London Road Nursery School Day Care of Children c/o Dalmarnock Primary School 111 Baltic Street Glasgow G40 3BA Inspected by: Lynn McColgan Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 20 June 2011
Contents Page No Summary 3 1 About the service we inspected 5 2 How we inspected this service 7 3 The inspection 11 4 Other information 20 5 Summary of grades 21 6 Inspection and grading history 21 Service provided by: Glasgow City Council Service provider number: SP2003003390 Care service number: CS2007146990 Contact details for the inspector who inspected this service: Lynn McColgan Telephone 0141 843 4230 Email enquiries@scswis.com London Road Nursery School, page 2 of 22
Summary This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of performance which were examined during this inspection. Grades for this care service may change after this inspection following other regulatory activity. For example, if we have to take enforcement action to make the service improve, or if we investigate and agree with a complaint someone makes about the service. We gave the service these grades Quality of Care and Support Quality of Environment N/A N/A Quality of Staffing 5 Very Good Quality of Management and Leadership 5 Very Good What the service does well The manager and her team have a genuine commitment to providing a service of the highest quality. Staff are highly skilled in their interactions with the children. What the service could do better The nursery should focus on continuing to build team relationships. What the service has done since the last inspection The service had gone through a period of change. Staff and management were working hard at building a team based on trust and mutual respect. Staff were positive about the changes that had taken place, and the appointment of the new Head Teacher. Conclusion The service had continued to make good progress in all areas of service delivery. Parents and children valued the service provided and feel respected by staff and management. London Road Nursery School, page 3 of 22
Who did this inspection Lynn McColgan Lay assessor: N/A London Road Nursery School, page 4 of 22
1 About the service we inspected London Road Nursery School operates in a purpose built School campus in the East End of Glasgow City. The nursery has its own secure entrance. The provider is Glasgow City Council Education Services. The nursery provides care to a maximum of 75 children at any one time. The age range of the children is from two years to those not yet attending primary school. This includes a maximum of 15 children aged two to under three years and a maximum of 60 children aged from three years to those not yet attending primary school. The nursery offers full and part day care between 08:00 and 18:00 hours Monday to Friday 52 weeks per year. There are identified playrooms for children aged 2-3 years and 3-5 years. The nursery has use of the gym and dining halls, conference room and media suit. There is a fully enclosed, well equipped and well maintained outdoor play area with many innovative features to stimulate children's play, learning and imagination. Children can access the outdoor area freely from both playrooms. Before 1 April 2011 this service was registered with the Care Commission. On this date the new scrutiny body, Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS), took over the work of the Care Commission, including the registration of care services. This means that from 1 April 2011 this service continued its registration under the new body, SCSWIS. The service aims includes the following information: "To work in partnership with parents, agencies, community to keep children safe and well and reduce any barriers to learning. To support children develop social, communication and other transferable skills to take their learning forward." London Road Nursery School, page 5 of 22
Based on the findings of this inspection this service has been awarded the following grades: Quality of Care and Support - N/A Quality of Environment - N/A Quality of Staffing - Grade 5 - Very Good Quality of Management and Leadership - Grade 5 - Very Good This report and grades represent our assessment of the quality of the areas of performance which were examined during this inspection. Grades for this care service may change following other regulatory activity. You can find the most up-to-date grades for this service by visiting our website www.scswis.com or by calling us on 0845 600 9527 or visiting one of our offices. London Road Nursery School, page 6 of 22
2 How we inspected this service The level of inspection we carried out In this service we carried out a low intensity inspection. We carry out these inspections when we are satisfied that services are working hard to provide consistently high standards of care. What we did during the inspection We wrote this inspection report following one visit to the service on 20 June 2011 between 9:30-14:00, the inspection was undertaken by one inspector, Lynn McColgan. As requested by us the care service sent us an annual return. The service also sent us a self assessment form. 8 completed parent questionnaires were returned before the inspection. In this inspection we gathered evidence form various sources, including the relevant sections of polices, procedures, records and other documents, including: Collation of parents views and comments from questionnaires Viewing the action plan submitted in response to the last inspection Viewing the service's completed Self-Assessment Observations of staff child interaction Observation of the environment. The findings of the above were taken into account and formed the basis of this report. London Road Nursery School, page 7 of 22
