little smarties childcare services (shirley brogan ...€¦ · service provided by: shirley brogan...

Childminder inspection report

Little Smarties Childcare Services(Shirley Brogan)Dunfermline

Inspection report for Little Smarties Childcare Services (Shirley Brogan)Inspection completed on 18 August 2014

Service provided by: Shirley Brogan trading as Little Smarties ChildcareServices (Shirley Brogan)

Service provider number: SP2007963212

Care service number: CS2007142526

Inspection Type: Unannounced

Care services in Scotland, including childminders, cannot operate unlessthey are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award gradesand set out improvements that must be made. We also investigatecomplaints about care services and take action when things aren't goodenough.

Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or haveany concerns about a care service.

Contact UsCare InspectorateCompass House11 Riverside DriveDundeeDD1 4NY

[email protected]

0845 600 9527

www.careinspectorate.com

@careinspect


Inspection report for Little Smarties Childcare Services (Shirley Brogan)page 2 of 19

1 IntroductionShirley Brogan provides a large childminding service from her family home,which is situated in Dunfermline. Minded children have access to the playroom,the kitchen and dining room on the ground floor. There is a front garden whichis well equipped with a wide range of outdoor toys.

The childminder is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of eightchildren under the age of 16 years, of whom no more than six children are underthe age of 12 years, of whom no more than three are not yet attending primaryschool and of whom no more than one is under 12 months of age. Numbers areinclusive of children of the childminder's family. When the childminder isworking with at least one assistant, the service may be provided to a maximumof 14 children at any one time under the age of 16 years, of whom no more than12 children are under the age of 12 years, of whom no more than six are not yetattending primary school and of whom no more than two are under 12 monthsof age. Numbers are inclusive of children of the childminder's/assistants'families.

On the day of the inspection, six children were present. We observed thechildminder and one assistant as they cared for the children throughout theinspection. Some of the children gave us their views of the service.

What we did during our inspectionWe wrote this report following an unannounced inspection which took place on18 August 2014 between 8.00am and 10.30am.

As requested by us, the service sent us an annual return. The service alsoreturned a detailed and accurate self-assessment form which it had used toevaluate the service, highlighting what they felt they did well to ensure excellentoutcomes for the children in their care.

We sent six Care Inspectorate questionnaires to the childminder asking her todistribute them to the parents or carers of children using the service. Wereceived four completed questionnaires prior to writing this report and we haveincluded comments within the report.



We gathered information from various sources, including some of the service'spolicies, procedures, records and other documents:- Photographs showing the activities children had participated in- Staff training certificates- Busy Day Book- Achievements Board- Heart to Heart Board- DVD montage of the year's highlights- Mindmaps and children's evaluations- Children's developmental records- Daily attendance records- Menus- Complete Guide to the Service- Weekly newsletters- Parent questionnaires.

We also spent time observing how the childminder interacted with the childrenand considered the general environment and equipment used in the provision ofthe childminding service, both indoors and outside.

Views of people using the serviceWe saw that the children were very happy in the childminder's care. Thechildminder and her assistant were kind, gentle, warm, nurturing and responsiveto the babies' and children's needs and in their interactions with themthroughout the inspection.

Self assessmentEvery year all care services complete a 'self assessment' telling us how theirservice is performing. We check to make sure this is accurate.

Every year all care services are asked to complete a self assessment form tellingus how their service is performing. The self assessment relates to 'Getting ItRight For Every Child' (GIRFEC) document which ensures that anyone providingsupport puts the child or young person and their family at the centre.

From the self assessment, it was clear that the childminder had considered theoutcomes for children and provided us with examples of how the servicesupported children with their experiences.



The childminder had given consideration to the SHANNARI health and wellbeingindicators by telling us how she ensured the children in her care were Safe,Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible and Included.

What the service did wellThe childminder provided an excellent standard of care for the childrenattending her service.

The childminder knew the families extremely well and put them at the centre ofall that she did. She successfully provided care for a wide age group of childrenand was vigilant and concerned for the welfare of every individual child.

