from week to week depending on the vegetables supplied.

Children are not always kept safe and healthy.

2.2 How well do practitioners manage behaviour?

On the whole staff are caring and most staff are generally consistent in their approach.

Some staff managed behaviour well and children were praised for dancing during a ‘Busy Feet’ session. Most staff praised children’s efforts in a positive manner. For example when potty training, staff praised children’s achievements through using a stars chart. Parents were very happy with the support they received with potty training and leaders told us that children progressed well. Some staff also sat by children whilst they were eating and playing and some staff disciplined children in a positive manner if they did not behave appropriately. On one occasion, a member of staff intervened and told children to share and wait their turn whilst playing in the play dough, “wait your turn please, good boy.” However, after a child gagged on food as too much food had been put in her mouth, the member of staff told her, “that’s it now, that’s enough” and the bowl was taken away.

Most staff manage behaviour appropriately but behaviour management needs to be further developed by other staff.

2.3 How well do practitioners promote children’s development and meet their individual needs?

Some staff are nurturing and caring. They ensure that children are content and strive

to meet their individual needs.

Parents communicated well with staff and daily routines and needs were provided. One parent asked if her child could try the nursery’s food in order to expand on the variety of food her child ate. Staff were very accommodating. We also saw one member of staff asking a child if he was tired and after he’d confirmed what the staff had suspected, she took him to a quiet area where he was able to lay down on foam jigsaw mats, given a pillow and blanket and rested. However, we saw examples of children’s welfare being compromised by staff’s actions. A very young child, with no teeth, was fed cubed pears by a member of staff. When asked, the member of staff did not know exactly how old the child was and thought she had one tooth. The member of staff checked if the child had teeth by placing her fingers in the child’s mouth. As a result, the child cried. A child was fed spaghetti hoops, mashed potato and melted cheese during lunch. There was too much food in the child’s mouth and the child started gagging. As a result the member of staff removed the food through placing her fingers in the child’s mouth. On another occasion, a young child saw another child sitting by the table eating a snack. She approached him on three occasions whilst trying to reach for his snack. One member of staff told the child that there was half an hour until her milk was due. The member of staff gave her a water bottle. She placed the bottle in the child’s mouth in order for the child to drink the water but at the same time the child was holding her weight on the table unaided. Another member of staff realised that the child wanted food and arranged for her to have half a banana.

Staff had children’s routines displayed clearly on the wall in the baby room and relied on these for information when caring for those children. When asked if a theme was in place we were told that they had not decided on one as of yet. We saw development trackers were carried out at different developmental stages, for example 18 months, 24 months and so on as well as a Flying Start transitional document stating the development progress within the 9 week language programme. We also saw an initial assessment form that’s used as children begin their time at nursery. This included information on what they like, how the child wants to be supported along with what makes the child happy and sad.

There are inconsistencies in the way that different members of staff promote children’s development and as a result each child’s individual needs are not adequately met.

3. Environment

Summary

Leaders do not always provide a safe indoor environment for children. There was limited selection and use of appropriate equipment and resources for their learning and play.

Our findings

3.1 How well do leaders ensure the safety of the environment?

Leaders do not always ensure the safety of the children using the service.

The main door to the nursery was kept locked and visitors had to ring a bell to gain entry. However we gained entrance through an unauthorised rear emergency exit door and onto a separate stairway intended for use by staff only. We also witnessed a parent accessing the nursery by means of the same stairway. The outdoor area was enclosed and secure within the grounds of the centre. Safety gates were in place where necessary within the nursery. The nursery was generally clean and hygiene practices were generally good following meals; however, tables were not always wiped before meals. The service had been awarded a food hygiene rating of level 5 from the Food Standards Agency.The kitchen was clean and leaders had put a system in place for monitoring the temperature of the food and the fridge.We observed a potential risk during our inspection whereby a toy storage unit was placed directly in front of an open window. This could have easily allowed a child to climb the storage unit and access the open window which did not have a minimiser lock in place although this was raised during the last inspection. Minimiser locks had been placed on some windows, however not all windows. Leaders have provided us with photographic evidence that the storage unit has since been moved and that a minimiser lock has been placed on the window in question.

Leaders have failed to identify all potential risks throughout the service.

3.2 How well do leaders ensure the suitability of the environment?

Leaders do not ensure that the indoor environment fully meets the children’s needs.

The play rooms were not organised in a way in which offered the children suitable activities due to there being limited resources and learning areas. There were separated spaces for children over two and under two. Leaders had provided an area for the under two’s to sleep, partitioned by a curtain and there were suitable toilets and hand washing facilities available. The over two’s area was

decorated with some displays in place showing pictures of the children that attended the nursery, however displays of children’s work was limited. The under two’s area was not very stimulating with a limited range of resources. The layout of the outdoor area provided suitable opportunities for children’s play, including a sand/water tray, a planting area, a mud kitchen and a selection of plastic ride on toys.

