The Windmill Playgroup Day Care of Children

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1 The Windmill Playgroup Day Care of Children Hazeldean Avenue Bo'ness EH51 0NS Telephone: Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 11 January 2017 Service provided by: The Windmill Playgroup Committee Service provider number: SP Care service number: CS

2 About the service The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Information about all care services is available on our website at This service was previously registered with the Care Commission and transferred its registration to the Care Inspectorate on 1 April 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. The Windmill Playgroup is a not for profit group operating from a modular unit in the grounds of Deanburn Primary School. The service is registered to provide day care for a maximum of 24 children aged from two years, six months until they commence school, of whom no more than ten will be under two years ten months. They operate Monday to Friday morning during term time and have an optional, daily lunch club. This means children can stay and have a packed lunch before being collected by their parents/carers, or being dropped off at Deanburn Nursery by playgroup staff. The playgroup is managed by a committee which includes parents of children attending. Responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the group lies with the manager. The premises consist of two large playrooms, kitchen area, toilet facilities and a fully enclosed outdoor play area. The aims and objectives of the service are to provide a warm, friendly and safe environment that offers children a wide range of experiences to support their all round development. 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. 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 people told us Children were busy and happy engaged in a wide range of activities. They told us they liked coming to playgroup to play with their friends. Some of the children told us they liked snack and going outside while others said they were 'too busy to go out'. A few of the children were keen to show us their pictures or involve us in their play. Parents were very positive about the playgroup and the staff who cared for their children. They told us: "The staff at Windmill Playgroup are outstanding. They take great care to ensure all children are happy and well looked after. As a full-time working mum the playgroup informs me via , text and letter of events etc. The monthly newsletter is informative and gives an insight into the daily routine. The manager gives up her own time to deliver a superb service. I cannot praise Windmill enough - every child matters to them." for The Windmill Playgroup page 2 of 9

3 "Windmill Playgroup comes highly recommended within our local community due to the level of skill and expertise used to develop young children. My second child now attends the playgroup and enjoys her days there. I am fully satisfied with the range of activities on offer and the environment of the playgroup." "Great environment where the staff and committee work collaboratively with parents to create the best environment for learning. Superb playgroup. 5*." "My second child has just started using this service but my first used it...before school and really benefitted/ enjoyed it. I had no hesitations about using Windmill again for my youngest child based on the first positive experience." "I find the closed Facebook page helpful. Its updated every couple of days and lets us know what's happening and what they've been doing. The kids love coming!" Self assessment We received a completed self assessment document which provided us with useful information about the strengths of the service and the areas they had identified for improvement. From this inspection we graded this service as: Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection Within this theme we focussed on how children's individual needs were met and how they were protected. We found that the playgroup was performing at a good level in relation to these aspects. During the introductory process relevant information about children's individual needs was shared and the foundations for good communication were established. As a result staff had come to know children well and could respond to their changing needs. One parent told us, "I'm very happy with the care and know that although staff are professional they will reassure my child with a cuddle when needed!" Staff listened to children and observed them in their play. This enabled them to use children's interests and ideas when planning activities. For example, staff noticed one child using a range of resources as drumsticks and found that he was particularly interested in drums. He was encouraged to make his own drum and enjoyed joining with his friends as they formed a marching band with their home-made instruments. for The Windmill Playgroup page 3 of 9

4 We saw an improvement in recording both within children's plans and floor books. Children's thoughts, opinions and learning were recorded in both. This helped keep parents and carers informed about their child's experiences and learning. The manager confirmed she planned to arrange meetings with parents to undertake six-monthly reviews. This will allow them to check all personal information is accurate and up-to-date and agree with parents the next steps for each child. During the course of the session staff maintained an overview of the room enabling them to provide support and encouragement as required. Children were encouraged to be kind and considerate towards one another and to consider the feelings of others. Measures were in place to support the health and wellbeing of children through good hygiene practice and infection control procedures. We discussed the protection of children with the team and found that they had been reviewing their policy to ensure it covered all relevant areas. They were therefore clear about their roles and responsibilities and we were satisfied that safeguarding procedures were effectively managed. We encouraged the team to continue using their learning to develop all aspects of the service. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 4 - good Quality of environment Findings from the inspection Within this theme we focussed on how the environment and resources supported children's learning and development. We found that the playgroup was performing at a good level in relation to this area. The bright and warm play environment was welcoming for both children and parents. Displays were attractively presented and informative for parents with children's creations and pictures showing their experiences. We encouraged staff to display some of children's work at their level to show them their work was valued. The team were reviewing their service and had looked at the way the second room was used. They recognised that it could be improved by relocating a number of items stored there. They therefore raised money to purchase additional storage for outdoors which allowed them to reorganise the playroom. As a result children now enjoy a wider variety of experiences and activities on a day-to-day basis. For example, playdough and paint were routinely available and a range of malleable materials provided opportunities for sifting, weighing and pouring. The extra space had also given children the opportunity to use their creativity and imagination to make their own igloo. We encouraged the team to continue to develop the area using children's ideas and focussing on the use of more natural materials. for The Windmill Playgroup page 4 of 9

