Inspection of 27 January 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1.While a variety of age-appropriate books were displayed on shelving on the wall there was no defined rest area for the children to sit and relax on occasions when they were tired or needed to rest. There was no clear area for sleep mats to be placed if a child attending the part-time service wished to nap during the day. 2. While the inspector acknowledges and commends the children’s freedom of choice, between outdoor and indoor play, there were occasions when the children wished to go outside and the door to the classroom remained open. The temperature in the classroom was recorded at 16 °C between 09:30 – 10:30 hours, at 11:20 hours the temperature dropped from 15.9 °C to 15.3°C. At 11:25 hours the temperature dropped to 14°C. The children inside could be observed to have cold pink hands. The door was eventually closed but the room remained cold
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider has submitted the following response. Corrective and Preventive Action 1.There is multiple equipment for the children to sit and relax, for example, vacuum sealed bags containing mats with blankets & bed linen and multiple soft cushions and mats. The team have made a cosy corner specifically for resting. The children can now take the mats into this specific corner. The team had originally taken out the soft couch as the younger children were jumping off it. It has been slowly reintroduced into the setting. Staff sit with the younger children to show them how to sit on the couch. The cosy corner is clearly marked for the children to come and sit there to relax. This corner has books, family photos and sensory toys on it. 2. The children are free to move indoor and outdoor as they wish. This was the first day the children were back after the storm. The children assisted an adult outside taking out the toys from storage, this may be why children presented with pink hands. Generally, the children will close the door behind them, however this was not the case on this morning, as they were helping. The heating was on, and temperature did rise after a period, it did take a little longer for the room to reach the adequate temperature as the door had remained open and it was colder outside. Staff have spoken with the children, and are observing the door to ensure it remains closed for the children who remain indoors. Staff will remind children to keep the door closed to ensure the temperature of the room remains at the appropriate temperature throughout the morning
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1.An electric toaster and kettle were observed on the windowsill of the classroom. While neither piece of equipment was observed in use, the leads of the kettle and toaster were dangling on the counter below and could be reached by a child, potentially causing injury. 2.While it is acknowledged that a window blind cord had been shortened to be completely out of the reach of children and was located high up, it was not secured and could be accessed by a child if they climbed onto the countertop. Infection Control: 1.Children did not have access to enough toilets for the group size. There were two children’s toilets provided in the classroom, while staff used a downstairs toilet in the registered provider’s house. While it is acknowledged that the 16 children in attendance on the day of inspection were observed freely accessing the toilet on the left-hand side, they were unable to access the toilet on the right-hand side, as a school aged study table and chairs obstructed the entrance to this toilet. 2.The inspector observed that there was no paper towelling in either of the two children’s toilets and that the registered provider was erecting hooks to hold individual cloth towels for the children, in the toilet on the left hand-side. A cloth hand towel was observed hanging in the toilet on the right-hand side. This practice was not in line with infection control guidelines for preschools which states that paper hand towels and liquid hand soap must be provided for effective handwashing. The provision of cloth towels posed a potential risk of cross infection to the children. The registered provider was informed of this immediately at the time of observation. 3.The nappy bin provided on the windowsill in the toilet on the left-hand side was not pedal operated and staff had to lift the lid to place a nappy inside which posed a potential risk of cross infection to the staff in the service. 4. A small bin provided on the “self-care” table for the children to put used tissues in was not pedal operated and children were observed having to push the lid to place their used tissues inside. This posed a potential risk of cross-infection to the children, as a number of children were observed to have thick green mucous draining from their noses. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider submitted the following response
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. The kettle and toaster have been in the service since opening in 2019. Staff initially used them for the school aged service; however they have not used them recently and put them up off the counter into the windowsill out of reach. The short lead from the appliances were resting on the countertop, children would have to climb onto the counter to reach the plugs. They have been removed permanently as they are not used in the service. 2. The window blind is up over 6 feet. Again, the children would need to climb up onto a counter and stand in the sink to reach the window cord. It was purposely shortened and hung this high to prevent children from reaching it. The short window blind has been secured to the wall. Infection Control: 1.On the morning of inspection, out of the 16 children present in the room, there were 7 children in nappies. There are two toilets that are always available to the children. The table was pushed back to the wall to allow more space in the setting. If the children did need the second toilet, they will ask, and the table would be moved. This is often the case in the setting. The school aged table has been removed permanently and there is a foldable table which is stored away after the afterschool session. It is brought in and out daily. 2.There was white disposable paper in the left-hand bathroom and in the classroom, however it was noted afterwards it in fact was not accessible to the children. The provider was erecting stronger hooks as the pre-ecce children had pulled down the original hooks. This could be seen from the glue residue present under each child's picture. The children were involved in assisting with the hanging of the hooks as a little boy got a toy hammer to help the practitioner. There was a single towel hanging in the right-hand bathroom, however the registered provider pointed out where fresh clean individual towels were left for all children to access accordingly. The paper towels had been taken away as the pre-ecce children had been blocking the toilets with it. Individual hand towels did work better for them however the team are aware now they are not in line with infection control guidelines. As suggested at the time of inspection, these individual cloths could be used to wash faces, children were heavily congested on the morning of inspection, so the service decided against this as it posed potential risk of cross infection to the children. The team have removed all individual towels and paper towels are accessible to the children. 3.The nappy bin in the bathroom was in fact a sensor bin. Staff had to wave their hand over the bin for it to open, however it is acknowledged that the bins were not fully functioning on the morning of the inspection. The staff wear gloves when nappy changing, and proper handwashing is followed to prevent and cross contamination. The electronic bin has been replaced with a pedal bin. The pedal bin is placed on the floor and pre-ecce children have been getting mixed up. It was suggested that staff remove soiled nappies to the main bin the morning. Staff are often not able to do so as the main bins are placed at the front of the building. 4.The snuffle station has been in the service since opening, this swivel lid bin is placed close on the station for the children to dispose of their tissue and to promote self-esteem and independence. The team had looked at introducing a mirror to the snuffle station as suggested. The team have removed the snuffle station permanently as children will have to walk across the room to the main pedal bin to dispose of used tissue. Instead, a shelf has been placed over the bin with a box of tissues on top that are easily accessible to the children
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (1) While it was observed on review of the staff files that the registered provider had accredited first aid responder (FAR) training, there was no other staff member trained in first aid responder training employed in the service. The staff roster did not demonstrate that there were additional staff trained in FAR to provide cover, in the event that the registered provider was on leave
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider has submitted the following response. Corrective and Preventive Action As required and clarified with our local CCC, for people trained with first aid responder, at least one person must be trained in first aid responder is available to the children while the service is in operation. As stated in the report the registered provider is FAR trained and lives on the premises. This person is always on the premises during hours of operation. There are also other members of staff with additional first aid training on site. The service can provide FAR training for another member of staff for the unlikelihood of the registered provider not been on site
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 15, 26, 28.