The childminder and her assistants had undertaken a wide range of trainingsince the last inspection. These included equal opportunities and first aid, inorder to ensure that their knowledge met the needs of the children they werecaring for. They had then put this knowledge to good use to ensure thatchildren had detailed, personal plans which were updated regularly alongsideparents, carers and others involved in the care of the children.

The childminder's respectful and kindly manner and her natural ability tocommunicate with children meant that she was a really good role model forchildren and for her assistants.

What the service could do betterWe reminded the childminder to ensure that a clear handover was given toassistants who had been off for several days. This was to ensure continuity ofcare from when they first arrived at work, especially if they had sole charge, andthat they knew exactly which children were expected in the service.

The childminder should continue to implement the framework 'Getting it Rightfor Every Child' (GIRFEC) into her service using it in the assessment of children'sindividual needs to improve outcomes for the children she cares for.



2 The grades we awardedWe grade the quality of care and support, the quality of the environment andthe quality of management and leadership. If the childminder employs anassistant, we also grade the quality of staffing. In each case, we award a gradeon a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 is unsatisfactory and 6 is excellent.

Quality of care and support 6 - ExcellentQuality of environment 6 - Excellent

Quality of staffing 6 - ExcellentQuality of management and leadership 6 - Excellent

3 Quality of care and supportFindings from the inspection

We saw that the childminder provided excellent care and support to childrenand families using her service.

We saw that the childminder and her assistants worked together with thechildren and their parents to ensure that they knew how the service promotedeach family's involvement in the service.

At the beginning of a child's placement, parents and carers received a copy ofthe policies and procedures within the 'Complete Guide to Services' document.This provided them with a clear outline of how the service worked to helpensure that the children using the service were kept safe, healthy, active,nurtured, achieving, respected, responsible and involved. The childminder told usthat she tailored the settling-in procedure to each individual child and to theneeds of each parent.



A parent described to us how the settling-in process had worked for her. Shetold us:"I looked round and didn't like the bigger ones. This was like a wee family. Hewas here for a whole morning and I could see them all. He then stayed forabout four hours and had a ball. He's been so happy."

We heard that a "buddy system" was operated for new children starting in theservice. This meant that the new children had a friend from the beginning andthis helped them to settle quickly.

Questionnaires given to parents later in the children's care elicited the followingcomments:"Second to none. Practically perfect in every way.""A wide range of activities covering all aspects of the curriculum.""A huge variety of wheeled toys and large equipment to encourage active play.My child loves them. Many walks and outings.""Great verbal communication. Menu on display, weekly diary with photos.Super.""The weekly diary gives opportunities for me to write feedback. However, Ichoose to provide input verbally as all staff are approachable and friendly.""Always well planned, fun filled days."

We saw that the childminder held a range of information on each childincluding individual contracts, photographs and art work carefully chosen toshow that they were reaching their expected milestones. The childmindermaintained a child development record for all pre-school children, compiled bythe keyworker and shared with each parent. This helped to identify any supportneeds and showed each child's achievements.

The childminder had introduced a summative assessment for each child movingon to school and this provided parents with a comprehensive record of theirdevelopmental stage. We saw that each child had been presented with agraduation certificate when moving from the childminding service to school, tocelebrate their achievements at Little Smarties and as a permanent reminder oftheir time there.



We saw that a weekly newsletter was sent home at the end of each week. Weheard from the childminder that this was not only popular with parents, butparticularly with the children who could then lay in bed looking at it with theirparents, recounting stories to their parents about their time at the childminder'sand the fun they had had with their friends.

The childminder had been involved with the Young Mum's Initiative. She hadprovided additional support and guidance to ensure that the needs of both theyoung mum and the child were being met.

We saw that the childminding service worked in partnership with parents, thehealth visitor and the team from the child development centre to meet theindividual needs of children with additional support needs. It was good to seecollaborate practice advocated by GIRFEC working in practice. The childminderhad undertaken additional training to help ensure she was able to meet eachchild's individual needs.

