Childminder inspection report. Little Monkeys Childcare Kirkcaldy

Transcription

1 Little Monkeys Childcare Kirkcaldy Inspection completed on 22 July 2015

2 Service provided by: Penman, Lynne Service provider number: SP Care service number: CS Inspection Type: Announced Care services in Scotland, including childminders, cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and set out improvements that must be made. We also investigate complaints about care services and take action when things aren't good enough. Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or have any concerns about a care service. Contact Us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com page 2 of 17

3 1 Introduction Childminder inspection report The service is located in the town of Kirkcaldy. The childminder provides a service from her detached property in a quiet residential area on the outskirts of the town. The minded children have access to the kitchen dining area, a living room, playroom and a bathroom all on the ground floor of the house. The dining area is used for meals, snacks, arts and crafts activities. A tiered garden to the rear of the house is used for outside play. It is fully enclosed and safe for the children to play and explore. The children can choose from a range of toys and activities. During the inspection there were four children being minded. The childminder told us that she has a number of other children who attend on a part time basis. The childminder is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of six children at any one time under the age of 16 of whom no more than three are not yet attending primary school and of whom no more than one is under 12 months. Numbers are inclusive of children of the childminder's family. The childminder adheres to the conditions of her registration. The Care Inspectorate is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all children receiving a care service. We want to ensure they have the best start in life, are ready to succeed and live longer, healthier lives. We check services are meeting the principles of Getting it right for every child (also known as GIRFEC). Set up by Scottish Government, GIRFEC is a national approach to working in a consistent way with all children and young people. It is underpinned by the principles of prevention and early intervention. The approach helps services focus on what makes a positive difference for children and young people - and what they can do to improve. Getting it right for every child is being woven into all policy, practice, strategy and legislation that affect children, young people and their families. page 3 of 17

4 There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of Getting it right for every child. They are: safe; healthy; achieving; nurtured; active; respected; responsible; and included. They are often referred to as the SHANARRI indicators. We use these indicators at inspection, to assess how services are making a positive difference for children. What we did during our inspection We wrote this report following an announced inspection on 22 July 2015 between 9.15am and 11.45am. We gave feedback to the childminder at the end of the inspection. As requested by us the service sent us a completed annual return. The service also sent us a self-assessment form. As requested by us the childminder issued questionnaires to parents to be returned to us. We received four completed questionnaires before the inspection. In addition to the information provided by parents we gathered information on the service from a range of other sources. These included: - a completed self-assessment from the childminder - a completed annual return from the childminder - discussion with the minded children - observation of children during activities - observation of the childminder and her interactions with the children in her care - All about me information - home link diary - daily diary - observation of the environment - accident and incident records - medication records - a full range of policies and procedures kept by the childminder - discussion with the childminder - displays of childrens' arts and crafts - photographs of activities and outings - toys and resources - service newsletters page 4 of 17

5 - aims and objectives of the service - parent questionnaires and parent comments - registration certificate - training records - insurance certificate - noticeboard Views of people using the service During the inspection we observed the childminder working with four children. It was clear that the childminder knew the children very well. The relationships were strong and the childminder involved herself in their play. The children were enjoying playing with arts and crafts materials. They were making butterflies and flowers for a summer display. They were talking about other things that they might do later. As all of the children enjoyed being outside and they were hoping to go to a local park. The children told us about being with the childminder and the things that they did together, "We sometimes go to the park on the way home from school." "This is the game I like best, it's Ker Plunk. I always win." "I really liked going to Camperdown Park. There was a really big pig. It's a really big park." All of the parents who responded told us that they strongly agreed that they were happy with the quality of care received by their child while in the service. They told us, Childminder inspection report "Lynne is great with the kids and shows real passion for her job." "I can't express in words how happy I am with the service Lynne provides and the care she gives my son." "My child is extremely happy in his childcare and has experienced many events and days out which have led to happy memories." page 5 of 17

6 "Lynne is a fantastic and caring person." Self assessment Every year all care services complete a 'self assessment' telling us how their service is performing. We check to make sure this is accurate. The childminder had submitted a self assessment of her service in advance of the inspection. The information contained in this was helpful during the inspection and in the writing of this report. What the service did well Little Monkeys offered a happy and relaxed level of care to children. She planned fun and exciting activities which were very suitable for the children who attended. She made very good use of her house and garden as well as amenities in the local community. Relationships between the childminder and the children were very positive. She was enthusiastic and created a warm and nurturing environment for all of the children to enjoy. Each child had an individual file which recorded progress and developments. This was discussed regularly and shared with parents. What the service could do better During the inspection we discussed some areas of recording that should be altered to ensure that they comply with best practice guidance. These included a review of the policy on the administration of medication which would require parents to sign to confirm when the last dose of any medication had been administered. We discussed that all about me information kept on each child should be updated every six months and that parents should be asked to sign to confirm that the information was correct. page 6 of 17

