Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre Day Care of Children
115 Ellesmere Street Glasgow G22 5QT
Telephone: 01413 322 797
Type of inspection: Unannounced
Completed on: 10 May 2021
Service provided by: Service provider number: Glasgow City Council SP2003003390
Service no: CS2003014829 Inspection report
About the service
Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre is a Glasgow City Council childcare service which operates from a detached single storey building situated in the outskirts of Possilpark in north Glasgow. Children have access to five playrooms and a large outdoor play area. The outdoor area is divided into garden areas for children in each of the playrooms.
The service is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of 89 children aged 6 weeks to those not yet attending primary school of whom no more than 24 are under 2 years.
The family lies at the heart of the centre's vision, and relationships emphasise mutual trust and respect. In a positive and welcoming environment, we aim to support the whole family to build confidence and self- esteem.
Staff, children and parents or carers are encouraged to actively contribute to the life of the centre by working together to develop a community where:
• Everyone has the opportunity to develop to their full potential
• Diversity is celebrated, inequalities are reduced, and achievement is raised
• Children become confident individuals, successful learners, effective contributors and responsible citizen.
The service had been operating throughout the pandemic. This was an identified "HUB" orf vulnerable children, critical and front line workers.
This was a focussed inspection to evaluate how well children were being supported during the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the service based on key areas that are vital to the support and wellbeing of children experiencing care during the pandemic
This inspection was carried out by one inspector virtually. Two inspectors carried out a site visit from the Care Inspectorate.
What people told us
We received feedback via email from parents and carers who used the service. Parents were very happy with the service they received and where complimentary about how the service had managed and operated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of their written comments included:
"I feel my daughter xxxx safety and wellbeing is being taken care of everyday in the nursery even more so now during these difficult times with the ongoing pandemic. For example, when I was first notified xxxx was in close contact with staff members who had tested positive for covid I thought Mya being a baby I expected Mya to contract the virus also as she needs a lot of close contact care. To my surprise she was off nursery isolating and was absolutely fine which in turn had no impact on the other 6 members of my household. I gave all credit to the nursery staff who must be implementing great covid guidance, such as hand washing, which prevented the virus from transmitting to my child"
"I feel the communication from the nursery in regards to any new information has been excellent. They always keep us well informed through emails. Communication is always excellent"
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"I feel they are well informed about the virus and the measures that should be put in place to prevent it from spreading. Overall I couldn't be happier with the help and support the nursery have offered me and my family during this pandemic. They have been fully supportive. I could not have asked for anything more from the staff and manager"
"I feel the staff kept in contact with myself both through email and phone calls and if I ever had any questions they were always able to answer these"
"The staff are more than knowledgeable in the prevention of the spread of the virus and feel they do everything the can to keep the children and all staff as safe as possible".
From this inspection we evaluated this service as:
In evaluating quality, we use a six point scale where 1 is unsatisfactory and 6 is excellent
How good is our care and support during the 5 - Very Good COVID-19 pandemic?
Further details on the particular areas inspected are provided at the end of this report.
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How good is our care and support during the 5 - Very Good COVID-19 pandemic? Quality indicator 5.1: Children's health and wellbeing are supported and safeguarded during COVID-19.
Our focus during this inspection was to establish if children's health and wellbeing benefitted from their care and support in relation to COVID-19. We concluded that the service was providing a very good standard of care and that children's health and wellbeing was being very well supported.
Medical administration records we sampled reflected best practice guidance containing clear information about children's medical conditions and how medication was to be administered. This included any triggers, signs, symptoms and actions to be taken by staff. Records demonstrated how information was shared with parents when medication had been administered.
Children were protected from harm by staff who had an understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to child protection. Staff had participated in child protection training and the supplementary COVID-19 child protection training for example domestic violence awareness. They received annual updates to ensure they maintained their knowledge.
Changes which had been implemented to keep children, staff and families safe had been well explained and implemented. The management and staff team engaged parents in telephone calls, emails, nursery "facebook" page and newsletters prior to families returning to the service. This gave the service the opportunity to inform and update parents of changes, this allowed parents to update information about their children. This was helpful for children transitioning on their return to nursery. The service established a mind mapping exercise "What matters to me". This enabled parents to inform staff of children's individual likes or dislikes. This was useful for staff to support new children attending the centre, from other nurseries.
Staff we spoke to described effective systems to ensure that communication was effective and consistent with parents. They acknowledged the challenge around parents not entering playrooms, but were confident that they continued to gather and share information with parents at drop off and collection times.
Each child had a personal plan that identified their individual needs and set out how these would be met. Plans reflected children's individual needs, this allowed staff to support their return to nursery. Plans were reviewed with parents on the telephone, via email or in a physically distanced outdoor space. We saw examples of how children were being supported based on the information that had been shared. The nursery established home links for example literacy, toothbrushing and song bags. The staff team put videos on the nursery face book page. These included staff singing children's songs, rhymes and storytelling. This would keep children familiar with the staff. This also would enable parents, with ideas to enhance nurture activities with their children.