The layout and design does not fully support children to develop their independence.

3.3 How well do leaders ensure the quality of resources and equipment?

Leaders do not always ensure that there are appropriate resources and equipment for children attending the service.

There are some appropriate resources and equipment for the age range of children at the nursery. Leaders had provided a range of role play resources for the kitchen area as well as construction resources and musical instruments. Craft materials were not freely available and these were brought out by staff when craft activities were on offer in the afternoon. We did not see any mark making opportunities or resources during our visit. Children were seen playing with the same resources during the morning and afternoon session. Books were available and we saw a story session taking place during the afternoon. The under two’s had a small selection of sensory toys along with an activity centre, bounce and spin zebra, bumbo, walker and bean bag. There was also a low level table and child sized chairs. The resources seen were of appropriate quality.The outdoor area had a range of resources including a mud kitchen, water and sand tray, planting tubs as well as ride on plastic toys. Resources seen outdoors were clean and in good condition.

Leaders do not supply an appropriate range of resources.

4. Leadership and Management

Summary

Leadership and the management of staff is not fully effective. We have issued a non compliance notice in relation to the leadership and management of the service.

Our findings

4.1 How effective is leadership?

Leaders do not always ensure that the service remains compliant with regulations and national minimum standards.

There was a statement of purpose in place however it did not include all the information required. This was updated during the course of the inspection. Policies were in place however these were not being fully implemented, for example staff did not follow the nappy changing policy because they did not always wear an apron and gloves and weren’t seen washing their hands following the change. Leaders had not met the regulatory requirements for vetting and checking of all staff prior to starting work and staff files did not contain all the information needed. Record keeping was often found to be incomplete. For example staff did not complete records when medication was administered.

Leadership is not fully effective.

4.2 How effective is self-evaluation and planning for improvement?

Leaders had not established a robust system for regular self-evaluation and planning for improvements.

Leaders have not carried out a quality of care review as of yet, however a review had been completed for 2015. The registered individual and person in charge were aware of the need to complete a quality of care report. There were samples of questionnaires completed by parents however these were not dated. There was no evidence to suggest that children and carers views had been sought or taken into consideration when planning for the future of the service. The registered individual told us during the feedback session that they had plans in place to further develop the nursery, however no written records were seen. An action plan has been forwarded to CSSIW noting a self evaluation report by means of a quality care report will be forwarded to us upon completion.

The service does not have effective systems for evaluating the service.

4.3 How effective is the management of practitioners, staff and other resources?

Leaders do not ensure that they have good mechanisms in place to manage the staff effectively.

There was no evidence to suggest that regular staff meetings, supervisions and appraisals took place. The registered individual told us she was in the process of establishing a system to set up regular staff supervision.

Staff files were kept on all members of staff employed at the nursery. Leaders did not always comply with the regulations as some information was missing from staff files. For example some staff files did not contain proof of identity, photographs and two references.

The responsible individual informed us during the course of the inspection that she had reviewed the process of conducting regular staff supervisions and had implemented further support and supervision to less experienced staff members by means of mentoring and shadowing.

The management of staff is not sufficiently effective.

4.4 How effective are partnerships?

Leaders seek appropriate information from parents about their children’s needs but have not established robust systems in relation to contracts.

We spoke to parents who told us that they were happy with the service. We inspected a sample of children’s records and found that the relevant information in relation to the children’s personal information and needs was in place. There was not a contract in place for all children. Leaders had arranged for parents to be given daily updates on their child’s time at the nursery, in written form for the babies and verbal form for the older children. We saw that good relationships had been developed between staff and parents. Questionnaires returned to CSSIW confirmed that parents were happy with the service.

Leaders told us the nursery had good partnerships with Flying Start and they worked closely together in assessing children’s development along by implementing the nine week language programme. We saw evidence of the nine week language programme during the inspection visit.

Partnerships are appropriate.

5. Improvements required and recommended following this inspection

5.1 Areas of non compliance from previous inspectionsNone

5.2 Areas of non compliance identified at this inspection

hazards and safety: general safety of the property. We gained unauthorised entrance to the nursery through a fire exit door;

employment of staff: the responsible individual had not established a system for staff to receive regular supervisions and annual appraisals and

suitability of staff: ensuring staff have the relevant training to work with children of all ages, for example providing appropriate care for babies and being aware of their developmental stage as well as their daily routine.

