Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre Day Care of Children
115 Ellesmere Street Glasgow G22 5QT
Telephone: 0141 332 2797
Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 6 December 2017
Service provided by: Service provider number: Glasgow City Council SP2003003390
Care service number: 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.
We check services are meeting the principles of Getting it right for every child (also known as GIRFEC), Scotland's national approach to improving outcomes and wellbeing for children by offering the right help at the right time from the right people. It supports them and their parent(s) to work with services that can help them. There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of Getting it right for every child: safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included.
What people told us
Children present during our inspection were happy and comfortable in the nursery. Throughout our visit they were engaged in a range of activities both indoors and outdoors.
Parents returned 20 completed questionnaires to us. Their responses showed that they were very happy with the quality of care their child received in the nursery.
'My daughter has recently moved to the age 3-5 room and I was provided with a very comprehensive portfolio of her achievements and milestones from her earlier years - this was great to see, especially since there were photographs showing the majority of activities she had taken part in. I believe that similar portfolios are being completed in her current room, and look forward to seeing them.'
'I am generally always provided with a brief update on my daughter's day when I collect her - either by her key worker or one of the other workers.'
'There is always updated information on the board at the door, or in the newsletter, and copies of the menu choices are on display in the corridor. My daughter loves the interaction will all of the staff, and often has the opportunity to visit children in other rooms or to go on local outings.'
'As a working mother I don't get the chance to take my child into nursery so her dad has to do it. And he forgets to look at noticeboards so I'm not made aware of events taking place like Parents' Evening, dress up days etc. I would prefer if a newsletter was sent out or given to the child in advance to give to the parents.'
'I have recently started college and feel the nursery has fully supported me. I have two young children who attend Hamiltonhill. I feel I would not have been able to further my education if it was not for the management's support and the trust I have for the caring staff.'
'All staff are friendly and supportive.'
'My child has complex needs and the nursery staff have been very accommodating. Their Key Worker has gone above and beyond her duties and has made my child's development journey so much easier. She should be commended for her service.'
Inspection report for Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre page 2 of 6 Inspection report
'I feel confident and at ease leaving my child in this establishment when I have to work. I am always kept informed of my daughter's daily activities. All staff are friendly and helpful and exceptional at their jobs.'
Self assessment
The service had not been asked to complete a self assessment in advance of the inspection. We looked at their own improvement plan and quality assurance paperwork. These demonstrated their priorities for development and how they were monitoring the quality of the provision within the service.
From this inspection we graded this service as:
Quality of care and support 5 - Very Good Quality of environment 5 - Very Good Quality of staffing not assessed Quality of management and leadership not assessed
What the service does well
The service was committed to working with families and the community. The focus was to create a nurturing setting which would support staff in meeting individual children's wellbeing needs and those of their family.
Children throughout the nursery were happy and engaged in a range of valuable activities. They benefitted from strong relationships and attachments with the staff team, meaning they felt welcomed and valued within the setting. From speaking with staff, we found they clearly understood individual children's needs and personality. Staff had recently introduced a new format for children's records where staff could record their progress and changing needs. They also recognised and celebrated children's achievements both in the nursery and at home. We noted that for a few children, staff had recorded some information outwith their plan. The manager confirmed that they would transfer it at the first opportunity.
Children were well supported as they moved through the nursery. A familiar adult accompanied them to a new room and key workers shared detailed information about their individual needs and personality.
Older children had developed close friendships. We saw they were caring and considerate towards one another, helping them feel secure.
The service actively promoted healthy lifestyles with children and parents. This was reflected in healthy lunches and snacks, the opportunities to play outdoors and the range of information they shared with parents.
The staff team and children had embraced outdoor play within the service. Staff were keen to enrich children's experiences by developing the outdoor environment and play for children. Some staff had attended training and shared their learning with colleagues. All were familiar with the document, My World Outdoors.
The service had held a workshop for parents to promote the benefits of outdoor play and involved amiliesf and members of community groups in developing the outdoor area.
Inspection report for Hamiltonhill Family Learning Centre page 3 of 6 Inspection report
During our visit, children of all ages had the opportunity to play outdoors for most of the session. A staff member and group of children carried out a risk assessment before they were able to play. Children recognised possible hazards and were able to suggest a solution.
We saw that the resources and experiences available for children promoted their curiosity, imagination and sense of adventure. In particular, we saw some of the younger children practising their physical skills such as climbing and balancing. All of the children benefitted from taking some level of risk.
The manager and staff team and staff described their plans to further develop the outdoor area and active play opportunities for children. Their aim was to offer all children continual access to the outdoor areas.
What the service could do better
The manager and staff team should continue with their plans to extend outdoor play opportunities for children.
Requirements Number of requirements: 0
Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0
Complaints
There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at www.careinspectorate.com
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Inspection and grading history
Date Type Gradings 9 Dec 2015 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment 5 - Very good Staffing 5 - Very good Management and leadership 5 - Very good
12 Jan 2015 Announced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 3 - Adequate Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership 4 - Good
2 Dec 2013 Unannounced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership 4 - Good
5 Dec 2012 Unannounced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 3 - Adequate Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership 4 - Good
12 Nov 2010 Unannounced Care and support Not assessed Environment Not assessed Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership Not assessed
25 Mar 2010 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment Not assessed Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership Not assessed
27 Mar 2009 Unannounced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership 4 - Good
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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.
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Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is cànain eile ma nithear iarrtas.
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