5 We saw that resources and equipment were clean and well maintained and NHS exclusion guidance was followed. This helped support the health and wellbeing of children attending. The playgroup team planned to develop their outdoor area. They were considering how they could better use their limited space and resources to provide a more stimulating learning environment. They recognised that it would be helpful to have a resource which could be better used throughout the year. We encouraged the team to make use of documents such as Building the Ambition, My World Outdoors and Loose Parts as they continue to develop their service. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 4 - good Quality of staffing Findings from the inspection Within this theme we focussed on induction, appraisals and how staff learning had impacted on the quality of experience for children. We found that the playgroup was performing at a good level in relation to this statement. The induction process had been revised and was being further developed to better demonstrate the support provided during this process. Annual appraisals had taken place which enabled staff to discuss their work and any issues or training they required. This process also gave managers the opportunity to provide feedback and guidance. The manager planned to revise the recording format for appraisals to better meet their needs. The management team informed us they were considering introducing supervision sessions to provide additional support to staff. The group had been struggling to access funding for staff training. They had however begun to look at current research and reflect on how they could use this to develop the service. We could clearly see the impact of this in their enthusiasm, motivation and in the increased variety of experiences being provided for children. One member of the team had begun her SVQ 3 and the manager hoped to begin further training later in the year. This is a requirement of registration with the Scottish Social Services Council. The committee recognised and valued staff commitment to their ongoing learning and were working to assist them in accessing funding. They had agreed that staff should have in service days in line with the adjacent nursery and school. This will provide valuable time for focussed team development. The staff team had grown and they had welcomed volunteers into the group after relevant checks had been satisfactorily completed. This included a volunteer with a childcare qualification. We noted that the team were working together more effectively and that this had led to an increased commitment to the ongoing review and development of the service. for The Windmill Playgroup page 5 of 9

6 We encouraged the team to continue to discuss their learning and reflect on how they can work together as a team to further develop the service. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 4 - good Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection Within this theme we focussed on the management of the group and how self assessment was contributing to improvement. We concluded that the playgroup was operating at a good level in relation to this area. The committee met regularly and kept written records of all meetings for reference and distribution to parents. They had a range of skills including fund-raising and people management which they were using well to support the group. They had worked with the manager to address the recommendation from the previous report and had raised funds to purchase new resources. One member of the committee had supported the manager in areas such as staff supervision and appraisal. With an effective working committee, the manager and staff were able to focus their attention on the day-to-day operation of the playgroup. We could clearly see that staff were working more effectively together and that this had led to more stimulating and varied experiences for children. They had begun using children's ideas and interests as a basis for planning and this meant children were more engaged. The group routinely invited feedback from parents and had recently undertaken a survey. Their plans to develop a more robust process had however been affected by a bereavement. We discussed with the manager the possibility of carrying out short focussed observations. This would help them consider which areas could be improved or changes which may improve the flow of the session. The manager agreed that having been allocated some management time this was included in her plans. We spoke with some parents and grandparents who were collecting children. The feedback from them was very positive with one parent telling us that the group "came highly recommended within the community". They confirmed that parents had the opportunity to be as involved as they wanted and that their ideas and opinions were welcomed and valued. Some found the closed Facebook page very helpful in keeping them informed about activities and events. The group were encouraged to continue developing their use of self-evaluation to inform improvement. for The Windmill Playgroup page 6 of 9

7 Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 4 - good What the service has done to meet any requirements we made at or since the last inspection Previous requirements There are no outstanding requirements. What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at or since the last inspection Previous recommendations Recommendation 1 The management committee should ensure annual appraisals are carried out for all staff. National Care Standards, Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16, Standard 14: Well-Managed Service. This recommendation was made on 18 January Action taken on previous recommendation Annual appraisals have been carried out for all staff who have been employed for more than a year. Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at for The Windmill Playgroup page 7 of 9

8 Enforcement No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 8 Dec 2015 Unannounced Care and support Environment Staffing Management and leadership 3 - Adequate 13 Jan 2015 Unannounced Care and support Environment Staffing Management and leadership 3 - Adequate 15 Jan 2013 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment Staffing 5 - Very good Management and leadership 7 May 2010 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment Not assessed Staffing 5 - Very good Management and leadership Not assessed for The Windmill Playgroup page 8 of 9

9 To find out more This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website. Care services in Scotland cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and help services to improve. We also investigate complaints about care services and can 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. You can also read more about our work online at Contact us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com Find us on Facebook Other languages and formats This report is available in other languages and formats on request. Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is cànain eile ma nithear iarrtas. for The Windmill Playgroup page 9 of 9