During the inspection we watched the DVD montage of highlights of the yearwhich was presented to each parent annually. It showed children having fun asthey played and achieved with their friends.

We saw an achievements board where children's achievements at home and atthe childminder's were celebrated. In addition, we saw a baby return to theservice with a Star Bear which he had taken home for a week. This wasawarded on a regular basis to help build self esteem and confidence.

The children were observed to be very happy and at home within a warm,nurturing environment throughout the inspection. The childminder and herassistant worked confidently and enthusiastically, taking everything in theirstride and showing a natural rapport with each of the children in their care.They spoke naturally to the babies and children throughout the inspection,treating them with respect and sensitivity. We saw that the childminder and theassistant were warm and responsive when interacting with the babies and theyounger children. Both demonstrated a genuine fondness for the children andwe could see that the children felt safe and secure in their care.



Children were initially welcomed by the assistant at the start of the day andgiven a good welcome. When the childminder joined her a little later, we noteda nurturing atmosphere as she was greeted with hugs and cuddles by thechildren.

The childminder provided us with many examples of how they had supportedchildren's individual needs and interests. We saw that the older children hadhad a meeting at the start of the Summer holidays when they had all mademindmaps together and had written down the places they had wanted to go toand the things they had wanted to do. Afterwards they had evaluated the tripsand comments had included:"Camping Adventure - It was really fun and I enjoyed making the den andplaying hide and seek.""Edinburgh Museum - It was awesome. I enjoyed looking at the mummies andinteractive.""Cupcakes - yummy. We made cupcakes and thank you it was really fun."

We noticed that the children's choices had been respected as every suggestionhad been visited/undertaken except for the climb to the top of the ScottMonument and the childminder had explained to the children that this had notbeen possible as she could not include all the children, due to the babies notmanaging in their buggies! This helped the children to understand and takeresponsibility for decision making with the childminder and her assistant.

Younger children could choose activities by pointing to the pictures in the BusyDay Book. This meant that their views were also being respected even 'thoughthey did not have the language to articulate their thoughts.

The childminder showed confidence in her work with the children. We saw thatshe encouraged the children to be caring and considerate towards one another.We saw examples throughout the inspection of the childminder and herassistant praising the children as they played and that this encouraged positivebehaviour and helped children to feel respected and included.

We saw the menus on the wall showing healthy meals and snacks wereprovided for the children and the childminder used her knowledge, havingtrained in food hygiene, to provide high standards within the home.



A parent told us during the inspection. "They get home cooked meals everyday." We heard how the childminder consulted with the children letting themchoose what they wanted for snack and meals before becoming involved inshopping for the food. With trips to the supermarket and a weekly visit to thelocal market to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, the children learned aboutchoosing the produce and how to scan it. A soup kitchen activity had beenintroduced weekly with volunteer 'soup dragons' involving buying, preparing andcooking the ingredients for a variety of types of soup to eat at snack, lunch ortake home. One child told me "I like the mushroom better than the lentil soup."The activity helped teach children important life skills about nutrition andcooking contributing towards healthy lifestyles. We noted that some childrenhad food allergies or intolerances. The childminder was sensitive to their needsin order for them not to feel different from the other children. To ensure thatthey did not miss our when baking, the childminder ensured that there werealways substitutes to enable them to join in, so that they could still be includedin the fun.

The childminder confirmed that she took the children outdoors as often aspossible. This was supported by photographs of the children in the garden andon the outings. The outdoor activities were provided for the children'senjoyment and supported them to be active and healthy. The children regularlytook part in walks to the local park, outings to indoor play areas, garden centresand eco centres. The children regularly took part in keep fit and dance routines.The childminder told us that she had made a conscious decision to get rid ofher people carrier and reduce the number of schools she collected from, in orderto provide a healthier lifestyle for the children, walking to the local school andnursery to collect children, rather than spending lengthy periods in the car. Withthis healthier, more environmentally friendly lifestyle, the childminder describedlife as more sociable and fun. We heard that this had also providedopportunities for safety messages to be discussed such as the Green CrossCode, zebra crossings, 'lollipop' people and stranger danger. This helped to keepchildren safe. The childminder had helped the children to produce their ownHouse Rules and we saw them displaced in the playroom - "We Care, We Share,We Walk, We Talk." The childminder used these as the focal point for all hersafety discussions with the children.