7 2 The grades we awarded We grade the quality of care and support, the quality of the environment and the quality of management and leadership. If the childminder employs an assistant, we also grade the quality of staffing. In each case, we award a grade on a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 is unsatisfactory and 6 is excellent. Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 4 - Good 5 - Very Good not assessed 4 - Good 3 Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection From the evidence gathered during the inspection we found that the service was performing to a good standard in this area. We concluded this after talking with the childminder, children and parents. We looked at supporting policies and individual records for the minded children. The childminder had a structured approach to settling a new child into her service. She met with the parents and child and offered a number of settling in visits. These were planned for a day when there were fewer children using the service. In advance of the child visiting, the childminder found out about their interests so that suitable toys and activities were on offer during the visit. She issued a welcome pack with all of the necessary information about the service. She offered opportunities for the child to come to meet all of the other children. A settling in questionnaire was given to parents asking for feedback on the experience of their child and themselves. Any information given would be used to improve the experience for any new families. page 7 of 17

8 We discussed the information that the childminder kept about each child. We saw that there was all about me information for each child, medical histories, contact information and consent slips. We recommended that the childminder reviewed all the information that she kept on each child regularly. This must be shared with parents at least every six months or more frequently as necessary. Parents should sign to confirm that this has been done. See recommendation 1. A daily handover book was in place for each of the younger children. This provided an effective method of communication between the childminder and parents. Detailed information about the child's activities, eating, nappies and sleeping were recorded. In addition to the written information photographs were added. This was appreciated and liked by the children. A parent told us, "My child's favourite thing to do when he gets home is to read through his diary. Lynne includes pictures of what he has been doing. He loves looking through these. I also love reading through his diary." Detailed individual files were available for each child. They were used by the childminder to note significant areas of learning and development. The childminder had knowledge of Getting It Right For Every Child. Photographs were regularly taken to show what the activities and experiences had been for the children. The childminder had completed a SHANARRI wheel for the younger children showing how she would meet their individual needs. We considered this to be very good practice and was to be commended. This helped to ensure very good outcomes for the children. We discussed the quantity of recording needed for each child. Less detailed information on development and progress is needed for children who attend the childminder for short sessions after school. Individual meetings were held with each of the childrens' parents to discuss development and achievements. The parents and childminder agreed areas of development which were to be worked on with each child. The childminder provided snack and lunches. This was done in consultation with the children who were asked for their suggestions. Healthy eating was promoted with fruit always on offer along with other things such as yoghurt. The children were encouraged to help make snacks and lunches. The children told us, page 8 of 17

9 "I really like strawberries." "Tuna sandwiches are good. I like it on pitta bread." "We made our own pizzas. I put on cheese and pepperoni." Information about the daily eating for the youngest children was shared in a daily diary which parents took home. The childminder was aware of her responsibility for alerting parents to food which she provided that may cause an allergic reaction in certain children. She had researched this with the Food Standards Agency and knew which foods and additives that should be shared with parents. We saw that the childminder had a robust approach to keeping the children safe while in her care. On her daily walk to school and nursery she spoke to the children about road safety and crossing the roads. She used a road safety programme of big books with the children. We saw one of the youngest children using a lollipop stick and pretending to cross the road. One of the children told us, "We walk to school and we hold hands, I hold my sister's hand." The childminder had current training in child protection. She issued information to parents on her responsibilities to protect children from harm and abuse. Through our discussions it was clear that the childminder had an understanding of child protection situations and knew how to contact agencies who would offer support, advice or action where necessary. We saw that the childminder had a policy on the administration of medication. We referred her to the Care Inspectorate website for the most recent good practice guidance on this. We concluded that the outcomes for the children were good. They benefitted from the sensitive care of the childminder and her nurturing and warm interactions. page 9 of 17

10 Grade The quality of care and support is graded 4 - Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations The childminder should ensure that the personal plans of children using the service are reviewed once every six months or more often as necessary. National Care Standards early education and childcare up to the age of 16, Standard 3: Health and wellbeing. National Care Standards early education and childcare up to the age of 16 Standard 6: Support and development. National Care Standards early education and childcare up to the age of 16Standard 14: Well-managed service. 4 Quality of environment Findings from the inspection From the evidence gathered during the inspection we found that the service was performing to a very good standard in this area. We concluded this after talking with the childminder and looking at supporting policies and records. We looked at the childminder's home and garden. We also looked at photographs of activities and outings. From our observations we saw that the childminder's house was clean, tidy and organised. She operated a strict no smoking policy. We saw that the house was safe for children. Risk assessments had been completed for all indoor and outdoor activities. Children used the ground floor of the house only. The younger children were prevented from going upstairs by the use of a stairgate. page 10 of 17