Grading the service against quality themes and statements We inspect and grade elements of care that we call 'quality themes'. For example, one of the quality themes we might look at is 'Quality of care and support'. Under each quality theme are 'quality statements' which describe what a service should be doing well for that theme. We grade how the service performs against the quality themes and statements. Details of what we found are in Section 3: The inspection Inspection Focus Areas (IFAs) In any year we may decide on specific aspects of care to focus on during our inspections. These are extra checks we make on top of all the normal ones we make during inspection. We do this to gather information about the quality of these aspects of care on a national basis. Where we have examined an inspection focus area we will clearly identify it under the relevant quality statement. Fire safety issues We do not regulate fire safety. Local fire and rescue services are responsible for checking services. However, where significant fire safety issues become apparent, we will alert the relevant fire and rescue services so they may consider what action to take. You can find out more about care services' responsibilities for fire safety at www.firelawscotland.org London Road Nursery School, page 8 of 22
What the service has done to meet any requirements we made at our last inspection The requirement 1. The provider to notify the Care Commission of the absence of the Manager and interim management arrangements. This is to comply with SSI 2002/114 Regulations 22 Notice of absence and 23 Notice of changes. Timescale: By the date of publication of the report. What the service did to meet the requirement The provider notified the Care Commission of the appointment of manager. The requirement is: Met What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at our last inspection No previous recommendations. The annual return Every year all care services must complete an 'annual return' form to make sure the information we hold is up to date. We also use annual returns to decide how we will inspect the service. Annual Return Received: Yes - Electronic Comments on Self Assessment Every year all care services must complete a 'self assessment' form telling us how their service is performing. We check to make sure this assessment is accurate. We received a very detailed and comprehensive self assessment document from the service provider. We were satisfied with the way the service provider had completed this and with the relevant information they had given us for each of the headings that we grade them under. The service provider identified what they thought they did well, some areas for development and any changes they planned. The service provider told us how the people who used the care service had taken part in the self assessment process. London Road Nursery School, page 9 of 22
Taking the views of people using the care service into account No comments were received from children using the service on the day of inspection. However, children were observed as being engaged in their play. They interacted and responded well to the adults caring for them. Taking carers' views into account Views of carers are recorded in the body of the report. Additional comments received from parents included: "My little boy loves going to nursery and gets on really well with the other kids and teachers. I can see a big improvement in my little boy since starting nursery." "My child has developed well. The staff are brilliant with the children. My daughter was quite shy but now I see a difference with her. She is very confident and outgoing, London Road Nursery is a brilliant nursery, the staff are fantastic, it's like being one of the family, it's a great atmosphere as well." London Road Nursery School, page 10 of 22
3 The inspection We looked at how the service performs against the following quality themes and statements. Here are the details of what we found. Quality Theme 1: Quality of Care and Support - NOT ASSESSED London Road Nursery School, page 11 of 22
Quality Theme 2: Quality of Environment - NOT ASSESSED London Road Nursery School, page 12 of 22
Quality Theme 3: Quality of Staffing Grade awarded for this theme: 5 - Very Good Statement 1 We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the quality of staffing in the service. Service strengths Based on the information and evidence sampled the service was found to be operating at an excellent standard in relation to this quality statement. Below is the service's strengths as identified at the last inspection and detailed in inspection report dated 20 October 2010. The service had very effective systems in place to consult with parents and children and responds to all their issues and concerns, feeding back to them and valuing their views and reflecting them in their practice. Staff worked very well with children to make them feel confident that their ideas and interests were valued, respected and recorded. This included: * Children's meetings and discussions * Mind maps * Big book planning * Thinking tree * Communication diaries * Children's reviews of their own work * Electronic screens * Effective displays of children's work and photographs * Talking pens. Staff caring for children aged from two to three years provided a wide range of experiences both inside and outdoors. These include opportunities to develop relationships, explore their senses and music and to talk and listen to them. These experiences are recorded using photographs and written notes and shared with parents who are encouraged to make comments. Staff completed daily feedback sheets for children detailing important aspects of the child's day. London Road Nursery School, page 13 of 22