We saw that the childminder encouraged the children to be involved insupporting local charities. They had enjoyed selling cupcakes weekly and somehad provided entertainment, dancing and singing for local elderly residents. Thismeant that the children were learning from an early age the benefits of givingto others.

We noticed that the assistant who had been off for a few days did not get ahandover about the children before taking sole charge at the start of the week.She could not answer one of the children's questions as to which children weredue in that day. No register of names was available to her. The childminder wasin the house, however, if required. We discussed the need for improved systemsat this point in the week and the childminder took steps to address itimmediately.

GradeThe quality of care and support is graded 6 - Excellent

RequirementsNumber of requirements - 0

RecommendationsNumber of recommendations - 0

4 Quality of environmentFindings from the inspection

The childminding environment was of an excellent standard.

We found that the areas used by the children were safe, hygienic, smoke free,clean and tidy for children using the service.

The childminder made excellent use of the space available, both indoors andout, taking into account the children's ages and stages of development.



We saw that a dedicated space had been set aside for the childminding andthere was an excellent range of toys and equipment to help children'sdevelopment.

We saw that children could choose freely from a variety of toys in the playroomor move freely to the kitchen. There was an additional, large dining roomavailable for parties and team games and a quiet area for children wanting torest or sleep without being disturbed. As a result, children's needs were beingmet throughout the day. The layout of the premises allowed for differentactivities for different ages and stages of development to operatesimultaneously. This was very important with the large range of mixed agesoperating successfully together within the group

We saw that extensive work had been carried out in the garden to create a safeand stimulating outdoor environment, where children had the opportunity toaccess a wide range of interesting play equipment which encouraged them tokeep active outside. The recently created area with shaded patio allowed foroutdoor eating and quiet activities. The children had enjoyed several gardeningprojects including planting potatoes, carrots, courgettes, strawberries andgarden flowers.

With a wide range of trips and outings, children had a healthy environment inwhich to play with regular trips to the park for fresh air and exercise. Recenttrips had included the beach, Lochore Meadows, cafes and restaurants, theWalled Garden, museums, Dunfermline Abbey, theatre, bookshops, crafts shops,toy shops, soft play, recycling centre, local woods and trim trail.

We saw children play imaginatively in the playroom which was set up with ashop, home corner, large selection of dressing up clothes and dolls which wereparticularly popular during the inspection.



GradeThe quality of environment is graded 6 - Excellent



5 Quality of staffingWe only assess this where the childminder employs an assistant.

Findings from the inspection

The childminder demonstrated that she provided an excellent standard inrelation to staffing.

The childminder qualified with an HNC in childcare and education, activelyencouraged ongoing training and development. She had attended a wide rangeof courses to build on her knowledge and had encouraged her staff to add totheir skills too. Training undertaken had included Autism, children and familiesaffected by substance abuse, information sharing and children's rights, whichdemonstrated a commitment to on going professional development and tosupporting children with a range of needs to deliver positive outcomes.

We saw that individual staff had a balance of skills and experience relevant tothe service. Staff worked well and appeared enthusiastic about their work withthe children. They were professional and motivated, operating to National CareStandards, legislation and best practice.

The childminder held regular performance reviews for each staff member andthis helped identify areas for further development, as well as giving anopportunity to formally acknowledge good practice.



We heard that each staff member had an annual review and the assistant onduty told us that they were helpful.

With the assistant's participation in regular staff meetings, they were able todiscuss issues and share best practice to help improve outcomes for children.Minutes should be kept of these meetings as an ongoing record for futurereference.

GradeThe quality of staffing is graded 6 - Excellent



6 Quality of management and leadershipFindings from the inspection

The childminder demonstrated that she provided an excellent standard ofmanagement and leadership.