At the time of our inspection visit children spent the majority of time outside in age related designated outdoor play spaces for each bubble.
The development profiles we sampled set out evidence of children's progress in a coherent and structured form. Staff told us they were in the process of updating these to reflect observations that were currently held on staff iPads.
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We looked at the centre's isolation room for children who develop symptoms of COVID-19 while in the setting. We highlighted that as there is limited space to fully isolate a child. We suggested the manager consider risk assessing any ventilated space. This could include outdoors if appropriate.
The lead practitioner of attainment told us that in light of the pandemic she had reviewed her role and now only worked directly with one designated bubble of children. She supported other staff in other bubbles to take forward aspects of her role.
Staff told us they had undertaken COVID related infection control training and the supplementary COVID-19 child protection training for example, domestic violence awareness, supporting them to be confident and safe.
Quality indicator 5.2: Infection prevention and control practices support a safe environment for children and staff. Children are protected as staff take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
Our focus during this inspection was to establish whether infection prevention and control practices in relation to COVID-19 supported a safe environment for children and staff. We concluded that very good policies and procedures were in place to ensure that children and staff experienced a safe environment.
Detailed risk assessments were in place that identified risk actorsf and mitigations to reduce risk were in place. These were reviewed regularly. This was compiled with the whole staff team. This ensured the spread of infection was minimised.
The centre kept clear records of visitors attending the setting. These records will help to ensure rapid response and contact tracing should a positive case occur.
Staff told us they had undertaken COVID related infection control training supporting them to be confident and safe. They told us they were participating in Scottish Government's Routine Asymptomatic testing programme of ELC s.taff
We observed appropriate hand hygiene procedures being followed by children supported by staff as they enjoyed snack outdoors.
We observed staff following physical distancing protocols between adults in the setting, including parents at drop-off and pick-up times.
Prominent signs and displays were evident at pick up and drop off points so that parents and carers were reminded of the risks of bringing a child to the service who displayed COVID-19 related symptoms.
Cleaning schedules were in place to support the enhanced cleaning arrangements that had been established during the pandemic.
Children in the 3 to 5 room (which was split into two bubbles) used the same toilets although toilet cubicles had been designated by colour stickers relevant to each bubble to minimise cross infection risk. Children were supported to understand the importance of regular and thorough handwashing. We observed staff and children washing hands regularly. There was an appropriate number of hand washing sinks throughout the service. Children accessed hand washing sinks in each of their playrooms.
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We observed that the environment was clean and well maintained, and windows and doors were opened to increase natural ventilation. Arrangements had been put in place to enable enhanced cleaning activities to be carried out. This meant that children, families and staff benefitted from areas which were safe and naturally well ventilated.
The management and staff team had a clear understanding of how and when personal protective equipment should be worn and disposed of. A member of staff told us the correct way to "donning and doffing" the PPE. The service had ample supplies of additional PPE available if required. Supplies of PPE were monitored effectively, with ordering being carried out by the manager
Quality indicator 5.3: Staffing arrangements are responsive to the changing needs of children during COVID-19.
Our focus during this inspection was to establish if staff had the right knowledge, skills and competence to support children in relation to COVID-19. We concluded that very good arrangements were in place and that staff were very responsive to the changing needs of children and families during COVID-19.
Staff told us that development and updates to Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance including hand hygiene reviews, enhanced cleaning regimes, adequate ventilation, reinforcement of messages on physical distancing, reminders about symptom vigilance and self-isolation were communicated through a staff WhatsApp group and featured in termly virtual staff meetings.
The staff told us "We are like a big family, we support one another". They knew the families well and genuinely cared about the children's wellbeing. A member of staff told us, "When I was carrying out my contact phone call, I asked mum if I could say hello to the child. We "Facetimed". This meant he could see me. It was great to see him, this would help with him transitioning back into nursery".
Staff told us they felt they had been well supported by the senior management team during the pandemic.
We observed the staff team to respect, nurture and support each other. We observed staff to be motivated, enthusiastic and interested in their role in supporting children which resulted in children actively engaged in a range of stimulating play experiences, facilitated by resources that promoted interest, creativity and problem solving.
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Detailed evaluations
How good is our care and support during the COVID-19 pandemic? 5 - Very Good
5.1 Children's health and well being are supported and safeguarded 5 - Very Good during COVID-19
5.2 Infection prevention and control practices support a safe environment 5 - Very Good for children and staff
5.3 Staffing arrangements are responsive to the changing needs of 5 - Very Good children during COVID-19
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To find out more
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