Staff consulted with children aged three to five years using a range of methods including age appropriate mind mapping process, big books and discussions in large and small groups. The information gathered was used to support responsive planning of experiences, activities and outings. These included: autumn, newspaper, and hospital. The children told us how they were learning about autumn. Information about this topic was displayed for parents around the nursery. It outlined details of planning, experiences and outcomes that the children were working on. It was supported by photographs, interactive table displays and children's work which linked to their learning. Children confidently took part in the inspection through telling us what they did and asking what we did. Children, parents and staff have successfully achieved a Platinum Enterprise Award and silver Eco Award. The service has talking pens and dual language books in a number or languages including Polish, Urdu and Mandarin to support children and families who use the nursery. The service consults and asks parents for feedback regularly. Parents were involved in reviewing children's experiences at the nursery and their learning outcomes. The written feedback confirmed that the service provides a very active curriculum and parents are fully involved in its delivery. Other methods include: * Families had settling in visits to the service * Questionnaires and surveys for children and families * Flip chart * Parents evenings * Parent participation in reviewing the work of the service * Parents group * Parents information boards * Newsletter * Home to centre and room to room link systems * Centre to school transitions. Parents play an active role in their children's learning. They are invited to comment on their child's learning and this information along with the child's ideas and staff observations is used to develop the next steps in children's learning. London Road Nursery School, page 14 of 22
The service shared children's success with parents. Mind maps were available for parents to view. Digital screens with current work were in operation and photographs celebrating children's learning and achievements were very attractively displayed. Parents see children's individual folios of assessment, pictures and photographs at meetings. A coffee morning was planned for November 2010. Evidence demonstrated that parents' views were audited through regular questionnaires and feedback surveys. Information received was used to improve the service. This has included: children having an identified welcome area when the come into nursery and staffs shift patterns have been reviewed. Parents, children and staff were involved in fund raising events to support a wide range of charities. The parents are involved in the Eco programme, cookery workshops, outings and the Positive Parenting Programme. The service had very effective home to nursery link systems in place. These included: information sheets on the current learning plan, books, games and a bear. The service had created a very informative reception area which included useful information about the nursery, health promotion, child protection, community events and curriculum for excellence. The service uses a newsletter to inform parents about aspects of the nursery. The service had developed a policy in relation to working in partnership with parents. Staff shared information informally with parents as they dropped off and collected their children. We observed this during the inspection. The service operated an Open Door policy and service users were encouraged to tell staff their views. The service had a variety of ways in place to keep parents fully informed of events, plans, visitors and reminders of how they could become involved in the service and the outcomes of surveys carried out. London Road Nursery School, page 15 of 22
The service had transition records from nursery to school. Parents sign the document and comment on the report and the service provided. Information received is used to improve the service. Policies and procedures including complaints were available to view and contained within the service's handbook and the parents policy folder. The service displayed the notification of the forthcoming inspection. The service made the Care Commission Annual Report available to parents for comment. Areas for improvement No areas for improvement were identified during this inspection visit. Grade awarded for this statement: 6 - Excellent Number of recommendations: 0 Number of requirements: 0 Statement 2 We are confident that our staff have been recruited, and inducted, in a safe and robust manner to protect service users and staff. Service strengths An audit was carried out centrally to assess how effectively Safer Recruitment processes are carried out. A number of staff files were viewed to make this assessment. A checklist system was in place to facilitate that staff recruited had been subject to necessary checks. Improvements were noted in respect of references being checked by senior staff members as being suitable. Also, systems were in place to ensure all relevant staff are registered with the Scottish Social Services Council. Areas for improvement Systems for the tracking of supply / temporary staff to be improved to ensure a clear record of where staff are located at any given time. Operational policies and procedures to be reviewed and revised in light of latest legislation. No requirements or recommendations. London Road Nursery School, page 16 of 22
Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Inspection report continued London Road Nursery School, page 17 of 22