11 We observed the children moving about the house confidently. They had an appropriate selection of toys, games and books to choose from. Toys and games were stored in boxes, drawers and on shelves in the playroom. This allowed the children to identify the toy they wanted and we saw the children choosing what they wanted. The children used the downstairs bathroom for toileting and handwashing. We saw that the children were encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. Liquid soap and individual towels were available. This was good practice to help prevent the spread of infection. The childminder told us that she was aware of the need for children to be safe while in her care. She regularly walked with the children to school and nursery. She used the local countryside and parks for walks and outings. She completed risk assessments for outings and carried out a daily check of her home and garden. We discussed how she could involve the older children in creating risk assessments. They could begin to talk about how to keep themselves safe and be aware of potential risks in the activities they did. See recommendation 1. She regularly used the local amenities with the children. All of the children told us that they liked being outside. The childminder ensured that there were daily opportunities for active outdoor play. She regularly visited the local park and took the younger children to Ravenscraig and Beveridge Park. She made good use of her own garden. The children could play on wheeled toys ad climbing toys which helped to develop motor skills. Children had the opportunity to choose toys which were lent out by the Fife Council Resource Base. The children looked at the online catalogue and selected what they wanted. This kept the toys fresh and exciting for the children. They were keenly awaiting the arrival of new things on the day of the inspection. The childminders garden had steep steps between levels. We saw that the childminder was vigilant in her observation of the children in the garden, she supported the younger children moving about the areas, keeping them safe. page 11 of 17

12 Children regularly visited the library, toddler group and playgroup. We saw that the children were all given a range of opportunities to experiences around the local area. These opportunities were appreciated by parents. One told us, "What I like most about the activities that Lynne provides is that my child is out in the fresh air if at all possible, out on the sledge in the snow, jumping in puddles in the rain and playing in the park and the garden when dry. Lynne goes out of her way to provide a variety of activities." The childminder promoted positive behaviour. During the inspection we heard her being clear with the children about the house rules. She encouraged the children to share toys and be kind to each other. She reminded them of the rules which kept them safe. The golden rules were displayed in the playroom and had been written by the older children. This showed us that the children were included, respected and expected to take responsibility for their behaviour. The childminder had clear expectations of the children and they responded well. She used positive language and praised the children. The younger children were given the opportunity to sleep during the day. A travel cot was available in the living room for one child while another slept in a pull out bed in the playroom. The playroom or living room were used for nappy changing. This depended on which children were present in the house at the time. We discussed the importance of observing the privacy and dignity of children during a nappy change. The childminder was aware of this and was sensitive to the childrens' needs. We did not observe a nappy change but following discussion we were satisfied that the childminder followed the correct guidance. We advised that she could begin to wash the babies and toddlers hands following a nappy change to help encourage them to take responsibility for hand washing as they became independent. Information about accidents and incidents was recorded appropriately and shared with parents. A copy was kept by the service and one given to the parent. page 12 of 17

13 Grade The quality of environment is graded 5 - Very Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 1 Childminder inspection report 1. To promote the safety, health and welfare of children attending the service the childminder should involve them in discussions about risks associated with outing and activities. National Care Standards early education and childcare up to the age of 16 Standard 2: A safe environment. 5 Quality of staffing We only assess this where the childminder employs an assistant. 6 Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection From the evidence gathered during the inspection we found that the service was performing to a good standard in this area. We concluded this after talking with the childminder and looking at supporting policies and individual records. page 13 of 17

14 The childminder demonstrated a very professional and organised approach to her business. She kept very full and accurate records which were available for us to see. She was developing opportunities for children and their parents to participate in the improvement of the service. We would encourage her to take more opportunities to involve children in the running of the service and taking more responsibility. In addition to displays of work and a noticeboard the childminder produced a newsletter for each term which provided information and asked for feedback and suggestions. Parents were invited to look at the daily diary kept by the childminder and see all the details of the session as well as photographs of the children. We discussed with the childminder how to keep relevant records and information without overloading herself with paperwork. We saw a record of training and personal learning. The childminder accessed training through Fife Council. As well as her pre-registration training, she had completed training on Child Protection, Food Hygiene, An Introduction to GIRFEC, Caring of Vulnerable Children and First Aid. We saw that she was making use of the skills and knowledge from her training to support children and to meet their different needs. She told us that she had further training booked which would support the development of her service. The childminder was a member of the Scottish Child Minder's Association and used their newsletters and s to keep her knowledge updated. She used the Care Inspectorate website for information on best practice. The childminder told us that she shared all of her policy statements with parents when they began to use her service. She made parents aware of how they could make a complaint if they felt it necessary. We saw that the childminder had issued questionnaires to parents after their child was settled in the service. The responses were very positive. We saw that she regularly asked for ideas and suggestions that would improve the service that she offered. page 14 of 17

15 From all of the evidence that we saw we concluded that parents and children were very happy with the service that the childminder provided. This was confirmed by the comments in our questionnaire. Parents told us, "My child is happy every day and has never been upset when being left. He is very settled." "I would highly recommend Little Monkeys childcare to any of my friends and I am over the moon with the service and care provided." "I feel my son is considered in any decisions made." Grade The quality of management and leadership is graded 4 - Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations What the service has done to meet any recommendations or requirements we made at our last inspection Previous requirements There are no outstanding requirements. Previous recommendations page 15 of 17

16 There are no outstanding recommendations. 8 Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at 9 Enforcements No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection 10 Other issues None noted. 11 Inspection and grading history This service does not have any prior inspection history or grades. page 16 of 17

17 To find out more This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website. You can also read more about our work online. Contact Us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY Other languages and formats Childminder inspection report This report is available in other languages and formats on request. Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is c?nain eile ma nithear iarrtas. page 17 of 17