Children and parents were offered wide ranging opportunities to participate inthe assessment and improvement of the service. Questionnaires were offered atdifferent times and we saw that all the comments were extremely positive.Comments on the Care Inspectorate questionnaires included:"Little Smarties is a wonderful service. All activities are well planned, ensuringthe children are challenged and engaged.""I am sure my son receives the best care possible.""Little Smarties has been the best move we could have made for x.""You can see from the moment you walk in that all of the children are happyand relaxed in their surroundings.""Most definitely a world class childcare provider."



"There is always outings for the kids that I find brilliant as it gives my child agreat education.""I feel my daughter is very safe here. I just wish they would do sleep overs, haha."

In order to get children's views of the service and to enable the service to takeaccount of these views, the childminder had started a board called Heart toHeart. She said that children are always honest and this let her makeadjustments if they hadn't enjoyed an activity to improve her service further.Comments included:"I licked playing at the parck.""I liked gowing to the museum and the garden party and to the Abit House.""I luved evrysing.""x said the camping adventure in the woods was epic."

We found that the childminder and her staff were motivated and enthusiastic.They had attended a wide range of training, prompted by the needs of thoseattending and in order to keep up to date with any changes in practice. Afterattending training, the childminder reviewed her learning and how it could beapplied to her service. Since the last inspection, the childminder and her staffhad attended training in child protection and Getting it Right for Every Child(GIRFEC). Thereafter the service had begun to encompass the SHANARRIindicators into the service. We saw a raised awareness of how to keep childrensafe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible whilst theyplayed.

In addition, the childminder had enjoyed attending vocational courses such asIndian cookery, cupcake making and cake decorating, introducing these skills tothe children thereafter. As a result, the children and their parents had been ableto enjoy the new experiences and tastes.

The childminder told us that she also kept up to date by seeking valuableinformation from the Care Inspectorate website, Scottish ChildmindingAssociation (SCMA), Business Gateway and Learning Teaching Scotland.



With working so closely in the service with her assistants on a daily basis, thechildminder was able to continuously monitor and evaluate their practice. As wesaw such excellent standards, we felt that processes in place were beingsuccessful.

In addition, we heard that the childminder attended the local childmindingnetwork meetings and this meant that she was sharing good practice andkeeping up to date with what was going on. She had also made friends withanother childminder within Fife since featuring in the Care Inspectorate'smagazine Care News, having both achieved Grade 6s in order to share excellentpractice. She should continue to promote excellent practice to encourageimproved outcomes for children.

GradeThe quality of management and leadership is graded 6 - Excellent





7 What the service has done to meet anyrecommendations or requirements we madeat our last inspection

Previous requirements

There are no outstanding requirements.

Previous recommendations

There are no outstanding recommendations.

8 ComplaintsThere have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of anyolder upheld complaints are published at www.careinspectorate.com.

9 EnforcementsNo enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the lastinspection

10 Other issuesN/A



11 Inspection and grading historyDate Type Gradings

14 Nov 2012 Announced (Short

Notice)

Care and support 6 - ExcellentEnvironment 6 - ExcellentStaffing 6 - ExcellentManagement and Leadership Not Assessed

30 Aug 2011 Announced (Short

Notice)

Care and support 6 - ExcellentEnvironment Not AssessedStaffing 6 - ExcellentManagement and Leadership Not Assessed

3 Aug 2009 Announced Care and support 6 - ExcellentEnvironment 6 - ExcellentStaffing 6 - ExcellentManagement and Leadership Not Assessed

9 May 2008 Announced Care and support 5 - Very GoodEnvironment 5 - Very GoodStaffing 5 - Very GoodManagement and Leadership 5 - Very Good



To find out moreThis inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can downloadthis report and others from our website.

You can also read more about our work online.

Contact UsCare InspectorateCompass House11 Riverside DriveDundeeDD1 4NY

[email protected]

0845 600 9527

www.careinspectorate.com

@careinspect

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 c?in eile manithear iarrtas.



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