5.3 Recommendations for improvement Review recruitment procedures at the nursery to ensure that full suitability

checks are conducted on all staff before they start work, and that documentary evidence of those checks is available;

ensure that there is a contract in place for every child who attends the nursery;

ensure that fire drills are conducted on a regular basis and that a separate record is kept by the nursery itself. Details on time of drill along with number of staff and children present is recorded;

quality of care report – to obtain the views of people using the service and to provide a copy of the completed report;

children and staff registers – to keep actual attendance times and ensure staff sign in and out when doing school runs;

the nursery need to offer the children a wide range of resources and activities;

ensure staff follow policies, for example nappy changing and medication policy;

improve opportunities for children to practise their independence at snack time. Provide appropriate cutlery;

keep a record of existing injuries; ensure all staff and children wash hands before food; ensure staff wear an apron and gloves when changing nappies and changing

mat and area to be wiped clean afterwards;

bottle warmer needs to be used to warm babies bottles instead of the microwave;

use highchairs when feeding the babies and ensure it’s a social aspect of the day;

amend the wording in the child protection policy regarding national minimum standards set by CSSIW. Amend to set by Welsh Government;

amend the additional learning needs policy regarding the dietary requirements of a child. This is an individual need not an additional learning need and

create a weekly food menu that’s visible to parents, staff and children.

6. How we undertook this inspection

This was a full inspection undertaken as a result of a concern about the general wellbeing of children;

two inspectors made two visits on 8 and 9 February 2017; we spoke to staff, parents and children; we carried out observations and completed a SOFI observation; we looked at samples of records, policies and procedures and documents and undertook a premises inspection.

Further information about what we do can be found on our website www.cssiw.org.uk

http://www.cssiw.org.uk/

About the service

Type of care provided Children’s Day CareFull Day Care

Responsible Individual Rhysian Pengilley

Person in charge Amanda Davies

Registered maximum number of places

19

Age range of children 0-11 years

Opening hours 8:00am – 18:00pm

Operating Language of the service English

Date of previous CSSIW inspection 20 June 2015

Dates of this inspection visit(s) 08 & 09 February 2017

Is this a Flying Start service? Yes

Does this service provide the Welsh Language active offer?

This is a service that is working towards providing an ‘Active Offer’ of the Welsh language and intends to become a bilingual service.

Additional Information:

Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales

Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010

Non Compliance Notice

Children’s Day Care

This notice sets out where your service is not compliant with the regulations. You, as the registered person, are required to take action to ensure compliance is achieved in the

timescales specified.

The issuing of this notice is a serious matter. Failure to achieve compliance will result in CSSIW taking action in line with its enforcement policy.

Further advice and information is available on CSSIW’s website www.cssiw.org.uk

Rompers Day Nursery

Neath

Welsh Government © Crown copyright 2017.You may use and re-use the information featured in this publication (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government License. You can view the Open Government License, on the National Archives website or you can write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] You must reproduce our material accurately and not use it in a misleading context.

http://www.cssiw.org.uk/

mailto:[email protected]

Environment

Non-compliance identified at this inspection and action to be taken

Description of Non Compliance / Action to be taken

Timescale for completion

Regulation number

Hazards and Safety - General safety of property: access to nursery

Action to be takenThe responsible individual to ensure that the fire exit door is kept closed to prevent unauthorised access to the nursery.

31-Mar-2017 25 (a)25 (c)

The service s not compliant with Regulation 25 (a) (c) of The Child Minding and Day Care (Wales) Regulations 2010 – all parts of the relevant premises to which relevant children have access are so far as reasonably practicable free from hazards to their safety and unnecessary risks to the health or safety of relevant children are identified and so far as possible eliminated.

This is because the responsible individual had failed to prevent unauthorised persons were from accessing the nursery.

The evidence of this was that during the inspection visit on 8 February 2017 we gained access to the centre through an open fire exit door and then to nursery through a stairway meant for staff only. We also witnessed a parent using the same stairway to gain access to the nursery in the afternoon.

The impact on children is that there is a risk of them being approached by an unauthorised person entering the nursery.

Leadership and Management

Non-compliance identified at this inspection and action to be taken

Description of Non Compliance / Action to be taken

Timescale for completion

Regulation number

Safeguarding and Promotion of WelfareAction to be takenThe responsible individual must ensure:

that staff are deployed effectively

that staff have the relevant training to keep children safe

That staff follow the nursery’s policies

07-Apr-2017 20 (1) (a)

The registered person must act as a child minder or provide day care, as the case may be, in such a way as to— (a) promote and make proper provision for the welfare of relevant children.

This is because the nursery had failed to ensure staff caring for infants and young children had the required training and experience.

The evidence of this was that during the inspection visit on 8 February 2017 we witnessed staff that weren’t fully aware of children’s developmental stage. When we questioned the leaders during feedback if members of staff working with the babies had completed a module on caring for babies, they weren’t certain they had. We witnessed a baby being fed food that was inappropriate for her stage of development. Staff were not adhering to the nappy changing or medication policy, for example staff did not always wear aprons and gloves and washing of hands following nappy changing was rare. Staff had administered medication to a child without signed parental permission.

This evidence indicates that the nursery does not have a system in place to discuss any worries or concerns with members of staff or to ensure that they have the necessary skills or experience to work with the age range in which they are deployed.

The impact on children using the service is that we can not be assured that the staff have the necessary knowledge and experience to keep children safe.

childcare inspection report on rompers day nursery 72 high … · 2017-10-29 · in the baby room,...

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