Quality Theme 4: Quality of Management and Leadership Grade awarded for this theme: 5 - Very Good Statement 1 We ensure that service users and carers participate in assessing and improving the quality of the management and leadership of the service. Service strengths Based on the information and evidence sampled the service was found to be operating at an excellent standard in relation to this quality statement. Please refer to quality statement 3.1. Areas for improvement Please refer to quality statement 3.1 Grade awarded for this statement: 6 - Excellent Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 0 Statement 4 We use quality assurance systems and processes which involve service users, carers, staff and stakeholders to assess the quality of service we provide Service strengths Based on the evidence and information sampled the service was found to be operating to a good standard in relation to this quality statement. Staff, parents and children's views were sought on an on-going basis. These views were recorded and used in self assessing practices and planning. The service Improvement Plan was developed using priorities identified through consultation with staff, children and carers as well as national and local priorities. In addition to the formal systems identified, the inspection process highlighted that there were good informal arrangements in place to support service development. Staff demonstrated, through discussion and observation of their practice, a high level of commitment to the provision of a quality service. Through observation it was evident that there was a supportive environment enhanced by a consistent staff team who were noted to work well together. Regular room meetings as well as full nursery meetings for staff took place. London Road Nursery School, page 18 of 22
Of the parents who completed the SCSWIS questionnaire 5 "strongly agreed" and 3 "agreed" staff had the skills and experience to care for their child and support their needs. 4 "strongly agreed and 4 "agreed" there was always enough staff in the service to provide a good quality service. One parent commented; "Staff are friendly and very helpful if you need to talk to them for any reason and if you have a problem you can always talk to someone at anytime and they listen to you." Areas for improvement The nursery had gone through considerable changes over the past year. New staff members had joined the team, this included a New Head Teacher and senior staff. Staff moral had previously been quite low, but was improving. Staff spoken with on the day of inspection would value and benefit from further team building exercises. See recommendation 1 of quality statement 4.4 Some staff also were of the opinion they had not had formal support/supervision sessions with the Head Teacher, however the Head Teacher confirmed that she had met with all staff and discussed their work and any issues they may have. The Head Teacher also confirmed a rota of one to one support meetings was in place. The Head Teacher had conducted some playroom monitoring, but had not kept written notes on these. See recommendation 2 of quality statement 4.4. Grade awarded for this statement: 4 - Good Number of requirements: 0 Number of recommendations: 2 Recommendations Inspection report continued 1. The provider should ensure staff have access to team building training. NCS Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16; Standard 12, Confidence in Staff. 2. The provider should ensure the manager undertakes and records a formal programme of playroom monitoring. NCS Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16; Standard 13, improving the Service. London Road Nursery School, page 19 of 22
4 Other information Complaints No complaints have been upheld, or partially upheld, since the last inspection. Enforcements We have taken no enforcement action against this care service since the last inspection. Additional Information None. Action Plan Failure to submit an appropriate action plan within the required timescale, including any agreed extension, where requirements and recommendations have been made, will result in SCSWIS re-grading the Quality Statement within the Management and Leadership Theme as unsatisfactory (1). This will result in the Quality Theme for Management and Leadership being re-graded as Unsatisfactory (1). London Road Nursery School, page 20 of 22
5 Summary of grades Quality of Care and Support - Not Assessed Quality of Environment - Not Assessed Quality of Staffing - 5 - Very Good Statement 1 Statement 2 6 - Excellent 4 - Good Quality of Management and Leadership - 5 - Very Good Statement 1 Statement 4 6 - Excellent 4 - Good 6 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 20 Oct 2010 Unannounced Care and support 6 - Excellent Environment Not Assessed Staffing Not Assessed Management and Leadership 2 - Weak 30 Oct 2009 Unannounced Care and support 6 - Excellent Environment Not Assessed Staffing 4 - Good Management and Leadership Not Assessed 10 Dec 2008 Unannounced Care and support 6 - Excellent Environment 6 - Excellent Staffing 6 - Excellent Management and Leadership 6 - Excellent All inspections and grades before 1 April 2011 are those reported by the former regulator of care services, the Care Commission. London Road Nursery School, page 21 of 22
To find out more about our inspections and inspection reports Read our leaflet 'How we inspect'. You can download it from our website or ask us to send you a copy by telephoning us on 0845 600 9527. This inspection report is published by SCSWIS. You can get more copies of this report and others by downloading it from our website: www.scswis.com or by telephoning 0845 600 9527. Translations and alternative formats This inspection report is available in other languages and formats on request. Telephone: 0845 600 9527 Email: enquiries@scswis.com Web: www.scswis.com London Road Nursery School, page 22 of 22